10 huge projects in Disneyland’s future

_{This page may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.}

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Disneyland)

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open Nov. 15, 2024 at Disneyland Park, replacing Splash Mountain and thus officially christening the area formerly known as Critter Country into its new monicker, Bayou Country. A version of the attraction opened in summer 2024 at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Taking place after the events of “The Princess and the Frog” — which celebrates its 15th anniversary this holiday season — Tiana’s Bayou Adventure follows Tiana and Louis as they scour the bayou in search of a band to play at their Mardi Gras party.

Guests who want to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland will need to purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass or join the attraction’s free virtual queue in the Disneyland app. (See the Disney Parks Blog for details.)

Along with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Bayou Country will introduce Ray’s Berets and Louis’ Critter Club, both gift shops. As part of the refresh, the quick-service Hungry Bear Restaurant is now Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree, complete with new theming focused on the Country Bears. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, also located in Bayou Country, remains unchanged.

Here’s our POV of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Florida (though the California version is slightly different).

Walt Disney – A Magical Life (Disneyland)

A show called Walt Disney – A Magical Life will debut in 2025 inside the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland with the first-ever Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney. The new show will rotate engagements with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln rather than replace that classic presentation.

“We wanted the show and story to appeal to all ages,” said Tom Fitzgerald, senior creative executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, “and while some of our younger audience may not know as much about Walt Disney, we felt his story could be inspirational to them. Follow your dreams, turn setbacks into success, never give up, and give the world your very best.”

Hear more about the development of the Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure in this video recorded at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2024:

The return of ‘Paint the Night’

The “Paint the Night” parade will return to Disneyland Resort, though the timeframe and even which theme park it will perform in are unknown. The nighttime procession made its U.S. debut in 2015 at Disneyland Park and last performed in 2018 at Disney California Adventure Park. It features floats based on “Toy Story,” the Disney Princesses, and more animated favorites, all set to the song “When Can I See You Again?” by Owl City from “Wreck-It Ralph.”

Get hype for its return with our video of “Paint the Night” from 2018:

Disneyland Resort 70th anniversary celebration

Disneyland’s 70th anniversary is July 17, 2025, and a resort-wide celebration will herald the big birthday. Details and the length of the celebration have not been announced. Disney previously hosted year-long campaigns for Disneyland’s 50th anniversary (The Happiest Homecoming on Earth) in 2005 and 60th anniversary (the Diamond Celebration) in 2015.

As part of the 70th anniversary, Disney Editions will publish “The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland.” The new, 320-page coffee-table book by Don Hahn and Christopher Merritt will be released July 15, 2025. The book is available for pre-order with a list price of $60.

John Stamos teased Disneyland’s 70th during D23 2024. Take a look:

Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab (California Adventure)

Avengers Campus will double its number of rides as the Marvel-themed area at Disney California Adventure adds Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab (joining the existing Guardians of the Galaaxy: Mission – Breakout! and Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure).

Construction will begin in 2025.

Avengers Infinity Defense will be a multiverse-themed ride starring King Thanos. This version of the villain succeeded in his plan to wipe out half the population (and keep it that way). The attraction will transport riders to Wakanda, New York City, and Asgard.

Stark Flight Lab, a robotic arm flight simulation, will also open in Avengers Campus.

For both Stark Flight Lab and Avengers Infinity Defense, Robert Downey Jr. will reprise his role as Tony Stark. 

Watch as Imagineer Scott Trowbridge shares even more info about both upcoming Marvel rides in these videos recorded at D23 2024:

The two new attractions will evict the backstage barn for California Adventure’s Red Car Trolley, thus forcing that ride to close altogether in early 2025.

The Mandalorian joins Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (Disneyland)

Din Djarin and Grogu will star in a new version of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park. The mission will debut around the same time as the new movie “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which will be released in theaters on May 22, 2026. The new version of the ride will also open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World.

‘Coco’ ride at California Adventure

Disney’s first-ever “Coco” ride, a boat attraction, will open at California Adventure. Construction will begin in 2026. Disney has not announced the attraction’s name, its location within the park, or if anything will close to prepare for its arrival.

“We’re bringing our skeletal cast of characters to life in a big way through the latest Audio-Animatronics technology,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, when announcing the “Coco” ride in August 2024. “These figures will appear in ways you’ll have to see to believe.”

Watch D’Amaro’s full remarks about the “Coco” ride:

‘Avatar’ land at California Adventure

Walt Disney Imagineering will build an “Avatar” land at Disney California Adventure. The land, which will include a boat ride, will be completely different from Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida. Disney has not announced the land’s name, opening timeline, or location within California Adventure.

The new area will be based on 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water,” 2025’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” and more upcoming sequels.

DisneylandForward

Disney is also preparing for a $1.9 billion, “multi-decade” project known as DisneylandForward, which will reallocate portions of the resort’s existing property into theme park and hotel spaces.

Following an extensive approval process, Disneyland received the go-ahead for DisneylandForward from the city of Anaheim in spring 2024. As part of that approval process, Disney mentioned examples of the types of rides and lands that could be built, but has not formally revealed what DisneylandForwrd will entail, or if the “Coco” or “Avatar” attractions are part of this initiative.