Disneyland and Disney California Adventure continue to bring back rides, restaurants and shops that have remained shuttered since the pandemic closure of the Anaheim theme parks more than a year ago.
Some Disneyland and DCA rides and shops are returning in the next few weeks, while other attractions still under refurbishment will stay closed for months. The fate of a handful of locations remains unknown.
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Disneyland continues to build momentum since the reopening of the parks 14 months ago with the return of nighttime spectaculars like “Fantasmic,” “World of Color” and the Main Street Electrical Parade this summer.
Fan favorite rides like Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage will return in July after a lengthy refurbishment while bigger projects like the makeover of Mickey’s Toontown will stretch into 2023.
Let’s take a closer look at what’s coming soon, further out on the calendar and still closed at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
Coming Soon
Pirates of the Caribbean
The popular Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland is scheduled to return from refurbishment in early July, according to Disneyland officials.
The popular Pirates attraction could return as soon as Friday, July 1, according to the Disneyland website.
Red Car Trolley
Disneyland has teased a summer return of the Red Car Trolley to Disney California Adventure.
Disneyland officials have now narrowed the return window to July for the trolley that travels between Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land.
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Disneyland will reopen the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage attraction on July 25, according to Disney Parks blog.
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage has remained closed since the park reopened in April 2021 after a yearlong pandemic closure while Walt Disney Imagineering and Disneyland crews refurbished the classic 1959 attraction.
Bippity Boppity Boutique
The Bippity Boppity Boutique reopened after the pandemic closure as a retail-only location — without the popular makeover service that transforms kids into their favorite Disney princess or knight.
Disneyland has been hiring licensed hair stylists and cosmetologists at recent job fairs.
Fairy Godmother apprentices — aka Disneyland employees — will once again offer hairstyling, makeup and costuming services to turn kids 3- to 12-years-old into their favorite Disney characters starting on Aug. 25.
Main Street U.S.A. Silhouette Studio
The Silhouette Studio — where Disneyland artists hand-cut silhouette busts in about a minute — has remained closed since the pandemic reopening of the park.
Disneyland is hiring part-time silhouette artists, according to Disney Careers.
Further Out
Tarzan’s Treehouse
Disneyland will reimagine Tarzan’s Treehouse in Adventureland with a new theme and backstory, according to Disneyland officials.
The treehouse experience isn’t going away, but the Tarzan theme won’t return when the attraction reopens.
The walkthrough attraction’s new theme, backstory and reopening date have not yet been announced.
Mickey’s Toontown
Imagineering is reimagining Mickey’s Toontown with new interactive play areas for young children as part of the launch of the new Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway dark ride at Disneyland in 2023.
The new additions will include a water play area and fountain at the center of the reimagined land dubbed Centoonial Park and a Dreaming Tree with a grassy play area.
The entire cartoon-themed land is closed for construction. The recently revamped Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin is expected to return along with Mickey and Minnie’s Houses that serve as meet-and-greet photo op locations. Gadget Go Coaster, Donald’s Boat and Goofy’s Playhouse are expected to be rethemed. Less certain are the fates of the Gag Factory gift shop and the land’s quick service food stands — Pluto’s Dog House, Daisy’s Diner and Clarabelle’s. Chip & Dale’s Treehouse has been removed by construction crews.
Paradise Pier Hotel
Disneyland will sprinkle a healthy dose of Pixar pixie dust on the aging Paradise Pier Hotel as part of a multi-million dollar renovation.
The renovation will completely reimagine the theme park resort’s least expensive hotel with Pixar stories.
Concept art released by Disneyland shows Pixar’s iconic Luxo Jr. lamp sitting on top of the red-starred blue and yellow Luxo ball in the lobby of the refreshed hotel. A kinetic art mobile in the lobby atrium includes characters from “Finding Nemo,” “Monsters Inc.,” “Wall-E,” “The Incredibles,” “Inside Out,” “Toy Story” and “Coco.” Luxo balls also line the exterior of the rethemed hotel.
Paradise Pier Hotel will not close during the Pixar makeover with portions of the hotel renovated on a rotating basis.
The hotel’s two primary eateries never reopened after the pandemic closure of the theme park resort and are expected to be reimagined as part of the Pixar makeover. The Surfside Lounge table service restaurant served pizza, burgers and sandwiches while the Sand Bar rooftop restaurant offered a California-inspired menu and specialty cocktails.
Still Closed
Less certain are the future of a few locations that have remained closed since the pandemic reopening of the parks more than a year ago.
Star Wars Launch Bay
Star Wars Launch Bay — which was once home to Innoventions, America Sings and Carousel of Progress — has long been the white elephant of Tomorrowland. The Star Wars Launch Bay attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida is set to reopen on July 17. Disneyland’s massive attraction building would likely be repurposed or torn down with any makeover of the futuristic land.
Blue Sky Cellar
Blue Sky Cellar has always been a placeholder attraction that put to use the former Seasons of the Vine Theater that once hosted a short movie about winemaking. Imagineering has used the theater sporadically as a showcase for upcoming projects. The space could be used for sneak peeks of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, the “Princess and the Frog” makeover of Splash Mountain or any other upcoming projects in the pipeline.
Radiator Springs Curios
The Radiator Springs Curios souvenir shop has yet to reopen its doors along Route 66 in DCA’s Cars Land. Like many retailers, Disneyland has faced supply chain issues and hiring challenges following the pandemic disruption of the economy.
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Hyperion Theatre
DCA’s Hyperion Theatre still remains dark after Disneyland brought back parades, nighttime spectaculars, stage shows and other large-scale entertainment that had remained sidelined due to pandemic concerns about attracting big crowds. End-of-run notices were sent to more than 200 actors in “Frozen: Live at the Hyperion” at Disney California Adventure during the pandemic closure of California Adventure. Disney has a number of popular film franchises that could be adapted for the 2,000-seat theater that has housed Broadway-style productions.