The Construction Zone: Yet Another Magic Kingdom Attraction Shuts Down Today

in Disney Parks, Walt Disney World

A large colonial-style building with a clock tower and brick facade is situated in a leafy area. Overlaid is a black and white close-up photo of a convicted felon with a serious expression. The sky appears to be clear, suggesting it is either early morning or late afternoon.

Credit: Inside the Magic

Disney fans better prepare themselves for what 2025 is going to bring to the Magic Kingdom. If you’re planning a trip to the “Most Magical Place on Earth,” you can expect a lot of construction and ride closures.

Minnie Mouse inside of the Magic Kingdom Park at Disney World with a "Coming Soon" construction sign.
Credit: Inside The Magic

Today marks the final day for another Magic Kingdom opening-day attraction, joining the ever-growing list of rides and attractions that are closed either permanently or for an indefinite refurbishment.

The Hall of Presidents will close on January 20 indefinitely as former President Donald Trump takes the oath of office as president. This will be the first time since the Hall of Presidents opened in 1971 that the new president has an animatronic in the attraction.

Disney has not announced how long the Hall of Presidents will be closed, but when President Joe Biden was put center stage, the process took 11 months. However, this is an unprecedented transition, and no one knows for certain what changes, if any, Disney plans to make to the Trump animatronic. 

The Hall of Presidents in the Magic Kingdom
Credit: Brittany DiCologero, Inside the Magic

UCF history professor Jim Clark told Click Orlando: 

Does he get a new suit? Does he get a new tie? … Will he look, you know, older? Given all the rides at Disney and all the parks at Disney, the Hall of Presidents has been kind of pushed to the back. The only time you hear about it is when there’s a new president or they’re updating it. Nobody has ever said to you, ‘Mom, I want to go to the Hall of Presidents.’

While that may be true, the Hall of Presidents was one of the few attractions that remained open at the Magic Kingdom to start the new year. However, it will now join the list of rides that will be closed for the majority of 2025.

hall of presidents joe biden animatronic
Credit: Disney

Earlier this year, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad shut down for at least the remainder of 2025 and possibly as long as March 2026. This is the first step in the creation of the new Cars and Villains Land, along with the closures of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island, which will close at an undetermined date this year.

To accommodate the new lands, the Walt Disney World Railroad will also shut down later this year.

multiple animatronics on the Hall of Presidents at Walt Disney World
Credit: Disney

In Tomorrowland, Astro Orbiters will not close until later this summer, but the need for a crane has made most of the land a mess. While that happens, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will get a projection update and perhaps more.

So, with all this construction, just add one more attraction to the list. Good luck to the guests who planned their vacation for this year. 

in Disney Parks, Walt Disney World

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