Construction permits just hit Anaheim’s Public Works department. That means one thing: Disneyland’s world-first Coco boat ride is actually happening. Based on the timeline Disney dropped, we’re looking at backstage work kicking off this fall, with the actual ride groundbreaking scheduled for 2026.
Real talk? This has been the most asked-about Disney project since they announced it at D23 last August. Everyone wanted to know where it’s going, what it’ll be like, and when we can actually ride the thing.
Now we’ve got answers. The entrance sits between Pixar Pier and Paradise Gardens, tucked into what’s currently backstage territory. If you’ve ever walked past Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta wondering what’s behind there, that’s your answer.
The show building is going into the area where there’s currently a backstage access road connecting to Disneyland Drive. It’s basically that strip bordered by Katella Avenue and the back of Incredicoaster that’s been sitting there underutilized for years.
Disney’s playing this smart. Unlike the Avatar land that’s replacing Monsters Inc., this Coco attraction isn’t taking anything away from guests. It’s pure addition, which means more capacity at a park that desperately needs it during peak season.
The ride itself? You’re joining Miguel on a trip to the Land of the Dead, complete with the characters and music from the 2017 Pixar film. Imagineering’s drawing inspiration from Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean, using the latest Audio-Animatronics technology.
Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro promised at D23 that these skeletal figures will “appear in ways you’ll have to see to believe.” Given what Imagineering pulled off with Rise of the Resistance, my expectations are legitimately high.
Here’s where the timing gets interesting. Plaza de la Familia, the annual Día de los Muertos celebration at California Adventure, runs through November 2, 2025. The event features live music at Paradise Gardens Bandstand, craft activities, colorful décor, and The Storytellers of Plaza de la Familia Celebrate the Musical World of Coco performance.
You’ve got this massive cultural celebration happening in the exact same area where the permanent Coco ride is about to start construction. The connection isn’t accidental. Plaza de la Familia honors the spirit of Día de los Muertos through music, food, art and storytelling inspired by Coco, and it’s been a hit since it launched.
Guests can meet Miguel brought to life as a hand-animated dimensional figure, plus enjoy themed dining at Paradise Garden Grill. This seasonal event proved there’s massive appetite for Coco content at the parks, which probably helped Disney green-light a permanent attraction faster than expected.
But the best part about Plaza de la Familia right now? It includes performances featuring songs like “Remember Me” and “The World Es Mi Familia,” plus the Mexican folk song “La Llorona.” There’s also an Árbol de la Vida photo backdrop and Memory Wall where guests can add remembrance notes to honor loved ones.
These elements showcase the emotional core that makes Coco resonate, and that’s exactly what the boat ride needs to capture. The early construction plans don’t show the full ride building outline yet. But the work includes sidewalks, curbs, gutters, trees, planters, landscaping, irrigation and fencing along the public right of way on Disneyland Drive and Katella Avenue.
Basically all the prep work that needs to happen before vertical construction starts. Disney hasn’t announced an official opening date. But the attraction is expected to debut in 2027 or 2028.
That timeline tracks with the broader DisneylandForward expansion plan, which includes over $1.9 billion in new attractions and infrastructure. Grading is already underway on the new Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab attractions at Avengers Campus. Meanwhile, plans for the Avatar land, replacing the aging Monsters Inc. ride, are still pending city approval.
One question locals keep asking: what happens to parades? Concept art shows the ride’s entrance replacing the Pixar Pier parade gate, though Disney hasn’t officially confirmed any parade changes. The gate between Pixar Pier and Paradise Gardens will eventually become a walkway to the park’s DisneylandForward expansion, with guests crossing a themed bridge over Disneyland Drive.
So yes, parade routes might shift. But you’re also getting a whole new expansion area out of the deal. What makes this attraction particularly meaningful goes beyond the rides and tech.
Coco won two Academy Awards, including Best Animated Feature, for its authentic portrayal of Mexican culture and Día de los Muertos traditions. The film’s themes about family, memory, and honoring ancestors struck a chord far beyond the Mexican-American community it centers.
Creating a permanent attraction based on that story, in a location where Plaza de la Familia already celebrates those traditions annually, shows Disney recognizing the cultural weight of what they’re building. This is Disneyland’s first major attraction based on Coco at any Disney park worldwide. It feels overdue given the film’s success and cultural impact since 2017.
The fact that it’s getting the boat ride treatment, the same format as Pirates and Mansion, signals Disney’s betting on this becoming an E-ticket anchor for California Adventure’s continued expansion. For now, if you want your Coco fix, Plaza de la Familia is running daily through November 2.
It’s the perfect preview of what’s coming, just with more mariachi music, fewer animatronics, and way shorter wait times. Though something tells me once that boat ride opens, the Land of the Dead is gonna have hour-long queues year-round.
Check out our complete LA travel guide for more Southern California attractions worth the drive. And if you want the full Plaza de la Familia experience details, hit up Disney’s official event page. The LA Times has been covering all the D23 announcements and expansion plans if you want the deep dive on what else is coming to the resort.
We’ll keep you posted as construction progresses. Follow ThisStage.LA for all the latest on SoCal theme parks, entertainment, and everything else worth experiencing in Los Angeles.
