Walt Disney World is in a state of transition. New, exciting experiences are debuting, old favorites are disappearing, and construction on a new future for the resort has begun to take shape.

All of that may have you asking: “Is it smart to go to Disney World right now?”

Let’s start with the Reasons that it DOES Make a lot of Sense to Visit Walt Disney World Right Now.

NEW Additions

This summer has seen several NEW additions to Walt Disney World. These include:

• GEO-82: The new Spaceship Earth-themed, 21+ lounge at EPCOT is a “sophisticated hideaway nestled within the iconic geodesic sphere at EPCOT that’s home to Spaceship Earth” where guests can “experience global flavors blended with culinary artistry in classic cocktails and small plates.” The establishment pays homage to the attraction through its name – a reference to Spaceship Earth’s shape and opening year – as well as “the storied history and enduring legacy of this timeless EPCOT icon” through its theming and decorative elements.
• Test Track: Speaking of EPCOT, one of the park’s highlight E-Ticket attractions has returned after a year+ in refurbishment. The latest version of the ride, dubbed Test Track V3 by fans, officially opens to the public on July 22nd after a month-long preview period. The new iteration captures the unique charm of early EPCOT dark rides, including referencing Horizons and which will surely make it quite popular throughout the rest of the year.
• Water Parks: The summer of 2025 marks the first summer when Disney’s latest perk – including free water park access on check-in day to Disney World hotel guests – is available. Not coincidentally, the summer marks the first time that both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon will be operating simultaneously.

Say Goodbye to Old Favorites

While there’s plenty new to experience, you also should take the opportunity to take final rides on DINOSAUR at Animal Kingdom and the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios, both of which are closing in on their final days of operation.

The former will serve as the home of a new Indiana Jones attraction in Animal Kingdom’s new Tropical Americas and the latter to become home to the Muppets. Both will be open through the end of 2025 before closing in 2026.

Potentially Lower Crowds

Due to economic issues, including tariffs and inflation, as well as other societal and political factors, both domestic and international tourism to the Orlando area are projected to trend downward later this year, perhaps leaving busy periods including the bus days of summer, and the Halloween and Christmas seasons. However….

Reasons It May Be Smart to Wait:

Economic Uncertainty

Those same economic and societal factors that may lead to some lower crowds may be a reason to hold off on visiting Disney World right now, especially for international travelers.

Construction:

There is currently a major construction project ether ongoing or just about to ramp-up at all four of Walt Disney World’s theme parks, cutting off pathways, and leading to a somewhat disrupted guest experience.

Future Projects

Much of that construction is dedicated to major new projects, including the Cars-themed Piston Peak and Villains Land, both at Magic Kingdom, Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom, and Monsters, Inc. at Hollywood Studios. While all of these lands are exciting, none are coming soon, and for some visitors, it may be worth pushing a visit into the future to pair with their openings.

Is it smart to go to Disney World right now? In some ways, yes, in others it might be better to wait until 2026 or beyond. Stay tuned to DFB for more on planning a Disney World vacation.

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Are you planning to head to Disney soon? Let us know in the comments below.