Last month, Disneyland's plans for Star Wars land were leaked, and they provided a lot of details about what the company is building and which Disney attractions they're moving to make room. Today, Disneyland Repsort officials announced their plans to make room for a construction of a 14-acre Star Wars themed land: Several popular attractions will close for a year at Disneyland, including the railroad, Fantasmic! And almost everything along the Rivers of America.
Big Thunder Ranch, which houses a barbecue restaurant, petting zoo and the Jamboree stage, will close permanently on Jan 10, Disneyland officials also said in their parks blog.
All four train stations along the Disney Railroad, the nightly Fantasmic! show, the Mark Twain Riverboat, the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes, the Sailing Ship Columbia, and the Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island will close temporarily on the same day.
A Disneyland spokesman also said that the river will be partially drained and diverted to the Orange County Water District's Groundwater Replenishment system, where it will be stored and treated, When the time comes to refill the rivers, Disney will replenish from the same system.
The work is expected to take a year, but Disneyland officials did not set a date for when the attractions will re-open. Cast members will be offered other roles during the temporary closures.
Last month, The Walt Disney Co. Chief Operating Officer Tom Stagg announced that the construction of the Star Wars land in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World will start in 2016. "The Star Wars area will be the largest single-themed land expansion at Disneyland, and will be the most immersive," Stagg said last month.
This expansion is a part of a $1 billion investment agreement made with the city of Anaheim in July in exchange for a continued ban on collecting a gate tax. Disneyland officials said it will also build a 5,000-spot parking structure nearby.
Will you be excited to go and see the upcoming Star Wars land?
Read:Disneyland's Star Wars Land Plans Leaked Before Expected D23 Expo Announcements
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