Disney World Refurbishments and Closures for 2024 (and beyond)
Disney World refurbishments and closures are a necessary part of ensuring the park is always at its best. Whether it’s routine maintenance, the exciting reimagining of attractions, or the addition of new rides, these updates are inevitable. For many visitors, the refurbishment schedule plays a significant role in choosing their vacation dates, as nobody wants to realize that their beloved attraction is closed during their dream Disney vacation!
Disney attractions can sometimes close unexpectedly, but the good news is that the refurbishment schedule for routine maintenance and reimagining is fairly reliable. This not only applies to the parks but also to the Disney Resorts as well as transportation. So, here’s what you need to know about the current refurbishment schedule for Disney World.
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Planning a Disney World vacation in 2024? Be sure to check out our guide to all that the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer this year including the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the return of the Disney Dining Plan, and more!
Disney World Refurbishments and Closures for 2024 (that we know of so far!)
Please note that this list could change at a moment’s notice.
Magic Kingdom
Now Open – TRON Lightcycle Run Roller Coaster – The highly anticipated Tron Lightcycle Power Run coaster, inspired by Shanghai Disneyland’s attraction, made its debut at Magic Kingdom in April 2023. This exhilarating ride offers an adrenaline-pumping race on sleek, two-wheeled Lightcycles. The introduction of this coaster also prompted a revamp of Tomorrowland in order to align with the immersive Tron Lightcycle theme.
Now Open – Tiana’s Bayou Adventure – In early 2023, Splash Mountain closed its doors to make way for this exciting all-new attraction. Set in the enchanting bayous of Louisiana, visitors will accompany Princess Tiana on a musical adventure as she embarks on her new venture, Tiana’s Foods. Following the events of the film, riders will assist Tiana in finding a crucial ingredient for her grand Mardi Gras celebration at Tiana’s Palace. This immersive experience promises to feature a mix of beloved and fresh characters, melodic songs, and an all-new enchanting journey with Tiana.
Now Open – Country Bear Musical Jamboree – This classic attraction closed on January 27, 2024, and will reopen this summer with an all-new show. The new show will feature easter eggs throughout and include familiar Disney songs performed in different genres of country music such as bluegrass, pop-country, Americana, and more.
Closing August 26 – September 17, 2024 – Jungle Cruise – The Jungle Cruise will be temporarily closed for maintenance, with no expected changes to the show scenes.
TBD – New “Cars” Area in Frontierland – Disney is planning to revamp a section of Frontierland and turn it into a Cars-themed area. This new area will include two exciting attractions. The first attraction will offer a thrilling rally race through the mountains, allowing guests to race across the landscape, navigate mountain trails, avoid geysers, and splash through mudholes. The second attraction will be a family-friendly experience designed for younger racers. Construction for this project is set to commence in early 2025.
TBD – Tavern near Pirates of the Caribbean – Adventureland will soon welcome a new tavern near Pirates of the Caribbean, further immersing visitors in the story of the famous attraction.
TBD – New Villains Area – Disney has confirmed the development of a new section of the park, located beyond Big Thunder, which will be centered around beloved Disney villains. This new area will include two exciting attractions, as well as exclusive dining and shopping options. While preparations for construction are already underway, Disney has not yet released any information regarding a specific timeline for when the new area will be open to visitors.
EPCOT
Now Open – Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind – Now open, this brand “omnicoaster” features vehicles that rotate on the track to turn the guests to face the action happening around them.
Now Open – Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana – This new walkthrough attraction will be coming to the World Nature section of the park and will allow guests to “interact with water” just like Moana does in her film. Also beginning on October 16, Moana herself will be greeting visitors from her very own special area, conveniently situated near Journey of Water.
Now Open – CommuniCore Hall & Plaza – CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza are part of Epcot’s World Celebration and will serve as the hub for Epcot International Festivals. According to Disney, CommuniCore Plaza will provide an outdoor space for guests to relax and enjoy the festivals, with the capacity to host large-scale concerts or intimate performances. On the other hand, CommuniCore Hall will be the first purpose-built structure for festival programming, offering flexibility to host a variety of experiences including food, art, live music, and more. This area will likely be open year-round and will provide a comfortable setting for guests to relax.
Closing June 17, 2024 – Test Track – This major attraction will undergo a new transformation with assistance from Chevrolet, marking another evolution for this ride since its inception with the original World of Motion. The current version of the ride closes for refurbishment on June 17, 2024. A reopening date has not yet been announced but will likely be sometime in 2025.
Closing November 2-6, 2024 – Frozen Ever After – This popular attraction will close for a short few days for a refresh.
2025 – A Spaceship Earth-themed Lounge – A new lounge has been announced for Epcot. Opening at some point in 2025, it will feature a Space Earth theme.
Hollywood Studios
Now Open – Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith – This attraction closed on January 8 for a multi-month refurbishment.
Opening Fall 2024 – The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure – “Voyage of the Little Mermaid” is permanently closed, and will be replaced with a fully reimagined production called “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.” This will be a live performance of Ariel’s story, featuring beloved songs and characters from the classic movie.
2026 – New scenes in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – Din Djarin and Grogu will be featured in a new version of this iconic attraction. The mission will debut around the same time as the new movie “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which will be released on May 22, 2026.
TBD – New Monstropolis Area – This new Monsters, Inc. area will feature a suspended roller coaster inspired by the doors chase scene in the original movie. Construction will begin in 2025.
Animal Kingdom
It’s Tough to Be a Bug will be closing at some point (likely in 2024) to make way for a Zootopia Tree of Life Show. No dates have been announced.
TBD – Tropical Americas (re-theming of Dinoland U.S.A.) – Exciting changes are coming to Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! The area is set to be transformed into a “Tropical Americas” land, drawing inspiration from the enchanting film Encanto and the action-packed Indiana Jones franchise. While specific attractions have not been officially announced, there are speculations about the potential re-theming of the popular ride DINOSAUR, as it utilizes the same ride vehicles as Disneyland’s Indiana Jones attraction. We will keep you posted if Disney makes any formal announcements!
Outside the Parks
Closing March 17, 2024 – Blizzard Beach – The water park is currently closed for its seasonal refurbishment. It will reopen November 4, 2024.
Permanently Closed – Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort – This immersive hotel experience took its last “voyage” in September 2023.
Disney World Resorts
Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach & Riviera Resorts – The Disney Skyliner Gondolas will undergo routine refurbishment starting in early 2024. The refurbishment will be conducted in phases from January 16-27, 2024. During this time, all Skyliner routes and resorts will experience temporary closures.
Caribbean Beach Resort – The Fuentes del Morro Pool at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will undergo routine maintenance from January to April 2024. Construction work may be visible or audible during daytime hours. However, guests are invited to utilize any of the 5 leisure pools available at the resort during this time.
Port Orleans French Quarter – From January to April 2024, the Doubloon Lagoon pool at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter will be temporarily closed for regular maintenance. Guests may encounter construction activity during the day but will be encouraged to make use of the Ol’ Man Island pool at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – The Grand Floridian is currently undergoing a significant transformation with a new design concept – Enchanted Gardens. The renovation process has now progressed to the main lobby, which is being tackled in phases. However, construction work was temporarily halted for the holiday season in December 2023, and it is expected to resume in January 2024. Guests should also note that both 1900 Park Fare and the Grand Floridian Tea Room are likely to remain closed until the entire reimagining project is completed.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is undergoing construction to expand its offerings with new Disney Vacation Club villas. Set to open in 2024, these accommodations will provide DVC members with additional options for their stay. The new rooms boast stunning waterfront views, with many featuring private balconies. Additionally, guests can look forward to new dining venues, swimming facilities, and various recreational areas within the resort.
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn – Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is currently undergoing renovations to enhance its guest experience. Upgrades include new furniture and decor in all hotel rooms, featuring delightful artwork showcasing beloved characters such as Mickey, Minnie, and other Disney pals leisurely exploring the BoardWalk. Additionally, the hotel lobby is set to receive a refreshing makeover.
All-Star Movies – The recent room renovations at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort have been completed, but further updates are scheduled in the coming years. Specifically, from January to April 2025, the Fantasia Pool at the resort will be temporarily closed for routine maintenance. During this period, guests may experience construction activities during the day. However, they are encouraged to utilize the Duck Pond Pool as an alternative swimming option.
Beach Club Resort & Villas and Yacht Club Resort – Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts will be temporarily closed for regular maintenance from January to June 2025. Construction work may be noticeable during the day. However, guests are invited to enjoy swimming at the Tidal, Admiral, and Dunes Cove leisure pools during this period.
Yacht Club Resort – In addition to the pool refurbishment scheduled from January to June 2025, select guest rooms will be under refurbishment from January to May 2025.
Fort Wilderness Campground – Walt Disney World is embarking on a significant transformation at Fort Wilderness Campground by introducing new Disney Vacation Club (DVC) cabins to replace existing ones. With over 350 cabins, this development will convert the resort side of the campground into a Disney Vacation Club property. In addition to this, a series of improvement projects are currently underway at Fort Wilderness, including upgrades to the pool area and walking trails. *Cabins will be open for rentals beginning September 27, 2024.
Port Orleans French Quarter – From May to November 2024, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter will be refurbishing some guest rooms. Guests may experience daytime construction noise, but most hotel amenities will still be available.
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*Be sure to view Disney’s interactive park hours calendar for more detailed information regarding your specific travel dates.
Disney World Planning Guides
Magic in the Planning offers numerous guides to help you get started in your Disney World vacation planning! Here are some to get you started!
Walt Disney World Resorts:
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Disney Value Resort Hotels
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Disney Moderate Resort Hotels
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Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels
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Disney Deluxe Villas
Walt Disney World Dining:
Walt Disney World Attraction Guides:
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Attraction Guide for Magic Kingdom
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Attraction Guide for Epcot
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Attraction Guide for Hollywood Studios
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Attraction Guide for Animal Kingdom
Planning your Walt Disney World vacation? Be sure to visit my step-by-step guide to help you get started!
