D23 wrapped yesterday and it was a huge one for Disneyland. The highlights that actually matter for families with young kids: a Coco boat ride is coming to DCA with no height requirement, Tomorrowland is finally getting a full reimagining (though it comes at Avatar's expense), Avengers Campus doubles in size in 2028, and three legendary entertainment offerings return in 2027 including "Remember... Dreams Come True" fireworks. Meanwhile Halloween Time launches Friday — Oogie Boogie Bash starts tomorrow night. Here's everything.
🚨 The Big D23 News for Families
A Coco boat ride is coming to DCA — and it's designed for young kids. This is the single biggest family-relevant announcement of D23. Disney confirmed a Coco-themed boat ride at Disney California Adventure near Paradise Pier/Pixar Pier with no height requirement — explicitly designed as a "classic family-friendly attraction." The story is set roughly a year after the movie, with guests entering through a museum dedicated to Héctor Rivera's music, then traveling by boat through the Land of the Dead via Miguel's memories. It nods to both Coco and the upcoming Coco 2 (releasing September 2027). Construction site is already cleared. No opening date confirmed yet, but Disney indicated it's the next major DCA opening after the Avengers Campus expansion. Realistic target: 2028-2029.
If your kid is 3 right now and loves Coco, plan on riding this with them at age 5-6. That's the demographic Disney explicitly built this for.
Tomorrowland is getting a full reimagining. After years of rumors, Disney finally announced a complete Tomorrowland transformation at Disneyland Park. Details are thin — "new attractions, more open spaces, restoring optimism and innovation." What matters for families: this is a long-term project, not starting until after Avengers Campus expansion and Coco open (so roughly 2028+). Autopia being on a state-mandated death clock (February 2027) is now clearly connected to this bigger reimagining plan.
The trade-off: the DCA Avatar-themed land is now delayed and on the back burner to prioritize Tomorrowland. If you were excited about a Pandora experience at DCA, that timeline just got pushed significantly.
Avengers Campus doubles in size in 2028 with two new attractions. Confirmed opening year for Avengers Infinity Defense (a mission-based group attraction featuring Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Mackie, and Chris Hemsworth reprising their roles on screen) and Stark Flight Lab (two-person "gyro-kinetic pods" that get lifted and maneuvered by massive robotic arms to simulate flying like Iron Man). Both will reconnect Avengers Campus to Cars Land. For families with Marvel-loving kids currently 4-6, plan on these being major must-dos for their 6-8 year old selves.
Three legendary entertainment offerings return in 2027. This is huge for anyone visiting Disneyland next year:
- "Remember... Dreams Come True" fireworks returns to Disneyland Park in February 2027. Originally created for the 50th anniversary in 2005, this show is considered one of the best fireworks spectaculars Disney has ever produced. The new version will expand with projections on Tom Sawyer Island and it's a small world facade.
- Original "World of Color" returns to DCA in 2027 — the version most fans consider the definitive show.
- "Magic Happens" parade returns to Disneyland in Summer 2027. This is the parade that only ran for two weeks before COVID shut everything down in 2020; most fans have never seen it in person.
If you have a 2027 Disneyland trip in mind, February through summer 2027 is genuinely one of the best entertainment windows in years. Book accordingly.
🎃 Halloween Time Starts Friday — This Week's Trip-Planning Impact
Oogie Boogie Bash opens tomorrow night (Tuesday, August 18). The season kicks off. If you have tickets to an August or early-September night, arrive at 6 PM sharp for the pre-party mixing zone (technically starts 3 hours before the party). Trick-or-treat trails are the highest-priority stops for families with kids 4-8 — hit them first before lines build.
Halloween Time officially starts Friday, August 21. The overlays and seasonal offerings drop simultaneously:
- Haunted Mansion Holiday (Nightmare Before Christmas overlay) reopens
- Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy activates
- Mickey and Friends Halloween Cavalcade launches at Disneyland (fills the 12-day cavalcade gap that started August 10)
- Plaza de la Familia (Coco-themed celebration) opens at DCA and runs through November 2
Paint the Night and Wondrous Journeys have final performances Thursday, August 20. Last chance to see them until they return. If you're visiting this week, Thursday is the "farewell" night. Halloween Screams takes over as the nighttime spectacular starting Friday.
🎢 Ride Status This Week
| Ride | Status | What Parents Should Know |
|---|---|---|
| Haunted Mansion | Reopens Aug 21 as Holiday | Less scary than traditional version, good for sensitive kids |
| Main Street Cinema | Closed Aug 10-28 | Back next week |
| Mark Twain Riverboat | Closed for refurb | Skip Rivers of America this month |
| Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island | Closed for refurb | Skip this month |
| Sailing Ship Columbia | Back to daily as of Aug 15 | Normal operations |
| Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes | Back to daily as of Aug 14 | Normal operations |
| Mad Tea Party | Closes September 14, no reopen date | Ride it now if it's a favorite |
| Silly Symphony Swings | Closed since April 27 | Nearly 4 months down |
| Autopia (gas-powered) | Active — on a death clock | Ride before early 2027 |
🍿 Food Worth Knowing — Halloween Time Edition
Halloween Time treats and popcorn buckets drop Friday. The Halloween popcorn buckets are the ones parents actually care about — they typically sell out early in the season and go for real money on resale. If your kid collects them, hit the popcorn stands on Main Street on your first day.
Plaza de la Familia at DCA launches Friday with Coco-themed authentic Mexican food at various carts throughout Paradise Gardens Park. This is genuinely great food and one of the more culturally substantive Disney offerings — worth planning a DCA meal around if you're there August 21 through November 2.
The Plaza Inn fried chicken meal remains the best sit-down value at Disneyland Park post-price-hikes. Bopo Go! (the Jamba replacement) still isn't open at Downtown Disney.
💰 Deals & Tickets
Kids' Summer Tickets expire September 7 — 3 weeks left. Kids 3-9 visit for as low as $50/day. Get Away Today runs it at $48/day with their own savings layered on plus interest-free payment plans. This deal will not return until next summer.
Anaheim Resident Ticket Offer still has dates available through October 8 at $71/day for adults, $50/day for kids 3-9.
Ticket price hike watch: October 7. Still expected based on historical pattern. If you have a late-2026 or early-2027 trip in mind, book this month to lock in current pricing.
Oogie Boogie Bash has limited availability remaining — predominantly August and early-September dates at $139 or $189. October nights are almost entirely sold out. Sunday August 30 is the only remaining Sunday.
👀 What We're Watching
Tiana's Bayou Adventure opens at Disneyland November 15. The former Splash Mountain replacement arrives just in time for the holidays. Height requirement is 40 inches. For families with kids 4-7 who loved Splash Mountain: the drop is comparable but the theming is warmer and more character-driven, which reads as less intense for young kids. Confirmed opening date at last was one of the more concrete family-relevant D23 announcements.
The Bluey Movie hits theaters August 6, 2027. If your kid is a Bluey fan (and let's be honest, they are), expect the Bluey's Best Day Ever! show at Fantasyland Theatre to get significantly busier in the run-up to the movie release. Book Bluey show early on trips in mid-to-late 2027.
Season 2 of The Imagineering Story coming to Disney+ next year. Behind-the-scenes access to current park projects. Worth flagging if your family has older kids who like the "how it's made" content.
Ms. Marvel confirmed to lead Avengers Infinity Defense. Kids who watched the Ms. Marvel Disney+ series get a real payoff here in 2028. Iman Vellani reprises the role.
Halloween Time crowd sweet spot: August 25 through September 7. Kids' Summer Tickets active, school back in session, low crowds. The best crowd-to-experience ratio window of the entire year is about to open. If you can move a trip up, do it.
Planning a Disneyland trip this fall or in 2027? Start with our 2-day toddler itinerary and Lightning Lane strategy guide — both updated for Halloween Time, current ride status, and the new park hopping rules. More D23 analysis coming in dedicated posts this week.