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Disneyland Will Close Several Attractions While Building 'Star Wars' Land
Disney's new, 14-acre Star Wars attraction is probably going to be amazing, but it'll come to Disney lovers at a cost. Disneyland will be closing a number of attractions for a year as they construct the galaxy far, far away.
Starting January 10, 2016, Disney guests will be unable to visit some of the park's beloved attractions for about a year, OC Register reports. This includes: the Fantasmic! show, the Disneyland Railroad, the Sailing Ship Columbia, Davey Crocket Explorer Canoes, the Pirate Lair on Tom Sawyer Island and the Mark Train Riverboat. The Rivers of America will be partially drained, and the water will go to the O.C. Water District's Groundwater Replenishment system. Here, the water will be treated and then stored until Disney is ready to put it back. An exact date as to when the attractions will re-open hasn't been revealed.
Additionally, Big Thunder Ranch will close permanently in January. Disneyland cast members who work at any of the affected attractions will be allowed to move to other areas of the park.
Disney chairman Bob Iger announced back in August during D23—the biennial Disney fan expo in Anaheim—that Disney would be building Star Wars lands at both Disneyland in Anaheim and Walt Disney World in Orlando.
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"We are creating a jaw-dropping new world that represents our largest single themed land expansion ever," Iger said. "These new lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World will transport guests to a whole new Star Wars planet, including an epic Star Wars adventure that puts you in the middle of a climactic battle."
There will also be a ride where guests can pilot the Millennium Falcon, plus a cantina.
In the interim and starting November 16, Tomorrowland will turn into a temporary Star Wars-themed attraction called "Season of the Force." You'll be able to watch Star Wars flicks; Space Mountain will become Hyperspace Mountain; and Star Tours will include clips from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This will be an annual seasonal attraction, and the exact closing date has yet to be revealed.
Disneyland made a deal with Anaheim in July that they'd invest $1 billion into their parks and the surrounding areas if Anaheim would agree to not impose any new taxes on them for 30 years. This deal was opposed by Anaheim mayor Tom Tait, but ultimately went through. The deal specified that construction on these investments had to begin in 2017 and be done by 2024.
Related:
Photos: The Extraordinary And Nostalgic Costumes Of Disney's D23 Expo
Photos: Dapper Day Brings Old Timey Fun To Disneyland
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