Every year brings change to the Disneyland Resort, but it’s easy to forget just how much can happen in just 12 months. In 2024, we saw reimagined attractions, entertainment cutbacks, new dining hotspots, and retail additions from one end of the resort to the other. From the highly anticipated debut of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to the first steps toward DisneylandForward, this year was packed with surprises. Let’s take a fun stroll down memory lane and revisit the highs (and a few lows) of 2024!
Let’s start with new attractions and entertainment…
Disneyland Resort Attractions & Entertainment
A new daytime parade and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure brought joy and whimsy to the Disneyland Resort in 2024.
Fire of the Rising Moons (4/6)
In a clever bit of dual-purpose programming, Disneyland has enhanced its occasional fireworks shows for guests viewing from Galaxy’s Edge, featuring iconic Star Wars music. While the show was scheduled to debut on April 5th, bad weather delayed its launch until the following evening. In a sign that Disney has faith in the show, it now offers a dining package and there is talk of projections being added in 2025.
Better Together: A Pixar Pals Parade (4/26)
The return of Pixar Fest after a six-year absence brought back a favorite nighttime spectacular (Together Forever), a new food festival, and also introduced a brand new daytime parade in California Adventure featuring characters from “Soul,” “Luca,” and “Turning Red” — some appearing for the first time at the Disneyland Resort.
Fantasmic Returns (5/24)
It was a shocking night on April 22nd 2023, when the giant Maleficent Dragon caught fire during a performance of Fantasmic and burned in front of guests. The show remained shuttered until May of 2025 without the beloved animatronic dragon. Instead, Maleficent remains on stage in her witch form and just waves her hands around for an awkward length of time. While we are glad to have the show back with the Peter Pan segment restored, overall the show feels like a downgrade from its glorious past.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (11/15)
Of course the biggest change in 2024 was the grand opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which replaced the popular-yet-controversial Splash Mountain. While some diehard Splash fans felt the Princess and the Frog-themed attraction didn’t replicate the thrills of its predecessor (mostly because it doesn’t have a villain), most guests agree the joyful adventure through the bayou is a great addition to Disneyland’s attraction lineup.
Haunted Mansion Expanded Queue (Opened 11/26)
While the Haunted Mansion itself was impacted by a lengthy closure, the attraction’s expanded exterior queue has received rave reviews, with most guests appreciating the queue’s new theming, not to mention the big plus of having some shade.
Half of Magnolia Park was swallowed up by the extended queue, but the remaining area provides access to the New Orleans Square train station and allows guests to listen to music from Tiana’s Palace restaurant.
In case you were wondering, the park’s central fountain was relocated to the mansion’s front yard (where it now serves as a planter), and an off-the-shelf fountain was added to the new garden wall.
Deadpool Shows (Started 7/26)
The addition of Deadpool and Wolverine to Avengers Campus took the form of barely-G-rated storytime shows (including a special holiday version). But oh how the crowds love Deadpool… and so do we!
Disneyland Resort Annual Festivals
In the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” department, Disneyland’s calendar of festivals were as popular as ever, with Lunar New Year (1/23 – 2/18), Food & Wine (3/1 – 4/22), and Festival of the Holidays (beginning Nov 15) remaining virtually unchanged. The only exception was an expanded Pixar Fest (4/26 – 6/4), which featured entertainment, special food, merch, fireworks, and the new daytime parade (which will return in 2025 for the resort’s 70th anniversary).
But the perennial money makers for Disney are the back-to-back crowd-pleasers of Halloween Time (8/24 – 10/31) and Holiday Time (11/15 – 1/6/25), and 2024 was no exception.
While the decor was cut back a bit this year for Christmas, Halloween was expanded with the most-ever days (expect even more dates for Oogie Boogie Bash in 2025).
Here are all the festivals coming in 2025:
DISNEYLAND 70TH ANNIVERSARY: New Entertainment, Returning Favorites, and More!
New Disneyland Resort Restaurants
New restaurant options joined the resort this year, from quick-service to fine-dining.
Paseo, Centrico & Tiendita (5/3)
The three Mexican restaurant concepts from Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytan were very well-received, even by fans of the now-closed Tortilla Jo’s (which will be replaced by a new steakhouse and barbecue restaurant from another Michelin-starred chef). Could Disneyland be vying for a Michelin star of their own after Walt Disney World received one? Time will tell.
NEW DISNEYLAND DINING: Paseo, Centrico & Tiendita Now Open in Downtown Disney!
Din Tai Fung (7/1)
The popular noodle and dumpling chain opened their latest restaurant in Downtown Disney with (no surprise) higher Disney prices, but the eatery still attracted tons of eager diners, who continue to line up months later.
Broken Spell Lounge (10/21)
We were sad to lose Steakhouse 55 in the Disneyland Hotel, but the new Sleeping Beauty-themed lobby lounge is a nice addition to the resort (even if it is dangerously close to the often-loud waiting area for Goofy’s Kitchen).
Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree (10/25)
After way too long without a barbecue eatery in Disneyland, we were thrilled to welcome Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree to Bayou Country in the fall.
New Disneyland Resort Shops
2024 has been a busy year for Disney merchandise collectors, with many new shops added to the Disneyland Resort.
Ray’s Berets (10/26)
The first step in opening Tiana’s Bayou Adventure was welcoming guests to Ray’s Berets, formerly The Briar Patch. The store is themed to Ray’s firefly family and decorated with jars for the different buggie relatives. It now stocks attraction-themed merchandise and other headwear as well as general park merchandise.
Louis’ Critter Club (11/15)
The second and final store for the newly christened Bayou Country was Critter Co-Op, which now inhabits the left half of Pooh Corner. The decor helps guests get to know the musical animals starring in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and the bulk of the Bayou Adventure themed merchandise is sold here.
Get a closer look at both of these new Bayou Country stores’ theming and merchandise in our guide:
UPDATED! Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Merchandise Guide – Shop ’til the Drop!
D-Lander Shop (11/27)
Home to high-end brands like Pandora, Gucci, and Dooney & Bourke, along with other well-known labels and Disney in-house products, D-Lander Shop, located within the new Parkside Market complex, was the first of the new stores to open as part of Downtown Disney’s reimagining.
Avengers Reserve (12/6)
Shortly after D-Lander Shop opened its doors, Avengers Reserve followed suit right next to it. The Avengers-inspired location is home not only to Marvel merchandise but also life-size figures of many of Earth’s mightiest heroes.
Downtown Disney Shuffle
To make room for a new, expanded confectionery, the upcoming Wonderful World of Sweets, several stores in Downtown Disney had to be relocated.
On April 8, 2024, the Disney Dress Shop moved from its original location near the Grand Californian’s Downtown Disney security gate to Wonderground Gallery’s more spacious venue.
Then, on June 8, 2024, after temporarily sharing space with Disney Home’s shelves, Wonderground Gallery opened in its new, smaller location, taking the place of California Sole.
Get more information on these new stores and all the other changes to Downtown Disney here:
Downtown Disney Transformed: Updates on New Restaurants & Shops!
Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond (12/23)
Guests will find Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond sandwiched between Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and the exit to the Haunted Mansion. It is made to appear as though it is run by the crystal ball-inhabiting psychic from the attraction while she was alive. The shop is full of occult odds and ends, as well as references to Haunted Mansion history and lore, with shelves stocked with Haunted Mansion and Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise.
Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond is a treasure trove of Easter eggs and thoughtful theming. Explore it further in our dedicated article, complete with a walkthrough video:
Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond Shop Now Open At Disneyland!
Disneyland Resort 2024 News
The big news items of the year was equal parts encouraging and frustrating, with the first fully Pixar-themed hotel in the U.S. countered by additional hurdles for guests requiring DAS and a new skip-the-queue product that only increases annoying standby snarls.
Pixar Place Hotel (1/30)
While the building itself is not new, the re-themed Pixar Place Hotel is a huge improvement on the generic Paradise Pier Hotel, complete with newly-renovated Pixar-themed guest rooms, a new Crush water slide, and exclusive meet and greets with Bing Bong from “Inside Out” and Ray Gardner from “Soul.” The hotel also boasts great fireworks views from the upper-floor pool deck.
UPDATED! Say ‘Hey Howdy Hey’ to Disneyland’s Pixar Place Hotel
DAS Changes (6/18)
Disney’s Disability Access Service (DAS) underwent some unwelcome changes on June 18, impacting both qualifications and available accommodations. The updates were aimed at curbing a significant rise in system abuse by guests gaming the service. However, the tightened rules left many guests with legitimate needs feeling frustrated by a reduction in accessibility options.
DAS: Big Disability Access Changes for Disneyland & Walt Disney World
DisneylandForward Approved (5/7)
Disneyland’s plans for new rides, lands, hotel rooms, and even a possible third park – called DisneylandForward – was approved by the Anaheim City Council on May 7, 2024. The plan reallocated land already owned by Disney and paves the way for potentially doubling the resort’s capacity, including a new entertainment district.
Here’s EVERYTHING you need to know about DisneylandForward:
IT’S APPROVED!!! DisneylandForward Moves Forward What You Need To Know
Although many teases and promises were made to the Anaheim community in an attempt to get DisneylandForward approved, no concrete announcements about the project were made at the D23 Expo in August.
D23 Announcements (8/10)
Despite no real mention of Disneyland Forward during D23: The Ultimate Fan Event in August, Josh D’Amaro did announce a slew of new projects and attractions for Disneyland Resort, some of which may have already been shifted to the back burner.
Among the new attractions promised for Anaheim is a brand new “Coco”-themed boat ride coming to California Adventure (and supposedly breaking ground in 2026) as well as two new attractions for Avengers Campus: Avengers: Infinity Defense, which will take guests on a thrilling multiversal mission to defeat King Thanos and all-new Stark Flight Lab, which recruits riders to test new flight tech being developed by Tony Stark.
The “big ticket” announcement was the confirmation that a new Avatar-themed land would also be built in California Adventure, but now it seems that expansive land (and high-tech water-based attraction) may have been moved into the DisneylandForward column, which so far, shows no signs of starting any time soon.
For all the news, including smaller projects like the Walt Disney animatronic show, and new ride film for the Millennium Falcon, please read our complete coverage:
BREAKING NEWS: New Attractions and Surprises Announced for Disneyland
Disneyland Price Hike (10/9)
In early October, Disneyland once again raised ticket prices across the board. On the busiest days, a single-day ticket now costs $206 (a 6.2% increase) and that’s just for one park. Magic Key annual passes weren’t spared either. The highest-tier Magic Key now costs $1,749 (a 6.1% increase) and still excludes the coveted Christmas-to-New-Year week.
For a full breakdown of the new prices at the Disneyland Resort—including multi-day tickets, Lightning Lane, parking, and more—check out our guide:
Disneyland Ticket Prices Up Again on Magic Keys, Day Tickets & Lightning Lane!
Lightning Lane Premier Pass (10/23)
Disney introduced a new limited-quantity premium service, which provides one-time entry to all Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass Lightning Lane entrances on the day they are visiting. Guests who purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass do not have to select a return time; they just scan in whenever they want to ride… and they have park hopper tickets, the service applies to both Disneyland and California Adventure.
Beginning in 2025, pricing will vary by date and demand within a $300 to $400 range.
UPDATED! Disney Lightning Lanes: Premier, Multi, or Single – What You Need to Know
Magic Key Sales
Sometimes it seems like Disneyland doesn’t really want annual passholders, at least that’s what the on-again, off-again Magic Key sales suggest. If you’re hoping to snag a Magic Key in 2025, act fast if they become available because the opportunity tends to vanish as quickly as it appears.
Disneyland Magic Key Sales & New Perks – Everything You Need To Know
New Entry Gates
Taking a cue (sort of) from Walt Disney World, Disneyland has added new entrance gates to both Disneyland and California Adventure, which (when fully operational) will hopefully allow guests to pass through more quickly by scanning their own tickets.
Entertainment Cuts
The large theaters in Disneyland and California Adventure remained mostly dark throughout 2024, with no new permanent productions announced for the near future. Entertainment is a hallmark of the Disney Parks, but Disneyland’s team seems to have missed the memo. With ticket prices now frequently topping $206 for a single day in the parks (before Lightning Lane or parking) the cut to stage entertainment is really unacceptable.
Critter Country > Bayou Country
Imagineers changed the name of Critter Country to Bayou Country despite their constant promotion of the musical critters in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Since the old Critter Country name would have helped explain why both Princess and the Frog and Winnie the Pooh characters reside in the same land, the new Bayou Country name leaves Winnie the Pooh out in the cold… which makes us wonder if Pooh’s days in the land are numbered?
What’s Next?
70th Anniversary Celebration
Looking ahead to 2025, we can expect all the “usual suspects” as far as festivals and seasonal celebrations are concerned, but many will be wrapped up in a resort-wide 70th-anniversary celebration, which kicks off May 16, 2025 (and will continue through summer 2026).
Among the anniversary highlights is the debut of Walt Disney – A Magical Life in the Main Street Opera House (featuring an animatronic of Walt Disney himself) and the all-new World of Color Happiness.
Also joining the celebration is the long-awaited return of the Paint the Night nighttime parade and Wondrous Journeys fireworks spectacular to Disneyland and Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration daytime parade to California Adventure.
DISNEYLAND 70TH ANNIVERSARY: New Entertainment, Returning Favorites, and More!
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Let’s Hear From You!
What are the highlights and lowlights of the year at the Disneyland Resort for you? And what are you most looking forward to in 2025?
Our thanks to Samantha Davis-Friedman, Natalie Kipper, Suzanne Lee, Dusty Sage, and the MiceChat Crew for their help with this article.