Walt Disney World Attractions: What's Closed Right Now And What's Scheduled For Refurbishment

There's so much to do at Walt Disney World it's impossible to do it all in a single trip. But sometimes the reason you can't do something has less to do with not finding the time than simply not being able to because an attraction is closed. Sometimes rides go down without warning, but that's almost always temporary. Longer closures are usually scheduled in advance, which at least means you can be ready for them.

Regularly scheduled maintenance helps ensure less unscheduled downtime for your favorite attractions. Sometimes your favorite ride just needs a little TLC, other times it's time for old rides to be replaced with something brand new. Here's a rundown of everything at Walt Disney World that is currently down for refurbishment or is scheduled to be down in the coming months. 

Upcoming Magic Kingdom Closures

Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant - Closed August 5, 2021 - TBA

When Walt Disney World reopened following the pandemic, due to limited guest capacity, not everything reopened with the parks. One popular eatery that did not reopen was Liberty Square's Columbia House. The building was used for extended queue space for attractions due to social distancing. When Columbia House did reopen in August 2021, the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant, which had been offering the Columbia House menu, closed. The location has reopened for special dessert party events but has remained closed to normal operations during the day. It's officially still a temporary closure, so we expect it to reopen at some point.

Splash Mountain/Tiana's Bayou Adventure - Closed January 23, 2023 - Late 2024

A closure that we've known was coming for two years, Walt Disney World finally dropped the hammer on Splash Mountain. Back in 2020, it was announced that Splash Mountain would be replaced with a new log flume ride, the Princess and the Frog-themed Tiana's Bayou Adventure. The new version of the ride will open sometime in 2024. The Magic Kingdom version of the attraction closed in January for its major overhaul. 

Country Bear Jamboree (January 27, 2024 - Summer 2024)

The Country Bear Jamboree has been a beloved part of Magic Kingdom since the park opened, and despite rumors of the Country Bears going away, they have endured. The Country Bears won't be getting removed in 2024, but it was announced at the Destination D23 event in September 2023 that the Bears will be getting a whole new show which will see the Bears singing country music versions of classic Dinsey songs. It's set to open in the summer of 2024

Upcoming Epcot Closures

Test Track (June 17, 2024- TBD)

Epcot's Test track has already undergone one major overhaul in its life, but another is on the way. At the Destination D23 event in 2023, it was revealed that Test Track is set to be completely reimagined. What this new version of the ride will look like, we don't know. All we know is that the transformation is set to begin in mid-June 2024.

Upcoming Disney’s Hollywood Studios Closures

Rock 'N' Roller Coaster - Featuring Aerosmith (January 8, 2024 - Summer 2024)

Every time the Rock 'N' Roller Coaster goes down for refurbishment, rumors begin to fly that the attraction is going to be rethemed. Once again the ride is set to go down for an extended period and while no retheme was announced, one has to wonder how long this ride has. The ride went down for a length refurbishment in early 2023 as well, so is the coaster being closed for half the year now normal?

Voyage of the Little Mermaid (March 2020 - Fall 2024)

One of the attractions that closed when Disney World did for the global pandemic and never reopened, was the Voyage of The Little Mermaid stage show. For a long time, we assumed the show was permanently closed, despite no official announcement from Disney World. Now we know the show will reopen, as The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure, an updated version of the original show, though it won't open until the fall of 2024. 

Vacation Fun - An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie (April 29, 2024 - May 24, 2029

Many guests at Disney's Hollywood Studios are probably largely unaware that there's a theater in the park that shows an original Mickey Mouse animated short. Unfortunately, that information will do you little good starting April 29. The Walt Disney World website lists the attraction closed beginning then. Showtimes are currently listed to return beginning May 25.

Upcoming Disney's Animal Kingdom Closures

Tree Of Life Theater/It's Tough To Be A Bug (TBA)

Rumors of a possible Zootopia land at Disney's Animal Kingdom persisted for years, but in the end, Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps won't be getting their own land, but they are getting their own show. A Zootopia show is set to replace It's Tough to a Bug inside the Tree of Life theater. The timeline on this has not been announced, so it could still be months, if not years away, but it will be happening.

Dinoland U.S.A. (TBA)

It's been clear ever since Disney's Animal Kingdom shut down and removed Primeval Whirl inside Dinoland U.S.A., without replacing it with anything, that the land was probably on the way out. At the D23 Expo in 2022, it was confirmed that Walt Disney Imagineering was in the process of coming up with ideas to replace it, and at Destination D23 in 2023 it was revealed it was being replaced by a new land dedicated to the Tropical Americas. While we know the land will be closing for refurbishment, it sounds like Imagineering is still very much in the development phase, so when the closure will happen is anybody's guess. 

Upcoming Disney World Water Parks Closures

Blizzard Beach - Closed March 17 - TBA

With the news that Typhoon Lagoon will reopen in March 2024, comes the inevitable second piece of news, that Blizzard Beach will be closing. Since March 17 will be Typhoon Lagoon's first day of operation, it will also mark the first day of closure for Blizzard Beach.

Other Upcoming Walt Disney World Closures

Garden View Tea Room - Closed March 2020 - TBA

And finally a third location at the Grand Floridian that has remained closed. The Garden View Tea Room has never reopened since the rest of the resort began to do so. However, it is still listed as temporarily close, so one assumes that plans are to reopen it eventually. 

Fuentes del Morro Pool - Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort - January 2024-March 2024

Guests staying at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort in early 2024 will want to be aware that the Fuentes del Morro Pool is set to be closed for about three months starting in January. Disney World is warning of construction noise, but the good news is the resort has five other pools, so finding a place to take the plunge won't be a problem. 

Doubloon Lagoon Pool - Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter - January 2024- April 2024

Routine maintenance is scheduled for the resort pool at the Port Orleans - French Quarter Resort. Guests staying there who want to take a swim are asked to use the Ol' Man Island Pool at the Port Orleans - Riverside resort. There is a convenient walkway between the two, but be aware it is a bit of a walk.

Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool - Closed January 2025 - May 2025

Guests who are planning Disney World trips far in advance may want to take note of work that's already planned at the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. Disney World has already announced a multi-month refurbishment of the Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool areas that will begin in early 2025 and last for most of the first half of the year. 

Always keep your eyes open as attractions can still go down without notice, even for an extended period, though that's rare at Walt Disney World. It's also possible that a scheduled reopening may be delayed if planned work takes longer than expected.  We’ll be keeping this space updated as attractions reopen and new refurbishments are announced.