The Disneyland Resort has changed a lot since it first opened in 1955. They have added a new theme park, new lands, new rides, and also have changed rides overtime. These are all of the California Adventure and Disneyland rides that have been rethemed.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened in November of 2024. Prior to that it was Splash Mountain, which closed in May of 2023. The theme of Splash Mountain was the story of Br’er Rabbit. Now the theme is The Princess and the Frog.
Incredicoaster
Incredicoaster is a roller coaster that is themed from the movie The Incredibles. It opened in June of 2018. Prior to that it was called California Screamin’ which operated from 2001 to 2018. It didn’t really have much of a theme.
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue opened in 2006 and is a Monsters, Inc. themed ride. It replaced a ride that closed much earlier. In this spot there used to be an attraction called Superstar Limo that was not a success. It was only open for less than a year from February 2001 to January 2002.
Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! replaced the ride Tower of Terror. Tower of Terror was a very spooky ride that was based on The Twilight Zone. Mission: BREAKOUT is themed from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. The ride is very similar. It is in the same building and is a drop-style ride. Tower of Terror was open from 2004 to 2017 and Mission: BREAKOUT opened in 2017.
Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind
Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind is based on the Pixar movie Inside Out. This ride actually used to be in a different part of the park, in A Bugs Land and it was called Flik’s Flyers. Learn more about Flik’s Flyers and other Disneyland rides that permanently closed here.
Goofy’s Sky School
Goofy’s Sky School was originally Mulholland Madness. It had the same track, but different theming and a different name. Mulholland Madness was open from February 2001 to October 2010. It then reopened on July 1, 2011 as Goofy’s Sky School. The theme of Mulholland Madness was that you were driving on the freeways of California and it was crazy.
Silly Symphony Swings
Silly Symphony Swings used to be Orange Stinger. Both were swings rides, but Orange Stinger had an orange peel around it. They removed that, added some nice seating underneath the ride, and turned it into Silly Symphony Swings. Orange Stinger was open from February 2001 to July 2009. Silly Symphony Swings opened on June 11, 2010.
Pixar Pal-A-Round
Pixar Pal-A-Round has seen a couple of changes over the years. It currently has a big Mickey Mouse head over something that looks like a sun. The ride vehicles each have characters from Pixar movies on them. This ride used to be called the Sun Wheel and it had a big sun on it with no Mickey. This was open from 2001 to 2008. Then it became Mickey’s Fun Wheel from 2009 to 2018. In 2018 it was renamed to Pixar Pal-A-Round.
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Tomorrowland in Disneyland had an attraction called Submarine Voyage that was there from 1959 to 1998. The attraction closed for a while, then after the success of the Finding Nemo movie this ride got reimagined into the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, which opened June 11, 2007.
Adventureland Treehouse
What’s currently known as the Adventureland Treehouse in Disneyland has gone through a few changes. It was originally the Swiss Family Treehouse and opened in 1962. It was then changed to Tarzan’s Treehouse from 1999 to 2021. It’s been Adventureland Treehouse since November 2023.
Haunted Mansion
Haunted Mansion turns into Haunted Mansion Holiday for a few months a year for the Halloween and Christmas seasons. It changes from its classic spooky theme to Nightmare Before Christmas with Sally and Jack Skellington. Haunted Mansion opened in 1969 and Disneyland started doing Haunted Mansion Holiday in 2001.
Space Mountain
Space Mountain is still there in Tomorrowland and most of the time it operates as Space Mountain, but every year it changes for the Star Wars celebration called Season of the Force. It changes into Hyperspace Mountain and is Star Wars themed instead of just space themed. Space Mountain opened in 1977, but Disneyland started making this change in 2015.