Visiting a Disney park in early 2026 may feel different from what fans expect. The magic will still be there, but the attractions landscape could look unusually thin for travelers hoping to squeeze every ride into their itinerary.
Walt Disney’s oft-repeated promise that Disneyland would never be complete remains a guiding principle for the company. The idea has shaped decades of expansion, from new lands in Florida to ambitious reinventions in Paris and Anaheim, and it continues to define Disney’s next chapter.
The global slate of upcoming additions is striking. Disney’s first-ever suspended coaster is headed to Hollywood Studios, inspired by Monsters, Inc. A new Indiana Jones adventure is coming to Animal Kingdom. Disney California Adventure Park is preparing its Coco boat ride. Walt Disney Studios Park, soon to become Disney Adventure World, has its own headline attraction in development with a Lion King ride similar in structure to Splash Mountain.
At the same time, Disney routinely retires, refreshes, or temporarily shutters major attractions to maintain show quality. Magic Kingdom’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is currently undergoing a substantial overhaul that includes a full track replacement and new effects. These pauses are expected, even if they disrupt carefully planned vacations.
Disney posts refurbishment schedules on each resort’s website so guests know what to expect. That transparency only goes so far, though, because heavy refurbishment seasons can make certain parks feel noticeably quieter than usual. Tokyo Disneyland is about to enter one of those seasons.
Multiple Closures Announced for Early 2026
Tokyo Disneyland has confirmed a major list of attraction closures spanning the first half of 2026. Fourteen rides and experiences will be unavailable, including one of the park’s most beloved classics. Dumbo the Flying Elephant will be closed from January 5 to July 31, marking the lengthiest refurbishment on the list.
Other closures include the following:
- Pinocchio’s Daring Journey (January 6 to January 19)
- Mickey’s House and Meet Mickey (January 12 to January 13)
- Haunted Mansion (January 13 to February 18)
- Splash Mountain (January 14 to February 12)
- Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions (January 19 to February 19)
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic (February 20 to March 23)
- Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast (February 27 to March 9)
- Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin (February 27 to March 30)
- Peter Pan’s Flight (March 24 to May 22)
- Minnie’s House (April 1 to April 14)
- Mark Twain Riverboat (April 22 to May 21)
- Pirates of the Caribbean (May 11 to June 17)
- Big Thunder Mountain (May 22 to June 30)
The Swiss Family Treehouse remains closed as well, having been shuttered since 2022.
Tokyo DisneySea Also Faces Refurbishments
Tokyo DisneySea, which many fans regard as the best Disney theme park in the world, is not immune to closures either. Its list is smaller and the durations are shorter, but the lineup still includes several high-traffic experiences.
- Caravan Carousel (January 15 to January 26)
- Raging Spirits (January 27 to February 20)
- DisneySea Electric Railway (January 27 to March 10)
- The Magic Lamp Theater (February 25 to March 16)
- Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure (March 2 to March 6)
- Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage (March 17 to April 30)
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (April 2 to May 11)
- Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey (May 12 to June 3)
- Blowfish Balloon Race (May 13)
When you take into account the closures at both parks, the absolute worst time to visit Tokyo Disney Resort in the first half of 2026 is March 2 to March 6, 2026.
During that timeframe, a whopping seven attractions – Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast, Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, the DisneySea Electric Railway, The Magic Lamp Theater, and Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure are closed.
What Else To Know Before Visiting Tokyo Disney Resort
For international travelers, timing has played a major role in the resort’s growing popularity. The yen’s extended period of weakness against the US dollar and euro has made vacations to Japan more accessible to international visitors, and fans regularly highlight the value of Tokyo Disney Resort’s tickets, which peak at 10,900 yen (around $70).
There’s even been talk of Tokyo Disney Resort lowering these prices in the near future in an effort to bring in even more guests.
The resort traditionally requires visitors to purchase individual tickets for each park, yet park hopping will return on a limited basis in January 2026. That option could soften the blow for guests hoping to avoid downtime due to closures, especially during the busy spring travel season.
With so much construction and refurbishment shaping the first half of the year, planning ahead will be essential. The magic remains steady, but the ride lineup may look considerably different when you arrive.
