Disneyland’s ability to expand has been notoriously capped due to its limited amount of land. And for years, guests have been asking for more areas to sit down around the parks. To improve the guest experience, Disney just opened a new seating area at one of Disneyland’s most popular quick-service restaurants. This is part of ongoing efforts to best utilize park space to deliver for guests.
This expansion will make it significantly easier not only to find a table to enjoy a meal, but to sit down and relax when you need a break. Keep reading for the details, including some fun easter eggs included in the new area. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including new Disneyland popcorn buckets and a Disney Visa card member discount.
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New Seating Expansion at Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree Restaurant
Although Disneyland has faced challenges when it comes to expanding the resort, Disney has gotten creative with their latest construction plans. Over the next few years and beyond, Disneyland will undergo a major construction project that is already underway to bring guests more space, more attractions, and more dining experiences.
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But these new offerings aren’t the only way Disney is creating more space for guests. In 2026, Disneyland opened four new seating areas, with the newest one debuting at Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree in late October.
Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree is one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Disneyland, and a great spot to grab a meal with views of the Rivers of America. Prior to this expansion, the seating area consisted of 2 levels, including an upstairs patio that was much larger than the downstairs patio.
What used to be planters along the pathway between Critter Country and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is now an extension of the lower patio, which significantly increased the restaurant’s seating capacity. Roughly 25 new tables sit underneath the upper deck, making it a perfect place to escape the sun on those hot summer days. There are also tables located further out next to the walkway, which are mostly covered by umbrellas.
Here is a look at the new patio expansion, where you can see the rustic theming with the use of stones and wood. With the surrounding trees, the stone walls, and the chairs appearing as though they were made of branches, guests really feel like they’re in bear country!
In addition to more seating space, the expansion also includes a number of fun easter eggs and several nods to the old Country Bear Jamboree, which used to be an indoor theater show featuring audio-animatronic bears singing country music and cracking jokes. The theater closed in 2001 to make way for the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, but the Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree restaurant pays homage to this old Disneyland attraction. There is a new version of the attraction that opened at Walt Disney World.
These easter eggs include a “Don’t Feed the Bears” sign, a beehive, Rufus’s den, and more! Here are some photos of a few of these immersive details.
This beehive is a perfect example of one of the many bear-themed details found in the new expanded seating area.
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In addition, the new patio includes a small cave with a mailbox outside featuring the name “Rufus,” which is an easter egg for Rufus the bear. Rufus was one of the Country Bears who guests could hear snoring from his cave along the path to what was then called “Bear Country,” now “Bayou Country.”
The new seating area also has a trash can, compost, and recycling bin for guests’ convenience.
Here’s a look at the extended patio at night, which would be a great spot to watch the Fantasmic! floats sail by as they exit the show.
The patio also has an accessible ramp for wheelchairs and a family restroom labeled “The Family Den.”
This is the fourth new seating area to pop up in Disneyland this year alone, and it shows Disney’s commitment to the guest experience. As the popularity of the parks continues to rise with the massive construction project Disneyland has coming, we are excited to see more places where guests can sit, relax, and enjoy some much-needed downtime during their busy park days.
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