Closures, Construction, and Higher Prices Are Coming to Disney World

Things are changing in a big way for Disney World and Disneyland.

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The Walt Disney World Resort has changed drastically since it first opened in 1971. From the arrival of new rides and attractions to updates across its growing list of hotels, Walt Disney World has an overwhelming amount of experiences to offer travelers.

The list of attractions continues to grow. The resort’s newest attraction is Zootopia: Better Zoogether. Based on Disney’s Zootopia franchise, this 4D theater show is located inside the Tree of Life theater at the center of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Other smaller-scale projects have taken shape at Walt Disney World over the last year, such as EPCOT’s new adults-only bar, as well as Magic Kingdom’s new DVC member-exclusive lounge.

However, these are all small peanuts compared to the big things on the way to “The Most Magical Place on Earth.”

Disney World is set to receive several new lands, rides, attractions, shops, and eateries in the coming years. These new lands include an area inspired by Pixar’s Monsters Inc., called Monstropolis, a new hub based on Pixar’s Cars franchise, called Piston Peak, as well as an entirely original land for Animal Kingdom, known as Tropical Americas.

Most of these projects were first unveiled at Disney’s D23 event in August 2024. Disney Parks & Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro took the stage, announcing a number of exciting expansions and additions for Disney’s theme parks.

Updates aren’t exclusive to Walt Disney World; Disneyland is also set to undergo significant changes. Early next year, Disneyland’s fan-favorite Monsters Inc.-themed ride, Mike and Sully to the Rescue, will close permanently to make way for a new variant of Pandora – The World of Avatar.

Pandora made its debut at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2017 and has been one of the most popular offerings at Disney World ever since.

A West Coast version makes a lot of sense, though the thought of the Na’vi making their way into Disneyland has certainly been controversial.

Related: The Fall of Disney World’s Beloved ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Ride

While exciting, change is always tough, especially in the Walt Disney World community.

However, new rides aren’t the only thing on the way.

Earlier this year, Disney World announced a large wave of price hikes. This affects everything from dining and shopping to the actual cost of theme park tickets.

A single-day ticket to Magic Kingdom will cost $209 during peak times, with EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom all experiencing a price increase as well.

Alongside parking, food, and tickets, annual passes also saw a price hike. These changes aren’t exclusive to Walt Disney World, as Disney’s original Disneyland Resort also saw a wave of price hikes.

With so much changing at Disney World, guests must ask whether the parks will actually be better when all is said and done.

Guests will have to endure some pretty serious goring pains over the coming years. Places like Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios will be construction zones for the foreseeable future.

What do you think about the current state of Walt Disney World and Disneyland?