In 2025 Disneyland will celebrate its 70th anniversary, and while there are many opening day attractions still at Disneyland today, so much of the park has changed. And that doesn’t even touch on the fact that the Disneyland Resort now has a second theme park and a shopping and dining district, making it a true vacation destination.
The last 70 years have been great, but with DisneylandForward on the way, the next decade may be the most exciting yet. We only have the slightest hint of what’s to come at Disneyland Resort, but if you’re planning a trip soon, here’s a run down of what’s new, what’s coming, and what’s scheduled to close.
What’s New And Coming Soon To Disneyland Park
From significant updates to classic attractions, to entirely new additions to Disneyland, there's a lot planned for the future. Significant updates are planned in 2024, and even more will be coming in the future.
New Star Tours Additions - 4/5/24
Star Tours has existed at Disneyland, in one form or another, since 1987. When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was built, dedicating an entire land to the galaxy far far away, fans wondered if the original Star Wars ride would go away. Not only is it not leaving, but Star Tours received new content in 2024. The attraction, which has so many different potential combinations it's impossible to do the same ride twice, now includes sequences that bring Cassian Andor, Ahsoka, and the Mandalorian and Grogu into the attraction.
New Entrance Gates (2024- 2025)
Sometimes the new cool thing coming to Disneyland is a fun ride, and sometimes it's just something the park desperately needs to make it a better overall experience. Disneyland (and Disney California Adventure) are set to get new ticket gates in 2024. Both parks still use traditional turnstiles, but they will reportedly be replaced with plexiglass doors that open automatically when your ticket is scanned. This will hopefully fix one of the biggest current headaches at Disneyland: just getting into the park. Work will be done in phases, beginning October 7, 2024, and finishing sometime in 2025.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (November 15, 2024)
The biggest new addition to Disneyland Park in 2024 is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Splash Mountain has been redesigned into a Princess and the Frog-themed attraction, following fans demanding just such a ride. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is now open at Magic Kingdom as well, but honestly the Disneyland version of the ride is even better.
Walt Disney: A Magical Life (May 16, 2025)
One of the biggest swings we’ve seen from Disney Parks in a long time will come in 2025 when the Disneyland Opera House gets a new tenant. A new show, Walt Disney: A Magic Life, is set to debut, and will star an animatronic version of Walt Disney himself. We’re being promised that the technology behind the character will be at a level we’ve never seen before. The new show will debut on the frst day of DIsneyland's 70th anniversary celebration.
Mandalorian & Grogu on Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run (TBA/2026?)
Because Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run is primarily a digital experience, many have wondered if the story of the ride may get swapped out in the future for something new. That will happen in the future as it has been confirmed a new story with the Mandalorian and Grogu is set to debut on the attraction at some point. An exact date was not announced but since a Mandalorian & Grogu movie is coming in 2026, seeing the attraction debut around that same time is likely.
Disney California Adventure is often overlooked sitting next to Disneyland, but the park has incredible attractions, delicious food, and in some ways is honestly better than Disneyland.
Avengers: Infinity Defense (TBA)
When Avengers Campus was first announced, guests were promised a major E-ticket attraction would come as part of a phase 2 for the new land. Then a pandemic happened. Originally planned to be mostly set in Wakanda, we learned in 2022 that the ride had been re-conceived as a Multiverse adventure with King Thanos. At D23 in 2024 it was confirmed that ground will break on the new attraction in 2025, though when that work will be done is anybody’s guess.
Stark Flight Lab (TBA)
While the new Avengers ride is one that fans have been waiting years to see, another new attraction is on the way to Avengers Campus that nobody saw coming. Stark Flight Lab sees two-person pods that are lifted up by KUKA robotic arms, swung around, and then returned to a track. Most surprisingly Robert Downey Jr. will reprise his role as Tony Stark for the new attraction.
Avatar Land (TBA)
In early 2023, Bob Iger revealed that an “Avatar Experience” was coming to Disneyland. At D23 in 2024 we finally got a bit of clarity to what that meant and it’s all a bit more than just an “experience.” A new Avatar land is being added to DCA. The land will be primarily based on Avatar: The Way of Water but will also include elements from later films. A major E-ticket boat attraction has been announced and another attraction is planned but has not yet been revealed.
Coco Attraction (TBA)
The first attraction based on Pixar’s Coco was announced for Disney California Adventure at the last D23 event. Beyond the fact that it’s a boat ride themed to Coco, little is known. We know groundbreaking is planned for 2026 so this one is still going to be a wait.
What’s New And Coming Soon To Downtown Disney
While the theme parks get all the attention, Downtown Disney is a place worthy of attention. It's got great dining and shopping and all of ther resort's wonderful hotels. Sometimes you need a break from the rides.
Pixar Place Hotel - Now Open
Back in 2018, Disney California Adventure’s Paradise Pier became Pixar Pier, so it only made sense that the accompanying Paradise Pier hotel would get a similar makeover. The Pixar Place hotel opened at the end of January 2024, with a complete renovation inside and out to fill it with Pixar fun.
Hey, Disney (2024)
Digital assistants are popular with a lot of people, and now you’ll have one to help you plan your time at Disneyland Resort. A special version of Alexa has been rolling out at Walt Disney World resort hotels, and the same “Hey Disney” system is expected to begin arriving at the three Disneyland Resort hotels throughout 2024, and possibly beyond.
Parkside Market (TBA)
Downtown Disney has been undergoing a massive revitalization over the last few years and one of the biggest new additions will be Parkside Market. It will bring four different dining locations under one roof, including Seoul Sister, a fast-casual Korean eatery, Sip & Sonder, a cafe with Caribbean-inspired bites, lattes, and frozen drinks, GG’s Chicken Shop, and a second-story bar on top of it all.
Avengers Reserve (Now Open)
Merchandise is a big deal for Disney, and if you're an Avengers fan and you want some of the merch without needing to buy a theme park ticket too, that option is now available. Similar to the Star Wars Trading Post, Avengers Reserve offers Avengers merch outside the parks.
Disney Wonderful World of Sweets (2025)
The former Marceline’s Confectionery has been undergoing a facelift for the last few months that will also result in a name change when it reopens this winter. The Wonderful World of Disney Sweets should have all the treats of the previous location, with a brand new look.
The D-Lander Shop (Now Open)
If you're looking to improve your style, but add a Disney flare, then the D-Lander Shop is the place to check out. It promises "trend forward fashions" in a Southern California boutique.
Earl of Sandwich/Carnaby Tavern (TBA)
Ever since Earl of Sandwich closed to make way for a Disneyland hotel that never happened, the popular Earl of Sandwich has bounced around numerous temporary locations. It is now set to get a new permanent home in a brand new building, which will include a second floor bar, the Carnaby Tavern.
Arthur & Sons Steak and Bourbon steakhouse and Pearl’s Roadside BBQ (TBA)
Ever since Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel closed, the resort has been lacking a quality steak restaurant. Chef Joe Isidori, creator of Black Tap, already successful at Downtown Disney, will fix this problem when he opens a new steakhouse at Downtown Disney. The new location will also include a quick service BBQ restaurant as well.
What’s Closed And Scheduled For Refurbishment At Disneyland Park
Ride closures are never fun, but to keep everything at the theme parks working most of the time, regular maintenance is always necessary. And if you have a beloved attraction you don't want to miss, you can always schedule your trip around refurbishments.
Disneyland Railroad (August 5, 2024 - TBA)
The Disneyland Railroad has been down one station for months due to the construction taking place at the Haunted Mansion. In August the rest of the Railroad will close for refurbishment, which will at last at least through early October
Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln - (April 16, 2024- TBA)
Originally designed for the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, Mr. Lincoln was the most advanced audio-animatronic yet created. While Lincoln has been updated and upgraded in the past, work still needs to be done to keep him in working order. A new animatronic show starring Walt Disney is set to debut in the same location in May 2025. Disneyland says Lincoln and Walt will rotate, so Lincoln will be back, but a date for that has not been announced.
Meet Tinker Bell in Pixie Hollow (September 27, 2024 -TBA)
Tinker Bell has been unavailable to meet since September and while it initially looked like only a slight refurb, an exact reopening date is unclear at this point.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - (November 18 - December 13)
Following the opening of Tiana's Bayou Adventure it was time for another of Disneyland's "mountains" to get some work done. Big Thunder Mountain closed in mid-November but is scheduled to be back up and running by mid-December.
Haunted Mansion (January 7, 2025 - TBA)
Haunted Mansion is currently scheduled to go down for maintenance beginning Janauary 7 for its annual transformation away from the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay. What's exciting about that is, since the attraction was closed for most of 2024 in order to build the new queue area, when the ride reopens from this refurb, it will be the first time we've seen the traditional Haunted Mansion in well over a year.
What’s Closed And Scheduled For Refurbishment At Disney California Adventure
Disney California Adventure doesn't have quite the classic attractions that Disneyland has, but it still some E-ticket experiences it would be a shame to miss. Here's what the current downtime schedule looks like.
Grizzly River Run (January 6, 2025 - TBA)
It's fairly standard practice for water rides to go down for annual maintenence in January and that will be the case for Grizzley River Run starting January 6, 2025.
Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind (January 6, 2025 - TBA)
The flying carousel Emotional Whirlwind is set to go down for refurbishment beginning in January. As it's a fairly simply attraction, the work will probably not take too long.
What’s Closed And Scheduled For Refurbishment At Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney is actually where a lot of the energy of redevelopment has been focused recently. A lot of changes and additions have been made just in the last year, and a lot more is still to come.
Tortilla Jo’s Closed - April 7, 2024
Tortilla Jo’s has been a mainstay of Downtown Disney for 20 years, but two decades of service will come to an end in March when the Mexican restaurant closes for good. Exactly what is planned for the space is unclear, though this could be where the new Parkside Market is planning to go.
All of the new additions to Disneyland resort are expected to occur within the existing park boundary, which means the planned expansion of the resort whenever it actually begins, will bring even more to Disneyland.
