It had been a rumour circulating for some time, but it now appears to have become reality. Disneyland Paris has permanently closed the Horse-Drawn Streetcar on Main Street, U.S.A.
The horses are retiring and will not be replaced, meaning that the iconic horse-drawn tram will no longer operate at Disneyland Paris.
The streetcar had not been seen very often in recent months, so its closure will probably not make a huge difference for most visitors. It was never a high-capacity attraction, but it did add a lot of atmosphere to Main Street, U.S.A.
Still, it is yet another thing that disappears from Disneyland Paris. And with prices constantly increasing across the resort, it does make you wonder: is the operation of the Horse-Drawn Streetcars really such a significant cost for a resort and company as large as Disneyland Paris?
This is not the first time we have seen smaller experiences disappear. Especially during the 1990s, several low-key attractions were closed, partly because of the financial problems Disneyland Paris was facing at the time.
But the situation today is very different. Whenever The Walt Disney Company discusses the results of its Disney Parks, Disneyland Paris is often mentioned as one of the top performers in terms of demand and revenue.
That makes it difficult to understand why we continue to see cost-cutting measures, while at the same time some parts of Disneyland Park are visibly suffering from poor maintenance.
It also makes me wonder whether this is still the result of decisions made during the Natacha Rafalski era, when it often felt like savings were being made wherever possible. Of course, it is an easy way to present strong financial results when costs are being reduced.
We should also remember that Natacha Rafalski was appointed by Bob Chapek, who was later fired as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. Her way of running Disneyland Paris clearly fitted well with the approach taken during the Chapek era.
With new leadership at The Walt Disney Company, Disney Imagineering and Disneyland Paris, I hope we will eventually see a clear change of direction.
The latest example is the poorly received 2026 Halloween Festival among many fans, with less decoration and fewer animations than in previous years, as well as the lack of major announcements so far for the 35th anniversary in 2027.
While Disneyland Park arguably needs more capacity, Disneyland Paris has once again chosen to remove something instead. This time, it is the Horse-Drawn Streetcar.
