Credit: DisneyDisney didn’t drift quietly toward the end of 2025. Instead, it closed the year by confirming a long list of attractions going offline, experiences shifting locations, seasonal offerings rotating out, and limited-time runs with firm end dates.
Some of these updates involve full closures. Others focus on refurbishments, replacements, or short-lived experiences with a precise expiration date. Together, they point to one thing: Disney is deliberately clearing space and reshaping its parks ahead of an extremely busy 2026.
Not every announcement involved a dramatic overnight shutdown, but most shared a common theme—something familiar is ending, pausing, or making way for something else to take its place.
By December, Disney had effectively locked in 14 major closures, shifts, or time-limited offerings that will directly affect how guests experience Walt Disney World over the next year.
And it all started with a rock concert preparing to take its final bow.
Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Finally Gets Its Farewell Date
On December 12, Disney confirmed what many fans had been expecting: Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster will close in early 2026. The attraction’s final day of operation will be March 1, with the ride officially shutting down on March 2.
This closure clears the way for a complete Muppets-themed rework. Disney has already begun stripping out the Aerosmith elements, signaling that the transformation is fully underway. With a firm end date now set, the countdown has officially begun for one of Hollywood Studios’ longest-running thrill rides as it currently exists.
Big Thunder’s Long Absence Finally Gets a Light at the End of the Tunnel
Magic Kingdom has felt noticeably different throughout 2025, with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad offline. The fan-favorite attraction closed in January 2025 for a significant refurbishment, and Disney stayed largely silent on its return timeline for months.
That changed recently when Disney confirmed the ride will reopen in Spring 2026. While the closure has been lengthy, Disney has hinted that guests can expect refreshed elements and new updates when the “wildest ride in the wilderness” finally returns, making this closure one of the most impactful of the year.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Remains Offline—for Now
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is another Magic Kingdom staple that has been missing longer than many guests anticipated. The Tomorrowland attraction closed for upgrades and has remained shuttered as Disney works behind the scenes.
Disney has now confirmed the ride will reopen in Spring 2026. While the core gameplay will remain intact, new features are expected, making this another long-term closure that stretches across 2025 and into next year.
Soarin’ Shifts Focus for America’s 250th Anniversary
EPCOT’s Soarin’ is also undergoing a significant operational change. To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, Disney is introducing Soarin’ Across America, replacing the current version with an experience focused entirely on American landscapes.
Disney revealed in December that the updated attraction will debut by Memorial Day 2026. That timeline confirms a temporary shutdown as EPCOT transitions from one version of the ride to another.
Frozen Ever After Locks in Its Closure Window
Frozen Ever After has been operating for years with aging audio-animatronics, and Disney previously confirmed that updates were forthcoming. Now, the company has finally shared exact dates.
The EPCOT attraction will close on January 26, 2026, and reopen in February with updated figures of Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff. While the closure will be brief, it still adds to the growing list of attractions officially scheduled to go offline.
The Magic of Disney Animation Replaces Animation Courtyard
Hollywood Studios is undergoing one of its most significant internal shifts in years, with Animation Courtyard being transformed into a new experience. Disney confirmed that The Magic of Disney Animation will open in the reimagined Walt Disney Studios area in Summer 2026.
Inspired by Once Upon a Studio (2023), the experience will bring animated characters into interactive spaces. This transformation requires clearing out what came before, marking the end of Animation Courtyard as guests knew it.
A New Disney Jr. Show Takes Over the Same Space
Alongside that transformation, Disney also confirmed a brand-new live show: Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!. Designed to get younger guests moving, the show will feature Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Daisy, and Pluto.
The debut further reinforces that the former Animation Courtyard lineup has officially been retired to make room for a new direction.
The Water Parks Swap Once Again
Disney also confirmed another seasonal water park rotation. Typhoon Lagoon will close for the season on February 14, 2026, while Blizzard Beach will reopen the following day on February 15.
At the same time, Disney announced the return of the water park seasonal pass for 2026. While the parks themselves remain, the annual swap continues the pattern of rotating closures tied to maintenance and seasonal strategy.
Pete’s Silly Sideshow Prepares to Close
Even character experiences are being reshuffled. Pete’s Silly Sideshow will close on January 4, with Daisy, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy relocating to other meet-and-greet locations around Storybook Circus.
The characters aren’t leaving Magic Kingdom, but the dedicated space itself is going offline—another example of Disney quietly adjusting its lineup.
EPCOT’s Spring Festival Returns on Schedule
Disney also confirmed the return of EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival, running from March 4 through June 1, 2026. While celebratory in nature, the festival still represents a seasonal shift that temporarily replaces other offerings across the park.
Bluey and Bingo Arrive in 2026
In a move that surprised many fans, Disney announced that Bluey and Bingo will arrive at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Summer 2026. The new meet-and-greet experience signals another operational change as Disney refreshes its character lineup.
A Holiday Movie Brings Disney World to the Screen
Disney and Hallmark also revealed a holiday movie filmed inside Walt Disney World, set to premiere during the 2026 holiday season. Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True places the parks front and center in a limited-time media crossover.
Level 99 Heads to Disney Springs
Outside the parks, Disney Springs is also seeing change. Level 99, a large-scale social gaming venue, is set to open in 2026, replacing the previously planned uses for the space with something entirely new.
A Short-Term Taylor Swift Surprise
Finally, Disney debuted a Taylor Swift Eras Tour costume display inside Walt Disney Presents. The exhibit arrived quietly in December and will disappear on January 23, making it one of the clearest examples of a limited-time offering confirmed as 2025 came to a close.
A Year of Endings—and What Comes Next
When you view these updates together, the pattern becomes clear. Disney didn’t just announce what’s coming—it confirmed what’s ending, pausing, shifting, or rotating out. Some closures are temporary. Others mark the end of an era. All of them point toward 2026 being one of the most transitional years Disney World has seen in a long time.
2025 may be coming to a close, but the fundamental changes are just getting started.