Three journey closures are actually underway at Walt Disney World, all having their final day of operations yesterday and now starting multi-month (or year-plus!) tasks right this moment, January 6, 2025. And much more sights are quickly or completely closing later this month, later this 12 months.
What’s lined under might be the ultimate slate of Winter 2025 closures, however anticipate to see much more tasks added to the 2025 Walt Disney World Refurbishment Calendar. Prior to now, these would’ve been principally confined to January via early March and August via September. Nevertheless, the previous is now pretty busy and different occasions of 12 months have slowed down comparatively–so extra tasks from Might all through September wouldn’t be in the least stunning. Not solely that, however prolonged closures are going to embody a number of seasons, slower and busier occasions.
As we’ve identified on a number of events, there was lots of deferred upkeep and proportionately fewer closures in the previous couple of years as a result of pent-up demand and funds cuts. Walt Disney World additionally misplaced lots of seasoned upkeep Forged Members in the course of the closure, lots of whom took early retirement or just didn’t return.
That is exactly why “Upkeep & Sudden Downtime” made the record of High 10 Visitor Complaints About Walt Disney World! Journey breakdowns stay a difficulty and, in our view, these surprising closures are worse than routine refurbishments as a result of you possibly can’t plan round them. In our view, it’s excellent news that many refurbishments are actually being scheduled concurrently, even when it does include the short-term ache of a number of main rides down throughout upcoming holidays.
In any case, simply wished to begin with a fast ‘heads up’ that Walt Disney World has a backlog of postponed tasks from the previous couple of years. A number of sights are overdue for refurbishments and can most likely get them in 2025 or 2026–the difficult factor can be timing to keep away from having too many “large” rides down in every park. It’ll assist that pent-up demand is exhausted, staffing has improved, and the cash spigot in Burbank has been turned on for Parks & Resorts, permitting for extra tasks of this nature to (lastly!) occur.
Right here’s what’s already closed as of January 6, 2025…and what else is on the horizon within the subsequent couple of weeks…
Kali River Rapids
Let’s begin in Animal Kingdom, the place Kali River Rapids has quickly closed for a routine refurbishment similar to it does each single winter. I can’t bear in mind the final time Kali River Rapids did not shut in January. I’m truthfully stunned Walt Disney World doesn’t pencil this into the calendar earlier as a visitor courtesy.
As at all times, that is as a lot as story of low-demand as a result of climate and crowds as it’s wanted upkeep. This being a “rip-roaring river raft journey” coupled with present excessive temperatures struggling to interrupt out of the 50s ought to inform you every part it’s essential to know.
Kali River Rapids is at present scheduled to reopen in March 2025, with no particular date set. What’s regular right here is for Kali River Rapids to reopen in mid-March on the newest, and forward of schedule if climate permits and demand dictates. The climate often cooperates, and Kali River Rapids finally ends up reopening in early March–a few weeks forward of schedule.
With Dino-Rama completely closing, it wouldn’t be stunning to see Kali River Rapids returning as early as Presidents Day weekend. Once more, it comes down as to if the climate is sufficiently good. We had been simply in DCA for New 12 months’s Eve and Grizzly River Run had a 5-minute wait all day lengthy (as lengthy headliners posted triple digits) as a result of it was just too chilly for a rapids journey. Animal Kingdom doesn’t have sufficient to do, however they’re not going to reopen Kali River Rapids in 50-degree temperatures. So it actually comes right down to the prolonged climate forecast. That’s roughly what dictates when this journey reopens.
Gran Fiesta Tour
Over at EPCOT, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros has closed for a brief closure as of January 6, 2025. In accordance with the corporate’s calendar, the boat journey is at present anticipated to reopen by March 15, 2025.
After all, refurbishments are at all times topic to alter, so Gran Fiesta Tour might reopen earlier or later. The present timeline means that the objective is to have it again in direction of the start of the 2025 EPCOT Flower & Backyard Pageant and begin of the Spring Break season. That is smart, and the capability is required within the Mexico pavilion in March and April.
Each signal factors to Gran Fiesta Tour merely getting some TLC and mandatory upkeep throughout this multi-month closure. Though there’s been hypothesis of a journey reimagining, there’s a couple of .001% likelihood of that occuring throughout this temporary (within the grand scheme of issues) closure. It’s most likely extra about conserving the attraction trying nice.
Nevertheless, this Gran Fiesta Tour refurbishment might be laying the groundwork for a future reimagining (see the final two years of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster closures for routine upkeep within the lead-up to a reimagining that was lastly introduced). As with RnRC earlier than it, we expect one thing will occur right here finally–and we take a deeper dive into that subject in Is a Coco Boat Journey Coming to EPCOT?
Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad
There are a number of main and minor tasks now underway or beginning quickly in Magic Kingdom. The largest is that Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad is now closed for refurbishment as of January 6, 2025. In accordance with Walt Disney World, the wildest journey within the wilderness is deliberate to reopen in 2026 with somewhat bit of latest magic.
That’s all that’s been formally introduced concerning the Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad closure, however we all know there are lots of shifting elements to this reimagining, which had been rumored for over 6 months earlier than being formally confirmed by the corporate. There’s additionally quite a bit we are able to glean from development permits (plural) which have already been filed, and the presence of an unlimited crane behind the attraction that towers over Frontierland.
Primarily based on earlier rumors and contractors listed on permits, Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad wants a big refurbishment involving substantial work on the journey system and an entire retracking. This long-planned venture is seen as preventative work that’s essential to increase the helpful lifetime of the curler coaster, guaranteeing the journey’s longevity and operational standing for many years to return. Therefore the crane–it’s there to take away previous monitor and change it with new monitor (ought to be enjoyable to look at!).
There are much more shifting elements to this, together with how the BTMRR closure pertains to the Rivers of America alternative, pathway development connecting this aspect of Frontierland to Haunted Mansion, and work starting on Automobiles and Villains Lands. There’s additionally the matter of a reopening date in 2026. For all of that and extra, see Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad Closed for Refurbishment at Magic Kingdom Till 2026!
Astro Orbiter
Subsequent up in Magic Kingdom is Astro Orbiter. This Tomorrowland spinner can be quickly closed for refurbishment starting January 13, 2025, and is deliberate to reopen in the summertime of 2025.
Astro Orbiter can be closed for 6-8 months, with a reopening possible someday between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It is also shortened or prolonged primarily based on the scope of the work, which is presently unknown. Disney might be engaged on the elevators, queue, or journey system itself.
This attraction goes down about as soon as per decade for a closure of this period, which often contains disassembling, servicing, and rebuilding the spinner. It additionally usually will get a contemporary colour scheme and new lighting results, however nothing that materially alters the attraction. The identical venture was simply carried out final 12 months at Disneyland. We wouldn’t anticipate an extension of this one except it does contain the elevators, that are at all times a wildcard.
Corridor of Presidents
Walt Disney World has introduced that Corridor of Presidents will go down for refurbishment beginning on January 20, 2025 and is anticipated to reopen later in 2025. For many who are questioning, that is customary, and exactly what we predicted would occur. (See our standalone submit concerning the Corridor of Presidents closure, which has been up to date to debunk reimagining rumors (for now).
In principle, Imagineering might take the best choice, reusing each the present Trump Audio Animatronics determine and dialogue. This might primarily imply ‘restoring’ the present to its pre-2020 standing (properly, plus Biden, who will clearly be moved from center-stage). If that is the end result, you possibly can anticipate the closure to be considerably shorter than final time. Walt Disney World might theoretically do a fast refurbishment, having the attraction closed for a month or maybe much less.
All of that is in principle as a result of Walt Disney World may choose to go a budget route and maintain Corridor of Presidents closed longer to save lots of working bills. Corridor of Presidents isn’t precisely a marketable draw, which means it’s not “wanted” whereas different sights are closed to assist soak up crowds. Disney stating that Corridor of Presidents is “anticipated to reopen later in 2025” as a substitute of offering a particular date–and even season–suggests they could draw it out to economize.
Level being, don’t assume that simply because this might have a faster turnaround time that it really will. At any time when Corridor of Presidents does reopen, it’ll most likely be pretty uneventful. There received’t be something new, per se, to publicize when Trump resumes his talking function and the attraction has develop into divisive no matter who’s entrance and middle.
Dino-Rama
Dino-Rama and Dinoland USA will start their phased everlasting closures, beginning with the next in Winter 2025:
- TriceraTop Spin – Closed completely beginning January 13, 2025
- Fossil Enjoyable Video games – Closed completely beginning January 13, 2025
- Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures – Closed completely beginning January 13, 2025
The final day to expertise this journey and different choices can be January 12, 2025. Building partitions for the reimagining to Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom will go up in a single day and be seen to company on January 13, 2025.
The Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, Dino-Chunk Snacks, Trilo-Bites, and DINOSAUR will keep open for now in accordance with Walt Disney World.
Walt Disney World has individually confirmed that company have “via 2025 to go get that dino…earlier than extinction” indicating that DINOSAUR is not going to shut till someday in 2026. Our expectation is that the journey closes in early January 2026, just like the above timelines, with the objective of conserving it open via the vacation season rush.
It stands to motive that the identical can be true of the Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, and possibly Trilo-Bites. These don’t essentially want to shut earlier. Given their areas and the turnaround time wanted to reimagine or change them, they might even keep open a bit longer than DINOSAUR.
It’ll come right down to what is smart from a capability and crowd-absorbing perspective. With DINOSAUR closed, will company actually be venturing to this dead-end nook of the park? Even with DINOSAUR open, it’s doable that demand drops to the purpose that Walt Disney World opts to shut the play space or eating choices earlier. Once more, it is a firm large on saving working bills every time doable.
Blizzard Seaside
Not on any official record, however Blizzard Seaside has already had its first closure of 2025, with no less than two extra on the horizon. Walt Disney World has up to date its calendar to point that Blizzard Seaside can be closed January 7-8, 2025.
That is nothing out of the odd. Walt Disney World’s water parks routinely shut in the course of the winter months when the day by day excessive temperatures don’t break the 60 diploma barrier. It’s the very same story right here as with the Kali River Rapids closure–lack of demand. (I nonetheless bear in mind one chilly winter day when my household visited Blizzard Seaside within the 90s, considering we might “deal with” it since we’re Michiganders. Suffice to say, Blizzard Seaside actually felt on-theme that day, and was completely devoid of crowds. I had a blast, however I used to be a child—I’m positive it will’ve been depressing as an grownup.)
Anyway, we don’t usually report on Blizzard Seaside closures as a result of it’s mainly simply reporting on the climate. And Central Florida together with many of the nation are within the midst of a chilly entrance proper now. Day by day lows in Bay Lake can be within the 40s (minus Friday) via January 18, 2025. It’s completely doable that Blizzard Seaside might be closed for 8 consecutive days, and 10 out of the following 11 days.
That’s an enormous deal by itself, nevertheless it’s much more important given Walt Disney World providing free water park admission in your check-in day in 2025. When you dig into the superb print, Walt Disney World makes clear that this perk is topic to the water parks being closed as a result of climate, and that “no refund or credit score given for any such modifications or cancellation. Park admission and choices usually are not assured.”
From that, it appears fairly clear that company arriving on days when the water parks are closed as a result of climate are merely out of luck. I’m however curious as as to if Walt Disney World will provide any visitor restoration choices for many who are impacted by this and plan their journeys round it. As an example, is Walt Disney World merely going to throw its palms up and say “robust break!” to a household that books a redeye flight to make the most of this free water park day? This perk is already very restricted in its utility as a result of realities of flight occasions and water park hours, so having no restoration choice can be a nasty look.
For no matter it’s value, the superb print typically says issues like this and Walt Disney World’s unofficial coverage is rather more versatile. So in case you’re one of many uncommon households that’s planning your journey across the water park day, I’d completely advocate inquiring about various choices. I’m not likely positive what the most effective plan of action is since that is model new and unprecedented, however I’d most likely contact Disney as quickly because the closure hits the calendar (earlier than touring). Failing that, asking Forged Members on the entrance desk of your resort upon arrival is an alternative choice, as is inquiring at Visitor Relations. As at all times, you catch extra flies with honey, so be well mannered–and ensure to elucidate the way you purposefully deliberate round utilizing the perk.
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Your Ideas
What do you consider Walt Disney World closing so many sights suddenly? Are you keen to “sacrifice” driving sights in your subsequent Walt Disney World trip if it means journey refurbishments and reimaginings that enhance the visitor expertise? Or would you like unreliable rides in poor form, however which are really open (or no less than, scheduled to be)? Do you agree or disagree with my evaluation? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
