An entire land is closed at Disney World right now
This must be so disappointing for Guests wanting to ride their favorite attractions in this land.
Closures
It's not uncommon for various attractions to close during any given day at Disney World. Yesterday both coasters in Frontierland were closed. Today half the elevators are not operating for Tower of Terror.
This can certainly cause wait times to increase if an attraction is operating at half capacity or at other attractions if a ride is entirely closed. Not to mention, it can be disappointing for Guests who have spent months planning their vacations only to get there and not be able to ride what they were hoping to.
Unfortunately, an entire land is closed right now at Epcot.
The Land
The Land Pavilion includes Living with the Land, Soarin', The Garden Grill, Sunshine Seasons, and Awesome Planet. Guests can also see Joy from Inside Out and Pooh Bear frolicking around in the outside area as a mini socially distanced character meet.
Unfortunately, the entire area is closed and blocked off to Guests right now, January 20. That means if you had a Lightning Lane for Soarin' or a lunch reservation at Garden Grill you won't be able to get in to the building at the moment.
Check out the screenshot from My Disney Experience. The stars indicate that an attraction is closed.
Speak to a Cast Member at a blue umbrella or Guest Relations to make sure you are not billed the no-show fee for Garden Grill. Your Soarin' Lightning Lane should automatically convert to a Multi-Use Experience.
If you are looking to do something in the area, check out The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Turtle Talk with Crush, or Journey into Imagination with Figment.
Cause for Closure
We are unsure why the entire Land Pavilion is closed right now. There have been issues in the past with power and fire alarms, so there could be a situation taking place right now that warrants an evacuation of the area.
Hopefully it will reopen soon!
Are you at Epcot today? Share your experiences with us in the comments below and on Facebook.
Amen Tom ! We have to get “ Our Disney” back
The 'magic' is gone thanks to Bob Chapek's leadership (or lack there of), he is listening to the bean counters and ignoring, even insulting, the people who are bringing the beans. Disney will very soon be a grossly overpriced yet mediocre theme park, they've ended all the perks that made Disney World special.
dude you probably make lots and lots of money so you can afford to go. Most people can not even afford it. I would love to see a park built here in my town where everyone could afford it.
I think Disney needs to go watch that YouTube video when Disneyland first opened. I think they need to listen to what Walt Disney said on that day as the park was opening. I think the Disney company has let Walt Down in what his dream was supposed to be about.
I went to Disneyland when in 1991. At that time, it cost $25 to get in for an all day pass. When we lived out in California in 2015, the cost for the same one day pass had gone up to $125! That's a huge price hike! Here's an article from Future that shows this year's rates going up again and includes costs for the other Disney park, California Adventures. It's very sad to see the big changes. Also, interestingly enough, my husband was born and raised out there and remembers the days when they charged per ride. It was like a fair back then.
Yeah ,I agree before you get mad think of what could be happening.
Hershey Park pulled a rolling blackout when I was there in August due to lack of staff. With the world we're living in, it's entirely possible Disney had to do the same.
As a child and now a Parent with kids/grandchildren I am very disappointed in the way DisneyWorld is being run. It was always expensive but now with the extra fees( added to an already ridiculous price) plus the food situation is horrible. Nowhere to get a quick breakfast, most buffet gone, good luck getting in somewhere. Here's an idea, how about some type of mobile eatery that will let you eat while in a line for an hour+. Went over Christmas this year to see the 'Famous' Christmas at Disney. They dropped the ball . Most decorations are about their anniversary.
I will not be back.
I agree with a lot of what was said above but Disney is in the process of killing the Goose that laid the golden egg for the sake of greed and just writing it off as doing what their competition does. Here’s an idea be a leader not a follower and make it fun for families again. Being a shareholder I hope others will recognize what needs to be done at voting time.
I know that every biz has its shareholders, but when there was a flat price and fast pass, everyone had a shot.at getting on a fave ride. There also used to be more eateries, affordable with plenty of room. Not every eatery needed a rez. It seems like the costs,crowding and lack of adequate staffing has everyone unhappy. Disney used to hire lots of students and also retirees, gave them not a lo t of money but perks like park passes. It was a win win. Plenty of folks walking around to give directions and help.
Did you just suggest that the parks staffing does a rolling blackout for areas in parks? Really?!?
Wow ! Disney is swirling down the drain ! Again -Get rid of CHAPEK! He is single handedly destroying WDW ! This guy is a China supporter and a left wing radical. He needs to go the sooner the better ! WDW has gone to second
Rate since he took over !
How much more folks
Good grief. Does everyone think Disney is immune to Covid?? They are hit just as hard as every other company. Don't go!! Until this pandemic is over, things are not going to be the same. It's really just that simple. I went last May and had and excellent time. I knew what and what not to expect and planned accordingly. Give the CM's a break, they're doing their best with what they've been dealt.
That wouldn't be as likely to affect the entire area
I agree. Families work and save and get excited to be going to Disney only to be robbed of the real Disney Magic. It’s gone.
Spent time there over Christmas was so disappointed Walt Disney would turn over in his grave to see that all they want is your dollar. No longer the happiest place in the world.
They laid off 30,000 part time employees. My daughter was one of them. If they have cast member issues, they can recall formers employees. They are just cutting corners and using excuses. My daughter would love to go back to dancing down Main Street.
I agree totally. Disney needs to recognize and reward their Cast Members for all the WORK that is required to make Disney magical. It doesn't happen by itself. Never understood why all the money that Disney makes and is the #1 entertainment park worldwide, they can't respect their employees by doing the right thing for them.
Come on, $25 to park your car. Cast Members who are retired figured eventually their Main Gate passes will disappear.
In old days, guest paid a admissions fee, so they could shop and dine in the restaurants. The wrist bands that are issued would prevent those guests from entering attractions not included for admissions.
Well said, I totally agree!!!
Consider that closures have always been there, they just haven't been reported the way they are now. I remember things being closed when i went to Disneyland over 20 years ago. They have to close rides and buildings for maintenance. The theme park i work for takes every single piece of every single ride apart every single year, they just have the luxury of a closed season to do it in.
Disney SUCKS.
Saved and took our family there as a X-mas gift because we have never been there and that was the biggest mistake ever. I have never met anyone who was so ignorant as I have in Disney. Worst experience ever.
I have family in town visiting WDW, and I am shocked at how many snafus and let-downs they’ve experienced while here. As a former College Program Cast Member, and later a CM working for WDW Public Relations, it saddens me to see what has become of the parks. Even pre-covid the writing was on the wall. I’d say the decline began in the mid-2000’s. Now the way they nickel and dime guests is near repulsive, and they make it so stressful to try to arrange your day…It’s just sucking the magic away. I’m most bewildered that given they had ample time and the benefit of no guests leading up to the 50th Anniversary, that there is anything being refurbished, shut-down, unavailable, etc. It should have been in pristine, tip-top condition for such a momentous occasion. They best be careful before WDW becomes known as Walt DISAPPOINTMENT World.
Many cast members left when they initially had jab mandates. Don't blame them. And with Fast Pass gone it's just not worth the extra money and hassle. They are shooting themselves in the foot. My husband worked there for 5 years in computer programming and helped write code for Fast Pass. After a year of long hours he was brought in for his review and told he did such a great job they were going to give him 25cents more an an hour. This is when Disney was making money hand over fist. Needless to say he got another job that month and left the company along with many other IT guys. I guess they could have waited until they outsourced their job to India lol. Disney has no soul for its workers or its guests anymore.
They are reaping what they sowed when they let their staff go during the pandemic. If they cannot provide the services their customers paid for, they should offer those customers a refund.
They're struggling with a Cast Member deficit right now. If there aren't enough Cast Members to staff an experience, then the experience cannot safely operate. As to WHY there is such a shortage...look around. There are shortages in every single industry, and there will continue to be, until COVID and its variants get under control (by whatever means necessary). Additionally, Cast Members don't make a lot of money. Pixie Dust doesn't pay the bills. The Great Resignation extends to theme parks as well, and Mr. Chapek and company need to recognize that a better paycheck and benefits will go a LONG way in bringing Cast Members back...which then in turn, will bring back the parks you remember from your pre-COVID days. MOST importantly, be kind to the CMs who ARE there. They're probably struggling too, and it isn't their fault that a ride you hoped to experience isn't running.
Disney is failing in so many ways, with over 25 years of going to Disney World I have never seen what is happening at the parks now, no more magic, they call this the Happiest Place On Earth, don’t think so. Disney at this point is screwing every single one of their guests for the almighty dollar. People need to stop supporting this companies GREED, until that happens things will continue. Stop giving your hard earned money to this disaster that is now taking place at the Parks and basically all their other businesses. They buy up everything and it is now effecting everything Disney puts its name on. People wake up and speak with your pocketbooks. No longer represents Walt Disney’s dream.
All these people whining just because they go to disney every other day get over if no one is forcing you to go to disney in the first place and second plan ahead
I am so disappointed with Disney right now. This has always been my "happy place", but just about every day you read about closures and rides and entire lands now down. You rarely used to hear of this! Why am I always hearing of things being down or closed? What scares me is that Disney is not taking care of things that are so important esp. peoples safety! Smoke coming from Rockin Roller Coaster with people on the ride.... Always love going but just before Thanksgiving was terrible as the crowds were bad and ride waits worse. If I visit soon it will not be to visit the Parks.
Is Disneyland having the same issues?
Disney seems to be having so many issues. I’m nerve about planning a vacation there. I’m happy I let my AP expire. I won’t renew until I see things more under control. Happy the trams are going to run again. I couldn’t do all that walking without them
Rolling blackouts due to minimal staffing (just like the electric blackouts in the summer when utilities hit their capacity)?
Another guest benefit of Chepak's -- Bonus Utilizing Lightning Lane with Staffing Hits & Internet Technology (just read the Capital letters).