A fresh coat of paint on one small gate has stirred up strong feelings among Disney Parks fans. Disneyland Paris Resort quietly changed the look of an exit at Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups, and the reaction online has been mostly unhappy.
A Ride With Worldwide Roots
The spinning teacups, inspired by Alice in Wonderland (1951), are one of the most recognizable attractions in the Disney parks. Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort each have a version. Shanghai Disneyland is the only park without one, offering “Hunny Pot Spin,” a spinner ride inspired by Winnie the Pooh, instead.
The attraction goes by different names depending on where you ride it: Mad Tea Party at Magic Kingdom Park and Disneyland Park, Alice’s Tea Party at Tokyo Disneyland, Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups at Disneyland Park (Paris), and Mad Hatter Tea Cups at Hong Kong Disneyland. Through the years, each has stayed largely the same. At the only European Disney park, that has now changed, at least in one small way.
What Guests Noticed
On Sunday, visitors to Disneyland Park (Paris) found that cast members had painted an exit gate leading to the attraction a bright mint green. The color contrasts sharply with the dark green fencing, light fixtures, and roof that surround the ride. X (formerly known as Twitter) user @DLPReport shared photos and suggested the resort wanted to make the exit easier to spot, writing:
Painted a different color to help Guests find the exit:
Painted a different color to help Guests find the exit: pic.twitter.com/nI8zagKdDE
— DLP Report (@DLPReport) October 25, 2026
Disneyland Paris Resort hasn’t publicly addressed the change, and Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups continues to operate normally.
Fans Push Back
Reaction on X was largely negative. @pmc1982 wrote:
Why! It’s been fine since 1992, ruins the look completely.
Why! It’s been fine since 1992, ruins the look completely
— Peter Collins (@pmc1982) October 25, 2026
Many commenters felt the gate didn’t match the rest of the attraction and suggested better ways to help European Disney Park guests find the exit.
“Well that is ugly,” @ATCGnq4h replied. “Painting just the interior part would have been better…”
Well that is ugly. Painting just the interior part would have been better…
— ATCG (@ATCGnq4h) October 25, 2026
@MntMyoboku had a suggestion of their own:
Make it the same pink as the teacups… yu had one job DLP….
Make it the same pink as the teacups… yu had one job DLP….
— Myoboku (@MntMyoboku) October 25, 2026
Did you notice any changes like this during your most recent Disney Parks vacation? Share your story with Disney Dining in the comments!
