Credit: Ed Aguila, Inside the MagicDisney is rebuilding a lost part of Disneyland Park.
Disneyland has changed dramatically since opening in 1955. Entire lands, attractions, restaurants, and entertainment offerings have disappeared over the decades, with many now existing only in photographs and the memories of longtime fans.
From the Skyway and PeopleMover to the original Flying Saucers and Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland, Disneyland has repeatedly reinvented itself. Even smaller pieces of the park’s history have quietly vanished as the resort has expanded and modernized.
Now, Disney is bringing back one overlooked piece of the park’s past that has been missing for years.
Disney Moves Forward With Lost Disneyland Restoration
A newly discovered permit reveals that Disneyland is preparing to reconstruct the radio house located beside the New Orleans Square train station, restoring a structure that was lost following a fire in December 2022.
Many guests may have never noticed the small building, which sat across from the station platform used by visitors boarding the Disneyland Railroad. Despite its modest size, it formed part of one of the most detailed corners of the park.
The structure was severely damaged after an overnight fire on December 28, 2022. No injuries were reported, but the building remained hidden behind construction walls, scrim, and scaffolding for years afterward.
Disney ultimately removed the damaged structure in 2025, leaving a visible gap within the station area.
Since then, fans have wondered whether the company would permanently replace the building or leave the space unchanged.
New: Disneyland has filed a permit to rebuild the New Orleans Station Breakroom which was burned in 2022 and then demolished in 2025. The permit was filed in November 2025 as confidential and has now been issued.
Permit Entry:
DLR – New Orleans Square/Train Station – New Commercial Construction: 357 sq ft breakroom building with restroom. With mechanical, electrical and plumbing.
New: Disneyland has filed a permit to rebuild the New Orleans Station Breakroom which was burned in 2022 and then demolished in 2025. The permit was filed in November 2025 as confidential and has now been issued.
Permit Entry:
DLR – New Orleans Square/Train Station – Newā¦ pic.twitter.com/wyrzrwi8Vt— Theme Park IQ (@ThemeParkIQ) June 4, 2026
A newly approved permit suggests Disney has chosen the former option.
According to permit documents, the project calls for the construction of a new 357-square-foot building that will include a cast member break room and restroom, along with updated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
Although the permit was originally filed in November 2025, it only recently became public after receiving official approval.
History of the New Orleans Square Radio House
The original radio house served a practical backstage purpose, but it also carried a unique connection to Disney history. Like the rest of the New Orleans Square station area, the building’s design was inspired by a set created for Disney’s 1948 film So Dear to My Heart.
Walt Disney had originally hoped to use the actual movie set at Disneyland. However, animator Ward Kimball ā who, like Walt, was a railroad enthusiast ā had been gifted the set and chose to keep it, leading Disney to create a replica instead.
Decades later, that replica became a quiet but important piece of Disneyland history ā and now, it appears set to return.
Have you ever noticed this spot in New Orleans Square?
