CONFIRMED: 4 Ride Closures in Disney World This Week

Disney does a great job of maintaining its theme parks and attractions, but a part of that maintenance includes temporarily closing down rides so they can undergo refurbishment. This will allow us to enjoy the rides for years to come, but it can be disappointing if one of your favorite attractions is closed during your Disney World trip.

We want to prepare you as much as possible and limit the amount of disappointment that might happen as a result of a planned closure. If you’re heading to Disney World this week, these are ALL the closures you can expect to see.

Here is a look at the attractions that will be closed in Disney World from September 29th through October 6th:

Kali River Rapids in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Kali River Rapids will be closed beginning October 6th for refurbishment. Don’t worry though, the attraction will reopen in December 2025. We usually see this attraction close temporarily in the cooler months for refurbishment, so it isn’t out of the ordinary.

Since it is a water ride, we can understand that not as many people want to be soaked during the cooler months, so it is a good time for Disney to do maintenance on the attraction. We aren’t expecting to see any major changes, just general ride maintenance.

Spaceship Earth in EPCOT

Spaceship Earth is currently closed for routine maintenance, and it is expected to reopen later this year. Additionally, Project Tomorrow: Inventing the Wonders of the Future (the exhibit and interactive area at the exit of Spaceship Earth) is also closed during the refurbishment.

You can still take in the beauty of the Spaceship Earth ball, but for the time being, you won’t be able to take a slow-moving journey through time on the attraction. We aren’t expecting any huge changes to the attraction during the closure, just routine refurbishment, so we’re hoping it won’t be closed for too long!

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Magic Kingdom

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is also closed for refurbishment. The attraction closed in August 2025 and isn’t expected to reopen until 2026. The ride will be getting lots of new updates including new ride vehicles, new blasters, new interactive targets, and a new character.

We got the chance to see the new ride vehicles and blasters in person, and we can’t wait for this attraction to reopen so we can take them for a spin!

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Magic Kingdom

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is also closed for a lengthy refurbishment. The “wildest ride in the wilderness” closed back in January 2025 and is expected to reopen sometime in 2026. Disney hasn’t announced an exact reopening date, but we have gotten some more details about the “new magic” that is being added to the attraction.

A new effect will happen “when the trains rattle their way underground to spectacular natural caverns full of phosphorescent pools,” illuminating stalagmites and stalactites — the rainbow caverns!

We’ve also seen new track being installed and we have also gotten a peek at the new train cars. 

Those are the attractions that will be closed in Disney World this week! Although keep in mind, other attractions can still be temporarily closed for technical issues or weather delays, these are just the attractions with planned closures. Always be ready to be flexible with your plans while in Disney World!

Keep in mind as well that there are whole sections of the parks that are currently closed and undergoing BIG refurbishments. We don’t include these in the normal list, since these attractions/lands technically are now permanently closed, and don’t exist anymore.

• Muppets Courtyard in Hollywood Studios (is now becoming a new Monsters, Inc. Land, coming sometime in 2026 or 2027)

• Large sections of DinoLand U.S.A such as The Boneyard and Chester & Hester’s DinoRama (the entire land will close on February 2nd, 2026, to make way for the new Tropical Americas land, which will include Pueblo Esperanza)

• It’s Tough to Be a Bug (permanently closed March 17th to make way for the new Zootopia: Better Zoogether! show coming November 7th, 2025)

• The Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island permanently closed in Magic Kingdom on July 7th (to make way for the new Piston Peak land)

And there’s a NEW closure to add to this list! On September 25th, Animation Courtyard, with the exception of The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure and Walt Disney Presents, will close to make way for a new version of the land that will open in 2026. Star Wars Launch Bay will become The Magic of Disney Animation, there will be a new play area called the Drawn to Wonderland playground that’s inspired by the original Alice in Wonderland concept art, and Disney Jr. Play and Dance will see an update!

Stay tuned to AllEars for all your Disney World news and information on current ride closures!

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What is your favorite Disney World attraction? Let us know in the comments!

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