Disney Refurbishments, Closures & New Openings
Tracking 21 items across Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line. Updated daily.
The complete Walt Disney World refurbishment schedule for 2026 — updated daily. Track every ride closure, restaurant refurbishment, hotel maintenance project, and new attraction opening across Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Resort hotels. Enter your trip dates below to see exactly what will be closed or opening during your visit.
8
Closed
4
Partial
1
Reopening Soon
6
Coming Soon
0
Reopened (30d)
Walt Disney World
Magic Kingdom Refurbishments & Closures 2026
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Magic Kingdom · Tomorrowland
Attraction
Recharge update with new scene elements, updated ride systems, enhanced gameplay.
18 days remaining
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Magic Kingdom · Frontierland
Attraction
Full track replacement and enhancements. New Rainbow Caverns scene, upgraded audio-animatronics, renovated scenic elements.
Surrounding Frontierland area remains fully open.
Cinderella Castle Repainting
Magic Kingdom · Main Street U.S.A.
Attraction
Castle being repainted to restore classic pre-50th Anniversary blue, gray, and cream color scheme. Cranes lowered by noon daily.
Castle fully open and walkable. Minor entertainment schedule changes possible — check My Disney Experience.
Pete's Silly Sideshow
Magic Kingdom · Fantasyland — Storybook Circus
Character Meet
Circus tent under refurbishment.
All four characters — Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy — meeting guests outside in alternate Storybook Circus locations.
Rivers of America / Tom Sawyer Island
Magic Kingdom · Frontierland
Permanent Closure
Permanently closed to make way for Piston Peak National Park (Cars-themed expansion).
Disney Villains Land
Magic Kingdom · Near Big Thunder Mountain
Land Construction
New themed land dedicated to Disney villains under construction near Frontierland.
Piston Peak National Park
Magic Kingdom · Frontierland expansion
Land Construction
Cars-themed expansion replacing Rivers of America. Features rally race and family ride.
EPCOT Refurbishments & Closures 2026
Impressions de France & Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
EPCOT · France Pavilion
Entertainment
France pavilion theater closed for refurbishment.
Refreshment Port
EPCOT · Near World Showcase
Dining
Specialty poutines and soft-serve location closed with no reopening date announced.
Soarin' Across America
EPCOT · World Discovery
Attraction
New film replacing Soarin' Around the World. Showcases American landscapes for the US 250th anniversary.
Hollywood Studios Refurbishments & Closures 2026
Animation Courtyard / Walt Disney Studios Lot
Hollywood Studios · Animation Courtyard
Retheme
Reimagined as Walt Disney Studios Lot. Phased opening starts May 26 with new Disney Jr. show.
66 days remaining
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster — Muppets Retheme
Hollywood Studios · Sunset Boulevard
Retheme
Full Muppets retheme. Aerosmith pre-show permanently closed. Reopens as Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets.
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets
Hollywood Studios · Sunset Boulevard
Retheme
Full Muppets retheme of the Sunset Boulevard coaster. Replaces the Aerosmith version.
Animal Kingdom Refurbishments & Closures 2026
Rafiki's Planet Watch
Animal Kingdom · Rafiki's Planet Watch area
Retheme
Entire area closed for Bluey's Wild World transformation. Wildlife Express Train, Conservation Station, Affection Section all closed.
All other Animal Kingdom areas fully open.
66 days remaining
DinoLand U.S.A.
Animal Kingdom · Former DinoLand U.S.A.
Permanent Closure
Permanently closed to make way for Tropical Americas (Pueblo Esperanza). The land and all attractions including DINOSAUR are gone.
Bluey's Wild World
Animal Kingdom · Former Rafiki's Planet Watch
Retheme
Rafiki's Planet Watch area reimagined as Bluey's Wild World. New Bluey and Bingo character experiences.
Opening in 66 days
Tropical Americas — Pueblo Esperanza
Animal Kingdom · Former DinoLand U.S.A.
Land Construction
New land replacing DinoLand. Features first-ever Encanto attraction and Indiana Jones retheme of DINOSAUR.
Hotels & Resorts Refurbishments 2026
Bay Cove Pool — Bay Lake Tower
Hotels & Resorts · Disney's Contemporary Resort / Bay Lake Tower
Hotel Pool
Bay Cove Pool, Cove Bar, water play area, and whirlpool spa closed for maintenance.
Bay Lake feature pool and main Contemporary pool remain open.
Animal Kingdom Lodge — Room Refurbishment
Hotels & Resorts · Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Hotel Rooms
Kidani Village guest rooms refurbished October 2025 through May 2026, then Jambo House May 2026 through January 2027.
All amenities remain available throughout.
Contemporary Resort — Exterior Maintenance
Hotels & Resorts · Disney's Contemporary Resort
Hotel Exterior
Main Tower exterior maintenance. Skyway Bridge closed Mon–Fri 9am–5pm through May 1.
All rooms, dining, and most amenities fully available. Park views not obstructed.
Water Parks Refurbishments 2026
Typhoon Lagoon
Water Parks
Seasonal
Seasonal closure for annual refurbishment. Blizzard Beach open during this period.
About This Page
Walt Disney World refurbishments are a normal part of keeping the resort running at the highest level. Every year, attractions, restaurants, resort pools, and hotel rooms close temporarily for maintenance, safety upgrades, and creative reimaginings. Knowing what's closed before you arrive lets you plan around it — and sometimes reveals something exciting that's opening during your visit.
PixieWire monitors Disney parks news daily and cross-references it with official Walt Disney World announcements to keep this page current. Every entry is reviewed before it appears here — we don't publish unverified information.
Use the park filters to focus on the parks you're visiting. The trip date checker at the top of this page shows you a personalized view of what's closed and what's opening during your specific travel dates. Bookmark this page and check back before your trip — Disney updates refurbishment timelines regularly and we update this page when things change.
Disney World Refurbishment FAQs
How far in advance does Disney announce refurbishments?
Disney typically announces planned refurbishments a few weeks to several months in advance depending on the scope of the work. Major ride overhauls are usually announced further ahead than routine maintenance. Emergency closures can happen with little or no notice. We recommend checking this page in the week before your trip for the most current picture.
What is the difference between a refurbishment and a closure?
A refurbishment is a planned temporary closure — scheduled in advance for maintenance, upgrades, or a creative update. Closures can also be unplanned due to a mechanical issue, or permanent when an attraction is being replaced entirely. This page covers all three and labels each one clearly so you know what to expect.
Will Disney compensate me if a ride is closed during my trip?
Disney does not offer ticket refunds or compensation for planned refurbishments. If a Lightning Lane selection becomes unavailable due to an unexpected closure on the day of your visit, Disney will typically offer a replacement selection through the My Disney Experience app.
How often is this page updated?
We check Disney parks news sources daily and update this page when closures are announced, dates change, or attractions reopen. For the most time-sensitive information — especially in the days immediately before your trip — always cross-check with the official Walt Disney World website and your My Disney Experience app.