Walt Disney World is in the middle of one of its most sweeping transformation periods in recent memory, with 18 locations across its parks and resort hotels currently closed for everything from routine refurbishments to full-scale demolitions. Guests heading to Orlando should review the latest operating status before they go — the resort looks meaningfully different from even a couple of years ago.
Magic Kingdom has seen some of the biggest changes. Carousel of Progress closed July 6 for an extensive overhaul that will add a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic figure of Walt Disney himself; it isn't expected to reopen until 2027. More permanently, the Rivers of America, Liberty Square Riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island all closed in July 2025 to make way for Piston Peak, a Cars-inspired Frontierland expansion with two new attractions planned but no opening date yet announced.
Disney's Hollywood Studios is equally deep in construction. Muppets Courtyard is being replaced by a Monsters, Inc.-inspired area called Monstropolis — Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo permanently closed in June 2025, and Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano followed in May. Animation Courtyard is also being reimagined, with new experiences rolling out in phases, including additions scheduled for September 14. At EPCOT, La Signature in the France Pavilion remains closed with no set return date, and Germany's Volkskunst shop and nearby restrooms are partially shuttered while backstage work continues. Animal Kingdom's DinoLand U.S.A., meanwhile, closed permanently on February 2 and is being transformed into an entirely new land called Tropical Americas.
Resort hotels aren't immune either. Disney's Coronado Springs Convention Center began a refurbishment August 10 that runs through September 2027. Construction is ongoing at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa through early 2027 and at Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort through late 2027. On the dining front, Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney's Yacht Club Resort — closed since May 11 — is set to reopen August 28. Jellyrolls, the beloved dueling piano bar at Disney's BoardWalk, permanently closed its longtime location in April 2025 and plans to resurface elsewhere later in 2026.
Planning Your Trip
Undercover Tourist is an authorized seller of Walt Disney World tickets, often at a discount off gate price.
The scale of simultaneous closures means planning a Walt Disney World trip right now requires extra homework, but it also means guests can witness the early stages of several major projects reshaping the resort's future. Disney Fanatic first reported the full list of affected locations.
