1
Credit: Disney A classic boat ride is closing soon at Walt Disney World.
Related: Universal Theme Park to Close Effective Immediately
According to the Walt Disney World Resort calendar, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros will close for refurbishment in early 2025. The family-friendly boat ride will shut down on January 6, and Disney World has not yet revealed a reopening date.
Gran Fiesta Tour is a classic slow-moving boat ride found in EPCOT, specifically inside the park’s Mexico pavilion. The ride takes guests on a tour through Mexico, a trip filled with bright colors, lively music, and, of course, a few antics from Donald and his friends.
The boat ride also travels right by San Angel Inn Restaurante, one of the many table-service eateries located at EPCOT.
Mexico is one part of EPCOT’s larger World Showcase, a sprawling area that houses multiple bite-sized versions of countries and cultures.
Related: Rachel Zegler ‘Snow White’ Crashes and Burns Online, Disney Faces Bad News Months Before Release
January 6 is also the same day Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closes at the Magic Kingdom, a change in operation that will likely affect the majority of guests’ vacations. While not the most high-tech or modernized attraction at Walt Disney World, Big Thunder is hard to beat, featuring thrills and chills that are fun for the entire family.
The coaster has been in operation for decades, becoming part of Disney World’s now-infamous “mountain range,” which includes the western coaster Space Mountain and, until recently, Splash Mountain. The iconic log flume ride was shut down and rethemed, reopening as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure earlier this year.
Disneyland got its own version of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in November 2024. Both attractions offer users the chance to take a brand-new journey on a path that will likely feel familiar.
These changes come ahead of what will arguably go down as the most transformational period for the Walt Disney World Resort as a whole, with numerous rides, attractions, and locations set to close and/or be rethemed entirely.
A lot of these plans were unveiled at Disney’s recent D23 event, which saw the company confirm various projects and developments at its theme parks, including the closure of DinoLand U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom, as well as the announcement of a brand-new area inspired by Pixar’s Cars franchise for the Magic Kingdom.
What’s your favorite ride at Walt Disney World?