Disney has big 10-year plans for Disneyland and California Adventure. Marvel land will double in size thanks to Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab, Pandora: World of Avatar will bring a blockbuster boat ride to DCA, and Coco is getting a dark ride that’s described as a spiritual successor to Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Expansion to Avengers Campus, Pixar Pier, and a replacement for the languishing Hollywood Backlot is badly needed. All of that is for Disney California Adventure, though. What about Disneyland? What’s on the horizon for Walt Disney’s original magic kingdom in the decade to come?
Our hope is that the plan for Disneyland is TLC, modernizations, and ride reimaginings. And there’s every reason to believe that’s what will happen. Although Disney doesn’t need to invest as much in the castle park to maintain its momentum, Disneyland is in need of updates–especially once the 70th Anniversary celebration ends.
Accordingly, our expectation is that the company pulls a page from the playbook that’s already being utilized at Magic Kingdom. Disneyland will likely embark on a series of ‘singles and doubles’ ride reimaginings to keep locals coming back to the parks in the years to come.
We also know that more ride reimaginings are on the horizon because Disney has said so. While the company has plans to invest $60 billion in Parks & Resorts over the next 10 years, CEO Bob Iger said the spending would be backloaded. Likewise, Parks Chair Josh D’Amaro has made comments that they want to grow the footprints of the parks by building beyond the berm while also improving utilization within them. Both of these things necessarily mean ride reimaginings.
The good news is that there are a dozen-plus attractions (plus the entirety of Tomorrowland) that are at phases in their life cycle when they need to be updated. This could be done faster and cheaper than fully-fledged expansion, too. In a world where time and money are finite and even $60 billion won’t go nearly as far as some fans might think, reimaginings are key.
Anyway, let’s get down to brass tacks and cover the prime candidates for reimaginings at Disneyland, plus a few at DCA just for good measure…
Autopia
Autopia is a Disneyland classic that gives kids the chance to drive through a large track and lush environments. It’s also the best version of a Tomorrowland speedway-style attraction, although that’s a pretty low bar.
The addition of ASIMO and Bird to Autopia a while ago injected Autopia with new life, and really improved the experience. However, it remains a relic from another era, with the biggest downside weighing it down being the overwhelming and almost intoxicating stench.
Disney has already confirmed that Autopia is going electric…at some point in the future. That’s a good start, but it needs to happen sooner rather than later, and not be the only change made to this aging attraction. Honestly, I wouldn’t be upset if the track were shortened to free up space for Tomorrowland and/or Fantasyland expansion.
Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters
My unpopular opinion is that Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters is the best shooter ride at Disneyland. It uses physical show scenes to make it engaging for guests who want to enjoy the attraction passively. Some of the staging, props, and Audio Animatronics are really cool. The interactivity is fun, and I personally prefer gamified attractions like this; ones that are enjoyable whether you play or not, as it adds multigenerational appeal.
The reason it makes the list is because, like all tech-heavy attractions, there are ways that Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters could stand to be modernized. The on-ride photo, for example, looks like it was shot with a webcam on a Gateway 2000. The blasters, targets, and ride vehicles would likewise benefit from newer tech.
The good news is that this is currently happening at Walt Disney World! Imagineers are taking the bones of that Buzz Lightyear blaster ride and modernizing the attraction with improved gameplay, new blasters, and a variety of enhancements including a new show scene and Audio Animatronics character. Do the same thing at Disneyland!
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The Walt Disney Company has squandered the potential of Winnie the Pooh, sidelining he and his posse’s potential with a rather antiquated and middling dark ride. It is rudimentary and dated (despite not being that old), failing to showcase the heart and charm of these beloved characters.
An attraction based on Winnie the Pooh should be timeless, filled with childlike wonder, and more popular than Peter Pan’s Flight. We know a Pooh-centric attraction can reach these heights because there is an older one that is exactly all of these things…but it’s at Tokyo Disneyland.
Honestly, though, maybe it’s time for Disneyland to decide whether this should be a Winnie the Pooh ride at all. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure replaced Splash Mountain, the Country Bears took up residence in the adjacent restaurant, and Critter Country became Bayou Country. Maybe it’s time for a full circle moment, with the Country Bears evicting Pooh’s Posse.
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage takes guests aboard actual submarines to, as the name suggests, go find Nemo. It’s a relatively long attraction with awesome sets and detail. The undersea substance of the attraction is arguably underrated.
However, the wait times can be long because the ride has low capacity, the queue is incredibly boring and entirely outdoors, and the subs themselves are cramped and often smell of BO. We love the idea of Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, but the actual experience is a bit of a chore and could use some updates.
As for what those updates should be, I’m unsure. Whenever there are rumors about the future of Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, they’re usually that it has no future. It’s honestly a small miracle that the ride was brought back and still exists.
I certainly don’t want to lose this lagoon, and would love to see Imagineering invest in updates as “insurance” that the submarines are around for at least another decade. Kind of like we’re seeing with Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom. Maybe Imagineering could work its magic again, and reimagine this into 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, kind of like they did with the Adventureland Treehouse a few years ago!
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
This is another suggestion that I’m somewhat reluctant to make, as Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is very obviously an attraction that would never be built today. On what other Disney attraction do you visit a bar and drive recklessly, get found guilty in a court of law, die in a truck accident, and go to hell?!
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is arguably something special that hits with today’s audiences because of its irreverence and unexpected surprises, rather than in spite of that. If this attraction were to be fully overhauled, it would almost certainly have some of its personality and charm removed. I’m not proposing that.
What I am advocating for is the kind of effects enhancements that were done throughout Fantasyland around the time of the Diamond Celebration. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride should not have a single show scene replaced. But it should get some new tech and effects. Who doesn’t want their vacation’s detour to hell to be more wow-inducing?!
Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
It’s pretty much the same story here. All of the other Fantasyland dark rides–Peter Pan’s Flight, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish–have received refreshes.
Those have yielded tremendous results, breathing new life into the classics. The same could and should happen with Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, which is the least popular of these attractions. Thankfully, we don’t need to worry about Disney trying to tie it into the live action remake.
Matterhorn
In theory, the Matterhorn is perfect. A great track layout, stunning views, and cool show scenes punctuated by brief yeti encounters. Even though it’s lower tech, the Matterhorn was Expedition Everest decades before the latter was even conceived.
I’m sometimes harsh on the Matterhorn because it’s physically punishing. It’s one of the most painful attractions that I enjoy, but I do enjoy it. I also appreciate the enhancements made back around the Diamond Celebration and feel that they rounded out the ride’s story (much in the same way I’d like to see Grizzly River Run changed).
With all of that said, it does seem likely that the Matterhorn will receive the Space Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad treatment at some point in the next decade. Between pieces falling off the facade and the roughness of the ride, it’s inevitable. When that occurs, my hope is that the ride is loving rebuilt in a way that honors its history, restores and further enhances the attraction.
The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
This is one of the newest Fantasyland-style dark rides, built from the ground up with 21st century technology. It debuted as part of the DCA overhaul, and received a mixed reaction among fans. The same was likely true internally, as Imagineering spent over a year tweaking the ride, changing lighting, props, and Ariel’s hair.
My seemingly unpopular opinion is that the Little Mermaid dark ride is underrated. It has a couple of marquee moments, spectacular setpieces, and awe-inspiring Audio Animatronics. But I can also admit that it’s not the most immersive attraction and the “book report” style drags it down.
The ride narrative obviously is not going to change, but the ride could use a few added Audio Animatronics and other effects to make those spectacular setpieces more engaging. A lot of the experience feels overly passive, and doesn’t make guests active participants in the middle of the action as well as it could.
Goofy’s Sky School
This ride was already reimagined once, going from Mulholland Madness to Goofy’s Sky School as part of the DCA overhaul ~15 years ago. At the time, the understanding was that the overlay was a band aid–a placemaking fix before Imagineering had the time and resources to fully address the ride in a decade or so.
With the Coco boat ride now confirmed as being built over by Incredicoaster on Pixar Pier and not on this side of Paradise Gardens Park, we can’t help but wonder what the long term plan is for Goofy’s Sky School. The placemaking here is a marked improvement over Mulholland Madness, but this ride still needs something more.
What it needs is far less clear. A simple reimagining that swaps out the thematic window-dressing doesn’t fix the underlying uncomfortableness and ordinariness of the wild mouse coaster. Conversely, an outright replacement seems unlikely given the limited footprint. I’m sure Imagineers can work their magic and find a solution, because this ride is already past its shelf life. (And given that they’re squeezing Coco into a similarly-small parcel!)
Grizzly River Run
Hear me out on this one. Yes, Grizzly Peak is the one land Imagineering got right in 2001, and the original area has only improved over time. According to the land’s original backstory, it was developed as a mine in the 1800s after a chance discovery of gold. The mine was later abandoned and the land sold to the government in the 1950s.
In the years since, Imagineering has added placemaking details that make Grizzly Peak look more like one of California’s beautiful National Parks. This includes Grizzly River Run, which Disney scrubbed of its extreme sports thematic layer. In its place, the rustic elements have been enhanced.
Most recently, a carved Big Al has been added outside of Grizzly River Run, adding to the attraction’s growing collection of big bear figures. This is probably coincidental, but it is worth pointing out that ~15 years ago, there were rumors that further show scene enhancements to Grizzly River River were part of the DCA overhaul’s second phase.
I recall seeing concept art at the time that showed Country Bear Audio Animatronics, but the specifics are hazy. It’s unclear whether that was a rejected pitch or a planned reimagining that was subsequently shelved. Regardless, now is the time to revive the idea. The Country Bears are enjoying a revival, and there’s plenty of bare space that could be enhanced by bears.
Grizzly River Run is a lovely scenic ride, but it could be a great one with just a little more storytelling and placemaking, along with a couple of marquee show scenes. The template for exactly this exists with Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars at Hong Kong Disneyland.
That excellent roller coaster is elevated tremendously by just a couple of show scenes and scattering of props. The same could be done by injecting the Country Bears into Grizzly River Run. Or any bears, for that matter. Heck, have a giant bear looming over the climactic drop, like Q’aráq in Roaring Rapids!
Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney. For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides beyond Disney, check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and many other SoCal cities!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Do any attractions at Disneyland and DCA strike you as being prime candidates for ride reimaginings? Anything you think our list “snubbed” that should be slated for replacement or at least an update? Do you agree or disagree with our choices? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
