We’re not sure there’s any worse feeling than getting that dreaded notification that your favorite attraction is permanently closing at Disney World. It feels like your whole life flashes before your eyes, of every good memory you had growing up, with the attraction and knowing that it’s all going away.
Disney World has had seven closures in the past two years and has seven more to come. Let’s see how this will affect your Disney World trip and what to look forward to (even if you’re still wiping your tears for MuppetVision).
From 2023 to early 2025, there have been seven closures within Disney World parks, some of which weren’t easy to let go of!
Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom were affected, but somehow, EPCOT emerged unscathed (probably because the construction walls that were up for many years just came down).
Let’s take a look at what closed:
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- Splash Mountain (2023)
- Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade (2024)
- Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy (2024)
- TriceraTop Spin (2025)
- Fossil Ful Games (2025)
- Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures (2025)
- It’s Tough to be a Bug (2025)
That’s a lot happening in Animal Kingdom! Half of DinoLand U.S.A. closed to welcome in Pueblo Esperanza, the new Tropical Americas-themed land. A new Encanto ride and a gorgeous carousel will be coming, and while we don’t have any specific opening date, we can already see them hard at work.
Inside the Tree of Life, It’s Tough to be a Bug had its last showing to invite other animal friends in. Zootopia: Better Zoogether! has a rough opening timeline of winter 2025.
Splash Mountain turned into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and stayed a log flume ride, but with new songs, storyline, and characters. We’ll be singing “Going Down the Bayou” all day long.
While it may have seemed small to some, the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade was torn down, and a Disney Vacation Club Lounge took its place. The room is a great way for DVC members to cool down and relax.
Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy in Hollywood Studios didn’t tend to be very busy, but this fun show is being scrapped to become Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, a brand-new stage show coming May 27th.
Those are all the closures that have already happened, but what do we need to be aware of before it happens? Let’s dive in!
Muppet*Vision 3D
Muppet fans have had this date circled on their calendar for a while now but MuppetVision will have its last shows to guests on June 7th. The Muppets are changing their address and leaving Muppet Courtyard for Mike and Sulley and the Monsters, Inc. gang to move in. We’re getting a new show, a new hanging door ride, and restaurants.
PizzeRizzo
Along with MuppetVision, PizzeRizzo will also be closing down on June 7th. Rizzo is out of dough and this space will be added to the new Monstropolis land. We do not have any opening dates for the Monsters, Inc. land, but we’ll be keeping an eye out for more.
DINOSAUR
Let’s go get that dino! Disney has told us that our last chances to ride DINOSAUR will be in 2025. We’re expecting it to close in early 2026, but we do not have any official dates yet. This will turn into a brand new Indiana Jones ride! The storyline will be different than the one at Disneyland, and it will be added to Pueblo Ensperanza.Â
Restaurantosaurus
Just like DINOSAUR, Restaurantosaurus is going extinct. This quirky restaurant will also be part of the Tropical Americas transformation for Animal Kingdom, and we’re expecting it to close on the same date as DINOSAUR, whenever Disney announces that.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
We can’t believe this either, but make sure you say bye to Aerosmith because The Muppets are taking it over. The ride will be turned into an Electric Mayhem-themed roller coaster with the Muppet gang. We don’t have opening or closing dates for this, but with everything Muppet in Hollywood Studios closing on June 7th, we hope we don’t have to go without The Muppets for too long.
Tom Sawyer Island
Tom Sawyer Island is getting completely scrapped and turned into a Cars-themed land. New rides are coming, and Frontierland is expanding, as Lightning McQueen and Mater are going to Magic Kingdom. Again, we have no dates for openings or closings, but it’s going to be a sad day when we can’t take the raft over to the island anymore.
Liberty Square Riverboat
Leaving with Tom Sawyer Island is the Liberty Square Riverboat! Disney fans are upset about this change as the Liberty Bell is an iconic part of Disney history, and many guests love to take a spin on busy afternoons. Just like the island, we don’t have any dates, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated so you can take one more trip around Magic Kingdom.
We know it might be sad to lose your favorite spot at the theme parks you grew up going to, and it can be hard to be happy about the changes, but as Walt Disney said, “Progress is impossible without change.” Keep following AllEars for all the Disney news you need.
I hope Doc McStuffins will be at Disney Parks in October. She’s my favorite Disney Character and I do NOT want her gone Permanently!