Disneyland will close five attractions for seasonal refurbishments during the busy winter holiday season just as the Thanksgiving and Christmas crowds descend on the Anaheim theme parks.
“Fantasmic,” Big Thunder Mountain, Little Mermaid — Ariels Undersea Adventure, Sailing Ship Columbia and Dumbo the Flying Elephant will temporarily close in November as part of the standard refurbishment schedule at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
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The five new attraction closures join Splash Mountain, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, It’s a Small World and Pixie Hollow that were already shuttered for refurbishment.
The Big Thunder Mountain mine train roller coaster in Frontierland that offers the wildest ride in the wilderness will close on Nov. 18 for a seasonal refurbishment that will stretch through at least early December.
The Little Mermaid — Ariels Undersea Adventure dark ride in Disney California Adventure featuring the songs “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls” and “Kiss the Girl” will be closed on Nov. 4-22 for a three-week refurbishment.
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“Fantasmic” on Disneyland’s Rivers of America will be dark on weekdays in November and December except for Thanksgiving week as the nighttime spectacular shifts to a post-summer schedule.
The dark dates for “Fantasmic” include: Nov. 4-7, Nov. 11-14, Nov. 18-21, Dec. 2-5, Dec. 9-12 and Dec. 16-19.
The Fantasmic dining package calendar only stretches through Dec. 23 — and doesn’t display the show schedule during the week of Christmas.
The seasonal shift in the “Fantasmic” schedule will also put the Sailing Ship Columbia out of service on select dates.
The Columbia — which doubles as a pirate ship in “Fantasmic” — will be closed on Nov. 4-7, according to the Disneyland website.
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The Dumbo the Flying Elephant spinning kiddie ride in Fantasyland will be closed for a single day on Nov. 19.
The Pixie Hollow meet-and-greet area in Fantasyland where visitors shrink down to the size of a fairy to visit Tinker Bell will return from an extended seasonal refurbishment on Nov. 17.
It’s a Small World will be shuttered through Nov. 14 as the Fantasyland boat ride undergoes its annual transformation for the winter holiday season and seasonal maintenance.
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The “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” show closed in April and won’t return until early 2025 as part of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration.
“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will run by itself during its initial run when the new animatronic show debuts in 2025 and will then play in rotation with “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” in Disneyland’s Main Street Opera House.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will debut on Nov. 15 after the yearlong transformation of the Splash Mountain log ride in the new Bayou Country themed land.
Disneyland is currently hosting annual passholder and cast member previews of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure through Nov. 12.
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The Hyperion Theater in DCA’s Hollywood Land, Disneyland’s Fantasyland Theatre and the Magic Eye Theater in Tomorrowland remain dark with no upcoming show in the works.
Disneyland will use the Fantasyland Theatre for character meet-and-greets, cookie decorating, craft making and storytelling during the Christmas holiday season starting on Nov. 15.