2. Expansions and construction sweep the resort

The start of a new year means not only the standard onslaught of closed attractions for seasonal maintenance, but also, in 2015’s particular case, the advent of new construction activity as Disney attempts to pivot its original park to a bright and shiny future (and one filled with the likes of recently-acquired properties Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar).

Luigi’s Flying Tires

The first part of our lengthy report on Luigi’s Flying Tires has come true this month:  Disney has announced that the much-maligned ride will close for a lengthy refurbishment, from February 2 to December 1, which will, obviously, take it out of commission for most of the year.

Given that most rehabs only last for a fraction of this time period, it’s looking more and more likely that the second part of our article – that Luigi’s Flying Tires will be transformed into the European-flavored Luigi’s Festival of the Dance (ostensibly from Cars 2) – will also be coming to fruition.  Knowing Disney, expect a grand reveal sometime soon if this does, indeed, turn out to be true.

Soarin’ over California

On the other side of California Adventure, the long-rumored upgrade of Soarin’ over California has finally commenced this month, upgrading its projection system to keep abreast with the ever-increasing HD capabilities of modern tech.

What wasn’t necessarily expected, however, was a general redesign of the attraction’s land, Condor Flats.  Originally a tiny sub-section of the larger Golden State area (along with Grizzly Peak and Pacific Wharf), this little sliver of real estate was spun off into its own entity as part of the park’s reboot in 2012 – although no work was ever done to increase its comparatively lackluster theming.  Disney is looking to rectify that oversight now, transforming the 1940s desert airstrip into Grizzly Peak Airfield, making it an extension of the neighboring land’s ‘50s-inspired national state park setting.

(Another possible reason for the move?  Soarin’ over California is believed to be making way for Soarin’ over the Horizon, an upgraded and expanded version of the ride that incorporates several global landmarks, sometime next year.  A spruced-up surrounding area would be the perfect complement to the beefed-up flagship attraction.)

Soarin’ (the only ride in the land) is currently expected to re-open on May 14, with Taste Pilots’ Grill (the only restaurant) planned to return a little earlier, on March 12.

Star Wars Land

Just this past week, Screamscape reported that a fleet of height-test balloons – which are raised to the height of a proposed building in order to assess how sight lines from other areas of the park will be impacted before construction begins – were deployed early in the morning throughout several sections of Disneyland.  The site goes on to speculate that their exact positions were above Toontown, Tomorrowland (specifically, Autopia and Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage), and the backstage Circle D Ranch – all areas that have been rumored at one point or another to be the recipient of a Star Wars Land makeover.

If accurate, the timing makes a great deal of sense:  with Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens due to release this December, and with Disney already admitting that it wants to incorporate as much from the new film (and all its successors over the next several years) into its new theme park land as possible, construction would need to be gearing up sometime soon.

(Can’t wait to see what a Star Wars Land may entail at Disneyland?  Check out our predictions – both good and bad – for what may be in store.)