6 Under-the-Radar Announcements That Will Change Your Next Disney World Trip

There are A LOT of changes coming to Disney World in the coming years! Many of these announcements have been the center of many discussions, including the new Cars attractions in Magic Kingdom or the retheme of DinoLand, U.S.A. to Pueblo Esperanza in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Magic Kingdom

However, amongst the multitude of announcements Disney has made, there are a few that haven’t been talked about as much. We want to make sure you know about these more under-the-radar announcements, as they could impact your next Disney World trip!

We want to make sure you are prepared for your Disney World trip, and these changes won’t take you by surprise! For starters, while Test Track is currently closed for refurbishment, it is expected to reopen in late summer of 2025. When Test Track reopens, it will be the third version of this popular attraction. The redesign will feature a new storyline and inspiration from World of Motion, that ride that was originally there when the park opened in 1982. The ride will still be sponsored by Chevrolet, and we are curious to see what the redesign will look like.

Test Track construction

There will also be a couple of new shows debuting in 2025, including Villains: Unfairly Ever After in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Zootopia: Better Zoogether! in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. However, one show has gone a bit under the radar. “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” is also expected to debut in the summer of 2025. This new Little Mermaid show was initially expected to open in the fall of 2024 but was pushed back to the summer of 2025. If you are headed to Disney World around that time, you may want to add some time to watch this new show!

Voyage of the Little Mermaid

While some attractions are expected to be opening sometime in 2025, there are also some under-the-radar closures that you will want to be aware of if you are heading to Disney World soon. Gran Fiesta Tour featuring the Three Caballeros will be closed beginning January 6th. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Astro Orbiter will also be closing on January 6th. As well, the Hall of Presidents will be closed beginning January 20th. Kali River Rapids will be closing on January 6th. In addition to these under-the-radar closures, you also won’t want to forget about the closures of Tom Sawyer Island, Muppets Courtyard, and DinoLand, U.S.A., which will be coming to make way for new areas.

Gran Fiesta Tour starring The Three Caballeros

As well, Stormalong Bay will be closing at the beginning of 2025. This is one of our favorite pools on Disney World property, and we don’t want you to be caught by surprise if you are staying at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club in 2025. The Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club will be temporarily closed beginning in January 2025. The closure is expected to last through June 2025. While Stormalong Bay is the largest pool at this resort, guests can use the Tidal, Admiral, and Dunes Cove leisure pools during the closure.

Stormalong Bay

Another announcement that could have an impact on your Disney World trip wasn’t actually made by Disney. This under-the-radar announcement was made by the Orlando International Airport, and we are so excited about it! Beginning in mid-2025, the Orlando International Airport (MCO) will be adding more than 40 restaurants and stores. Amongst these new additions will be eight local Orlando restaurants. These additions will provide so many more options when we are flying through MCO to get to Disney World!

Orlando International Airport

Finally, if you are someone who REALLY likes to plan ahead. Disney has also announced a brand-new hotel that will be coming to Disney World in 2027. This announcement has flown a bit under-the-radar, likely because we are still a few years away from its opening. But if you are planning way ahead, this new hotel could impact your Disney World trip! The new hotel will be called Disney Lakeshore Lodge and will be located in the former home of Disney’s River Country water park near Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. This new hotel will be a Disney Vacation Club hotel.

If you are feeling overwhelmed about planning your trip to Disney World, we are here to help! Not only do we have gorgeous, information-filled guides, but you can also find planning guides on our blog, and you can also check out our ultimate Disney World vacation planning video. We want to make sure you have all of our best tips for having the best Disney World vacation!

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