Disney parks around the world are in the midst of massive changes. Walt Disney World is adding new lands, a new resort is planned in Abu Dhabi, and Disneyland Resort in California has major expansions on the way.
In Anaheim, most of that growth will reshape Disney California Adventure, which will receive a new Robert Downey Jr.-approved Avengers attraction, the first attraction based on the Pixar film. coconut palmand a whole new land themed around Avatar. But those projects are still years away, and for families planning trips today, the attractions already in operation are much more important.
Few things can derail a day at Disney faster than an attraction that breaks down, especially after you’ve waited an hour (or two) to ride it. Disneyland officials, including President Thomas Mazloum, know this, and the company has increasingly focused on the guest experience.
Improving attraction reliability has quietly become one of the resort’s top priorities, with significant investments aimed at keeping attractions open, reliable, and moving as many guests as possible.
“Working behind the scenes to care for our attractions is one of the most important ways we can invest in making the guest experience the best it can be,” said Natalie Katzka, director of Attractions Engineering Services at Disneyland Resort, during a press conference.
Keeping the enchantment alive
That behind-the-scenes push encompasses preventative maintenance, engineering updates, smarter parts planning and operational adjustments designed to reduce unexpected downtime and keep lines moving.
Building a new attraction can take years, but improving the performance of existing attractions can have an immediate impact.
Officials say the reliability improvements alone enabled about 1.5 million additional travel experiences in fiscal 2025, essentially increasing capacity without building anything new. Engineers are also refining dispatch procedures and station flow so attractions can carry more passengers per hour.
Even small operational changes can add up quickly. During the most recent holiday season, adjustments to installation schedules for seasonal overlays generated approximately 200,000 additional ride experiences at the Haunted Mansion and “It’s a Small World,” allowing both attractions to reopen to guests sooner than in previous years.
Maintaining these attractions is much more complicated than most visitors realize. At Matterhorn Bobsleds, for example, replacing a single “pacer,” a drive tire that helps regulate the space between vehicles, can take six to seven hours overnight with multiple technicians, and the roller coaster has dozens of them.
Supply chain challenges have made things even more complicated. In Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure, each vehicle contains hundreds of parts and rebuilding a car is a major task. Officials say improved inventory systems now allow the attraction to operate its entire fleet more consistently, something critical for an attraction that routinely features some of the longest waits at the resort. During a recent visit, the Racers reached 145 minutes.
While guests may never realize this work is being done, the payoff can be enormous. An attraction that operates at maximum efficiency can save a lot of time in waiting lines and help visitors spend more time in a single day.
Not all closures are mechanical either. Loose items falling onto tracks, guests ignoring safety rules, wildlife, weather, and even power fluctuations can force power outages. Reducing these avoidable disruptions is another important goal.
Retrofits are also used to improve reliability, not just appearance. Engineers often replace obsolete components and redesign systems prone to failure while attractions are closed.
Magic multitasking
All of this work is being carried out while major construction projects move forward throughout the resort, making it even more important to keep existing attractions operating. Disneyland leaders say planning is now largely focused on preserving capacity, including keeping key attractions open longer than originally planned.
And here you have the most recent example, and news that will be a triumph for Monsters Inc fans: Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the rescue! at Disney California Adventure will remain open for an extended period, so families will still have access to a major park attraction while nearby expansions take shape.
Instead of closing in 2026, it will be open for another year and close in 2027. Officials noted this was done by analyzing construction plans and offers a key benefit for visitors. More trips, fewer interruptions and more possibilities of achieving everything planned in the day’s itinerary.
New themed lands for AvatarMarvel heroes and beloved Pixar stories may define the long-term future of Disneyland. But right now, the updates that matter most may be the ones you’ll never see: the quiet engineering work that keeps the magic working day after day.
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