Credit: Disneyland ArchivesMore sections of Disneyland have closed due to ongoing construction on the resort’s newest attraction.
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As Walt Disney himself stated, the Disney theme parks will never truly be “finished” but will continue to be upgraded and redesigned as time goes on.
While this mindset has guided Walt Disney Imagineering for decades, the Disney theme parks are currently experiencing some of the most transformational periods they have ever seen, with new rides and attractions being built on both coasts.
Perhaps the most notable new addition to the Disney theme parks is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a new spin on Disney’s classic log flume ride, Splash Mountain, which closed permanently in 2023.
Work quickly began on the new ride, which is based on Disney’s 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened first at the Magic Kingdom in Florida, with Disneyland’s version in California following suit.
However, as work continues on the new ride, several sections of the Disneyland Resort have been sliced and chopped up, making traversing the park somewhat difficult.
Disneyland Walkway Closed Off
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In May, Disneyland announced that Critter Country would be closing for an indefinite amount of time. In the weeks since, several more areas have closed, with the walkway between New Orleans Square and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge now being roped off to guests.
Disney is also in the middle of rebuilding the outdoor queue area for Haunted Mansion, which will significantly enhance the decades-old attraction. Disneyland began renovating its iconic Haunted Mansion attraction earlier this year, causing several other surrounding areas to close or be rerouted.
The walls for this project are now being used to block the walkway between New Orleans Square and Galaxy’s Edge. It’s unclear when this walkway will open to guests.
Along with a new outdoor queue area, Disneyland will add onto the Haunted Manson “grounds,” revealing concept art for the project earlier this year (shown below).
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Most of Critter Country closed earlier this year due to construction on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. This closure affected attractions like Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes and Disneyland’s Winnie the Pooh dark ride. Both the Critter Country Fruit Cart and Hungry Bear Restaurant are now closed as well, and the latter is set to receive kitchen refurbishments.
Rarely has Disneyland seen this many closures at one time, with guests discussing the current state of the resort online. Reddit user AlexInman stated they had never seen so many things closed at Disneyland, prompting a discussion among hundreds of other fans.
I have not seen this much of Disneyland closed in my lifetime. The entire west side of the park, from Tiana’s Palace to Rise of the Resistance, is closed and all pathways are completely inaccessible due to the combined Haunted Mansion and Bayou Adventure construction.
byu/AlexInman inDisneyland
The New Orleans station is also closed, making for a shorter trip on the Disneyland Railroad.
Haunted Mansion is expected to reopen this fall, just in time for its annual holiday makeover inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). The regular version of the dark ride is expected to return in early 2025.
An opening date has not yet been revealed for Disneyland’s version of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, though crews have made significant progress on the new thrill ride in recent weeks.
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