Credit: DisneyDisney World has officially confirmed that six different attractions and experiences will be closed in 2026, and yes, these are the kinds of changes that can completely reshape a vacation plan. Some of them are temporary. Others are permanent. A few are reimaginings that could turn into upgrades in the long run. But no matter how you slice it, guests visiting this year need to know what’s off the table before they book.
Let’s walk through each one, because the details really matter.
A Year of Transition Across All Four Parks
With so many moving pieces across all four parks, this isn’t just a routine refurbishment cycle. Disney World is clearly in a transitional phase, where long-standing favorites are stepping aside—either temporarily or forever—to make room for what’s next. For guests, that means expectations need to shift. The park map you memorized five years ago isn’t the same map you’re walking into in 2026. And that reality becomes even more apparent when you look at what’s happening in Frontierland right now.
1. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s Extended Closure
Frontierland has felt a little quieter for a while now. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has been closed since January 6, 2025, and Disney has confirmed it won’t reopen until sometime in spring 2026. This isn’t a quick touch-up. It’s a major, multi-year refurbishment.
Disney has hinted that the attraction will return with what they’re calling “a little bit of new magic,” which suggests we’re not just getting fresh paint and updated track. Something new is coming, even if they haven’t revealed specifics yet.
The bigger story, though, is how this closure fits into the transformation of Frontierland as a whole. With construction tied to Piston Peak and other nearby projects, the entire area is evolving. Walls, noise, and rerouted foot traffic are already part of the experience. When Big Thunder reopens, it will likely sit within a noticeably different version of Frontierland.
If this coaster is a non-negotiable for your group, keep a close eye on Disney’s reopening updates before you lock in travel dates. Spring 2026 is broad. That timeline could shift.
2. Rafiki’s Planet Watch Makes Way for Bluey
Over at Animal Kingdom, a temporary closure is setting the stage for something families will be talking about nonstop. Rafiki’s Planet Watch will close on February 23, 2026, to prepare for a brand-new Bluey experience coming to Conservation Station in summer 2026.
Disney has confirmed that kids will be able to interact with Bluey and Bingo in an immersive way. Think playful movement, dancing, and even a chance to participate in “Keepy Uppy.” If you’ve got little ones who live and breathe that show, this addition is going to feel huge.
That said, until the new experience officially opens, Conservation Station will be unavailable starting February 23. If visiting Rafiki’s Planet Watch is part of your Animal Kingdom tradition—especially for the petting zoo or veterinary viewing windows—you’ll need to adjust your plans.
This is one of those bittersweet moments. A beloved space closes, but something with serious family appeal moves in. Timing will be everything here.
3. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Gets a Major Overhaul
Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland is also missing a familiar favorite. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has been closed since August 4, 2025, and it’s expected to stay closed through spring 2026.
The silver lining? This isn’t just routine maintenance. Disney is essentially rebuilding key elements of the attraction. When it reopens, guests can expect a new character named Buddy, redesigned star cruisers equipped with onboard video monitors, handheld blasters instead of mounted ones, interactive targets, and a completely reworked opening scene.
In other words, this isn’t a light refresh. It’s a serious upgrade.
Still, if you’re visiting before the reopening window, you won’t find it operating. That’s a big deal in a park where attraction count directly affects wait times elsewhere. Buzz typically absorbs a steady flow of families. Without it, crowd patterns shift.
When it returns, though, it may feel like an entirely new ride.
4. DinoLand U.S.A. Officially Becomes Extinct
This one isn’t temporary. DinoLand U.S.A. is officially gone.
DINOSAUR permanently closed on February 2, 2026. On that same day, Restaurantosaurus also shut its doors. Disney is clearing the entire footprint to make way for Pueblo Esperanza, an 11-acre land-themed to Indiana Jones and Encanto.
The new land will include multiple attractions, a large quick-service restaurant, a carousel, and a central fountain designed to anchor the area. Disney has already shared that this space will open in 2027.
That future sounds exciting. But for longtime fans, losing DINOSAUR hits hard. It was loud. It was chaotic. It was uniquely Animal Kingdom. And now, it’s history.
If riding DINOSAUR was on your bucket list, that opportunity has officially passed. Animal Kingdom’s layout feels noticeably different without that entire corner of the park.
5. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster’s Final Aerosmith Run
Hollywood Studios is also saying goodbye—at least partially.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith will close on March 2, 2026. That means March 1 is the final day to experience the ride in its current form. After that, Disney will retheme the coaster into Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets, with a planned reopening in summer 2026.
The new storyline will feature the Electric Mayhem taking over G-Force Records, with Scooter’s uncle J.P. Grosse involved in the narrative. Disney has even teased a brand-new Muppet animatronic that they’re describing as a first-of-its-kind.
This isn’t a demolition. The track stays. The launch stays. The thrills stay. But the Aerosmith era ends.
If your family has strong feelings about that original soundtrack blasting through the limo speakers, you don’t have much time left. After March 1, it becomes part of Disney history.
6. Pete’s Silly Sideshow Remains Closed
Not every closure comes with a splashy replacement announcement. Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Storybook Circus has been closed since January 4, 2026, and there’s no reopening date listed on the calendar through at least April 19.
The good news? The characters haven’t disappeared. They’ve been spotted meeting around Storybook Circus, often in paired appearances. Because the area sits slightly tucked away, wait times typically stay manageable.
Still, the dedicated indoor meet-and-greet location remains unavailable. For families who loved the air-conditioned setting and predictable schedule, that’s a noticeable shift.
It’s a smaller closure compared to roller coasters and full lands disappearing, but for character-focused families, it matters.
What This Means for Your 2026 Trip
Six confirmed closures. Some temporary. Some permanent. All impactful.
Magic Kingdom is juggling major refurbishments in both Frontierland and Tomorrowland. Animal Kingdom is being entirely reshaped by the loss of DinoLand and the addition of Pueblo Esperanza. Hollywood Studios is transitioning one of its most iconic coasters. Even smaller experiences like Pete’s Silly Sideshow are currently offline.
The bigger theme here is transformation. Disney World isn’t standing still in 2026. It’s rebuilding, refreshing, and repositioning several core areas at once.
That can feel frustrating if your favorite attraction sits behind construction walls. But it also signals that when these projects wrap, the parks will look and feel meaningfully different.
If you’re planning a trip this year, check the calendar carefully. Watch for reopening announcements. And if there’s one attraction you absolutely need to experience, confirm its operating status before you finalize those travel dates.
Because in 2026, flexibility might be the most valuable Lightning Lane of all.