Credit: Joe Schlabotnik, FlickrYou plan for months, you book your hotel, you grab those Lightning Lane selections, and you dream about finally riding your favorite attraction. But when you arrive, there it is—a “Closed for Refurbishment” sign staring you right in the face.
Disney World is a magical place, but lately, it’s also a construction zone. Between new expansions, long-term ride refurbishments, and resort makeovers, several projects are reshaping the parks in 2025 and beyond.
So before you pack your Mickey ears and head down to Orlando, here’s a closer look at what’s closed right now—and how those changes could affect your next trip.
Magic Kingdom: The Most Affected Park Right Now
If you’re spending most of your time at Magic Kingdom, expect to see construction walls nearly everywhere west of the castle. One of the biggest closures is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which has been down since early January for a full track replacement and some pretty impressive effects upgrades.
Disney says the coaster will return in 2026 with glowing caverns and new lighting effects, but that means it’ll be missing from your must-do list for a while.
Not far away, the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Square Riverboat are gone for good. This part of Frontierland has been completely drained and fenced off to make way for the upcoming Cars-themed expansion known as Piston Peak.
It’s set to include two new rides, but that’s still years away. For now, guests will find fewer quiet areas to relax, and crowd flow in Frontierland has become noticeably tighter.
Meanwhile, the Frontierland train station for the Walt Disney World Railroad is closed for the same reason, although the Main Street and Fantasyland stations are still running in a limited loop.
Over in Tomorrowland, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has been closed since summer. Disney is giving the attraction new ride vehicles, upgraded interactive blasters, and an entirely new show scene. That sounds exciting, but the ride won’t return until 2026 either, making Tomorrowland feel a little emptier.
Even smaller attractions haven’t been spared—Mickey’s PhilharMagic has been dark since early November but should reopen later this month. Tortuga Tavern, across from Pirates of the Caribbean, remains shuttered as well, although its outdoor seating area is still open for overflow dining.
All this adds up to a park in the middle of transition. Families visiting during these updates may find wait times for the remaining major attractions—like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Tiana’s Bayou Adventure—stretching even longer.
EPCOT: Smaller Disruptions, Big Impact on France Pavilion Crowds
EPCOT’s big construction walls may be mostly gone, but not everything is running smoothly. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is temporarily closed through mid-November for a few visual and lighting enhancements. This is a short closure, but the ripple effect is real: with one of the park’s most popular family rides unavailable, crowds are pushing into Frozen Ever After and Soarin’ instead.
While it’s a temporary fix, guests visiting this week might feel the pinch if they were planning to spend most of their time in the France Pavilion.
Animal Kingdom: Big Changes for the Future
Animal Kingdom is going through one of its most transformative periods in years. The park’s DinoLand U.S.A. is being completely reimagined into the upcoming Tropical Americas area.
This change means multiple attractions have already shut down—TriceraTop Spin, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, Fossil Fun Games, The Boneyard, Dino-Bite Snacks, and Trilo-Bites are all closed. The rest of the land will follow by February 2026.
Construction has swallowed up a big portion of the park’s real estate, which could make crowd flow tricky for a while. The good news is that the Zootopia: Better Together show, which just opened nearby, is helping balance the loss.
Elsewhere in the park, Harambe Market closed in October for refurbishment and won’t reopen until 2026. Kali River Rapids also shut down for its usual off-season maintenance and should be back in December. So if you were hoping to cool off on that ride, pack patience—or a poncho for another water attraction.
Hollywood Studios: Muppets Out, Monsters In
Hollywood Studios is also in the middle of a dramatic transformation. The once-charming Muppets Courtyard, which featured MuppetVision 3D and PizzeRizzo, is closed and being transformed into a Monsters, Inc.-themed area. Disney confirmed that the new land will feature the park’s first inverted roller coaster—a big leap for thrill-seekers but another long-term project for everyone else.
Over near the Chinese Theatre, Animation Courtyard closed this fall, taking the Star Wars Launch Bay and Disney Jr. Play & Dance! show with it. That area is being rebuilt as Walt Disney Studios, designed to bring animated characters “to life.”
The Disney Jr. show will return in an updated format, and there’s even a new “Drawn to Wonderland” play area on the way. But until those open, families with little kids may find fewer entertainment options.
For now, even smaller attractions are temporarily offline—like Vacation Fun, the Mickey & Minnie animated short experience, which is undergoing a quick refurbishment. Expect it back before the year ends.
Resort Construction: It’s Not Just in the Parks
If you’re staying at a Disney Resort hotel, chances are you’ll encounter a few construction fences there too. Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is in the middle of its first major refurbishment since opening, running through summer 2026. Over at the Polynesian Village Resort, construction continues on roadway and bus area improvements, which could affect transportation times.
The Port Orleans Riverside resort is remodeling rooms in the Magnolia Bend section through early 2026, and Old Key West guests will notice pool work near Miller’s Road until late November. Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge is also refreshing rooms through May 2026.
On top of that, The Paddock Pool at Saratoga Springs, the Yacht Club Resort, and even the Pop Century lobby are all undergoing updates. While amenities generally remain open, guests can expect noise and blocked-off walkways during daytime hours.
And in one of the more emotional changes, Jellyrolls, the iconic dueling piano bar on Disney’s BoardWalk, has officially closed. The good news? It’s reportedly “making a move,” so it may reappear in a new location down the line.
Beyond the Parks: Disney Springs and Water Parks
At Disney Springs, the long-abandoned NBA Experience building is finally getting new life. Construction is underway to transform it into LEVEL99, a social gaming venue filled with themed challenge rooms. While that’s exciting, it also means more cranes and blocked walkways for now.
Meanwhile, Blizzard Beach is closed again for refurbishment after a summer where, for the first time in years, both Disney water parks were open at once. Typhoon Lagoon remains open, but if that park happens to close for its usual rotation, guests will be left without a water park option until Blizzard Beach returns.
What It Means for Your Vacation
So how does all of this impact your trip? If you’re planning to visit before early 2026, flexibility is key. Many classic rides are off the table, some lands are changing entirely, and a few resorts are more chaotic than usual. It’s not all bad news—these closures mean fresh attractions and updated experiences are on the horizon—but they can definitely alter your plans.
Guests should double-check park calendars before arrival, use Lightning Lane selections wisely, and expect higher wait times for unaffected rides. It’s also worth exploring less-busy areas, like EPCOT’s World Showcase or the shows in Animal Kingdom, to escape construction congestion.
Disney World is in a major transition period right now—one that promises huge payoffs in the next couple of years. But for the moment, it’s best to plan around the walls, manage your expectations, and remember that even a trip filled with closures can still be full of magic.