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Credit: DisneySomething odd is happening at Walt Disney World—and it’s not a new ride or show. The crowds are… gone. Not completely, of course, but enough that regular visitors notice how quiet things feel right now, especially in Magic Kingdom. And it all seemed to shift right after Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America quietly shut down earlier this month.
You’d expect July to be packed to the brim, with families squeezing in summer vacations before school starts again. But this year? Wait times are shorter. Walkways are clearer. Even those must-do rides aren’t seeing the usual midday meltdowns from overheated guests stuck in two-hour queues.
Goodbye to a Historical Favorite
There’s a reason things feel different, and it goes back to those classic Magic Kingdom staples—Tom Sawyer Island, the Liberty Belle Riverboat, and the winding Rivers of America. These weren’t thrill rides, but they were beloved. They’ve been part of Magic Kingdom for decades, offering a peaceful slice of nostalgia in a park that is always moving full speed ahead.
Everyone Got Their Farewell In
When Disney confirmed these attractions were closing for good, longtime fans made a point of showing up. The final week leading up to the closures on July 6 and 7 saw a steady stream of guests visiting Frontierland to experience these favorites one last time. But oddly enough, the actual closing days were surprisingly calm. The huge farewell crowds that some expected never really materialized.
That might be because many fans came earlier in the week to say their goodbyes in a more peaceful setting. Others may have skipped the final days entirely, not wanting to see these attractions disappear behind construction walls. It was more like a quiet goodbye than a dramatic send-off. And now that it’s over, the crowds have thinned even more.
Why Now Might Be the Best Time to Go
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to book your Disney trip, this could be it. Between surprisingly low summer crowds and the discounts Disney has quietly rolled out, the timing is lining up better than most peak seasons.
Most of the posted wait times across the parks have been shockingly low, hovering around 10 to 20 minutes for major attractions. Only two rides have consistently approached the one-hour mark, almost unheard of for July. For context, you’d typically expect these times in the dead of January, not the middle of summer.
Let’s break it down:
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Fewer people means shorter lines at headliners like Space Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and even newer rides like TRON.
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More flexibility makes it easier to snag a last-minute Lightning Lane and grab hard-to-get dining reservations.
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Seasonal deals on hotels and park tickets are still live, especially for midweek and late summer stays.
With Frontierland now transitioning, some guests may be holding off until the new Cars-themed Piston Peak expansion opens—but if you don’t mind a little construction fencing here and there, you’ll have way more space to breathe than usual.
A Rare Calm in the Middle of Summer
In a season usually slammed with sweltering lines and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, Disney World is suddenly… chill. No one saw it coming, but it’s very real. So if you’re on the fence about making a trip, this might be one of the easiest and most relaxed times to visit the parks in years.