Fans are not happy with the recent news.
While Walt Disney World commands headlines with massive updates across its parks, including the revamp of DinoLand U.S.A. and a final curtain call for Muppet*Vision 3D, Disneyland Resort is proving it’s just as ready to turn the page—celebrating its 70th anniversary with a summer of celebration and significant change.
Guests visiting the Anaheim resort this season can enjoy limited-time entertainment like Wondrous Journeys at Sleeping Beauty Castle, Paint the Night, and World of Color Happiness! But amid the festivities, major announcements from Disney Experiences hint at even more thrilling developments on the horizon.
At a recent media event held inside Disney California Adventure Park’s Hyperion Theater, Disney revealed expansion plans (per KTLA) that will forever transform the Hollywood Backlot area. These updates include the construction of a Coco-themed attraction and large-scale improvements to resort infrastructure—like new guest access points, expanded security screening, dedicated shuttle and rideshare zones, and a streamlined esplanade.
Tucked into those plans is the confirmation of an Avatar-inspired land set to rise in Disney California Adventure. Although a name and opening date have not been shared, the upcoming land will feature one major attraction: an original boat ride set on the oceans of Pandora. Guests will explore glowing rainforests and luminescent landscapes, offering a fresh vision beyond what’s seen at Animal Kingdom’s Pandora–The World of Avatar.
The OC Register described the ride as delivering “action and thrills on the wide-open seas of Pandora.” Unlike Na’vi River Journey or Flight of Passage, this attraction appears to be wholly unique to California. Walt Disney Imagineering’s Emo O’Brien elaborated, “This is going to be on a scale and level that is very much worthy of this incredible franchise.”
However, the excitement comes with a difficult goodbye. To make space for the Avatar expansion, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! will close permanently in early 2026. First opening in 2006 as the successor to Superstar Limo, the ride has become a fixture of Hollywood Land, endearing itself to generations of fans.
Its closure has already prompted a response. A petition launched by Eden Whitney is calling on Disney to preserve the attraction, citing its emotional resonance with families. “The joy, laughter, and nostalgia this ride ignites are irreplaceable and play a significant role in the Disneyland experience,” the petition says.
At the time of writing, the petition has gathered 116 signatures, with supporters like Beckett voicing frustration. “Let’s add [an Avatar] land, not take another thing down. We need more rides, not new ones,” one comment reads.
These plans coincide with the DisneylandForward initiative, which received approval in May 2024. Designed to unlock new space and storytelling opportunities across the resort, the project sets the stage for Disney California Adventure’s next chapter.
In addition, the expansion of Avengers Campus will bring two new attractions: Stark Flight Lab and Avengers: Infinity Defense. Together with the upcoming Avatar area, these changes will nearly double the size of the current land and further immerse guests in the Marvel universe.
While the exact date of Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!’s final run is yet to be shared, it’s expected to stay open through the 2025 holiday season.
Reflecting on the wave of updates, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro acknowledged during last year’s INBOUND festival that change isn’t always easy, explaining that the company doesn’t always get it right.
With the future of Disney California Adventure now charted, fans old and new will soon have a whole new world to explore—while saying goodbye to a few cherished favorites along the way.
How do you feel about the changes coming to Disneyland Resort? Let us know in the comments down below!
