Disneyland regularly closes rides temporarily to perform routine maintenance. When ride closures are added to the resort’s refurbishment calendar, most of the time, the specific reasoning for the closure is not stated. For an upcoming ride closure that was previously announced, we now have some insight into what Disney will be working on during the downtime.
A Disneyland ride that guests have enjoyed since the park’s opening day in 1955 will soon close for improvements. We have details on the closure date and Disney’s plans for the refurbishment. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including the new Skeleton Dance merchandise collection and new Coco food.
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Mad Tea Party Refurbishment Closure
Mad Tea Party, the classic spinning teacups ride set within the world of Alice in Wonderland, will close for refurbishment starting on September 14, 2026. We’ve known this for a few weeks now, but we didn’t know exactly what Disney would be working on during the closure.
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Public permits filed with the city of Anaheim provide some clarity on at least some of the work Disney will be performing on Mad Tea Party. The permit details Disney’s intentions to “install new post with electrical for prop,” “install new OFCI [Owner Furnished, Contractor Installed] lanterns,” and “provide power and data to network enclosures.”
Those first two items indicate guest-facing changes coming to the ride. Firstly, a new prop will be added on a newly constructed post. The labeling of a “prop” implies this may be something more thematically oriented than, say, operational signage.
Colorful lanterns hang from vinery above the Mad Tea Party turntable. Each lantern is a different color, and many display a unique design pattern that aligns with the overall Wonderland aesthetic. During the refurbishment, it seems that Disney will replace at least some, if not all, of these lanterns.
Disney may be performing other work during the refurbishment period, but those two items are the most significant guest-facing changes listed so far. The permit has an expiration date of August 27, 2027, a year after its filing date.
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Disney has not announced a reopening date for Mad Tea Party following its September 14 closure. The last day to ride before its refurbishment is September 13.
September 14 is also when Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island will close for a brief 3-day refurbishment. The following week, Sailing Ship Columbia will have a quick 3-day refurbishment of its own.
Silly Symphony Swings at Disney California Adventure just reopened after a 4-month maintenance period. We keep track of all Disneyland ride closures here.
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