Do you ever wonder how Disney World does it all? Between restaurants, gift shops, rides, shows, character meet-and-greets, and more, there’s a LOT that goes into keeping the theme parks running smoothly.
In order to keep everything in spit-spot shape, Disney sometimes has to close down attractions for refurbishments. They might touch up the paint, check the safety features, clean various elements, etc. There are a few closures happening next week in the parks, so find out what’s NOT going to be available during your upcoming vacation here!
Magic Kingdom
Liberty Square Riverboat
The Liberty Square Riverboat will be closed for most of this week, but it’ll reopen on September 2nd.
This ride takes visitors on a tour of the Rivers of America aboard a steam-powered paddle wheeler.
Walt Disney World Railroad
This attraction has been closed for a long time, and we still don’t have a reopening date yet.
We have, however, spotted some engine testing and Cast Member training, so it seems like Disney is getting ready for a reopening! We’ll continue to watch for more updates on the Railroad.
Tomorrowland Light & Power Co.
The Space Mountain gift shop is usually where visitors end up after riding the roller coaster, but right now people are being redirected to exit a different way. That’s because construction on the TRON: Lightcycle Run roller coaster has caused the gift shop to close.
Disney hasn’t announced when Light & Power Co. will reopen, but it’s possible that this spot will remain closed until the coaster construction is complete.
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Enchanted Tales with Belle is still closed in Fantasyland, and Disney hasn’t announced a reopening date for the attraction yet.
In the meantime, you can usually spot Belle at the beginning of the Festival of Fantasy Parade, which runs through Magic Kingdom each day. Check the My Disney Experience app to see the parade times when you’re in the park.
Pete’s Silly Sideshow
This is where visitors could previously meet characters like Daisy, Goofy, Minnie, and Donald. However, it’s closed right now.
Disney has announced that it’ll reopen sometime “in the coming months.”
Meet Ariel at Her Grotto
The Little Mermaid meet-and-greet is closed in Fantasyland, and Disney hasn’t said when it could reopen.
But you can still take a ride on Under the Sea — Journey of the Little Mermaid, which is located just a few steps away.
Check out an amazing new lunch option that’s just a Monorail ride away from Magic Kingdom.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid meet-and-greet is closed in Magic Kingdom, and so is the Little Mermaid show in Hollywood Studios.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid is still closed, and Disney hasn’t announced when or if it will return.
Fantasmic!
Fantasmic! is still closed as well, but at least we know a general reopening timeline for this nighttime show: It will return sometime in 2022.
When it does return, the show will look a little bit different with new characters, stunts, and effects.
Check out an updated look at Fantasmic! construction.
EPCOT
Canada Far & Wide in CircleVision 360
The Canada Far & Wide theater is currently being used by the Appleseed Orchard Food & Wine Festival booth. Instead of a movie about the natural beauty of Canada, right now you’ll find an apple crumble tart and a variety of apple-flavored drinks at this location.
We’re expecting the movie to return after November 19th, which is when the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival ends.
Check out the BEST items under $5 at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival.
Disney World Hotels
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
At Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Kona Café  is temporarily closed. The restaurant is going to reopen sometime in fall 2022 with “an enhanced table-service experience.”
Although the restaurant is closed, you can still use the My Disney Experience app to Mobile Order breakfast, lunch, and dinner from Kona Café To-Go, with pickup right next to Kona Island.
Disney World Water Parks
Blizzard Beach
Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park is still closed right now, and it has been for almost all of 2022. However, guests can still visit Typhoon Lagoon — Disney World’s other water park.
We recently wrote an update about what’s going on inside Blizzard Beach right now — you can read that here!
Find out more about the Blizzard Beach refurbishment here!
These are all of the scheduled refurbishments, but remember that some rides can also close if there’s bad weather in the area. This mainly affects outdoor attractions and coasters, so it’s a good idea to head to indoor attractions if you see that it’s going to rain soon.
If bad weather or technical difficulties close down a ride you were hoping to visit, keep an eye on the My Disney Experience app so that you can see when it reopens. Usually, there will be a shorter line for the ride right when it reopens, so try to get there as soon as possible!
We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB.
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Charles Pryor says
Half the place is closing, and they still charging you full price for admission??