Walt Disney World Refurbishment and Closures for 2025-2026
Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida is a vast, 27,000-acre world of magic that houses both resorts and theme parks. With so many different places and attractions, it’s inevitable that things will need a little love and care from time to time. But these refurbishments, while essential for maintaining the magic, can sometimes interfere with vacation plans. Here is a look at the scheduled refurbishments and closures for 2025 and 2026 at the parks and hotels.
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Magic Kingdom Refurbishments and Closures
Several major projects are underway at Magic Kingdom. The Rivers of America area is seeing significant changes as the park prepares for new experiences.
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- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: This popular attraction closed on January 5, 2025, for an extensive refurbishment. It is expected to reopen in 2026 with some enhancements.
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin: The attraction closed in August 2025 for a major upgrade. It is slated to reopen in 2026 with new ride vehicles, enhanced targets and laser guns, and a new scene.
- Tom Sawyer Island and Liberty Square Riverboat: These iconic attractions officially closed on July 7, 2025, to make way for a new Cars expansion in Frontierland.
- Frontierland Train Station: As part of the Cars expansion, the Frontierland station of the Walt Disney World Railroad closed in July 2025. The train will continue to operate in a “shuttle mode” between the Main Street and Fantasyland stations.
- Astro Orbiter: This attraction had a lengthy closure from January 13, 2025, through the summer of 2025, for a significant refurbishment.
- Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away: A new nighttime parade opened on July 20, 2025.
- Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern: A new tavern is set to open in late 2025.
- Cars Land & Disney Villains Land: Construction is beginning in 2025 for these new lands, with opening dates yet to be announced.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Refurbishments and Closures
Changes are coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios with a new Monsters, Inc.-themed land and a rethemed coaster.
- Monsters, Inc. Land: Muppets Courtyard closed in the summer of 2025 to make way for this new land. An opening date is to be announced.
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster: The attraction is scheduled to close at some point in late 2025 or 2026 for a refurbishment that will see it rethemed to The Muppets.
- Animation Courtyard: This area closed for a reimagining on September 25, 2025. The new The Magic of Disney Animation attraction is set to open in the current home of Star Wars: Launch Bay in 2026.
- Disney Jr. Play and Dance!: This show closed on September 25, 2025, and will return in 2026 with a new show.
- Muppet*Vision 3D, PizzeRizzo, and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano: These locations closed in mid-2025 to make way for the new Monsters, Inc. land.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Refurbishments and Closures
DinoLand, U.S.A. is undergoing a transformation into the new Tropical Americas land.
- It’s Tough to Be a Bug: This show permanently closed on March 17, 2025. A new show, Zootopia: Better Zoogether, will open in its place at the Tree of Life Theater in Winter 2025.
- Dino-Rama Area: The first phase of construction for the new land began on January 13, 2025, with the permanent closure of the Dino-Rama area, including Fossil Fun Games, TriceraTop Spin, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures.
- The Boneyard: The last day for this playground was September 1, with a permanent closure on September 2, 2025.
- DINOSAUR: This attraction will remain open through 2025 but is slated to close in 2026 to be replaced by a new Indiana Jones ride in 2027.
- Kali River Rapids: The attraction closed for its annual refurbishment from January 6 through March 13, 2025, reopening on March 14.
EPCOT Refurbishments and Closures
- Test Track: After a long reimagining that began in June 2024, the new Test Track opened on July 22, 2025.
- Spaceship Earth: This attraction closed for a routine refurbishment on August 25, 2025, and is expected to reopen later in 2025.
- ¡Celebración Encanto!: This experience, originally scheduled to close in September 2024, has been extended through Winter 2025.
- GEO-82 Lounge: A new adults-only lounge themed to Spaceship Earth, called GEO-82, opened on June 4, 2025.
Water Park Refurbishments and Closures
For 2025, both of Disney’s water parks were open concurrently for the summer.
- Blizzard Beach: Reopened on May 21, 2025. It will close for its annual refurbishment on September 8, 2025, and is expected to reopen in spring 2026.
- Typhoon Lagoon: Closed from November 4, 2024, to May 1, 2025, for its annual refurbishment.
Resort Hotel Refurbishments
Several resort hotels are also undergoing refurbishments in 2025 and 2026.
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort: Refurbishments are occurring in select areas, including Bay Lake Tower and the convention center, from September 2024 to July 2026.
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: The resort is undergoing enhancements to the lobby and convention center from April through November 2025.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: Guest rooms at Kidani Village will be refurbished from October 2025 through May 2026, followed by Jambo House from May 2026 through January 2027.
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort & Beach Club Resort: These resorts will be undergoing routine exterior maintenance from early June through October 2025.
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside: Guest rooms in the Magnolia Bend section will be refurbished from early May 2025 to the end of February 2026.
From brand-new attractions and rethemed coasters to permanent closures and extensive refurbishments, it’s clear that the Walt Disney World Resort of 2026 will be a different place than it was just a few years prior. While encountering a refurbishment on your vacation can be a slight inconvenience, these changes are all part of Disney’s continuous effort to innovate and improve the guest experience, ensuring that the magic continues for generations to come. Staying informed about the latest schedules allows you to plan accordingly and get the most out of your visit to the parks!
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