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Credit: Inside the MagicAs the Christmas season approaches, Walt Disney World Resort families planning their magical holiday vacations will find themselves navigating a resort undergoing significant transformation.
The last ten days of December 2025 represent the busiest stretch of the entire year at Disney World, with every day from December 21 onward expected to reach maximum crowd levels, making these attraction closures particularly impactful for holiday visitors.
Multiple Disney World Attractions Have Been Closed This Year
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the beloved runaway mine train coaster located in Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland, has become a casualty in Disney’s ambitious expansion plans. The attraction closed on January 6, 2025, and won’t reopen until 2026 with new enhancements.
This classic attraction has thrilled guests since 1980 with its high-speed journey through the fictional mining town of Tumbleweed. The closure is connected to preparations for the upcoming Cars Land and Villains Land expansions that will dramatically reshape the park’s western-themed area.
The heart of Frontierland has undergone an even more dramatic change. Tom Sawyer Island, the walkable exploration area where generations of children played pirates and discovered hidden caves, permanently closed on July 7, 2025.
This rustic island retreat offered families a peaceful escape from the crowds. The island is being replaced by Piston Peak National Park, the aforementioned new Cars-themed area that promises to bring Lightning McQueen and friends to the Magic Kingdom.
Alongside Tom Sawyer Island, the Rivers of America, which encircled it, have also disappeared from the Disney landscape. The river permanently closed on July 7, 2025, taking with it the Liberty Belle Riverboat that had paddled around Frontierland and Liberty Square since the park’s opening.
The river began draining in mid-July 2025, marking a farewell to one of Magic Kingdom’s most iconic waterways. The river’s closure eliminates not just a visual centerpiece but also the atmospheric steamboat ride that offered guests a relaxing tour and unique vantage points of the park.
Over in Tomorrowland, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is getting a significant makeover. The interactive dark ride closed on August 4, 2025, leaving young space rangers without their chance to battle Emperor Zurg. The attraction is expected to return sometime in 2026 with exciting upgrades.
The refurbishment will include new ride vehicles, handheld blasters replacing the fixed guns, updated targets throughout the attraction, and a new robot character named Buddy. Since 1998, this attraction has been a family favorite, allowing guests to compete for the highest score while helping Buzz save the universe.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Kali River Rapids is temporarily unavailable to guests seeking a splashing adventure through an Asian rainforest. The river raft ride closed on October 6, 2025, for its annual maintenance. The attraction is scheduled to reopen sometime in December.
This thrilling water ride has sent guests careening down rapids past burning forests since 1999, delivering both excitement and an environmental message. The refurbishment was scheduled earlier than typical to ensure the attraction operates when DinoLand U.S.A. closes in February 2026.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has bid farewell to the Animation Courtyard. Disney Jr. Play & Dance!, the interactive show where preschoolers danced with their favorite Disney Junior characters, permanently closed on September 25, 2025.
This high-energy show brought Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and other beloved characters together for sing-alongs and dance parties that delighted the youngest Disney fans. The venue is being repurposed for a new experience–The Magic of Disney Animation–opening in 2026.
Star Wars Launch Bay, where guests could meet Chewbacca, Darth Vader, and other characters from the galaxy far, far away, also closed permanently in September.
This attraction offered fans an immersive Star Wars experience with character encounters, replica props, costumes, and movie memorabilia since 2015. The space is also being transformed as part of the new Walt Disney Studios Lot area, which is scheduled to open in 2026.
These closures present meaningful challenges for Christmas visitors who are already contending with some of the year’s heaviest crowds. The loss of multiple attractions means fewer options for distributing guests throughout the parks, potentially leading to even longer wait times at remaining attractions during this peak period.
Families accustomed to riding Big Thunder Mountain or exploring Tom Sawyer Island as part of their Christmas traditions will need to adjust their plans. At the same time, the closure of Buzz Lightyear removes a popular indoor attraction that typically helps manage crowds.
However, early December still offers relatively manageable crowd levels, providing savvy holiday visitors a window to experience Disney’s spectacular Christmas decorations and entertainment before the peak crowds arrive.
How do you feel about the timing of these closures over the Christmas period? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!