So apparently while you were ringing in 2026 with champagne and fireworks, the small world Gifts & Sundries shop at Disneyland Hotel was dealing with its own kind of waterworks, and NOT the fun kind. We’re talking full-on flooding that has kept this shop shuttered for over a week now, and honestly, the photos from inside look pretty rough. Industrial dryers everywhere, ceiling panels ripped out, merchandise covered in garbage bags… it’s giving major “this is going to take a minute to fix” energy.
For anyone who’s stayed at a Disney hotel, you KNOW how crucial these little sundries shops are. They’re literally a lifesaver when you forget your phone charger, need emergency snacks at 11 PM, or realize you left your sunscreen at home and you’re not about to pay $25 for it in the parks. The small world Gifts & Sundries location has been that clutch spot for Disneyland Hotel guests forever, stocked with everything from Mickey ears to aspirin to those overpriced but somehow necessary resort sodas. Having it completely out of commission during peak winter break season? That’s rough for everyone involved.
And can we talk about the timing? New Year’s Eve flooding means this happened during literally one of the busiest weeks of the entire year for Disneyland. Hotels are packed to the max, families are everywhere, and demand for late-night Advil and forgotten toothpaste is at an all-time high. Instead of making bank during peak season, this shop is sitting there with industrial fans running 24/7 trying to dry out whatever damage happened. Disney hasn’t officially said what caused the flooding, but Anaheim got HAMMERED with rain around New Year’s, so connect the dots. Either the roof couldn’t handle it, some pipes decided to give up, or the universe just really had it out for this particular gift shop. Whatever happened, the repair crews have their work cut out for them.
What We’re Seeing Inside the Disaster Zone
Okay, so if you walk past the shop right now, here’s what you’re looking at. The right side of the store is completely blacked out with coverings, which probably means that section got hit the worst and they don’t want guests seeing the full extent of the chaos. But the other half? You can see right in, and it’s honestly pretty wild.
First off, the CEILING. Like, huge sections of it are just… gone. Completely removed. You can see all the pipes and wiring and structural stuff that’s usually hidden up there, and everything’s covered in plastic sheeting. That’s a dead giveaway that water came from above, whether it was a roof leak or some plumbing nightmare in the floors above the shop. Either way, it wasn’t a little drip. This was enough water to require serious ceiling demo and reconstruction.
Down on the floor, there are industrial dryers EVERYWHERE. We’re talking the big commercial ones that look like they mean business. They’re scattered around the shop working overtime to suck moisture out of everything, because the last thing Disney needs is mold growing in a retail space. There’s also this massive garbage can wrapped in plastic sitting among all the equipment, presumably full of water-damaged merchandise that’s beyond saving. RIP to whatever Disney souvenirs didn’t make it.
The merchandise situation is interesting though. Some shelves have been completely cleared out, but there are still plastic items, bottles, and hats just chilling in their displays like nothing happened. One whole section of those popular ear headbands got wrapped up in a plastic garbage bag for protection, which honestly looks kind of hilarious but makes sense if you’re trying to keep working around merchandise that didn’t get damaged. The whole scene screams “we’re trying to fix this as fast as possible while keeping as much stuff salvageable as we can.”
Nobody from Disney has come out and officially blamed the rain, but COME ON. Anaheim got absolutely dumped on around New Year’s Eve. The timing is way too suspicious to be a coincidence. Either the storm exposed some weakness in the building that was already there, or it just overwhelmed whatever systems were supposed to keep water OUT of the gift shop. Either way, Mother Nature won this round.
So When Can You Actually Shop There Again?
Good news on this front! According to the Disneyland website, small world Gifts & Sundries is scheduled to reopen on Friday, January 10, 2026. That gives them about ten days total from when the flooding happened to get everything dried out, rebuilt, restocked, and ready for guests again. Honestly, that’s a pretty aggressive timeline considering how much ceiling work needs to happen, but Disney doesn’t mess around when it comes to getting revenue-generating locations back online.
Before that date? You’re out of luck at this particular shop. But don’t panic because Disney’s Fantasia Shop is still operating normally, and it’s the bigger gift shop in the hotel anyway. You might have to walk a bit farther depending on where your room is, but it’s got you covered for basically anything you’d need. Sunscreen? Check. Mickey merchandise? Obviously. Late-night snacks? You’re good. It’s not quite the same convenient location, but it’ll do the job until small world reopens.
Oh, and Half of Disneyland Is Closed Too
Because why would there be just ONE closure to worry about, right? Disney’s using the early months of 2026 to tackle a MASSIVE list of attraction refurbishments and maintenance projects. Buckle up because this list is kind of insane.
Over at Disney California Adventure, Incredicoaster is down from January 6 through February 6. That’s a full month of no upside-down loops and Incredibles soundtrack for you. Grizzly River Run also closed on January 6 and is supposedly coming back “early 2026,” which is super vague and unhelpful but okay Disney. Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind is taking a shorter break, closed January 6 through January 23.
Disneyland Park has its own drama happening. Mark Twain Riverboat is docked indefinitely for maintenance. The Fantasyland Theatre is closed while they get ready to launch a new Bluey show, which honestly sounds adorable and we’re here for it. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Haunted Mansion are both on the winter maintenance schedule too, though you’ll want to check exact dates on the official calendar because Disney loves to shift these around.
And then there’s the BIG news: Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! is PERMANENTLY closing in early 2026. Not temporarily. Not for refurbishment. It’s DONE. The dark ride has been around since 2006, so this is kind of the end of an era. Disney hasn’t announced what’s replacing it yet, which means we get to spend the next few months wildly speculating about what’s coming to that space.
Seriously though, if you’re planning a trip during January or February, CHECK THE CALENDAR before you go. These dates can change, stuff reopens early or gets delayed, and you don’t want to show up expecting to ride your favorite attraction only to find it surrounded by construction walls.
How to Deal With All These Closures
Look, a flooded gift shop and a bunch of attractions down for maintenance sounds like a disaster, but honestly? This is pretty standard for early-year Disneyland visits. The parks use the slower winter months (and yes, winter at Disneyland is still relatively slower even though it’s still busy) to knock out necessary work. Most people barely notice the impact because there’s still SO much to do.
For the gift shop situation specifically, you’ve got Fantasia Shop as your backup, and honestly, it’s only closed until January 10 anyway. If your trip is after that date, you won’t even deal with it. If you’re there before then, it’s a minor inconvenience at worst.
The attraction closures require a bit more strategy, especially if something you really wanted to ride is down. Build your park plan around what’s actually open, prioritize your must-dos, and be flexible. Sometimes fewer attractions being open actually means shorter lines for everything else, which can totally work in your favor if you’re smart about it.
If you’re stressing about how all these closures are going to affect your specific trip dates, or you just want someone to help you figure out the best game plan for navigating maintenance season, hit us up. We’ve helped tons of people work around Disney’s refurbishment schedules, and we’re honestly pretty good at finding the silver linings. Sometimes what looks like bad timing actually creates opportunities for better experiences if you know how to play it. Let’s figure out your strategy together.
