Experience refurbishments and non permanent attraction closures are a reality of life on the Disney Parks. Ditto downtime and delays, which occur all through the day and might be irritating as a result of they’re unplanned and unannounced. This replace covers a mixture of these issues, with an emphasis on the upcoming Radiator Springs Racers refurbishment at Disney California Journey.
As mirrored in current updates to the 2025 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar, elevated upkeep has been occurring after a couple of years of lighter refurbishment schedules. This winter was jam-packed with closures–together with excessive profile points of interest through the coronary heart of Spring Break season–as Disney tried to get the parks in tip-top form earlier than the beginning of Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary celebration.
This most likely isn’t going to win me any buddies, however I feel Disneyland ought to be including much more points of interest to the closure calendar. There are quite a few rides which were experiencing above-average downtime, and others which can be working however not show-ready. The rationale for that is that preventative upkeep was not occurring because it ought to–which is the ‘better of each worlds’ resolution, because it means in a single day work that has minimal influence to company. I suppose that’s what occurs whenever you let go of a bunch of old-timers who held the institutional information and lived-experience needed to keep up and repair so many of those legacy points of interest! (However I digress…)
Anyway, at this time’s large information is that the top-rated Automobiles Land attraction at Disney California Journey will likely be quickly closing in a few months for routine upkeep. The Radiator Springs Racers refurbishment will begin on August 18, 2025 and the Automobiles Land attraction will likely be closed for slightly over one month.
Sadly, Disney has not but specified a reopening date but, which means it’s potential the precise length of the closure is just not but recognized. You additionally may be aware that the refurbishment has not but been added to the official attraction web page for Radiator Springs Racers. It’s unclear why this has but to occur, however this closure could be very a lot on the interior calendar. This has been formally confirmed with Disney–it’s not merely a rumor.
The refurbishment of Radiator Springs Racers is claimed to be a normal one, with a scope of labor together with however not restricted to trace resurfacing, lighting upgrades, and audio/visible updates. Late final month, Disneyland filed a development allow to improve all present lighting to LED fixtures for Radiator Springs Racers, and likewise improve different audio, video, and community updates all through the attraction.
Since 2022, Radiator Springs Racers has closed for 4 separate refurbishments, together with 2 in 2023. The Automobiles Land headliner final closed for a quick refurbishment from February 26-March 1 final 12 months, and was down from August 18-27 in 2023.
Prior to those 4 refurbishments, Radiator Springs Racers solely had one scheduled closure–a three-day stretch in 2013–throughout its first decade of operations. After all, it’s not unusual for newer rides to not want as a lot upkeep, however the change is nonetheless notable.
The refurbishment of Radiator Spring Racers can be notable regardless of when it had been taking place. There’s a purpose why it’s our #1 trip in DCA and #5 in all of Disneyland Resort on our Record Rating All 68 Sights at Disneyland & California Journey. Actually, #5 is perhaps a bit too low, but it surely’s laborious to beat the OGs at Disneyland.
Radiator Springs Racers is without doubt one of the few points of interest I make a degree of doing each single go to. That’s taking place a bit much less now that we’ve got a toddler, however the Single Rider line is a large win for us, particularly throughout vacationer season when decrease tier APs are blocked out.
On this case, the closure of Radiator Springs Racers is much more notable as a result of it’s taking place proper earlier than Halloween Time at Disneyland begins on August 22, 2025. Granted, that seasonal occasion has been moved ahead strategically in order that it now begins as faculties return into session throughout what was beforehand low season, however what we noticed final 12 months was elevated attendance all through August and into early September on account of Halloween Time and ticket offers. Fortunately, the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary Ticket Deal ends August 14, 2025…however the Loopy-Good Costco Ticket Deal doesn’t!
As a result of RSR refurbishment, it’s potential that ‘appears like’ crowds will likely be larger through the first month of Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Celebration dates. Radiator Springs Racers helps tremendously with absorbing crowds throughout that tough ticket occasion, and until Disneyland adjusts ticket gross sales downward, that might current a problem. Simply one thing to concentrate on when selecting your dates for that occasion.
On an identical be aware, the identical will happen with wait instances all through Disney California Journey throughout every day ops. It’s not simply us–Radiator Springs Racers is much and away the most well-liked trip at DCA. Throughout this refurbishment, wait instances will improve throughout the board by a couple of minutes, with a disproportionate influence at Incredicoaster, Soarin’ and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!
Talking of these particular rides, we’ve got extra to share on stealth refurbishments, downtime & delays at DCA…
You may recall that earlier this 12 months, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! was closed for a couple of week throughout Spring Break.
Whereas the scope of labor was by no means revealed, we all know what it was/relies on a allow Disney filed for the mission. That concerned the alternative of brake and drive management cupboards throughout all shafts, in addition to extra work in one of many shafts. It’s unclear how lengthy this may take, however primarily based on the outline, it sounded to us like a mission that might final a number of weeks–if not months. Regardless of that, it was scheduled for a closure of lower than every week. One thing didn’t add up.
We additionally cautioned that work may proceed to be executed in phases whereas the trip is operational. It’s totally potential to take one shaft down at a time for a ‘stealth’ refurbishment, which is precisely what Tower of Terror at Walt Disney World acquired a few years in the past. It decreases trip capability, but it surely retains the attraction operational. It was potential that operations wished Mission Breakout open for the busy spring break season, in order that they did every week of downtime adopted by nevertheless lengthy it takes of a stealth refurbishment.
Now we all know this was correct. Throughout the previous couple of weeks, we’ve run into a couple of points with delays at Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! Actually, I’m undecided when, precisely, this began. I spent a number of time in Florida in March and April, so we hadn’t been going to Disneyland as a lot till the seventieth began.
Since then, I’ve seen one elevator shaft has been down on Mission Breakout with regularity. The rationale I wish to carry this to your consideration is that so you already know why common wait instances have elevated for Mission Breakout, and together with that, why Lightning Lane availability is tougher and aggressive. Not solely that, however posted wait instances are more likely to be correct and never inflated.
If something, posted wait instances truly is perhaps understated. Simply yesterday, I used to be doing Early Entry subject testing and made the error of beginning at Mission Breakout. When this trip is firing on all cylinders and working all shafts, that is the way in which to go. You may stroll proper on and doubtlessly be executed shortly sufficient to then do Internet Slingers earlier than beating the rope drop rush to Radiator Springs Racers. (This requires luck and velocity–attempt at your individual danger.)
Regardless of being in direction of the entrance of the Early Entry pack yesterday, Mission Breakout most positively was not a walk-on. It is because one elevator shaft has down for the stealth refurbishment, and one other had damaged down. Ouch.
As a substitute of being a walk-on, it was an nearly 30 minute wait, and my group wasn’t off till nearly 8 am. After we bought off Mission Breakout, the posted wait time had ballooned to 65 minutes. Meaning on-site company who bought up early had been “rewarded” with a wait time on par with some random time in mid-afternoon.
If persevering with to Radiator Springs Racers, we might’ve been behind the rope drop rush, so this stealth refurbishment threw a critical monkey wrench into the morning plan. And sadly, there was no straightforward pivot. Internet Slingers most likely would’ve been the perfect play on account of proximity.
Soarin’ additionally had a protracted wait as a result of it is usually present process a stealth refurbishment to considered one of its theaters.
This isn’t actually a brand new growth, and truthfully, I’m not even positive whether or not “stealth refurbishment” is the precise time period right here. It looks like Soarin’ has incessantly had one theater out of fee for the final two years. I keep in mind when formulating our authentic Lightning Lane Multi-Go Rankings at DCA, we positioned Soarin’ close to the highest on account of this. It’s laborious to say whether or not upkeep groups are actively engaged on the theater or what, precisely, is going on.
Both manner, it’s once more value drawing your consideration to as a result of Soarin’s wait instances can balloon because of this. It additionally means they’re extra more likely to be correct, and that LLMP availability is more likely to be decrease. Lastly, I’d simply add that–subjectively–Mission Breakout and Soarin’ are two of the extra excruciating rides to expertise at diminished capability. Even when each are at 100% capability, I really feel like the road can transfer glacially sluggish, with unexpectedly lengthy waits (together with through the Lightning Lane) for those who get unfortunate with load cycles. Maybe I’m simply extremely impatient, however this feels interminably lengthy once they’re in ‘stealth refurbishment’ mode. I gained’t be doing both till they’re working at full tilt.
Bringing issues full circle, my Early Entry and cord drop run method at DCA yesterday was to (attempt to) hit the mid-morning lull at Radiator Springs Racers. One other terrible thought!
As a substitute of hitting a lull, I encountered the longest posted wait time of the day–125 minutes–and Forged Members closing the queue to new company coming into (however not dumping it) on account of technical difficulties. I’m undecided how this performed out after I left (the rope drop run was an irredeemable misplaced trigger at this level, so I simply gave up), but it surely form of underscored the why of this Radiator Springs Racers refurbishment.
It was a tough morning at DCA, albeit one redeemed for us by Redwood Creek Problem Path and Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Dwell!, two points of interest which can be shortly rising up our Disneyland energy rankings. Regardless, hopefully this unofficial trip refurbishment and the stealth ones deal with these points and make for a smoother visitor expertise.
Lastly, in a tangentially-related Automobiles Land information, the walkway between Radiator Springs Racers and Avengers Campus is blocked by two units of development partitions. The realm between the 2 lands is out of fee for the enlargement of Avengers Campus that’ll add two new points of interest. The partitions blocking this path are anticipated to stay till someday in 2026.
The trail in query connects Avengers Campus to Automobiles Land proper by Radiator Springs Curios and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters. It’s additionally close to the new-ish Pink’s Neighborhood Backyard overflow seating space for the Cozy Cones (attempting to cram as a lot previously-uncovered information into this one replace!).
In much more vaguely-connected Automobiles land (lowercase “l”) information, Imagineers have lastly pulled again the curtain on the Inspiration for Automobiles Land in Magic Kingdom, which is ready in Piston Peak Nationwide Park (from “Planes”) versus Radiator Springs, and will likely be primarily based on the Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park. It’ll additionally function a deep lower character with a DCA connection: Ranger J. Autobahn Woodlore.
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Your Ideas
What do you consider the Radiator Springs Racers trip refurbishment? Dissatisfied that it coincides with the beginning of Halloween Time at Disneyland, or do you suppose the post-summer “low season” is the perfect time for such downtime? Have you ever skilled stealth refurbishments at Soarin or Mission Breakout? Run into downtime & delays at DCA? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!