food IS a theme park
It takes a lot to keep Disney World running in tip-top shape, and sometimes, to do that, Disney has to close certain experiences for refurbishment.
Let’s go to the Turf Club!
If you’ve got an upcoming stay at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and were looking to check out some of the hotel’s eateries, there’s an important closure at the Turf Club Bar & Grill and Turf Club Lounge coming up that you might want to know about. We’ve got all the details for you, right here on DFB!
A lot has changed in Disney World in the past week, and if it feels like we say that every week — that’s because it’s TRUE!
It’s time for EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival!
So much is happening in the parks right now, we’re constantly keeping our eyes peeled for all the latest updates and news regarding the multiple projects happening around Disney World. This past week, an extremely popular ride officially closed for refurbishment, lots of updates and permits have been filed for ongoing projects, and one of our favorite festivals has begun in EPCOT! So what closures do you need to expect this week? We’ve got you covered.
We’ve got some pretty big news out of Magic Kingdom, where construction is practically everywhere as the park prepares to welcome two new lands.
Westward Ho
One of those lands is Piston Peak, which is taking the place of where Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat used to be, but it’s looking more and more like other areas of Frontierland will be extinct along with the change. We recently checked the My Disney Experience App and noticed that while two Frontierland spots are still showing hours, their physical buildings on the map are GONE!
Isn’t it frustrating when you visit Disney World, and things are closed? Yep, it seems like Disney World is just nothing but a sea of construction now, especially with all the construction happening in Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Even Disney World hotels are under construction, with some getting new lobbies and rooms.
Pool at Old Key West
However, regular closures for maintenance are also still happening at Disney World hotels, and that often means pool closures. Well, we’ve got a pool closure and water play area closure to warn you about.
We thought there were a lot of changes happening last week in Disney World, but as it turns out, this week is filled with even more big changes that will change the parks for good!
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Last week’s changes took place primarily in Animal Kingdom, but now, it’s time for Disney’s Hollywood Studios to join in. Yes, that’s right, the day has officially come — starting this week, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will officially close to make way for its new Muppets retheme!
Heads up, Disney World fans, today’s the day that a whole section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is temporarily closed, as of today.
Conservation Station
Today, February 23rd, Disney has temporarily closed Rafiki’s Planet Watch as a whole to make way for a new Bluey experience coming for Cool KIDS’ SUMMER. What does that mean for you? Well, a park that’s missing about four of its attractions, and in a park that’s already riddled with construction, that’s not a great addition.
Disney World has been seeing LOTS of closures throughout the past few months, mostly to make way for new additions, lands, and more, but if we’re being real, that doesn’t make the closures any less ideal when they’re happening.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch
This is especially true over in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where DinoLand U.S.A. just closed for good to make way for the new Tropical Americas expansion, and now, there are TWO more closures happening in this park tomorrow — here’s why you need to be prepared.
There’s a LOT happening this week in Disney World, so if you’re visiting this week or in the upcoming months, you’ve gotta know about these changes ASAP.
Hey Timon!
While there is construction and changes happening all over the resort, a bunch of the changes happening this week are located inside the parks — specifically EPCOT and Animal Kingdom. Yes, this is indeed the week we’ve been dreading, and it’s here — this week, not only does Festival of the Arts end in EPCOT, but Rafiki’s Planet Watch closes for MONTHS to make way for a new Bluey experience, and we may never see it the same again.
While 2026 is a big year for construction at Disney World’s theme parks, Disney Springs isn’t being left out!
LEVEL99 is coming to Disney Springs
Of course, change is a constant in the area, which has transformed from the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village of the 1970s, to the Pleasure Island revitalization of the 80s, the Downtown Disney era of the 90s and 2000s, before settling into its current Disney Springs incarnation in 2016. So, what’s coming a decade later?
Ah, Disney World. We know you’ve got a lot of exciting attractions on the way, but for right now? These closures are kinda crushing our vibe, especially when more and more keep being added!
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
This isn’t just limited to the parks, either. Nope, we found out this week that a current construction project will now take us all the way into 2027 (after it’s already been going on for what feels like FOREVER), and considering it’s one of the resort’s most expensive hotels to stay at? Yeah, people aren’t thrilled. There is a bit of good news, though — a popular EPCOT attraction reopened EARLY following an animatronic refurbishment, and now we’re thrilled we won’t be creeped out when we ride it anymore.
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