Walt Disney World® Refurbishments, Closures & What’s Coming Next (Updated Jan. 2026)

Planning a Walt Disney World® vacation is exciting—but knowing what’s closed, what’s being refurbished, and what’s coming soon can make a huge difference in your experience. Attractions, hotels, transportation, and even entire lands may temporarily close as Disney continues to evolve and introduce new magic.

Below is a comprehensive, up-to-date guide to Walt Disney World refurbishments, seasonal closures, and permanent closures. We update this post weekly, as Disney often adjusts refurbishment timelines.

⚠️ Important Note: All Disney World refurbishments and closures are subject to change without notice. Always double-check as your trip approaches.

Exciting Changes Coming to Walt Disney World

Disney World is preparing for some major transformations over the next few years, including:

• 🟦 Monsters, Inc. Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• 🎸 Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster retheme featuring the Muppets

• 🌴 Tropical Americas land replacing DinoLand U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom

• 🚗 Cars Land and 😈 Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom

Many of the closures listed below are making way for these future additions. We’ll continue updating this post as Disney confirms more details.

Magic Kingdom® Park Refurbishments

Refurbishments

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  Closed Jan. 6, 2025 – Spring 2026

• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  Closed Aug. 4, 2025 – Spring 2026

• Walt Disney World Railroad – Frontierland Station
  Closed July 7, 2025 – TBD
  (Train operates as a shuttle between Main Street and Fantasyland only)

• Pete’s Silly Sideshow
  Closed Jan. 4, 2026 – TBD
  (Characters meet outdoors in Storybook Circus)

Closures

• None at this time

EPCOT® Refurbishments

Refurbishments

• Frozen Ever After & The Fjording
  Closed Jan. 26, 2026 – Feb. 2026 (TBD)
  (New Audio-Animatronics coming!)

• Refreshment Port
  Closed Jan. 12, 2026 – TBD

Closures

• None

Disney’s Hollywood Studios® Refurbishments

Refurbishments

• Animation Courtyard & Disney Jr. Play and Dance!
  Closed Sept. 25, 2025 – Late Summer 2026
  (Retheme to The Walt Disney Studios)

Closures

• Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
  Closing March 2, 2026
  (Reopens Summer 2026 with Muppets)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

Closures

• DINOSAUR & Restaurantosaurus
  Closing Feb. 2, 2026
  (Last day of operation: Feb. 1)

Disney Springs, Water Parks & Sports

Disney Springs

• Lime Garage
  Closed Jan. 12 – Feb. 11, 2026
  Closed again Feb. 17 – March 13, 2026

Water Parks

• Typhoon Lagoon
  Seasonal closure begins Feb. 15, 2026
  (Open May 26 – Sept. 8, 2026)

• Blizzard Beach
  Closed Sept. 8, 2025 – Feb. 14, 2026
  (Open May 26 – Sept. 8, 2026)

Disney Skyliner® Transportation

• Closed Jan. 25–31, 2026

• Closed Jan. 24–30, 2027

Complimentary bus transportation will be provided during closures.

Walt Disney World® Resort Hotel Refurbishments

Disney frequently refreshes resorts to improve guest experiences. While amenities typically remain available, guests may see or hear construction.

Highlights include:

• Animal Kingdom Lodge: Room refurbishments Oct. 2025 – Jan. 2027

• Beach Club & Yacht Club: Pool refurbishments Jan.–May 2026

• BoardWalk Inn & Villas: Refurbishments through 2026

• Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Tower: Ongoing refurbishments through 2027

• Grand Floridian Resort & Villas: Enhancements through mid-2026

• Pop Century: Room refurbishments through Feb. 2026

• Wilderness Lodge: Exterior work and temporary boat dock closure Jan. 2026

(Many additional resorts are listed above—always check details before booking.)

Walt Disney World® Seasonal Closures

These occur annually and are expected based on past trends:

• Typhoon Lagoon: Feb – May

• Blizzard Beach: Sept – Feb

• Kali River Rapids: Jan – Feb (sometimes March)

• Jungle Cruise: Seasonal holiday overlay changes

Walt Disney World® Permanent Closures

Disney regularly retires attractions to make room for new experiences. Some notable permanent closures include:

Magic Kingdom®

• Splash Mountain

• Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade

• Rivers of America & Tom Sawyer Island

EPCOT®

• IllumiNations: Reflections of the Earth

• Ellen’s Energy Adventure

Hollywood Studios®

• The Great Movie Ride

• Muppet*Vision 3D

• Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

Animal Kingdom®

• It’s Tough to Be a Bug

• DinoLand U.S.A. attractions

Disney Springs & Water Parks

• DisneyQuest

• NBA Experience

• Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon

Final Planning Tip ✨

Refurbishments don’t have to ruin your Disney vacation—with the right planning, you can avoid surprises and even take advantage of lower crowds during these periods.

If you’d like help choosing the best dates, resorts, and park plans around these closures, Dream Trip Co is here to help.