Credit: Inside the MagicIt’s no secret that the Walt Disney World Resort is chaotic around the holidays. From Thanksgiving to Christmas to the New Year, the Florida Disney theme parks attract thousands of guests during the final months of the year. But this year may be especially chaotic thanks to the overhaul of the Magic Kingdom Park.
In 2025, the Disney Experience division of The Walt Disney Company went to town on refurbishments and updates, ushering in a new era for theme park enthusiasts. Significant closures have occurred at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but Magic Kingdom Park’s overhaul is described as the biggest in the park’s five-decade history.
Disney permanently closed a chunk of Frontierland, including the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island, this year. The land development came after Disney indefinitely paused operations on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which is set to open next year with new updates.
But what does this mean for the upcoming holiday crowds? It seems that guests will face a chaotic Christmas and New Year period this year, with the historically busiest week of the year happening between the two celebrations. November’s Thanksgiving week will give a look at how Disney will manage the heavier crowds.
2025 is interesting because a large portion of the Magic Kingdom is out of operation. Not only is the popular Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed (a high-capacity attraction that also holds a lot of guests in its queue system), but another popular attraction in Tomorrowland is also down until 2026.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Disney’s constantly moving Toy Story-themed attraction, is also closed for major updates. The loss of both Big Thunder and Buzz Lightyear will cause every other attraction to be busier, not to mention that guests won’t be able to find respite on attractions like the Liberty Belle Riverboat at the Rivers of America or Tom Sawyer’s Island.
The Story So Far
For generations, guests have raced through the rugged canyons and dusty mines of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: the “wildest ride in the wilderness.” This legendary runaway mine train has delighted parkgoers for decades, whisking them through a whirlwind of desert landscapes, creaking tracks, and a town that feels straight out of the Old West.
Blending sharp humor, thrilling twists, and rich storytelling, Big Thunder Mountain has long embodied Disney’s signature magic, where every drop and turn tells a story.
At the start of 2025, the Frontierland favorite temporarily closed its gates, but Disney has confirmed it will return in 2026 with exciting new updates and enhancements. While an exact reopening date hasn’t yet been announced, the newly released concept art hints at an all-new adventure waiting to unfold. The reimagined attraction is part of a larger expansion within Frontierland that also includes the much-anticipated Piston Peak National Park and the mysterious Villains Land.
Meanwhile, over in Tomorrowland, guests can soon rejoin Buzz Lightyear on an intergalactic mission to save the galaxy. In Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, families climb aboard their XP-37 star cruisers, aim their laser blasters, and team up with Buzz himself to defeat the evil Emperor Zurg.
This beloved attraction perfectly blends the fun of interactive gameplay with the charm of classic Disney storytelling. Equal parts dark ride and arcade adventure, it invites guests of all ages to test their aim and compete for the highest score among the stars.
The ride temporarily went dark in August 2025 and will remain closed for the rest of the year as Imagineers prepare exciting new additions. When it reopens in 2026, guests can look forward to updated ride vehicles and a brand-new scene introducing “Buddy,” a robot and Star Command team member designed by Walt Disney Imagineering in collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios.
How do you think the crowds will play out this holiday season at Walt Disney World Resort? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!