The Unexpected Reason Disneyland Is Getting Rid of Chairs and Benches

Disneyland is a busy place. In 2017, 18.3 million people — more than 50,000 a day on average — visited the park, according to an indepent report.

That many people can make it difficult to get around, which is why Disney taking out benches and chairs in order to widen walkways and paths for guests. The OC Register noted that the entire theme park has long been an attraction, rather than just “a collection of rides,” making it an inviting place for guests to come, sit for a spell, and take it all in. But, those benches and planters are now simply getting in the way of people making their way through the park each day. So it's either more seating, or fewer bottlenecks in crowded areas.

To compensate for the loss of benches, Disneyland is reportedly adding more seating. Some of that additional seating is available inside restaurants, according to MovieWeb. For example, The Bengal BBQ restaurant, which is located in Adventureland, has expanded from 30 outdoor seats to 100. Disneyland spokeswoman Liz Jaeger told MovieWeb that the company is “always looking at ways to enhance elements such as guest flow, seating, and landscaping, which play an important part of a guest's visit to the parks.”

“We continue to work on managing demand by expanding the resort and adding new attractions, balancing offerings at our two theme parks, and providing seasonal pricing to help spread visitation throughout the year,” Disneyland spokeswoman Suzi Brown told the Los Angeles Times.

Note: This story has been updated.