When Will Disney World Finally End These Multi-Year Closures?

There is usually something closed in Disney World.

Voyage of the Little Mermaid will soon become “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure”

Sometimes rides need to be refurbished, or they are reimagined into new attractions. But in the past, Disney has closed multiple attractions over the years and just…never done anything else with them. Some of these attractions we’ve seen finally get a reopening date, but for others, we’re wondering if they’ll ever see guests again.

Stitch’s Great Escape (well, the building, at least)

Stitch’s Great Escape was originally Extra-TERRORESTRIAL Alien Encounter located in Tomorrowland. Both attractions were pretty scary, and the Stitch experience closed officially in 2018.

©Disney Stitch’s Great Escape

The building has been closed and gone unused since. We’ve wondered if it would be a meet and greet location for Stitch, or perhaps a new experience, but alas, it’s been empty for 6 years.

Where Stitch’s Great Escape used to be. (Construction photo from 2020)

We’re still holding out hope that a new attraction may make its way into the attraction, but until then, it’s just an empty closed off space in Magic Kingdom that none of us will be able to step foot in.

Former Wonders of Life / Cancelled PLAY! Pavilion

The PLAY! Pavilion was supposed to be part of EPCOT’s Transformation, but back in 2023, we noticed that it was gone from the park map.

PLAY! Pavilion

Later on in the year, we noticed that Disney wasn’t making any announcements about the pavilion, and it didn’t seem like any more work was being done on it either.

©Disney || Play Pavilion Concept Art

And since then, the PLAY! Pavilion has sat empty, unused, as the rest of EPCOT finally finishes up its wonderful transformation (after MANY YEARS). We’re really bummed, because this area sounded like it would be fantastic for families, but maybe Disney will restart the project somewhere down the line, and we’ll get to see it come to life!

Check out everything we KNEW about the PLAY! Pavilion here!

Formerly River Country/Maybe a New Hotel?

Back in 2001, River Country closed for winter refurbishment and never reopened. This was Disney World’s original water park — open since 1976, located near Fort Wilderness. After years of nothing being done with the land other than the water park finally being demolished, Disney announced that the land would become a new hotel — Reflections Lakeside Lodge.

Disney’s River Country ©Disney

Permits were filed for the new hotel, and then the 2020 pandemic closures happened, and everything stopped. By late 2020, the hotel had been pulled from an old Disney blog post, and it was assumed the project was no longer happening.

However, in late 2023 Disney renewed the permits for the forgotten hotel, which could mean it’s still in the works. We’ll have to wait and see, but we are hoping to see something FINALLY take over this space 20+ years later!

Hollywood Studios

Do we know if Disney will ever do anything with these spaces? Nope, but maybe someday we’ll hear some news! In the meantime, we can look forward to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the refurbishment of Country Bear Jamboree and Test Track, and the opening of Communicore Hall and Plaza! And there’s more on the horizon — including a MAJOR Magic Kingdom expansion which appears to be starting construction SOON. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news and updates!

Disney Confirms Permit to Begin MASSIVE Magic Kingdom Expansion

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Which of these projects would you really like to see open? Tell us in the comments!