2026 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar
This Disney California Adventure and Disneyland ride refurbishment calendar for 2026 lists temporary attraction closures so you know what won’t be open before planning your vacation. Additionally, info about reimagining projects underway to enhance experiences around the parks.
While no one wants attraction closures during their visit, they are a necessary part of keeping Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in good condition, as routine maintenance, safety upgrades, and attraction improvements are all done during scheduled ride closures. Usually, there are only a handful of simultaneous closed rides, plus new attractions being built.
The bad news is that winter is historically ‘refurbishment season’ at Disneyland, and there are several closures that are now underway. The good news is that most of these should wind down before Spring Break, before another round starts during shoulder season. Here’s the full rundown…
Having an idea of which attractions are closed at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure is important, but we recommend consulting our 2026 Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide for more comprehensive info. That covers everything from saving money on park tickets and hotels to where to eat, when to visit, and more.
In addition to scheduled attraction refurbs, unscheduled downtime can also occur during a visit. This usually only occurs for a few hours at a time, so if you find an attraction is closed during your visit to Disneyland Resort and it’s not listed below, it’s likely a temporary closure that will last a few hours. Check with nearby Cast Members to confirm.
Below is a schedule of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure refurbishments, when the closure starts, and when the refurbishment will conclude. To the extent that specific dates are not yet listed, those will be updated once Disneyland Resort provides precise start and/or end dates. The following day will be when the attraction is scheduled to reopen.
Here are the closure schedules for Disney California Adventure and Disneyland…
Disney California Adventure
- Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! – Permanently ended
- Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind – Closed until TBD
- Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! – Permanently closes in 2027
- Silly Symphony Swings – Closed until TBD
On Pixar Pier, there’s been a wave of ride closures. Incredicoaster, Jumpin’ Jellyfish, Golden Zephyr, and Toy Story Midway Mania have all returned from refurbishment. Next up is Silly Symphony Swings, which does not have hours posted through June 17, 2026 (as far out as the calendar goes).
Curiously, Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind has not yet reopened despite being scheduled to return two months ago. At this point, it’s a day-by-day closure and we have zero visibility into when it might reopen or why it hasn’t yet.
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue will permanently close in early 2026 sometime in 2027 according to Disneyland. As the strikethrough suggests, Disney Delayed the Monsters, Inc Dark Ride Permanent Closing Date from 2026 to 2027!
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue will remain into 2027 without any impact to other construction timelines. Meaning that Eastern Gateway and Pandora are not delayed by virtue of this news. Disneyland President Thomas Mazloum explained to us that his team worked to shift around the sequencing of these projects, and found a way to move around the phases of the projects in order to grant the Monsters, Inc. dark ride a reprieve from closure without delaying anything else.
We’ve long been skeptical as to whether the Monsters, Inc. dark ride actually needed to close this year, so this isn’t a huge surprise. For the reasons discussed in that post, we also wouldn’t be surprised if Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue remains open until the Eastern Gateway comes online.
Next, let’s take a look at the 2026 Disneyland attraction closure calendar…
Disneyland
- Autopia – Closes for electrification in early 2027
- Blue Bayou Restaurant – Closed through May 20, 2026
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters – Closed for refurbishment (Reopening TBD)
- Magic Happens Parade – Return TBD (Likely 2027)
- Pirates of the Caribbean – Closed for refurbishment (Reopening TBD)
The newest closure added to the list is Autopia, which closes for modernization in early 2027. This means ditching the gas guzzlers and swapping them out for electric vehicles.
With the ride’s 10-year sponsorship deal winding down, we’re also expecting an extensive refurbishment and refresh, likely lasting several months. Our best guess is that it reopens after spring break–hopefully in time for Summer 2027!
The big closures on the calendar are Pirates of the Caribbean and the attached Blue Bayou Restaurant, which is the restaurant inside the attraction. Both closed starting May 4, 2026 for refurbishments.
As with the DCA closures, the calendar currently extends through June 17, 2026, so anything with a TBD probably reopens after that. Although we should note that sometimes return dates are scheduled after calendar dates are published, so there are no sure things.
This refurbishment ‘warning’ bulletin on the official Blue Bayou website offers additional insight:
Blue Bayou Restaurant will temporarily close for refurbishment on May 4, 2026, and is tentatively scheduled to reopen in late May. The restaurant will offer a modified dining experience while Pirates of the Caribbean is also under refurbishment, as views will be obstructed and Guests may hear some refurbishment noise.
In addition to indicating that Blue Bayou will reopen before May 2026 ends (it now has an official reopening date: May 21, 2026), the notice also implies that Pirates of the Caribbean will be closed significantly longer. If that weren’t the case, there wouldn’t be a ‘need’ to offer a modified dining experience while PotC is still closed.
Our best guess is that the ride closure lasts at least another full month, with Pirates of the Caribbean reopening sometime towards the tail end of June or later in Summer 2026. That’s purely speculative; the project could last longer or be over sooner. With that said, Disneyland has filed multiple construction permits for Pirates of the Caribbean, which cover a wide range of updates suggestive of a lengthy closure.
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is also closed for refurbishment of an unknown duration.
This has the potential to be a noteworthy project, especially coming right around the time when the Walt Disney World version of the attraction is slated to reopen following an approximately 7 month enhancement project. It’s possible Astro Blasters is getting a similar refresh and will have its own multi-month closure…or this could be something different entirely.
On a positive note, Jungle Cruise, Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin and the Disneyland Monorail all recently reopened. At this point, Disneyland has the fewest number of simultaneous refurbishments of 2026! Which probably means more is coming soon, as summer is not peak season.
Both of the Haunted Mansion and “it’s a small world” refurbishments are finished.
These are annual closures, with the downtime necessary to remove the seasonal overlays and convert the attraction from their “holiday” versions back to normal. This typically takes roughly 10 days to two weeks for each attraction, with the downtime being staggered.
Expect a repeat of these refurbishments in early to mid-August 2026 for Haunted Mansion (Holiday) and late October to mid-November for “it’s a small world” (holiday).
Finally, a few notes about the above refurbishments. Disneyland is notorious for changing its refurbishment schedules, adding or canceling planned downtimes weeks or days in advance. While this practice is still relatively uncommon in the grand scheme of things, it’s worth pointing out because it does happen.
What follows is our philosophy concerning refurbishments, with the specific example of the multi-year Disneyland Railroad refurbishment used to illustrate…
Thoughts on Refurbishments
Nobody likes a favorite attraction to be refurbished during their vacation. It means missing out and potentially not being able to experience the ride for another year or longer, depending upon the frequency of your visits to Disneyland. A couple of years ago, the Disneyland Railroad closed for an extended refurbishment due to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge construction.
At first, we were really disappointed. This might seem like an odd attraction to lament the closure of, but as Southern Californians with Disneyland Annual Passes, this was an absolute favorite of ours. We rode regularly when we wanted to rest our feet, or simply a break from the crowds. With the exception of maybe ‘it’s a small world’, we did Disneyland Railroad more than any other attraction.
However, that initial disappointment pretty quickly gave way to excitement. We began thinking about ways Disneyland Railroad could be plussed, improving the experience for years to come. Disney had already announced that some changes would be made (as the track needed to be re-routed), and we were excited for the prospect of new show scenes or other visuals.
From my perspective, investing in the long-term quality of an attraction is far more important than the temporary satisfaction I’ll get out of riding it on my next visit. This is why it always perplexes me when regulars contend that their vacation will be ruined because their favorite attraction will be closed.
If it’s your favorite attraction and you’re active in the Disney fan community, that means you’ve been to Disneyland before and probably will visit again. It would thus stand to reason that you would want something you love to get the TLC it deserves, and continue to improve.
Disneyland Railroad works as a good example here…in large part because it did receive significant changes and enhancements. (Arguably, the Rivers of America suffered due to being condensed, but that’s another topic for another day–we cover all aspects of this in our New-Look Grand Circle Tour of Disneyland post.)
The point extends to other attractions that have seen similar plussings, but also have more of a problem with effects breaking. Take Indiana Jones Adventure, for example. This is a ride that seems to get a refurbishment about every other year (sometimes more frequently) and we’d argue that it could probably use more regular maintenance than that.
If you are a long-term fan, would you rather experience Indiana Jones Adventure every single visit with 75% of the effects working, or every single visit minus one or two with 95% of the effects working? For me, the answer to that is easy. I’ll take a superior long term experience every time.
Beyond that, there’s the much more compelling justification for regular refurbishments: they are essential for the safety of attractions. While we may think of these attractions as all fun and games that offer a safe sense of exhilaration, that’s when they are properly maintained.
It’s unpleasant to think about, but there have been several preventable deaths in the history of Disney’s parks. During a dark era of Disneyland history, improper maintenance was the cause of death on Big Thunder Mountain. Likewise, years of neglect at Disneyland Paris have led to incidents of injury that could be attributed to a lack of maintenance. In both cases, this has been addressed, and maintenance has improved considerably.
This is not meant to scare anyone or provoke an emotional reaction. Disney’s worldwide safety record is sterling as compared to other park operators. It’s still important to remember that these fun, ‘magical’ places also exist in the real world and use a lot of potentially dangerous elements if safety is not viewed as key.
When it comes to maintenance that is not essential to the safe operation of an attraction, we are left to contemplate what amount of show quality should be accepted. If following a strict Nunis-ian interpretation of the Four/Five Keys, show is an important consideration, and it should always be 100%. This is a nice goal to strive for, but the practical reality is that 100% show quality is an unworkably high threshold sometimes.
In my estimation, this is a good example of balancing guest interests with show quality. Get the effects working that are easily fixable, and find other ways to address effects that are frequently breaking. We’re not talking about safety here, just random effects. Indiana Jones Adventure has had a number of effects disabled or replaced over the years because they were unreliable.
Guests are understandably concerned when it appears an inordinate number of attractions are closing during their vacation, especially out of state visitors. Trips to California are not cheap and are often once in a lifetime experiences; first-timers certainly do not want to miss out on experiences about which they’ve read extensive hype.
With that said, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure ought to be publishing their routine refurbishment schedules several months in advance, allowing guests to plan around closures. Disney plans maintenance well in advance, and this info should be passed along to guests. For the most part, it is.
Obviously, unplanned maintenance can occur, which takes rides out of commission for hours or even days at the last minute. This is an unavoidable part of sophisticated theme park attractions, and there’s no real way to “plan around” this. It just is what it is.
However, the problem with a “not during my vacation” attitude like this is that it’s always going to be someone’s (or tens of thousands of someones) vacation. If Disneyland and Disney California Adventure attractions with show quality issues aren’t close for refurbishments for fear of some guests during a time-limited window missing out, all guests in perpetuity are going to have a lesser experience.
The end result of that thinking is a duct-tapped approach to attraction maintenance, with whatever work that can be done overnight accomplished, and two parks full of attractions with half their effects broken. First-timers would be left wondering why there was so much hype about Disneyland in the first place, as so many components of rides simply don’t work. If you’re reading this as a lifelong fan, well…maybe you wouldn’t have become a lifelong fan if this were actually Disneyland’s modus operandi.
Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney. For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides beyond Disney, check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and tons of other places!
Your Thoughts…
Any questions about the current refurbishments at Disneyland Resort? What do you think about refurbishments at the Disney Parks? Are you more concerned about an improved long-term experience, or do you think “not during my vacation!”? Any other factors you think are worth considering? As mentioned, we think this is a conversation, so please share your ‘refurbishment philosophy’, or any other thoughts or questions you have, in the comments!
Space Mountain is listed on the refurbishments on the app starting September 18, 2023. Just a heads up!
Thanks for the heads up! Looks like that was just added as of today.
I watched ‘Rogers – The Musical.’ I agree that it is well rehearsed and in sync with the recorded track. For me, there just wasn’t much magic. I don’t think it has the strength to bring people back to see it again and again. I’ll be interested to in its longevity.
Any news or further predications on the Adventureland Treehouse re-opening? We are visiting August 8-13th and were hoping to see it! I realize it’s a very minor attraction, but I love this type of theming. Why is this project taking so long?!
No prediction for an opening date whatsoever. The scrim is starting to come down…slowly. If you asked this question a month or six weeks ago, I would’ve guessed that it’d be open by now. I’m not sure what’s taking so long, to be honest.
Could the Monorail closures relate to Downtown Disney construction?
While I haven’t been to Disneyland this year, the impression I get is that construction on the neglected, DL Hotel side of DTD is finally ramping up.
Thank you for sharing the link to the article titled “Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar” from DisneyTouristBlog.com. Planning a visit to Disneyland requires careful consideration of various factors, including refurbishments and closures of attractions. While I am unable to access the specific content of the article, I can provide you with a general response and offer some insights on Disneyland refurbishment calendars.
Keeping track of refurbishments and closures is essential for visitors to maximize their experience at Disneyland. Theme parks often undergo routine maintenance and updates to ensure the safety and enjoyment of guests. Refurbishments can range from minor enhancements to extensive renovations that temporarily close attractions or areas within the park.
To stay informed about Disneyland refurbishments, it’s helpful to refer to official sources such as the Disneyland Resort website or official social media channels. These platforms provide the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding any planned closures or refurbishments. The Disneyland Resort typically announces scheduled refurbishments well in advance, allowing visitors to plan their trips accordingly.
Additionally, independent Disney fan websites and blogs, such as DisneyTouristBlog.com, often compile refurbishment calendars based on available information and historical patterns. These calendars can provide a general overview of expected refurbishments and closures, but it’s important to cross-reference this information with official sources to ensure accuracy and account for any last-minute changes.
When planning your visit to Disneyland, consider factors such as the duration of your trip, the specific attractions you wish to experience, and any special events or holidays that may affect park operations. Flexibility and understanding that refurbishments are essential for the long-term maintenance and improvement of the park will contribute to a more enjoyable visit.
I encourage you to consult the official Disneyland Resort channels for the most accurate and current information on refurbishments and closures. Their announcements will provide the most reliable guidance when planning your Disneyland adventure.
I hope this general response assists you in understanding Disneyland refurbishment calendars. If you have any further questions or require more specific information, feel free to ask.
Dear Disney Tourist Blog,
I wanted to express my gratitude for your comprehensive Disneyland refurbishment calendar. As a Disney enthusiast and frequent visitor to the parks, your calendar has become an invaluable resource for planning my trips and staying up to date with the latest refurbishments and closures.
Your article provides a wealth of information regarding the refurbishment schedules for various attractions, restaurants, and entertainment offerings at Disneyland. Here are a few aspects of your calendar that I find particularly helpful:
Detailed Descriptions: I appreciate the thorough descriptions you provide for each refurbishment, including the specific dates, duration, and any additional details or updates. This level of detail allows me to plan my visit accordingly and make informed decisions about which attractions and experiences to prioritize during my trip.
Visual Presentation: The visual presentation of the refurbishment calendar is fantastic. The use of color-coded categories and clear icons makes it easy to navigate and quickly identify the types of closures or refurbishments taking place. The inclusion of additional notes and links to relevant articles or announcements adds further context and enhances the user experience.
Future Planning: One of the most valuable aspects of your calendar is the inclusion of upcoming refurbishments beyond the current month. This allows me to plan my visits well in advance and anticipate any potential closures or changes that might impact my itinerary. It’s incredibly helpful to have a long-term perspective when planning multiple trips to Disneyland throughout the year.
Ongoing Updates: I appreciate that you regularly update the refurbishment calendar to reflect any changes or new information as it becomes available. This shows your commitment to providing accurate and up-to-date information, ensuring that readers have the most reliable resource for their trip planning.
To further enhance the calendar, you might consider adding a search or filtering functionality that allows users to easily find specific attractions or categories of interest. This could be particularly useful for individuals looking to plan their visit around specific attractions or experiences.
Thank you for creating and maintaining such a valuable resource for Disneyland visitors. Your refurbishment calendar has become an essential tool in my trip planning, and I’m sure many other Disney enthusiasts appreciate the effort and dedication you put into keeping it updated. I look forward to following your blog for more Disneyland tips and insights.
Dear Disney Tourist Blog,
Thank you for providing the Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar on your website. As a Disney enthusiast, I find this resource incredibly valuable for planning my visits to the park. I wanted to express my gratitude and offer some feedback based on my experience using the calendar.
The Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar you have created is a comprehensive and informative tool for visitors. It helps us stay informed about upcoming refurbishments, closures, and attraction updates, allowing us to plan our trips accordingly. The layout of the calendar is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it convenient to find the information we need.
I appreciate the level of detail you provide for each refurbishment entry. The inclusion of specific dates, attraction names, and descriptions of the refurbishment activities or closures helps us better understand the impact on our park experience. Additionally, your notes on anticipated completion dates or temporary closures provide useful insights for visitors who may want to adjust their travel plans accordingly.
The color-coded system used in the calendar, distinguishing between different types of refurbishments, is a thoughtful addition. It allows users to quickly identify which attractions are affected and the nature of the refurbishment, whether it’s a routine maintenance closure, a seasonal overlay, or a major renovation. This visual representation makes it easier to plan our days at the park and manage our expectations.
I would like to suggest adding a section or a separate page on your website that provides additional information on refurbishment processes and why they are necessary. This would help educate readers about the importance of regular maintenance and enhancements to maintain the high standards of the Disneyland Resort. It could also include any insights or behind-the-scenes information you may have on how the refurbishment process works.
Furthermore, it would be beneficial to provide updates on the progress of ongoing refurbishments or any changes to the planned schedule. Although I understand that refurbishment timelines can be subject to change, periodic updates on the calendar or a section dedicated to recent changes would be helpful for visitors who rely on this resource for trip planning.
Overall, the Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar on your website is an excellent tool for Disney fans and park visitors. It provides valuable information that enhances our planning process and helps us make informed decisions about our park experiences. I commend you for creating and maintaining such a useful resource.
Thank you again for providing this valuable service to Disney enthusiasts. I hope my feedback proves useful and contributes to the ongoing improvement of your calendar.
Thank you for sharing your Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar. As a Disney enthusiast, I appreciate the effort and attention to detail you put into creating this resource for other Disney fans.
Your calendar provides valuable information on the scheduled refurbishments and closures at Disneyland, which can help visitors plan their trips accordingly. It’s especially helpful for those who are visiting the park for the first time and may not be familiar with the refurbishment schedule.
I also appreciate the additional information you provide, such as the expected duration of each refurbishment and the specific attractions that will be affected. This level of detail can be very helpful for visitors who want to make the most of their time at the park.
Overall, your Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar is a fantastic resource for Disney fans and visitors to the park. Thank you for sharing this information and for your continued dedication to providing helpful and informative content on all things Disney.
We’re going to Disneyland for the first time in early June. We’re fairly experienced WDW attendees. I’ve read your 1-day itinerary and was wondering-in your opinion-based on recent closures and certain Fantasyland rides being closed-what would you rope drop? Still knock out what’s left of fantasyland? Start with Star Wars? Or maybe Toontown? Just curious what you would do. Thanks!
Sad to see Peter Pan will close right before our June trip, but we’re following your suggestion of looking at the long term benefits of our favorite ride being with us for the long haul.
Question: you also mention the Main Street Electric Parade; I thought that was brought back recently only for an anniversary, but are there plans to bring it back more regularly?
When is your trip? Because I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Peter Pan’s Flight (etc.) are only down for a few days. Could be longer, but they’ll push to have those rides back up and running ASAP.
Main Street Electrical Parade has been returning whenever internal attendance forecasts are soft. They come up with other excuses to bring it back, but that’s the real one. I would not expect to see it this June or July, but it or Paint the Night during the early fall off-season or in early 2024 are definite possibilities.
I am so disappointed to see the Fantasyland rides that are closing right before our June trip. I’ve been on them plenty of times in my lifetime, but was looking forward to taking my kids on them now that they are older to remember them. We now live on the East coast and go to Disney World all the time, so I wanted them to experience these classic attractions that we don’t have in Orlando. Another trip to Disneyland probably won’t happen for years, so this was disappointing news! Keeping my fingers crossed that the necessary fixes can be done in like a week….LOL!
Do you think based on past closure timelines that it’s within the realm of possibility that the Fantasyland rides reopen by the weekend of June 24/25? We are going for the first time and likely won’t return for many years, and will be so disappointed to miss Alice and Mr. Toad.
I don’t think past closure timelines have any bearing on this. This is almost certainly work on the building itself, and will be completed as quickly as possible. My expectation is that the closure will be best measured in days–not weeks or months–but that could be wrong.
They’ll want this done ASAP, so the only thing that’ll prevent the rides from reopening before your trip is if the work cannot be finished that fast. I think the damage would have to be pretty bad for that to not be the case. (And if the damage *is* that bad, it seems unlikely they’d be able to have the rides open between now and June, in the first place.)
Tom, do you think the dark rides would return by late august?
I am assuming they are closing Peter Pan to get rid of the natives
I read your email newsletter every day but I just got scooped by my wife that the Matterhorn will be closed (beginning 4/17/23) when we’re there next month! Please update this post!
See this link (confirmed by the Disneyland daily calendar which currently goes out to 5/17/23)
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/disneyland/matterhorn-bobsleds/
I am so glad that Indiana Jones is going to get the attention it needs and deserves. Even if it means it is closed when we are finally able to make our trip. My husband and I agree we would rather not ride it than ride in its reported current state, even though we haven’t been in over 15 years. It’s his favorite ride and one of mine.
I very much agree with IJA. We were just there and one person in our party had never been on the ride. We were so excited to experience it with her. Then we were so disappointed. You are so correct that many effects were broken. I hope they restore it to it’s original glory. Including that wonderful queue. Hopefully, we can also wait in a normal line inside. They have us wait outside then let us go so we don’t get to explore the queue and wait in air conditioning.
One of our favorite things at Disneyworld was the Parade of Lights. It was like being a kid once again (and we are in our 60’s) so this WAS a big thing for us, and to see it going away, well, it’s just another reason NOT to go back to Disneyworld. We loved the Magical express and not having to worry about anything once off the plane. We (wife and I) are of the opinion, it’s all just about money now. In that case, Disney, you can keep it. We won’t be going back.
Thanks for the update Tom. So to clarify, the Christmas parade still runs through the entire holiday season & wasn’t behind a paywall last year, despite the first Christmas holiday hard ticket parties last year? So we can expect there to be a daily parade during regular hours of the holiday season? But no fireworks? But given that the Halloween Parade was always behind a paywall, there will likely be nothing in terms of a parade Sept 2 through Oct 31 during regular hours at DL parks? And no fireworks in that time frame either? I’ve got a few days of tickets to use up at DLR and am planning to go during one of your recommended windows between Remembrance Day & American Thanksgiving, so trying to adjust expectations accordingly. Thanks!
The Christmas fireworks are every Friday-Sunday, except Thanksgiving week and the month of December, when they are nightly. The Christmas parade is performed twice daily throughout the entirety of the holiday season. The Halloween parade is part of the Oogie Boogie Bash in DCA, but the Halloween Screams fireworks perform every Friday-Sunday in Disneyland, and the same show without the fireworks (so projects, music, lasers, lighting) performs on weekdays during that time period.
I am so bummed that Main Street Electrical parade is supposed to close Sept. 1. Why wouldn’t they at least let it run over the Labor Day weekend? I wish they would let it run at least until Sept 15 or something. It barely just started….
Thanks for the updates! I recently saw an online rumor that Matterhorn will close in August for 2 months. Any validity to that?
It just got put out there that Matterhorn is closing 8/8/22.
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/disneyland/matterhorn-bobsleds/