Given that Disney World is currently in a state of massive transformation — with major projects ongoing at Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios — it may seem like every month is full of BIG announcements that will change the face of the resort forever.
However, even with that said, February was a MAJOR month that will have ramifications for the resort — and the whole of the Walt Disney Company — for years to come.
The D’Amaro Era Begins Next Month
The biggest Disney announcement of the month came just as the month kicked off with confirmation of the long-held speculation that Josh D’Amaro will succeed Bob Iger as the next CEO of the Walt Disney Company on March 18th.
While D’Amaro’s ascension will affect every aspect of the company — from films to television to streaming — the new CEO’s past roles in theme park operations (including Vice President of Animal Kingdom, President of Disneyland, and most recently Chairman of Disney Experiences) have many curious about how he will handle Walt Disney World.
Rumors have already begun to spread that D’Amaro has already instructed Imagineers to begin “rethinking” their plans for the upcoming Villains Land at Magic Kingdom, with the goal of going “bigger” with the project.
DINOSAUR and Restaurantosaurus Closed Permanently
Also, as the month began, the two Animal Kingdom opening day staples closed for good, completing the phased shutdown of DinoLand USA. To the chagrin of many fans, the elimination of the land — which is being swallowed into the Tropical Americas expansion — was a sad one, as there’s no other dinosaur representation in the park.
Wherever one falls opinion-wise on the closure, there’s no denying that the permanent closure of the land — and especially the ride once known as Countdown to Extinction — has permanently changed Animal Kingdom.
The Water Park Ballet Continues
Typhoon Lagoon closed for refurbishment on February 15th… while Blizzard Beach opened from its own refurbishment the same day, following Disney’s cycle of only having one water park open at a time. Until summer, that is, as — just like in 2025 — both water parks are scheduled to be open for the busy season.
The NEW Frozen Debuts
After a month-long closure that began in January, Frozen Ever After reopened (a day early), EPCOT’s Frozen Ever After reopened with brand new animatronics of Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff. The long-awaited update saw new and improved versions of the characters (as seen on other versions of the ride, including Hong Kong Disneyland’s) replacing the original projection-mapped versions in place since the ride’s opening.
Norway Snack Spot!
The Frozen improvements weren’t the only new thing to come to Norway, as the World Showcase pavilion also saw the opening of its long-awaited new snack location. The new location offers several treats, including the pavilion’s already iconic School Bread!
Tea Room Reservations
Reservations were made available for the new Grand Floridian Tea Room experience — opening in March for the first time in over 6 years — on February 19th. However, that wasn’t the only announcement about the resort.
The Refurb Continues
Disney also confirmed that the Grand Floridian’s long-term refurbishment project, work on the hotel, was confirmed to extend into 2027.
February was a massive month for Walt Disney World Resort, setting the stage for the months… and year to come. Stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney World news.
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Which of these Disney announcements are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below.
If the Grand Floridian’s refurbishment project is confirmed to extend into 2017 as this article says, then the biggest news of all is the Imagineer’s recent forays into time travel! *wink*
Haha! Whoops! I corrected the article. Thank you for letting us know!