Walt Disney World is entering a new week with a much longer list of closures than usual, and it’s already impacting guests. If you’ve opened the My Disney Experience app lately, you’ve probably noticed a lot of “Temporarily Closed” and “Under Refurbishment” notices staring back at you. Right now, eight major attractions across all four parks are unavailable — some for a few days, others for good.
Big Names Missing From Magic Kingdom
One of the most noticeable closures is Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, which has been down since early August. This Tomorrowland favorite draws steady crowds, so its absence is putting added pressure on other attractions like Space Mountain. Over in Frontierland, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad remains closed as its long refurbishment stretches well into 2026. And then there’s Rivers of America, which isn’t coming back at all. With its permanent closure, guests are also saying goodbye to Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Belle Riverboat. The area will be rethemed to Piston Peak, with a future Disney Villains land also on the horizon.
Animal Kingdom’s DinoLand Transformation
At Animal Kingdom, Kali River Rapids is down for its regular seasonal refurbishment, which happens around this time each year. But two other attractions — It’s Tough to Be a Bug! and TriceraTop Spin — have closed permanently as part of the major Tropical Americas transformation. This marks the end of an era for DinoLand U.S.A. as construction on the new land gains momentum.
Other Closures and Soft Openings
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is also seeing change, with Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie set to close on October 20. While not the park’s biggest draw, it’s a fun, air-conditioned break for families that will definitely be missed. EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth is in a soft opening period but is still officially listed as closed at the time of writing. The attraction is expected to officially reopen on October 25, though guests might get lucky with occasional openings before then.
Minor Closures Add Up
Beyond the big rides, a few smaller closures are also worth noting. Tortuga Tavern in Magic Kingdom remains closed, The Boneyard in Animal Kingdom is unavailable, and both Dino-Bite Snacks and Trilo-Bites will be closing later this week. While these aren’t headline attractions, they still affect crowd flow and dining options.
Pools and Resorts Not Spared Either
Several resort pools are currently closed for refurbishment as well, including Saratoga Springs’ Paddock Pool, Old Key West’s leisure pool, and the Fantasia kiddie pool at All-Star Movies. Samawati Springs’ pool slide at Animal Kingdom Lodge is also down.
With eight major attractions out of commission and several smaller experiences unavailable, this is a transitional moment for Walt Disney World. October often brings these kinds of refurbishments, but this year’s list is longer than most. Guests should be ready to plan around closures — and keep an eye out for surprise reopenings, too.
Author
