Disneyland is about to launch its largest expansion ever to make way for Star Wars’ Land. In order to build the 14-acre area, a significant chunk of the park will be shut down. Some attractions and eateries will be closed beginning in January. Most will only be closed temporarily but there are a few that are closing permanently.
The attractions closing permanently are Big Thunder Ranch and Big Thunder Ranch BBQ in Frontierland. The last day to experience them is January 10, 2016. The animals that are part of the petting zoo have been adopted by a Southern California family that has worked with Disney animals in the past.
Other attractions that will be closed (temporarily) are those on the Rivers of America-Fantasmic, the Mark Twain Riverboat, the Sailing Ship Columbia, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes. The Disneyland Railroad will also be closed.
Disney offices located outside of the park, just north of Big Thunder Ranch, will also be removed to make way for Star Wars Land. The employees that work in those offices are being relocated to two office buildings a few blocks away that Disney purchased last year.
So, what will this new area at Disneyland be like? When Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger announced the expansion in August he said it would include a re-creation of the Millennium Falcon, in which guests can take the controls for a “customized secret mission,” along with an immersive attraction that will put visitors into “a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.”
I’ve heard many people say that Disneyland won’t be worth visiting while construction is going on for Star Wars Land. I disagree! There will still be so much going on at the park that is worth experiencing! “We are excited to begin the work that will lay the foundation for the future ‘Star Wars’-themed land at Disneyland,” Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown said. “With our continuing Diamond Celebration entertainment and the new Season of the Force offerings, there is so much for guests to do during this time.”
The Diamond Celebration will last through September 5, 2016 and offers new and exciting shows like the Paint the Night parade, Disneyland Forever fireworks, and World of Color-Celebrate! Also, Season of the Force is happening in Tomorrowland. That event features 2 new ride experiences: Space Mountain is now Hyperspace Mountain and Star Tours has new scenes and characters from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The Launch Bay is an area where you can meet Star Wars characters and play Star Wars video games. The Galactic Grill offers Star Wars-themed foods and treats. No end date has been announced for Season of the Force yet.
Are you excited for the new Star Wars Land at Disneyland?
The attractions that are closing to make way for Star Wars Land are still open. It’s not too late to book your vacation to see them before their closing date of January 11th! Email me at sarasolberg@worldofmagictravel.com to start planning or follow me on Facebook for more Disney news and updates.
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A few years ago, the Rivers of America went through some massive work that shut down the Tom Sawyer’s Island, Mark Twain River Boats and the Sailing Ship Columnia, as well as the Davy Crocket Canoes. Fantasmic was also temporarily halted during this as well. The impact to the park was minimal despite the scale of the project. The attractions are mostly near little “time wasters” to give you a nice rest while taking in the scenes from another point of view.
The loss of low-draw attractions tied to Big Thunder Ranch were slowly being “lost and forgotten” anyways. For the most part, they won’t be missed, but for many they weren’t even explored.
I think the shutdown of the Railroad will be something people like me won’t appreciate, but I can deal wit it. That gives them an excuse to do any sort of work they want to do to the dioramas.
Not worth visiting the parks during construction? No, not by a long shot. There’s the rest of the park to explore and enjoy. My only issue is money, as it’s been tight this year and I could not enjoy Disneyland in 2015, and 2016 is unlikely for the same reason. That could change.
My biggest questions really is: “Will they move Star Tours or build a new one?” That’s a high draw attraction and that would be one that could make people a little annoyed. But, they’ll likely do it during the winter off-season when park attendance is low, but also hold that off until closer to the end. Big draw attractions like Matterhorn Bobsleds underwent major rehabs with lengthy downtimes. Star Tours was down over a year for the “The Adventure Continues” upgrade. Big Thunder Mountain recently went through a year+ overhaul. While I didn’t appreciate missing these favorite attractions, I still went and had an amazing time.