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Credit: Brittany DiCologero, Inside the MagicThe Walt Disney World Resort is being stripped of its history to make way for the next generation of theme park guests, and the changes are gaining momentum.
Last weekend, on July 6, classics like Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America in Frontierland were shuttered forever. The closures are part of the ongoing transformation of Magic Kingdom Park, dubbed the “largest expansion” in the park’s 53-year history. These permanent closures came months after Disney temporarily closed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad for a much-needed update.
The future? Piston Peak National Park. The new area is themed after Pixar’s Cars franchise and features attractions for the entire family. While the Frontierland development has been dominating the news cycle recently due to the ongoing discourse about the removal of the Rivers of America and its Liberty Belle Riverboat, another large-scale change has been happening since the top of the year.
In mid-January 2025, Disney Experiences began closing its DinoLand U.S.A. area. Initially, locations like TriceraTop Spin and Fossil Fun Games were permanently closed, with amendments being made to other attractions based in the Animal Kingdom land. The popular DINOSAUR attraction will remain open through 2025, with other places like Restaurantosaurus still welcoming guests. The latter recently became home to the Daisy Duck Cool Kid Summer event at the resort.
The changes in DinoLand U.S.A. mark the beginning of the Tropical Americas-themed land called the Pueblo Esperanza. The destination will include the Encanto and Indiana Jones franchises, with signature attractions based on each of the Intellectual Properties (IP).
New permits have now been filed for many other locations in DinoLand U.S.A., confirming that the end of a 27-year era is upon us. According to Kenny the Pirate, “several permits” have been filed for locations including Trilo-Bites, the Wilderness Explorer Kiosk, and The Boneyard. The latter will close at Animal Kingdom on September 2, 2025.
A fourth permit has been filed for “electrical work” at Restaurantosaurus, but no closing date has been announced for the eatery just yet.
Alongside the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom redevelopment, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is also experiencing evolution. Earlier this year, the Grand Avenue area, as guests know it, was closed to make way for Monstropolis–a new area based on the Monsters, Inc. franchise, featuring the first suspended coaster at any Disney theme park.
With so much happening across the Central Florida Disney parks, some guests are trying to decide whether to postpone their vacations, but others are giving them this piece of advice.
How do you feel about all the permits being made for the theme parks? Are the changes changing your vacation plans? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!