Disney Finishes 2025 With 14 MAJOR Announcements and Ride Closures
Disney didn’t end 2025 with a single blockbuster reveal. Instead, it wrapped up the year by quietly locking in a series of closures, pauses, relocations, and limited-time offerings that will dramatically reshape Walt Disney World in 2026. Some attractions are going offline. Others are shifting locations or temporarily rotating out. Taken together, these moves make one thing clear: Disney is creating space for what comes next.
While none of these updates landed all at once, they shared a common thread. Familiar experiences are ending or stepping aside to make way for new versions, replacements, or refreshed offerings. By December, Disney had effectively confirmed 14 significant changes that will affect how guests experience the parks over the next year.
Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Sets Its Final Countdown
The most headline-grabbing update came on December 12, when Disney confirmed that Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster will close in early 2026. The attraction’s final day to operate will be March 1, with the ride officially shutting down on March 2.
The closure paves the way for a complete Muppets-themed rework. Disney has already begun removing Aerosmith elements, signaling that the transformation is no longer theoretical. With an end date set, one of Hollywood Studios’ most iconic thrill rides is officially on borrowed time.
Big Thunder’s Absence Finally Gets a Timeline
Magic Kingdom has felt different throughout 2025 with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad offline. The attraction closed in January 2025 for a significant refurbishment, and Disney stayed quiet about its return for much of the year.
That silence finally broke when Disney confirmed the ride will reopen in Spring 2026. While details remain limited, Disney has suggested refreshed elements will debut when the ride returns, making this closure one of the longest-running and most noticeable changes of the year.
Buzz Lightyear Remains Down—but Not Forgotten
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin also spent 2025 offline as Disney worked on upgrades. The Tomorrowland attraction has remained closed longer than many guests expected, adding to the list of familiar experiences that are currently on pause.
Disney now says the ride will reopen in Spring 2026. While the core experience will remain intact, new features are planned, extending this closure well into next year.
Soarin’ Prepares for a Patriotic Shift
EPCOT’s Soarin’ will also temporarily step aside as Disney prepares a new version tied to America’s 250th anniversary. The updated attraction, Soarin’ Around the World, will focus entirely on American landscapes.
Disney confirmed the new version will debut by Memorial Day 2026, signaling another short-term closure as the transition takes place.
Frozen Ever After Schedules Its Upgrade Window
Frozen Ever After has been operating for years with aging audio-animatronics, and Disney has now set firm dates for its planned updates. The EPCOT attraction will close on January 26, 2026, and reopen in February with refreshed figures of Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff.
Animation Courtyard Officially Moves On
Hollywood Studios is also saying goodbye to Animation Courtyard as guests knew it. Disney confirmed that The Magic of Disney Animation will open in the reimagined Walt Disney Studios area in Summer 2026.
Inspired by Once Upon a Studio (2023), the new experience will bring animated characters into interactive environments, replacing the former courtyard in its entirety.
A New Disney Jr. Show Joins the Shift
Alongside that transformation, Disney confirmed Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! will debut in the same area. The show invites younger guests to dance and interact with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Daisy, and Pluto, reinforcing the area’s new direction.
Water Parks Continue Their Seasonal Rotation
Disney also confirmed another familiar shift: Typhoon Lagoon will close for the season on February 14, 2026, while Blizzard Beach reopens on February 15. The return of the water park seasonal pass for 2026 reinforces this rotating strategy.
Smaller Closures Add Up
Pete’s Silly Sideshow will close on January 4, with its characters relocating within Storybook Circus. EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival returns March 4 through June 1, temporarily replacing other offerings. Bluey and Bingo arrive at Animal Kingdom in Summer 2026, refreshing the character lineup.
Outside the parks, Level 99 will open at Disney Springs in 2026, replacing previously planned uses. A Hallmark holiday movie, filmed inside Disney World, is set for 2026 release, while a Taylor Swift Eras Tour costume display will quietly disappear on January 23.
Disney’s Transitional Year Comes Into Focus
When viewed together, these updates reveal that Disney is intentionally closing, pausing, or rotating experiences rather than simply adding new ones. Some changes are brief. Others mark the end of long-running offerings. Either way, 2026 is shaping up to be one of Disney World’s most transitional years yet.
