Disneyland Reverses Course on Recent Park Expansion

Not all of Disneyland Resort’s expansion plans are moving forward as expected.

As Disneyland Resort nears its 70th anniversary, the Anaheim destination is undergoing a large-scale growth phase. Avengers Campus is adding two new rides – Avengers: Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab – while a new Coco-themed boat attraction is in development near Pixar Pier, marking the first ride based on the 2017 film.

At Disney California Adventure, the company has also confirmed an upcoming Avatar land, inspired by The Way of Water. Set to take over part of Hollywood Land, the new area will require the permanent closure of Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! in early 2026.

Credit: Ken Lund, Flickr

But in Disneyland Park’s New Orleans Square, one smaller change has unexpectedly been reversed.

Disney Starts Transforming Gift Shop-Turned-Seating Area

Earlier this year, Disney closed the Port Royal Curios and Curiosities store, which had been selling Haunted Mansion-themed merchandise. The retail space was quietly converted into an indoor seating area for the nearby Royal Street Veranda, a quick-service restaurant serving Monte Cristo sandwiches and other regional fare.

The new seating debuted in May, coinciding with the opening of Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond—a dedicated gift shop located near the Haunted Mansion’s exit. That addition appeared to render Port Royal redundant.

The Port Royal Curious and Curiosities shop, which was converted from a shop into additional seating for Royal Street Veranda, is being converted back into a shop at Disneyland today
byu/TheDisneyScoopGuy inDisneyland

However, within weeks, guests began noticing signs that Disney was walking back the change. Cast members were seen restoring the interior of Port Royal to its previous configuration as a retail space.

The decision has sparked speculation among parkgoers. “I am guessing it was always an experiment,” one Reddit user wrote. “They got the data in to see if having expanded seating impacts sales for quick service. If they didn’t want to test and just make it another shop, they would have just kept it open longer until the transition.”

Others noted that the Port Royal space has long served different purposes. “That shop has been so many things through the years,” another guest wrote. “I remember when the Pirates movie was huge and the store became an extended Pirates of the Caribbean store. Then it was Le Bat en Rouge for Nightmare Before Christmas. Then just Haunted Mansion themed merch. Then back to pirates for a while, and then back to Haunted Mansion/Nightmare mash-up.”

The Port Royal Curious and Curiosities shop, which was converted from a shop into additional seating for Royal Street Veranda, is being converted back into a shop at Disneyland today https://t.co/6yjBe3yrhg pic.twitter.com/J4LF6FKzUg

— Matt Desmond (@DisneyScoopGuy) July 2, 2025

At one point, fan speculation pointed to the space being converted into an extended queue for Disneyland’s version of Pirates of the Caribbean, whose standby line can spill deep into walkways on crowded days.

Instead, the area has returned to its most recent role: merchandise retail. While Disney has not officially commented on the reversal, the store’s reopening reduces seating capacity for Royal Street Veranda once again—an ongoing concern for guests seeking shaded spots in the popular dining area.

Port Royal Curios and Curiosities is now back in operation. Whether the move was a short-term test or a shift in strategy remains unclear.

What do you think of the changes at Disneyland?