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Credit: Inside the MagicDisney Parks fans are mourning the “end of an era” in Central Florida as dozens of pieces of Walt Disney World Resort history are disappearing from around the 25,000-acre vacation destination.
An End of an Era at Walt Disney World Resort
Since 2022, Walt Disney World Resort has been replacing the purple-and-red, sometimes-Mickey-Mouse-ear-topped road signs directing guests to the Disney theme parks, water parks, Disney Resort hotels, Disney Springs, ESPN Wide World of Sports, and other destinations around its Central Florida property.
It started with a few blue signs replacing their faded purple counterparts, but slowly, even vintage signs that were in good condition have disappeared. The new signs, shown above, are blue with white text and some yellow highlighting.
Disney Parks fans have spent years mourning the old signs, which, for many, feel like stepping back into their childhood visits to Walt Disney World Resort. After passing by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse under the Most Magical Place on Earth’s iconic archway, guests relied on those purple and red signs to guide them to their homes away from home. The real world disappears once you’re in the Disney bubble, after all!
Despite outcry from nostalgic guests, Walt Disney World Resort has continued to replace the road signs. X (formerly known as Twitter) user @FiBelleFi recently shared a photo of one of the final remaining original signs, instructing guests to use the Left Lane for Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and the Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort Area:
Last purple sign! 😝
Last purple sign! 😝 pic.twitter.com/XjDsXQUVpq
— Belle (@FiBelleFi) January 28, 2026
In response, @AliciaStella wrote:
End of an era
End of an era https://t.co/Me4ghJqNpS
— Alicia Stella (@AliciaStella) January 28, 2026
Other Disney Parks Fans Weigh In
Disney Parks fans on Reddit have also discussed the slow replacement of the purple and red road signs.
“I miss the purple,” said u/NovoMyJogo. “It was a small detail I really liked.”
“Same—the purple was the new colors when I had my time as a CM; it’ll be sad to see them gone,” u/thatguygreg agreed.
“As a kid Purple road signs meant you were close to having the best few days of your life!” u/Dragonturtle_63 wrote.
Others cared less about nostalgia and more about readability.
“Actually they’re a little hard to read compared to the previous ones,” said u/tampaflusa. “They’re blue and sometimes blend in with the sky. Maybe I’m getting old IDK..”
“I feel the same,” u/Spongebob226 replied. “The text is also more bold on the purple signs.”
Some Guests Are Ready for Change
As with any discussion among Disney Parks fans, some Walt Disney World Resort guests are celebrating the new blue signs.
“I think the purple signs were a relic of the 90s and we’re past their sell by date,” one anonymous Reddit user wrote. “I’m as nostalgic as anyone, and have lived the parks since my first visit in 1973. There were signs before the purple ones and will be signs after the blue ones. The kids growing up with the blue ones will miss them when they are changed out too! …Time for the purple signs to go and enjoy the freshened up changes!”
“What bugged me the most is how faded and awful some of the purple signs looked, like you could hardly read them,” said u/kgaviation.
Walt Disney World Resort has not publicly announced a completion timeline for this project. Crews have slowly been replacing the road signs over the last four years and are expected to continue until every purple and red sign is gone.
Has Walt Disney World Resort changed for the better? Inside the Magic would love to hear from you in the comments!