It’s been a wild year for Disney World — and not just because of the weather.

Between long-standing attractions quietly disappearing and entire areas of the parks shutting down, 2025 is shaping up to be a year of BIG changes. And if you’ve been planning your upcoming trip thinking your old favorites will still be there… we’re here to help you adjust expectations. These are the major permanent closures that hit Disney World this year — and yeah, some of them definitely stung. Let’s get into it.

Animal Kingdom

TriceraTop Spin (Closed permanently January 12th, 2025)

This one might not break hearts in the same way as others, but it is a sign of a major shift. TriceraTop Spin has been spinning guests around DinoLand U.S.A. since 2001, but its time officially came to an end in January. The closure came alongside the shutdown of the Fossil Fun Games and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures — basically signaling the real start of the Dinoland exit.

It’s Tough to Be a Bug (Closed permanently March 17th, 2025)

Now this one hurts. It’s Tough to Be a Bug had a long run inside the Tree of Life — and while it definitely scared its fair share of little kids over the years, it was also one of the last remnants of opening-day Animal Kingdom.

Its closure makes way for the brand-new show, “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!”, which is expected to debut this winter.

The Boneyard (Closing permanently September 2nd, 2025)

You still have a little time left to let your kids get one last climb and dig in at The Boneyard. But after Labor Day, this beloved play area is going extinct. Disney has confirmed The Boneyard will close permanently as the next piece of DinoLand shuts down to make room for something way bigger…

Say Goodbye to DinoLand, U.S.A. — and Hello to Pueblo Esperanza

That’s right — a massive reimagining is coming to this part of Animal Kingdom, and it’s called Pueblo Esperanza, part of the larger Tropical Americas concept Disney announced at D23 and then detailed further in 2024 and 2025.

The new land will be inspired by the biodiversity and culture of the Tropical Americas — think Northern South America and Central America — and will feature two huge headliner attractions: an Encanto-themed boat ride and a brand-new Indiana Jones adventure through a mysterious Maya temple. Also coming to the land? A giant carousel, a new quick-service restaurant, and a dedicated play area (so yes, something is replacing The Boneyard at least).

Construction officially kicked off in January 2025, and Disney is targeting a 2027 opening. But with closures happening in phases, this year marked the real beginning of the transformation. If you’re nostalgic about DinoLand, now’s the time to make peace — because the future is coming fast.

Magic Kingdom

Liberty Square Riverboat & Tom Sawyer Island (Closed permanently July 7th, 2025)

This combo closure hit Liberty Square and Frontierland hard. The Liberty Belle Riverboat made its last voyage this summer, and Tom Sawyer Island — rafts and all — is now shuttered for good. If you grew up exploring the island or taking a mid-day break on that peaceful boat ride, this one’s a little rough.

But like with Animal Kingdom, these closures are not just about saying goodbye — they’re making way for something big.

Meet Magic Kingdom’s New Frontier: Piston Peak

The areas once known as the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island are being transformed into Piston Peak, a Cars-themed expansion inspired by Planes: Fire & Rescue. Yep — we’re heading to National Park territory, Pixar-style.

Imagine rugged mountains, roaring geysers, and a full-on off-road rally race attraction where you’ll get behind the wheel of a custom-designed ride vehicle with a personality. There’ll also be a family-friendly ride for younger guests, and the theming will lean hard into National Parks meets the Cars universe — complete with car-ified buildings, waterfalls, and a LOT of trees (we’re not kidding, Imagineers said they lost count).

Construction began the same day the riverboat and island shut down, and Disney hasn’t given a firm opening date yet — but we’ll be tracking every update.

Hollywood Studios

Muppet*Vision 3D, Mama Melrose’s, and PizzeRizzo (Closed permanently June 8th, 2025)

And just like that, the entire Muppets Courtyard is no more. This summer, Disney officially shut down Muppet*Vision 3D, Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, and PizzeRizzo to clear the way for a huge new land — Monsters, Inc. Land is officially on the way.

Welcome to Monstropolis

Get ready to step into the world of Monsters, Inc., because Disney is building an entire Monsters, Inc. Land at Hollywood Studios. The land will take place after the events of the original movie, and yes — humans are now allowed in the monster world. You’ll be able to walk the streets of Monstropolis, enjoy the food, and take part in an all-new suspended coaster inspired by the door vault scene from the movie.

This coaster is a first-of-its-kind for Disney — your legs will dangle as you’re lifted by door claws into the ride path. No slow climb up a hill here — this one goes up before it even starts moving forward. We’ve seen the concept art, the Imagineering model, and the early construction footage, and yeah… this ride looks wild.

The former Muppet*Vision theater is also being reimagined into the Glob Theater, which hints at a Monsters-themed stage show. And in some of the concept art, eagle-eyed fans spotted what looks a lot like Harryhausen’s — the sushi spot from the film. Could we be getting a Monsters, Inc.-themed sushi restaurant in the parks? We’re not calling it confirmed, but the signs are definitely there.

Construction began right after the June 8th closures, and the new coaster show building is already going up in the Cast Member parking lot behind the area. There’s no official opening date yet, but this is clearly a big priority — and it’s going to reshape a big chunk of the park.

Don’t worry though — The Muppets aren’t gone for good. They’re moving to Sunset Boulevard in 2026 to take over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, where they’ll be headlining a new music festival ride with some “big name” musical guests.

What Does It All Mean?

If it feels like Disney World’s shifting under our feet — that’s because it is. Closures like TriceraTop Spin and Tom Sawyer Island might seem like small changes, but they’re part of a much larger transformation happening across multiple parks. With Pueblo Esperanza and Piston Peak on the way, Disney is investing big in the future of Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom — and while we’re losing some old favorites in the process, we’re also making room for some pretty ambitious new ideas.

Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts, and determine which works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. They also share expert tips and first-hand advice about your magical vacation.

We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB.

7 Permanent Closures Will Dramatically CHANGE Events in Disney World This Year

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