UPDATED November 7, 2024
Disney World rides can’t run forever, unfortunately. Sometimes, they need a little TLC, or their time has run out.
RIP Maelstrom
Disney does their best to tell us about these scheduled closures ahead of time so you can plan your trips around them if it’s a ride you really want to experience. Here are all the attraction closures you’ll want to watch out for in 2024 if you’re planning a trip!
DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy in Disney’s Hollywood Studios has closed permanently to make way for a BRAND-NEW Disney Villains show debuting at Sunset Showcase in the summer of 2025.
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy
The last day of operation for Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy was October 7th, 2024.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Disney has announced that a NEW show — “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” — is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the summer of 2025!
The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure
The new show will be a reimagined show inspired by the original animated classic from Walt Disney Animation Studios. “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” will premiere at the Animation Courtyard theater. The new version of the show will feature a combination of live actors, puppets, digital animation, and even some live motion capture seamlessly integrated together to fully replicate the underwater setting. When it opens, we can expect to hear musical numbers like “ “Daughters of Triton,” “Part of Your World,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” and “Kiss the Girl!”
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
However, be aware that –with the announcement of the new production, it’s also been confirmed that Voyage of the Little Mermaid is permanently closed in Disney World.
EPCOT
Test Track
As of June 17th, Test Track, which is located in EPCOT’s World Discovery, is temporarily closed so the ride can be — in Disney speak — reimagined!
Test Track Concept Art ©Disney
Disney hasn’t released too many details about what the updated ride experience will be like just yet, but they did mention that it will take inspiration from World of Motion, the ride that was originally there when the park opened in 1982!
Imagineers are adding new show scenes that will showcase technological advances and show “how our lifestyles and relationships to mobility connect everyone.” You will take a joy ride through scenes focusing on onboard technology, customization, and personalization, ending with a trip through a scenic outdoor route. At this time, a reopening date has not been announced, but Disney has shared that the attraction will reopen in 2025.
Find out more about the NEW Test Track HERE!
TYPHOON LAGOON
For the past few years, only one of Disney World’s two water parks (Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach) has been open at a time, even during the summer months.
Typhoon Lagoon
Right now (as of November 4, 2024) Blizzard Beach is open while Typhoon Lagoon is closed. It goes without saying (but we’ll say it anyway) that when one water park is closed, those rides and attractions will be completely inaccessible during your trip.
Keep in mind, too, though, that both water parks will close for cold weather, which can happen often during the winter months.
Blizzard Beach Entrance
Disney can also announce future closures at any time, but we keep a close eye on them here at DFB, so stay tuned to our blog for all the latest news!
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It would be amazing if Disney changed Kali River Rapids into a Jungle Book attraction. Blow out the back flume loop and add a show building…so it would be more like the river rapids attraction in Shanghai…part indoor and part outside. It’s just screaming for this IP update.