A mysterious change at Disneyland Resort has left guests puzzled. Several iconic water features have suddenly disappeared from Disney California Adventure Park, leading to debate among fans. Some believe it’s part of standard maintenance, while others suspect something much bigger is at play.
Disney California Adventure Guests Notice Missing Water Features
Visitors exploring Grizzly Peak, one of Disney California Adventure Park’s most immersive areas, were surprised to find that multiple waterfalls and fountains had stopped flowing. The area, designed to evoke the majesty of California’s national parks, has long been known for its towering rock formations, rushing rapids, and naturalistic beauty. But now, something is missing.
Conversation recently began on Reddit when user u/jonasmckee posted a photo of the inactive waterfalls, writing:
“At DCA, and noticed the big fountain is not running and also the large rapid waterfalls are not going either. Anybody you know why?”
At DCA, and noticed the big fountain is not running and also the large rapid waterfalls are not going either. Anybody you know why?
byu/jonasmckee inDisneyland
The post quickly gained traction, with Disney Parks fans offering competing theories about why Disneyland Resort would suddenly shut off these major water features.
A Simple Maintenance Issue—Or Something Else?
Many fans defended Disneyland Resort, pointing out that the missing water features align with the annual refurbishment of Grizzly River Run. The white-water rafting ride closed for routine maintenance on January 6, 2025, and is scheduled to reopen on March 13.
Since Grizzly River Run relies on extensive water circulation systems, Disneyland Resort turned off the nearby decorative waterfalls as part of the maintenance process. Still, some Disney Parks fans wished they would leave the scenic water features running during the annual refurbishment.
“I wish they could leave that part running while they work on Grizzly,” u/Traditional-Fan-5181 commented.
Others hoped Disneyland Resort would improve the attraction’s waterfalls as part of the Southern California Disney park’s upcoming 70th-anniversary celebration.
“In addition to the regular maintenance that everyone else is talking about, I’d also like to point out the the 70th anniversary is right around the corner,” u/g0gues wrote. “There’s little things around the parks that they seem to be working on to make sure the park is looking good for the big anniversary.”
A Bigger Issue? Environmental Concerns and California’s Drought
While the shutdown is purely maintenance-related, some Disney Parks fans argued that Disneyland Resort should leave the water features off due to broader environmental concerns—particularly Southern California’s ongoing drought and recent wildfire crisis.
“There was speculation that they turned them all off because it was a bad look when there was water needed for the fires,” u/jonasmckee wrote.
u/coachjoshv simply replied: “[There’s a] drought.”
There is no evidence that the missing water features have anything to do with ongoing environmental concerns in Southern California.
Will the Water Features Return to Disney California Adventure Park?
The water effects will likely be restored once Grizzly River Run reopens in March. For now, guests exploring Grizzly Peak will have to enjoy the scenery without the rushing waterfalls that once made the land feel so alive.
Have you noticed maintenance issues at Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park? Share your story with Disney Dining in the comments.
