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Credit: DisneyThis year marked some significant changes at the Walt Disney World Resort. To keep up with Epic Universe, Disney announced new projects at three of the four parks (sorry, EPCOT), as well as major refurbishments at nearly a dozen hotels.
However, with all of the new attractions coming to Disney World Parks, that means that some things had to go to make space, and this year Disney fans lost some beloved attractions that they hated to see go. Here’s what we lost, and what we will be losing in the near future.
Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island
Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island anchored Magic Kingdom since opening day in 1971. While not the most popular attractions in the park, they offered a serene escape from the chaos that sometimes comes with a day at Magic Kingdom.
Fans tried everything in their power to get Disney to keep these two beloved attractions in the park, but to no avail. Shortly after the Fourth of July, Disney closed the rivers, began draining them, and dismantled Tom Sawyer Island.
Disney has removed these two icons to make way for Piston Peak, a new Cars Land, and an unnamed Villains Land. Construction on both is well underway; however, Disney has not yet announced a timeline for when they might be opening.
Muppet Courtyard
It was more than just Muppet Courtyard that closed at Hollywood Studios; it was everything that came with it. It was PizzeRizzo, the Miss Piggy Fountain, and Muppet Vision 3-D, the last attraction that Jim Henson worked on before his death.
The Muppets are necessarily gone from Hollywood Studios; they will be moving across the park to take over the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster from Aerosmith, but it won’t be the same as having Muppet Vision 3-D.
The former Muppet Courtyard will be replaced by Monstropolis, the land featuring Monsters, Inc., which will include one of Disney World’s largest roller coasters ever. It should be an exciting change, but fans will always miss the Muppets.
DinoLand U.S.A.
Is anyone really that angry over losing DinoLand U.S.A.? While fans protested Muppet Courtyard, Rivers of America, and Tom Sawyer Island, most people barely flinched when they realized an entire land would be closing at Animal Kingdom.
However, this does mean that Disney World will be without a dinosaur-themed attraction for the first time in over 40 years, but, much like the dinosaurs themselves, the world keeps spinning without them.
The new Enacanto-themed Tropical Americas Land fits better with Animal Kingdom’s aesthetic anyway.
Soon To Be Joining This List
Next year won’t be without its closures as DINOSAUR and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith will take their final rides early next year. While the rides are disappearing, the ride buildings are being reused for new attractions.
DINOSAUR will be turning into a new Indiana Jones Adventure, and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will be turned over to the Muppets. It’s probably long past time that Aerosmith went away, but Disney needed something in its place, and found it with the Muppets.
Could more rides/attractions be joining this list in the future as Disney World continues to expand and purge some of its older attractions? Sure, but Disney fans don’t like to think that one day their favorite ride could be going away.
For now and into 2026, Disney fans are forced to wait and see if losing these beloved rides was worth it for the new lands Disney is building. Only time will tell.
Which ride that left Disney World in 2025 will you miss the most? Let us know in the comments.