As the holiday season approaches at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, the park has announced that seven attractions will be temporarily closed as part of the seasonal and refurbishment schedule. The parks are pausing operations of the following rides in November:
It’s a Small WorldRedwood Creek Challenge TrailDavy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes Sailing Ship ColumbiaPixie HollowPaint the NightFantasmicThe reason behind the closures
These closures serve multiple purposes. Many of the attractions are undergoing refurbishment or seasonal preparation. For example, It’s a Small World traditionally closes for a short period in late October/early November so that the holiday overlay can be installed, which transforms the classic attraction into the festive version with seasonal decor and holiday music.
In addition to holiday updates, some closures are simply part of routine refurbishment at Disneyland, when crowd levels are lower and the park takes the opportunity to perform maintenance, upgrades, or ride overhauls. According to the 2025–26 refurbishment calendar, attractions like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Casey Jr. Circus Train already had planned closures through late November.
What’s the expected duration?
While Disneyland has provided closure dates for some attractions (especially for overlay installs), others are less clearly defined. For example, It’s a Small World is slated to close October 30 to November 13, 2025. But for attractions like Redwood Creek Challenge Trail or Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, the public notices simply state that they’ll “temporarily close in November” without giving a specific reopening date.
As a rule of thumb, many of these holiday-season closures tend to last from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on what is exactly being done to the ride. Therefore, while the seven rides listed will be unavailable for some portion of November, visitors should check the official Disneyland calendar closer to the date for concrete reopening times.
What can visitors expect instead?
Despite the closures, the holiday season at Disneyland remains full of festive offerings. With attractions temporarily offline, guests will still have access to a broad slate of rides, entertainment, parades, and decor. In fact, the timing of these closures helps the resort transition into its holiday experience, so while some rides are down, new Christmas-themed parades, shows, and decorations are ramping up.
Related: Disney World releases details for its annual Christmas event
While it’s unfortunate to see beloved attractions off the roster for a time, the closures are largely planned, seasonal shifts rather than crisis-induced shutdowns. With a little planning and flexibility, your holiday-season visit to Disneyland can still be full of magic, and even holiday magic with the slow roll out of holiday shows and decor.
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