Yes, Disney World is undergoing… a lot… in 2025 that will result in tons of closures. No, it’s not the end of the world.

We’re seeing A TON of ride closures at Disney World this year. From a growing list of refurbishments, to a year-long (maybe more) closure of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, to waiting for the new version of Test Track to open, to saying goodbye to some Disney’s Animal Kingdoms attractions forever — there’s a lot to digest. If you’re feeling pretty down about all these closures, we get it, but we also want to remind you that there are ways you can cope.

Alright, we’re going to start you off with something spooky…a list of what’s closed. Better to rip the Band-Aid off quickly and get to the feeling good part.

The Disney World attraction closures so far are as follows:

Magic Kingdom

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has closed for a lengthy refurbishment that started on January 6th, 2025, and will not reopen until 2026.
• Astro Orbiter closed for a lengthy refurbishment on January 13th, 2025, and will not reopen until the Summer of 2025.
• The Hall of Presidents closed on January 20th, 2025, and a reopening date is yet to be known.

EPCOT

• Test Track closed on June 17th, 2024, and is set to reopen as a third version of the attraction in late summer 2025.
• The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros closed for refurbishment on January 6th, 2025, and is set to reopen on March 15th, 2025.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the summer of 2025.
• Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy closed permanently to make way Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, which is set to debut in the summer of 2025.
• MuppetVision 3D and PizzeRizzo will close permanently on June 7th, 2025. Disney has confirmed that the entire Muppets Courtyard area will be walled off on June 8th, 2025, for Monsters, Inc. Land construction to begin in earnest.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Kali River Rapids closed for its annual seasonal refurbishment on January 6th, 2025. It is expected to reopen sometime in March.
• TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures at Animal Kingdom have closed for good on January 13th, 2025.
• It’s Tough to Be a Bug closes permanently on March 17th, 2025 as it makes way for the new Zootopia: Better Zoogether!

Okay, yeah, it’s not great…but there are five ways to get by.

Get Your Final Rides In

Some rides are already closed for the long haul, but others have announced closing dates, such as Muppet*Vision 3D and It’s Tough to Be a Bug!, giving you enough time to catch some final experiences.

Similarly, we know that rides like Dinosaur and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster are about to undergo some serious changes, with Dinosaur being permanently discontinued while Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster gets a Muppets retheme. Dinosaur, at the very least, will be around through the end of the year, so get in as many rides as possible!

Pack in the fun like there’s no tomorrow — because for some rides, tomorrow really doesn’t exist!

Plan Around Closures

Several attractions like Kali River Rapids will be closed for early-year routine maintenance. Others, like Test Track, are waiting to open later in the year. If your favorite ride or most anticipated attraction or show isn’t open now or will close later in the year, the next best thing to do is to plan your trip around the closures.

Simply put, if you’re trip is going to be soured because your favorite ride isn’t open, don’t visit. Wait or expedite your vacation to create your ideal itinerary.

A word of caution if you plan around closures: Closing timelines can be announced last-minute on occasion, and even if a ride is open, breakdowns happen so you’re NEVER actually guaranteed to experience everything on your to-do list.

Find New Favorite Rides

When one door closes, another opens. Is your favorite ride closed? Maybe it’s time to find another favorite attraction!

Do you LOVE Big Thunder Mountain Railroad? At Magic Kingdom alone, you can find suitable replacements like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, TRON Lightcycle/Run, and Space Mountain to get your roller coaster thrills.

The point is, instead of giving up, substitutions are abundant and you can still have a great time with other rides.

If you want to look on the even brighter side, the time you would’ve spent waiting in line to ride your other favorite attraction can now be allocated to discovering new and familiar things at Disney World. When Disney gives you lemons, make lemonade!

Go to Disneyland or Epic Universe Instead

Look, if the closures are putting you off to the point you’re debating whether or not to go, we get it. If that’s the case, maybe travel to Disneyland Resort in California or Universal Orlando Resort to check out the new Epic Universe theme park instead!

Both resorts have TONS to offer guests, and if you’re craving your Disney fix, Disneyland is a fantastic replacement that even surpasses Disney World in some ways. Epic Universe looks…well…epic…and is promising to be one of the most innovative theme parks in the world when it opens to the public on May 22nd, 2025.

As a heads up, Epic Universe is going to be super in-demand this year and into the foreseeable future, so keep that in mind if you decide to sub out your Disney World vacation.

Practice Patience

Finally, the last way to cope is to practice patience. Disney is closing all these rides this year, whether you like it or not. You can either curse the darkness or light a candle and make the best of it.

Remember all the times you complained about ride maintenance or lack of new attractions? Disney is rectifying those issues and that process takes time. Just remember: good things come to those who wait.  Also, Disney World isn’t made up of one ride or one experience. What makes Disney World so special is its collection of fantastic offerings.

Be patient when visiting. Remember that developing new attractions, fixing up old ones, and creating new lands and experiences takes time, and that’s okay. You can’t possibly do everything in Disney World in one trip, so at the very least, these closures give you the chance to explore new Disney World offerings you might not have in years past.

We’ll continue to keep you posted on all the changes coming to Disney World, so stay tuned right here at DFB for all the latest updates!

3 Game-Changing Updates Announced for Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2025