Every two years, The Walt Disney Company hosts its D23 Expo — the ultimate Disney fan event. Many fans felt that the 2022 convention left a lot to be desired, but the 2024 convention tried to make up for that. During the massive Expo, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro revealed a lot of exciting information about both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.
After years of begging, D’Amaro shared that Disney World guests will soon find out what lies beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — and that is an incredible Villains Land! On a more contentious note, he also announced that the Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland would be expanding and getting an entire area dedicated to the 2006 Pixar film Cars.
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Expo attendees learned more about the new Avatar land coming to Disneyland Resort. The land was first confirmed by Disney CEO Bob Iger earlier this year. Mr. D’Amaro also shared something that was entirely unexpected. He revealed another look at the E-ticket attraction coming to Avengers Campus but also announced that the Campus would be doubling in size and two new attractions would be added to the area.
Construction on the Avengers Campus expansion is set to begin in 2025, and while some fans are excited about having more Avengers, others are devastated that it will most likely mean the destruction of a beloved attraction — the Red Car Trolley.
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The Red Car Trolley has been a staple at Disney California Adventure Park for 12 years, taking guests from the theme park entrance to the area that is now Avengers Campus. However, Disney announced that as part of the Avengers Campus expansion, it will be ending the Red Car Trolley service, most likely permanently.
Shortly after the announcement, fans flooded social media, disappointed to learn that Disney would be closing an attraction that has largely become the symbol of California Adventure.
This ride was like, ~thee~ giveaway that they were trying to do something genuinely Disneyland quality in “DCA 2.0.” A lovely counterpart to the Main Street Vehicles that adds sensational kinetic energy & world-building to Buena Vista Street. Such a shame.
This ride was like, ~thee~ giveaway that they were trying to do something genuinely Disneyland quality in “DCA 2.0.” A lovely counterpart to the Main Street Vehicles that adds sensational kinetic energy & world-building to Buena Vista Street. Such a shame. https://t.co/ACZ85b93kt https://t.co/Oot3O1L7PL
— Park Lore✨ (@ThemeParkLore) August 26, 2024
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DCA opened in 2001, but it was not very well-received by fans. It seemed to be very “un-Disney” in terms of theming and attractions. However, Disney invested A LOT of money into the park, and it underwent a massive expansion and overhaul in 2012.
Some fans believe that by removing things like the Red Car Trolley, Disney is reversing all the changes that they worked so hard on to recreate California Adventure.
Between this, Pixar Pier, SanFransokyo and potentially Avatar… It’s amazing how much money they spent in 2012 to fix this park only to f**k it up again.
Between this, Pixar Pier, SanFransokyo and potentially Avatar… It’s amazing how much money they spent in 2012 to fix this park only to fuck it up again. https://t.co/ytq6EpWz5J
— Henry Taylor (@TGrahamMemories) August 26, 2024
Some even compared Disney executives to the evil Judge Doom from the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Judge Doom — played by Christopher Lloyd — was determined to dismantle the Red Car Trolley system so he could build a series of roads and make millions of dollars off of the project. He didn’t care what it would do to the people of Hollywood.
Remember that movie Disney made years where the villain was a psychotic ultra-capitalist judge whose evil plan was to dismantle the red car trolley system and eliminate most of the toon population in LA. Suddenly that seems relevant for some reason.
Remember that movie Disney made years where the villain was a psychotic ultra-capitalist judge whose evil plan was to dismantle the red car trolley system and eliminate most of the toon population in LA.
Suddenly that seems relevant for some reason. https://t.co/OWPVFN77xV— Chris Wyatt (@cwyattfilm) August 27, 2024
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In addition to the destruction of the Red Car Trolley, commenters pointed out that the Avengers Campus expansion might also mean the permanent closure of several other experiences, including the animation building. The animation building is home to several beloved experiences, including the Animation Academy, Turtle Talk With Crush, and the Beast’s Library.
This likely means the end of the animation and Disney Junior building as there literally was one proposal that would of kept all 3 as a sliver of Hollywood with the rest of Hollywood being utilized for Avatar. Now it’s unlikely animation building will survive
This likely means the end of the animation and Disney Junior building as there literally was one proposal that would of kept all 3 as a sliver of Hollywood with the rest of Hollywood being utilized for Avatar. Now it’s unlikely animation building will survive https://t.co/Ev6y6BNJqi
— Jeff Gordon (@jeffgordonla) August 26, 2024
However, there were some who wanted to take the news and look at it in a positive light.
During the D23 Expo, Disney revealed that Disney California Adventure would not only be getting an Avengers Campus expansion, but also be home to Disney’s first ride themed after the hit Disney/Pixar film Coco. We don’t know where the attraction will be going, but many people are speculating that Disney will expand Pixar Pier.
And some people think that the new Coco ride might be the best place to pay homage to the Red Car Trolley!
I haven’t seen this theory yet so I’ll put it out there:
Red Car Trolley will be repurposed as the sky trolley that appeared in Coco’s the Land of the Dead.
Maybe.
I haven’t seen this theory yet so I’ll put it out there:
Red Car Trolley will be repurposed as the sky trolley that appeared in Coco’s the Land of the Dead.
Maybe. pic.twitter.com/bFUTkssNFB
— Slimer (@SlimeSquare84) August 27, 2024
At this time, we do not have an exact closure date for the Red Car Trolley. Disney Dining will keep readers updated as we learn more about the closure, as well as more about the attractions that are planned for the California theme park.
Are you disappointed that the Red Car Trolley will be closing? Do you think Disney should bring it back when construction on Avengers Campus is complete? Let us know in the comments!
