29yrswithaGApass Posted August 13, 2017 Report Share Posted August 13, 2017 As tomorrow marks the closing of both the Universe of Energy and the Great Movie Ride at Walt Disney World, it got me thinking what rides and attractions I was on-hand when it closed forever. Have you attended any closures (even if it wasn't an official ceremony but just on-hand for the last ride/show)? This goes for any park and not just GA. For me, I was on hand for the closing of Lightnin' Loops at GA, and for the World of Motion at EPCOT, Kitchen Kabaret at EPCOT, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea at the Magic Kingdom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshi Posted August 13, 2017 Report Share Posted August 13, 2017 The closest I have gotten was riding Rolling Thunder 5 days before it closed for good. Even though it wasn't the final day or final time the ride ran, it is a strange feeling riding and knowing you will never be able to experience that ride again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pineracer Posted August 13, 2017 Report Share Posted August 13, 2017 Did Hang Time close in 2014 or 2015? closest I can think of; never been to a park after labor day except Universal Orlando parks, MK, and EPCOT in 2014 (last visit to Disney too, need to go back next year or the year after, not into Star Wars, just want the Slinky Dog cred). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshi Posted August 13, 2017 Report Share Posted August 13, 2017 Hang Time closed after the 2015 season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted August 13, 2017 Report Share Posted August 13, 2017 I was there for the closing of Scream Machine in 2010 after I had been at the opening of the Scream Machine in 1989. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyc98 Posted August 13, 2017 Report Share Posted August 13, 2017 Haven't been to many closings. Rode Rolling Thunder during its last week of operation which was bittersweet. I have been to a handful of ride openings though, including Zumanjaro (out of luck) and the first day Medusa reopened as Bizarro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshi Posted August 14, 2017 Report Share Posted August 14, 2017 Universe of Energy didn't close without a fight. Supposedly for the last public ride, there was an evacuation at the dinosaur part and it would take too long to reset so the ride closed for good with all those people waiting not getting the full ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted August 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2017 The same thing happened at the World of Motion closing. We kept riding it right up until 9pm and got on the ride at the stroke of nine for our last ride, We made it all the way to the Used Chariots scene and the ride stopped. They tried numerous times to restart the ride but no luck. We were walked out and evacuated. The next day in the Orlando Sentinel it said that they had some sort of breakdown which they couldn't reset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coasterharrison'98 Posted August 14, 2017 Report Share Posted August 14, 2017 (edited) The closest to a ride closing I've been to is riding the Georgia Cyclone about a week before closing, very sad. Edited January 1, 2019 by Coasterharrison'98 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master Posted August 14, 2017 Report Share Posted August 14, 2017 I rode Rolling Thunder on its final day near closing. Made a special trip to Hershey to ride Roller Soaker a couple weeks before it closed. Swam Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon a week before it closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougdrummer Posted August 14, 2017 Report Share Posted August 14, 2017 I think there have been some rides that never got a proper sendoff, because they were closed for repairs or retrofits, but then never reopened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Kaiser Posted August 14, 2017 Report Share Posted August 14, 2017 The closest thing I have is attending Riding of the Bull when Rolling Thunder closed. Even though RT's last day was Sunday, the event was on Saturday and there was a closing "ceremony" and slideshow (full of GAH pics!) hosted jointly by ACE and the park. However, I was on the last train that night, which actually dispatched at 12:01am, so tecchnicallyyyy I was on the first train on the last date of operation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdfresh Posted August 14, 2017 Report Share Posted August 14, 2017 The kids and I rode Rolling Thunder on its last day. It was tough for my son because at the time he was in between 44 inches and 48 inches which left him with no "big" coasters to ride. I think he was able to finally ride El Toro the next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warnerleroy Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 Was on hand for the Great Movie Ride closing last night. Definetely more crowded than usual, but the ride never went over a two hour wait. Rode it severl times, with my last time being around 9:10(the park was closing at 9:30). The crowds where sad, but very enthusiastic. The cast was both. As soon as my last ride ended our guide immedietely got of the ride and started crying, as was the sentiment with much of the cast at the ride. Coincidentally I was at Epcot earlier in the day. Didn't ride Energy Universe because, to be honest, never liked it. Line didnt look long at all, but was outside the building. It was just luck I planned my trip with GMR ride closing. Definetely one of my favorites since I was a kid and it hurts to loose it. That's the only time I've ever been on a ride the day it closed. Also, for those wondering, in the last few days of operations the GMR was running both the gangster and cowboy versions of the show, which to my knowledge they haven't done in years. The cast at the ridemade it VERY clear that due to the extra crowds NO show, or row requests woud be honored. It was pretty much you get what we give you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshi Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 I guess they had to do that because so many people would have requested the western scene. I think I only got to see that version two times compared to at least 10 of the gangster scene. The same thing happened at the World of Motion closing. We kept riding it right up until 9pm and got on the ride at the stroke of nine for our last ride, We made it all the way to the Used Chariots scene and the ride stopped. They tried numerous times to restart the ride but no luck. We were walked out and evacuated. The next day in the Orlando Sentinel it said that they had some sort of breakdown which they couldn't reset. Interesting, it has got be really low odds of the same type of breakdown happening on the final rides in the same park and in the same area of the park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master Posted August 16, 2017 Report Share Posted August 16, 2017 Forgot about driving the drive through safari near its closing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted August 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2017 I did the Safari closure too. How did I forget that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timoteo47 Posted November 29, 2018 Report Share Posted November 29, 2018 I did Safari before it stopped letting normal cars through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master Posted November 20, 2020 Report Share Posted November 20, 2020 On 8/16/2017 at 12:09 AM, 29yrswithaGApass said: I did the Safari closure too. How did I forget that! Who ever thought a virus would bring the drive thru Safari back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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