This Disney California Journey and Disneyland journey refurbishment calendar for 2024 lists momentary attraction closures so what received’t be working earlier than planning your trip. Moreover, we provide data about reimagining initiatives which can be underway to reinforce experiences across the resort. (Up to date August 16, 2024.)
Whereas nobody needs attraction closures throughout their go to, they’re a needed a part of preserving Disneyland and Disney California Journey in good situation, as routine upkeep, security upgrades, and attraction enhancements are all performed throughout scheduled journey closures. Normally, there are solely a handful of simultaneous closed rides, plus new sights being constructed.
Having an thought of which sights are closed at Disneyland and Disney California Journey is essential, however we suggest consulting our 2024 Disneyland Trip Planning Information for extra complete data. That covers all the things from saving cash on park tickets and motels to the place to eat, when to go to, and extra.
Along with scheduled attraction refurbs, unscheduled downtime also can happen throughout a go to. This often solely happens for a number of hours at a time, so for those who discover an attraction is closed throughout your go to to Disneyland Resort and it’s not listed under, it’s doubtless a brief closure that may final a number of hours. Verify with close by Solid Members to substantiate.
Under is a schedule of Disneyland and Disney California Journey refurbishments, when the closure begins, and when the refurbishment will conclude. To the extent that particular dates are usually not but listed, these will likely be up to date as soon as Disneyland Resort offers exact begin and/or finish dates. The next day will likely be when the attraction is scheduled to reopen.
Listed below are the closure schedules for Disney California Journey and Disneyland…
Disney California Journey
- Anna & Elsa’s Royal Welcome within the Disney Animation Constructing – Reopening Date Unknown
- Animation Academy within the Disney Animation Constructing – Reopening Date Unknown
- Turtle Discuss with Crush within the Disney Animation Constructing – Reopening Date Unknown
- Beast’s Library within the Disney Animation Constructing – Completely Closed
- Paint the Evening Parade – Return Date Unknown
- Rogers: The Musical – Return Date Unknown
The primary additions to the closure calendar at DCA are all contained in the Disney Animation Constructing. Apparently, it doesn’t seem (at the very least presently) that the constructing itself will shut–so maybe the foyer will stay open, providing an air-conditioned respite? Or possibly it’ll additionally shut and simply isn’t listed but.
Subsequent, let’s check out the 2024 Disneyland attraction closure calendar…
Disneyland
- Disneyland Railroad – Closed for refurbishment
- Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes – Reopening on August 19, 2024
- Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln – Reopening Date TBD
- Indiana Jones Journey – Closed for refurbishment beginning September 9, 2024
- “it’s a small world” – Closed from September 16 till November 15, 2024
- “it’s a small world” – Closed from January 21, 2025 till Spring 2025
- Jungle Cruise – Closed beginning September 16, 2024 (Possible reopening by Columbus Day)
- Primary Avenue Electrical Parade – Return Date Unknown
- Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – Reopening Date TBD (Possible Fall 2024)
- “Mickey’s Combine Magic” – Return Date Unknown
- Area Mountain – Closed till September 5, 2024
- Splash Mountain – Completely Closed
- Story of the Lion King – Completely Closed
- Tiana’s Bayou Journey – Opening Date Unknown
- Wondrous Journeys Fireworks – Return Date Unknown
“it’s a small world” is the most recent addition to the refurbishment calendar.
That is an annual closure, with the downtime needed so as to add the seasonal overlay and convert the attraction to “it’s a small world” vacation. A little bit of downtime at first and finish of the Christmas season are well-worth this wonderful overlay, for those who ask us.
This yr, the closures will likely be longer and in addition incorporate basic upkeep and journey system upkeep. Because of this, “it’s a small world” will shut earlier in Fall 2024 and reopen later in Spring 2025. Nonetheless value it from our perspective, particularly since there could be a multi-month closure for normal refurbishments, regardless.
One other latest replace is that Haunted Mansion Vacation has reopened early and is utilizing a digital queue. It’s anticipated that the remainder of the queue received’t be prepared till late August or September, which is across the begin of Halloween Time at Disneyland. Every time the total queue is prepared, the journey ought to drop the digital queue–and resume utilizing a standby line and Lightning Lane.
It’s good to have Haunted Mansion Vacation open, even with a digital queue (which is fortunately simple to hitch) as a result of there are a number of closures slated to start out quickly, together with each Area Mountain and the Disneyland Railroad. Disney hasn’t introduced a reopening date for Disneyland Railroad, however they’ve revealed that Area Mountain will reopen on September 6, 2024. The enduring curler coaster is getting up to date lighting, together with the journey’s tunnel–our hope is that Area Mountain additionally returns in its Ghost Galaxy type for Halloween. We miss that campy traditional overlay!
Other than Haunted Mansion, each attraction on that aspect of the park in close by Critter Nation is closed. Take a look at New Orleans Sq. & Critter Nation Building Updates for a take a look at progress as of final month. There’s nonetheless a number of work to be performed.
This consists of the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, Hungry Bear Restaurant, plus the reward outlets and the character meet & greets. No reopening date has been given, but it surely’s assumed to be the opening date of Tiana’s Bayou Journey, which is November 15, 2024.
Disneyland’s acknowledged purpose for the closure is to transform two of the reward outlets into Princess and the Frog themed places. Nonetheless, it is a comparatively small scale change and will doubtless be completed briefly order with out closing the entire land.
Our perception is that there are considerations about crowd circulation. Between that and a want to have everything of Critter Nation closed to facilitate smoother development on Tiana’s Bayou Journey, it simply is smart to shut the land till the reimagined journey is prepared.
On a unfavourable observe, the model of Tiana’s Bayou Journey at Walt Disney World is now working and has been affected by issues. (See our Tiana’s Bayou Journey Trip Assessment: Failure, Flawed or Incredible?) Truthfully, even past the reliability and downtime woes, we hope Imagineers are capable of repair the plain points with the substance of the attraction earlier than the Disneyland model opens.
One other ongoing closure is Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln. That is going to prolonged refurbishment–Disneyland filed constructing permits valued at $5 million with the Metropolis of Anaheim to switch present parts, lighting, audio and present methods within the Primary Avenue Opera Home.
Most notably, the development allow signifies {that a} present platform will likely be changed, and a brand new turntable will likely be put in. Disneyland has already confirmed that the Lincoln Audio Animatronics isn’t going wherever, and so they’re mum about what substantive modifications will come to the attraction. All we do know at this level is that Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln will likely be closed by way of at the very least mid-summer. Our guess is that the closure lasts for a number of extra months.
The turntable opens the door for plenty of potentialities, a few of which have been rumored or speculated. One main “principle” is {that a} Walt Disney Audio Animatronics determine or hologram (a la the Disney100 present) will likely be launched. I haven’t heard something (credible) straight about this, however I wouldn’t rule out the likelihood. For my part, it’s equally doubtless that Disneyland needs a turntable so this stage can be utilized as a flex house of types for different reveals or panel shows that aren’t Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
Now, a number of notes concerning the above refurbishments. Disneyland is infamous for altering its refurbishment schedules, including or canceling deliberate downtimes weeks or days prematurely. Whereas this follow continues to be comparatively unusual within the grand scheme of issues, it’s value mentioning as a result of it does occur.
Now, right here’s a little bit of our philosophy regarding refurbishments, with the precise instance of the latest multi-year Disneyland Railroad refurbishment used as an instance…
Ideas on Refurbishments
No person likes a favourite attraction to be refurbished throughout their trip. It means lacking out and probably not having the ability to expertise the journey for an additional yr or longer, relying upon the frequency of your visits to Disneyland. A few years in the past, the Disneyland Railroad closed for an prolonged refurbishment on account of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge development.
At first, we have been actually upset. This may look like an odd attraction to lament the closure of, however as Southern Californians with Disneyland Annual Passes, this was an absolute favourite of ours. We rode commonly after we wished to relaxation our ft, or just a break from the crowds. Excluding possibly ‘it’s a small world’, we did Disneyland Railroad greater than another attraction.
Nonetheless, that preliminary disappointment fairly shortly gave approach to pleasure. We started fascinated by methods Disneyland Railroad could possibly be plussed, enhancing the expertise for years to come back. Disney had already introduced that some modifications could be made (because the monitor wanted to be re-routed), and we have been excited for the prospect of latest present scenes or different visuals.
From my perspective, investing within the long-term high quality of an attraction is much extra essential than the momentary satisfaction I’ll get out of driving it on my subsequent go to. For this reason it all the time perplexes me when regulars contend that their trip will likely be ruined as a result of their favourite attraction will likely be closed.
If it’s your favourite attraction and also you’re energetic within the Disney fan neighborhood, which means you’ve been to Disneyland earlier than and possibly will go to once more. It will thus stand to purpose that you’d need one thing you like to get the TLC it deserves, and proceed to enhance.
Disneyland Railroad works as an excellent instance right here…largely as a result of it did obtain important modifications and enhancements. (Arguably, the Rivers of America suffered on account of being condensed, however that’s one other subject for an additional day–we cowl all features of this in our New-Look Grand Circle Tour of Disneyland submit.)
The purpose extends to different sights which have seen comparable plussings, but in addition have extra of an issue with results breaking. Take Indiana Jones Journey, for instance. It is a journey that appears to get a refurbishment about each different yr (generally extra regularly) and we’d argue that it might in all probability use extra common upkeep than that.
In case you are a long-term fan, would you reasonably expertise Indiana Jones Journey each single go to with 75% of the results working, or each single go to minus one or two with 95% of the results working? For me, the reply to that’s simple. I’ll take a superior long run expertise each time.
Past that, there’s the way more compelling justification for normal refurbishments: they’re important for the protection of sights. Whereas we might consider these sights as all enjoyable and video games that provide a protected sense of exhilaration, that’s when they’re correctly maintained.
It’s disagreeable to consider, however there have been a number of preventable deaths within the historical past of Disney’s parks. Throughout a darkish period of Disneyland historical past, improper upkeep was the reason for dying on Massive Thunder Mountain. Likewise, years of neglect at Disneyland Paris have led to incidents of harm that could possibly be attributed to an absence of upkeep. In each circumstances, this has been addressed, and upkeep has improved significantly.
This isn’t meant to scare anybody or provoke an emotional response. Disney’s worldwide security report is sterling as in comparison with different park operators. It’s nonetheless essential to keep in mind that these enjoyable, ‘magical’ locations additionally exist in the actual world and use a number of probably harmful parts if security is just not considered as key. (Or, in Disney’s case, one of many 4 Keys.)
In terms of upkeep that isn’t important to the protected operation of an attraction, we’re left to ponder what quantity of present high quality ought to be accepted. If following a strict Nunis-ian interpretation of the 4 Keys, present is a crucial consideration, and it ought to all the time be 100%. It is a good purpose to attempt for, however the sensible actuality is that 100% present high quality is an unworkably excessive threshold generally.
In my estimation, it is a good instance of balancing visitor pursuits with present high quality. Get the results working which can be simply fixable, and discover different methods to handle results which can be regularly breaking. We’re not speaking about security right here, simply random results. Indiana Jones Journey has had plenty of results disabled or changed over time as a result of they have been unreliable.
Company are understandably involved when it seems an inordinate variety of sights are closing throughout their trip, particularly out of state guests. Journeys to California are usually not low-cost and are sometimes as soon as in a lifetime experiences; first-timers definitely don’t need to miss out on experiences about which they’ve learn intensive hype.
With that stated, Disneyland and Disney California Journey should be publishing their routine refurbishment schedules a number of months prematurely, permitting visitors to plan round closures. Disney plans upkeep effectively prematurely, and this data ought to be handed alongside to visitors. For probably the most half, it’s.
Clearly, unplanned upkeep can happen, which takes rides out of fee for hours and even days on the final minute. That is an unavoidable a part of refined theme park sights, and there’s no actual approach to “plan round” this. It simply is what it’s.
Nonetheless, the issue with a “not throughout my trip” angle like that is that it’s all the time going to be somebody’s (or tens of 1000’s of someones) trip. If Disneyland and Disney California Journey sights with present high quality points aren’t shut for refurbishments for concern of some visitors throughout a time-limited window lacking out, all visitors in perpetuity are going to have a lesser expertise.
The tip results of that pondering is a duct-tapped strategy to attraction upkeep, with no matter work that may be performed in a single day completed, and two parks stuffed with sights with half their results damaged. First-timers could be left questioning why there was a lot hype about Disneyland within the first place, as so many elements of rides merely don’t work. If you happen to’re studying this as a lifelong fan, effectively…possibly you wouldn’t have turn out to be a lifelong fan if this have been truly Disneyland’s modus operandi.
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Suggestions for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Study on-site and off-site motels in our Anaheim Resort Opinions & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Opinions. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and tons of different locations!
Your Ideas…
Any questions concerning the present refurbishments at Disneyland Resort? What do you consider refurbishments on the Disney Parks? Are you extra involved about an improved long-term expertise, or do you suppose “not throughout my trip!”? Every other elements you suppose are value contemplating? As talked about, we expect it is a dialog, so please share your ‘refurbishment philosophy’, or another ideas or questions you may have, within the feedback!
