6 Disneyland Attractions That Will Temporarily Close for the Summer
Those thinking of having some fun in the sun at Disneyland might want to rethink those vacation plans, because some major rides are soon to be temporarily out of commission for a duration of the busy summer season. In an effort to prepare for the upcoming Halloween season, the Happiest Place on Earth announced that it will close six attractions for their annual seasonal refurbishments during the month of August. And some of them are very popular rides.
The attractions set to temporarily cease operation during the hottest month of the summer include Space Mountain, Disneyland Railroad, Disneyland Monorail, Animation Academy, Turtle Talk with Crush, and Anna & Elsa’s Royal Welcome. And if six closures wasn’t already enough of a bummer, how about a dozen? Prior to this announcement, six other rides had already been temporarily shuttered for extensive renovations. Those attractions include the Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, and Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. That means if you go to the park in August, you could be missing out on 12 popular attractions.
Want to catch some of these rides before they’re temporarily unavailable or find out when they’re coming back so you can retool your August trip? Here’s a breakdown on when select attractions will be shutting down and when they’re expected to reopen.
Space Mountain
The Space Mountain roller coaster in Tomorrowland is expected to halt operation on August 5 for seasonal refurbishment. As many Disneyland ride enthusiasts are aware, the beloved coaster always gets a spooky makeover for the Halloween season. A reopening date has not yet been set, but it shouldn’t be down for too long, as the Halloween season is already lurking right around the corner. But if you want to catch the ride in its classic form before its ghostly makeover, you better get there before August 5.
Disneyland Railroad/Disneyland Monorail
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The Disneyland Railroad will close on August 5 and the Disneyland Monorail that connects Tomorrowland to Downtown Disney will closed starting on August 12. Reopening dates for both attractions have not yet been announced.
The Animation Academy/ Turtle Talk with Crush
The Animation Academy and Turtle Talk with Crush will both close on August 5 for refurbishment. But the interactive show featuring Crush won’t be gone for too long. Turtle Talk is expected to resume operation on August 16, but a return date for Animation Academy is still pending.
Anna & Elsa’s Royal Welcome
Anna & Elsa’s Royal Welcome — a meet-and-greet experience located in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure — will be closed for refurbishment August 5–15.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh/Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
As it was announced back on May 1, the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes will continue to remain closed as part of the larger construction project going on in Critter Country. The closure makes way for a redo of Briar Patch, the former gift shop that was attached to Splash Mountain. Splash Mountain is still undergoing its major transformation into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (The Prince and the Frog re-theme of Splash Mountain). The beloved log ride closed on May 31, 2023, and an official opening date for the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland has not yet been announced, but its sister version opened on June 28 at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
The Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
The Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln animatronics show closed back in April and a reopening date still has not been set.
The Haunted Mansion
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And finally, fans of the Haunted Mansion will be pleased to hear that the spooky attraction will finally be making a comeback after a grueling eight-month wait. The popular haunted house ride closed back in January for a renovation project that includes a completely remodeled outdoor queue and a new retail shop at the attraction’s exit. Disneyland announced that the Haunted Mansion will be back just in time for its annual Nightmare Before Christmas-themed makeover. The Doom Buggies will be back in action on August 23.
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