Disney is (unsurprisingly) closing rides.

In a shocking move to no-one, Disney World announces permanent ride closures. 

I'm unsure how anyone can be surprised at this point when rides that have been on 'seasonal only' status for years finally close.

This week Disney World finally announced that 'Primeval Whirl' and 'Sititch's Great Escape' we're closed for good. Both rides have operated as 'seasonal only' for years. In the case of Stitch's Geat Escape, it's been on 'seasonal only' status since 2016. Primeval has been seasonal longer than I can even recall. The surprising bit out of this round of closures is that the 'River of Light' night show at Animal Kingdom will also be closed. The nighttime attraction was rather widely popular and has only been running for three years.

Which leaves the question, with the sudden cuts Disney has been making due to the loss of income from the coronavirus shutdown, will anything new actually go into these spaces?

Rumors have circulated for  years about Stitch's Great Escape being replaced. We've heard everything from 'Alien Encounters is coming back' to 'Wreck-it Ralph'.  As for Primeval Whirl, it's hard to say. Some speculate that we'll be seeing a re-theme to Dinoland USA while others think that the space will turn into another flat-ride. Again, I expect this is going to boil down to if (or when) Disney decides they are ready to spend money again.  I wouldn't expect too much for at least a year, if not longer.

Cedar Point is... half open.

Cedar Point is open for the season, but is it really?

Cedar point is officially open for what is left of the Summer 2020 season, but the parks has opened missing almost a dozen rides.

Famous for roller coasters and thrill seeking, Cedar Point has currently closed five of their seventeen coasters.
Blue Streak, Gemini, Top Thrill Dragster, Wicked Twister and Rougaou are not operating and likely won't for the rest of the summer season.

Surprisingly, this closed coaster list includes the famous 'Top Thrill Dragster' or as many refer to it  'The Lawn Ornament'.  A coaster notorious for downtime and closing due to weather (winds) but also a huge crowd favorite since opening in 2003.

Cedar Point is blaming capacity and the limited season for the closures. However, Cedar Points  sister park Kings Island has everything up are running, including at least two rides Cedar Point has closed. Rumor has it that it's the utter lack of foreign staffing that's harming the park, not capacity limits. Cedar Point is also famous for bringing in overseas help for the busy summer season, to staff the park. With the US boarder (along with most of the world) closed right now, the park simply can't get enough staff to keep their ride collection operating.

It's not only the roller coasters which are suffering from lack of staffing- Flat rides have been gutted including the famous 'Antique Cars' and "Cedar Downs Racing Derby'.  Also on this list of closed flat-rides are Frontier Fling, Joe Cools Dodgem School, Monster, ALL of Planet Snoopy, SlingShot, Super Huimalaya, Waver Swinger and WindSeeker.

So if your planning to go to Cedar Point this short season, please make sure you check to see what rides are currently operating.