Refurbishments are a fact of life in Disney World. Rides, shows, and attractions are often closed for refreshes, repairs, and technological upgrades, some for longer times than others. In fact, it’s rare to have a day when EVERY attraction at the resort is operational.
2026 is scheduled to be a massive year of change at Walt Disney World, with some rides closing forever and others reopening with brand new themes, all while massive construction projects continue across the resort. With all that to come, what’s May look like? Let’s see.
Magic Kingdom
First off, there’s the shortest scheduled closure of the month: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The iconic E-Ticket has been closed since January 2025 for a massive refurbishment project.
According to Disney, the attraction is scheduled to reopen on May 3rd with “new magic,” including a fully refurbished track and a new sequence inspired by the Rainbow Caverns of Disneyland’s Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland.
Hollywood Studios
On March 1st, the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith took its final bow, as the original version of the ride closed the following day.
The ride is scheduled to be under refurbishment before reopening sometime in the summer, as the “Bad Boys of Boston” are being replaced by a new theme starring The Muppets! According to Disney, the ride will be “fueled by the tasty tunes of the Electric Mayhem and the high-speed hijinks of The Muppets” and will feature Muppet-ized covers of songs including Blur’s “Song 2” and Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild”.
Animal Kingdom
Portions of Animal Kingdom’s Conservation Station — and the Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch — will reopen on May 26th as the area is adding a new Bluey experience!
According to Disney, Guests will be able to “play and dance with Bluey and Bingo”, play some of their “favorite games from Bluey episodes with a fun animal twist, like butterfly keepy uppy”, and “snap some pictures alongside (their) Blue Heeler pals to remember this one-of-a-kind adventure” then “step outside to discover an experience with animals native to Bluey’s home country of Australia!”
As always, bear in mind that while these are the scheduled closures currently on the Walt Disney World calendar, there’s always the chance that any given ride or attraction can go down unscheduled, so be sure to keep an eye on the Disney World app while planning your April visit. Stay tuned to AllEars for further updates on Disney World’s calendar.
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Are you heading to Disney World this December? Let us know in the comments below.
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