Disney World, girl, are you okay? The Most Magical Place on Earth is going through some changes right now, and if you’re planning an upcoming trip, you need to be careful.

Between ride closures, massive construction projects, pool closures, and more, there’s a lot you need to know about before making your Disney World plans. But don’t worry, you have us here to help you out with everything you need to know!

A lot is going on at Disney World right now — and those projects aren’t stopping anytime soon. Whether you’ve got a trip coming in the next few weeks or the next few months, there are plenty of things you need to know about before you head to the Most Magical Place on Earth.

Construction

• Tom Sawyer Island and Liberty Square Riverboat permanently closed on July 7th, 2025, to accommodate the construction of two new Cars-themed attractions coming to the park.

• Animation Courtyard (including Star Wars Launch Bay and Disney Jr. Play and Dance!) closed permanently in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to make way for The Walt Disney Studios, including The Magic of Disney Animation.

• Muppets Courtyard (including Mama Melrose’s, Muppet*Vision 3D, and PizzeRizzo) permanently closed to make way for the new Monstropolis/Monsters Inc. themed land.

• DinoLand, U.S.A. in Animal Kingdom is undergoing a phased closure, which started on January 13th, 2025. The land is closing to make way for a new land themed to the Tropical Americas, Pueblo Esperanza. To begin, the last day for TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures at Animal Kingdom was January 12th, 2025, and they are all permanently closed as of January 13th. February 1st, 2026, is the last date to experience DinoLand U.S.A.

• The guest rooms at Kidani Village in Animal Kingdom Lodge are undergoing refurbishment from October 2025 through May 2026, while Jambo House rooms will be refurbished from May 2026 through January 2027.

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is undergoing a lengthy refurbishment from September 2024 through July 2026. While the resort is still available to book during these times, rooms may be limited. Disney also warns that guests will see and hear construction work in select areas of Bay Lake Tower. You’ll also want to allow extra time for travel, as the typical routes may not be open.

• The Grand Floridian lobby is undergoing a makeover. Disney Imagineers are approaching the updates carefully to maintain the “heart and story of the Grand Floridian, while adding fresh new life to the lobby for guests to enjoy. Disney Imagineers will refresh the lobby, staircase, and front desk and introduce a brand-new lobby bar. Work has already begun in the lobby of Disney World’s flagship Resort. It is anticipated to last through November 2025.

• On Disney’s website, they shared that “some areas of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows are being refurbished through 2026″. Guests may see and hear some daytime construction, starting at 9:00 AM. Construction at hotels can cause some headaches with loud noises, eye sores, and even things not accessible.  Additionally, “some views of the theme parks and other surrounding areas may be impacted“.

• At Disney’s Pop Century Resort, guest rooms are undergoing refurbishment from late March 2025 through mid-February 2026 (and potentially longer). All of the resort amenities are available during this time, but guests may see and hear the construction during daytime hours.

• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside is refurbishing the guest rooms in the Magnolia Bend area of the resort from early April 2025 through February 2026. While the refurbishment is happening, guests might hear and see construction work during daytime hours. 

• A lobby refurbishment is taking place at Disney’s Fort Wilderness & Campground from early October through early November 2025. According to the announcement, during check-in, you might see or hear construction activity around the lobby. Disney also noted that the check-in area could be temporarily relocated to a different, modified space nearby. Keep an eye out for signs that will be posted for directions to the check-in area, or look for Cast Members who will be stationed nearby for help.

• Heads up if you’re planning a stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort! A major refurbishment is taking place on the exterior of the hotel. The Disney World website has a warning advising guests of the refurbishment, and as of August 5th, you may see and hear construction work at the Wilderness Lodge “during daytime hours.”

• For the Beach Club, there is routine exterior maintenance taking place through 2027, and as part of that, the port cochere is closed through late November 2025. However, all services, including valet, luggage assistance, and transportation, will remain available, and you’ll still have access to most of the hotel’s amenities.

• Disney’s Yacht Club is also undergoing exterior maintenance through late 2026. Here, the port cochere is closed through October 2025. However, all services, including valet, luggage assistance, and transportation, remain available, and you’ll still have access to most of the hotel’s amenities.

Ride Closures

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — Closed for a lengthy refurbishment beginning January 6th, 2025, and will not reopen until 2026

• The Frontierland Station for the Walt Disney World Railroad also closed on July 7th to accommodate construction in the land. The Fantasyland and Main Street, U.S.A. Stations remain operational in “shuttle mode.”

• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin closed on August 4th, 2025, for updates to the attraction, and will not reopen until sometime in 2026.

• Spaceship Earth closed for refurbishment on August 25th and will reopen at a to-be-announced date later this year.

• It’s Tough To Be a Bug — This attraction, housed in Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life, closed permanently on March 17th, 2025, to receive a Zootopia-themed makeover and will become Zootopia: Better Zoogether!, when it opens on November 7th, 2025.

•  The Boneyard at Disney’s Animal Kingdom permanently closed to accommodate construction for the Tropical Americas land, Pueblo Esperanza, on September 2nd, 2025.

• Kali River Rapids in the Asia section of Animal Kingdom will be closing on October 6th and is expected to reopen in December.

• DINOSAUR permanently closes on February 1st, 2026, as part of the phased DinoLand U.S.A. closures.

Pool Closures

• From January 2026 until late April 2026, the Surfboard Bay Pool and the kiddie pool at All-Star Sports Resort will be closed for regular maintenance. During that time, the Grand Slam Leisure Pool will continue to be available. Also, guests of All-Star Sports will be welcome to check out the pools at the other two All-Star Resorts.

• The Fantasia kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort is closed for maintenance as of September 8th. The pool is expected to be closed through late October, but Disney hasn’t announced a specific reopening date yet. While the Fantasia kiddie pool is closed, the Fantasia Feature Pool and Duck Pond Pool will remain open, and guests staying at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort are welcome to use the kiddie pools at Disney’s All-Star Music and Disney’s All-Star Sports.

• The following will be closed for routine maintenance at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn from January 11th, 2027, through April 2027: the Luna Park Pool, the Luna Park Crazy Play Area, and Leaping Horse Libations.

• From January 26th, 2026, through May 2026, the pool offerings will be unavailable at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. During that time, the Bay Cove Pool, the water play area, and the whirlpool spa will all be closed for maintenance. However, the water offerings will remain open next door at Disney’s Contemporary Resort for Bay Lake Tower guests to use. This means that the Bay Lake Pool, the feature pool, the water play area, and the whirlpool spa will all be operating at the Contemporary.

• Beginning on October 13th, The Paddock Pool, the splash pad area, and The Paddock Grill will all be closed for routine maintenance. The Disney World website indicates that they will remain closed through early December, but no official opening date has been announced.

Skyliner Closure

• From January 25th through the 31st, 2026, the Disney Skyliner will be closed for refurbishment.

• From January 24th through 30th, 2027, the Disney Skyliner will be closed for refurbishment.

Crowds

Be prepared for crowds no matter when you’re visiting Disney World — though some times of the year are busier than others. We’re about to enter the holiday season, with October and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party now in full swing. Things will also start to ramp up with the arrival of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Jollywood Nights, and the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays.

January 2026 will bring the Walt Disney World Marathon and the EPCOT Festival of the Arts. The EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival typically kicks off in March, though we haven’t heard official dates for 2026 yet. In April, the runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend race will take place.

Of course, summer and holidays like Memorial Day and Easter can bring crowds as well, with folks being off from work and kiddos being out of school. Make sure you double-check before you book for trip!

We’ll be on the lookout for additional updates that could impact your next Disney World trip. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more!

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Are you planning an upcoming trip to Disney World? Let us know in the comments.