Credit: Inside the MagicOver the past few years, Walt Disney World has undergone some significant changes, and a lot more are on the way. Some of the changes — like the creation of a Villains Land in the Magic Kingdom — have gone over well. Unfortunately, many of the changes are much more controversial, and fans have been outspoken in their disappointment.
The controversy really started back in 2020 with the announcement that the iconic Splash Mountain would be transformed into a ride themed after the hit animated film The Princess and the Frog (2009). Most recently, Disney enraged fans when it announced it would be draining and filling in the Rivers of America, replacing the Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island with a Cars (2006)-themed area.
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On June 7, the iconic Muppet*Vision 3D hosted its final guests, despite devastated fans trying their best to convince Disney to keep the show open. Muppet*Courtyard, which also includes PizzeRizzo and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, has been torn down and will be replaced with a land themed after the 2001 Pixar film, Monsters, Inc. The area does not have an official opening date, but it is expected to be sometime in 2028.
Over in Animal Kingdom, the phased closure of DinoLand U.S.A. began earlier this year, with the final piece — the DINOSAUR attraction — slated to close in February 2026. The area is being transformed into a new area called Tropical Americas, which will feature one section dedicated to the Indiana Jones franchise, and another section themed after the beloved animated film Encanto (2021).
Tropical Americas is slated to open in 2027.
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Jeff Vahle, the president of Walt Disney World Resort, was recently named one of the most powerful people in Orlando tourism, and he made some surprising statements about the major changes happening at The Most Magical Place on Earth.
Of course, he is excited about the changes coming to the parks, but he also indicated that he felt that areas like Muppet Courtyard and DinoLand U.S.A. were “underutilized.” He also reinforced the fact that Disney takes any changes it is considering very seriously, as every ride and attraction at the resort is someone’s favorite.
“In the past year, we have broken ground on major expansions in three of our theme parks. We are building Monstropolis in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Tropical Americas in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Villains- and Cars-themed areas in Magic Kingdom. Construction of Disney Lakeshore Lodge, a new Disney Vacation Club property next to Fort Wilderness Resort, is also well underway.”
“We know that everything at Walt Disney World is somebody’s favorite, so we were extremely thoughtful about that. These lands and attractions will deliver some incredibly creative experiences while also bringing new life to underutilized areas.”
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And while he didn’t consider the area fully “underutilized,” Vahle also mentioned the transformation of “It’s Tough To Be a Bug” and the Tree of Life Theater into “Better Zoogether,” a Zootopia (2016)-themed 3D show that will open this November.
While he’s excited about the changes coming to Walt Disney World in the form of new lands and attractions, he is also happy about the fact that Disney is continuing to invest in updating and upgrading existing attractions. This includes adding new scenes at both Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at the Magic Kingdom, and The Muppets retheme coming to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Both Buzz Lightyear and Big Thunder Mountain are set to reopen in 2026.
Do you agree with Jeff Vahle that Muppets Courtyard and DinoLand U.S.A. were underutilized areas? Are you looking forward to the upcoming changes and rethemes? What do you think are the best and worst changes made at Disney World in recent years? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!