As Walt Disney once said, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” The same goes for Disney World, as a lot of changes are about to be coming across all the parks.
Magic Kingdom
D23 happened last month and we got so many new and exciting announcements! Unfortunately, these exciting announcements also mean that existing parts of the parks will close to make way for these new offerings. While change can be scary, and we are sad to see these parts of the park go, we are looking forward to what is to come in the future. There are currently five permanent closures on the horizon at Disney World.
Buckle up because significant changes are hitting Disney World over the next few years. Not only will parts of the park close, but we can expect to see construction across all four parks.
Test Track Construction
Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America
It was announced at D23 that Frontierland would be getting two new ‘Cars’ themed attractions! It is exciting that the world of Cars will be represented in different ways on both coasts as Cars Land immerses you in the world of Radiator Springs over at Disney California Adventure.
The Rivers of America
While we are so excited to have Lightning McQueen and all of his friends cruise on over to the Magic Kingdom, they will be taking over what is currently Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America.
Tom Sawyer Island
From the concept art, it seems that the Rivers of America will be paved over. This means that Tom Sawyer Island, the Liberty Square Riverboat, and Aunt Polly’s will all permanently close when construction starts on the new Cars area in early 2025. While no exact closing date has been given, permits have already begun to be filed to start construction.
Cars Land Will Bring A New Shortcut To Magic Kingdom…And We LOVE IT!
©Disney
It’s Tough to be a Bug!
An opening day Animal Kingdom attraction will soon shut its doors. It was confirmed at D23 that It’s Tough to be a Bug! themed after the Pixar film A Bug’s Life will close and be re-themed as Zootoppia: Better Zoogether.
It’s Tough to be a Bug!
No exact closing date has been given for the attraction, but we assume that the announcement is imminent as the new Zootopia show is confirmed to open in the winter of 2025.
Zootopia: Better Zoogether ©Disney
DinoLand U.S.A.
It was teased at Destination D23 last year and officially confirmed at D23 this year that DinoLand U.S.A. will close and be re-themed to a Tropical America’s inspired land. This new area of the park will be called Pueblo Esperanza.
DinoLand U.S.A.
This new land will feature three brand-new attractions, including an Encanto ride, a carousel with some of our favorite Disney animals, and an Indiana Jones ride.
The new town Esperanza will be situated in Tropical Americas land coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The town features classic Spanish-style architecture in the heart of the rainforest.
This means that the entire land will close to make way for Pueblo Esperanza. This included the permanent closures of DINOSAUR, TriceraTop Spin, Restaurantosaurus, and the rest of DinoLand U.S.A.
DINOSAUR
While no closing date has been announced, Disney confirmed that construction will be completed in stages, and the land will open sometime in 2027. Permits have already started to be filed for construction on the land.
Pueblo Esperanza Model
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
One of the newest closure announcements hits Hollywood Studios. It was announced that Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy will close on October 7th to make way for a brand new Disney Villains show!
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
The new show is set to open in the summer of 2025. Don’t worry. As we mentioned, you will still be able to see Lightning McQueen in Magic Kingdom, and there will be plenty of Villains representation in Magic Kingdom as well when the newly announced Villains Land opens.
©Disney
We will continue to monitor any news of permanent closures at Disney World and will keep an eye out for construction permits as they continue to be filed. As always, keep following along with Disney Food Blog for more Disney news, updates, and tips!
FULL Timeline of Major Additions Coming to Disney World
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The River Boat and Tom Sawyers Island. They are direct connections to Disneyland and Walt Disney. What’s next? The Carousel of Progress? Just kill all my childhood memories. I first rode the carousel of progress at the ‘64 and ‘65 New York Worlds Fair.
I’ve heard in other blogs that the paperwork for the destruction of RoA was not filled out properly and the agencies requested a lot more information, assessments and studies and that they needed to be completed within a certain length of time or the permits would automatically be denied. Keeping my fingers crossed that the environmental issues stop this catastrophe.
Closing Tom Sawyer’s Island and Rivers of America????? Is this a joke?
Horrible mistake Disney. Horrible. The legacy of Walt takes another hit.
I’m not thrilled with any of these closings (except Lightening McQueen). They have plenty of land surrounding the Disney World parks, why not just expand?
Will definitely miss the riverboat and Tom Sawyers Island! Classic Disney
The riverboat…Liberty Square
I agree with Michael Vatter ( above comment )
The riverboat is a timeless attraction!!!!!it should have a spot – even as a restaurant or rest spot !! To demolish more history is just getting nuts !!!
If the carousel of progress or small world go – don’t know about going back !! I have been to them at the 64’ -‘65 world’s fair and every trip to WWD since 1977
Just happy that haunted mansion is so loved .
There has to be progress but not in the face of taking away ALL that Walt and the greatest imagineers Joe (and the old schoolers ) created for us !!
I agree! Why does Disney keep taking away from nostalgia and park capacity? The space is already set to hold customers and increase ride capacity so destroying this area doesn’t add capacity to the park, it only lessens it. And after that horrible job on Epcot and the promises made on the Imagination Pavilion and the finished product (a saaaaad pop up merch only area-nothing innovative or interactive as promised) we aren’t trusting Disney to do a great job on this either…😢
What? NOOOOOOOOOOO! Paving over the river is just horrible.
the Riverboat is going away?!? and Tom Sawyer Island will be paved over?! That is tragic.
I am pretty sad about losing the Dinosaur Ride.
I agree with everyone – Walt’s dreams continue to be destroyed by these new corporate executives. Please everyone write to Disney Guest Services and stop this tragedy. Once its gone – its gone forever.
[email protected]
I also wrote to the Governor of Florida. Not only does this destroy Walt’s plan, it is also extremely bad for the environment and the Florida water system.
Let them build their “Cars” ride some where else. Its not like they don’t have enough land to do it.
With AL, the land available, I don’t understand why they have to remove Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island.
Agree with all the above comments. Paving over ROA and removing TSI and the liberty square riverboat is such a mistake and will completely change the feel of that area of the park.
So, you think Zootopia will be opening in winter 2025? As in Jan, Feb, March 2025? Or did you mean winter 2026? I’m thinking winter of 2026 because Zootopia 2 comes out in the fall of 2025.
I agree with everyone and so glad many think as I do!
To quote your opening line: As Walt Disney once said, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” The trouble is: Disney has lost its imagination and creativity! They only care about profit and paying ridiculously high wages to heads who don’t earn it or deserve it! They’re turning wdw into any old amusement park which is exactly opposite of why Walt built Disneyland and then Wdw in the first place! They are not respecting Walt’s vision or the feelings of us who made the Disney company!!!
There’s no reason not to use all their empty land for new attractions yet keep the lands we love. Of late, all building and refurbishment seems to be very hap hazard! Stop ruining the parks and charging us more for years of construction!