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Don’t pack your bags until you read our list of current Disney World closures and refurbs

disney world refurbishments
Credit: Canva Creation

Lots of changes and additions are always in the works, at any entity owned by The Walt Disney Company. That’s because Disney is dedicated to the safest and most enjoyable Guest experience on every single visit.

Disney’s KiteTails show at Animal Kingdom is taking a hiatus soon, though there’s no official word about its return or replacement. EPCOT will soon unveil its first-ever roller coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: COSMIC REWIND, set to open in late May. And Disney Cruise Line will welcome its newest cruise ship, the Disney Wish, at Port Canaveral in June.

Disney Wish Passes Its First Sailing Test

Credit: Disney Cruise Line

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But part of Disney’s dedication to safety means that regular maintenance and refurbishment of attractions in each Disney theme park are imperative.

No matter when you’re planning to visit the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, it’s always a good idea to look into which experiences and attractions are scheduled to be undergoing repairs or refurbishment on the dates you plan to visit. Walt Disney World refurbishments and closures, though necessary, aren’t a lot of fun, especially if you’re not expecting them. No one likes to arrive at Magic Kingdom, eager to ride Haunted Mansion, only to discover it’s closed for refurbishment.

disney world haunted mansion

Credit: Becky Burkett/Disney Dining

Guests who loved Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom but hadn’t looked at the late winter/early spring refurbishment schedule would have been sorely disappointed to arrive, only to find the attraction closed earlier this year for a refurbishment. (Luckily, Expedition Everest has reopened, after experiencing a fairly rocky start with some episodes of ride failure reported by Guests.)

Talk continues about changes coming to Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom Theme Park, but so far, the Disney Park has not announced a date for the reimagining to begin.

Splash Mountain Boat Takes on Water with Riders on Board

Credit: Disney Parks

The Walt Disney World website is the best place to find the most comprehensive, up-to-date information about scheduled maintenance and planned refurbishment of attractions, whether at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Guests can even find information about closures at Disney Springs.

If you’re visiting a theme park at Disney World in the near future, these are the six closures, soon-to-open attractions, and refurbishments you need to know about for your upcoming visit.

Fantasmic! – Disney’s Hollywood Studios

We learned in November 2021 that Fantasmic! would be returning to Walt Disney World sometime in 2022 after being MIA for 2 years. We don’t yet have a specific date for its return, although we’re hopeful since Disneyland Resort is set to welcome back the nighttime show on May 28.

fantasmic

Credit: Disney Parks

At this time, work continues on the amphitheater at Hollywood Studios, as evidenced by a permit only recently filed for improvements at this area of the park. Recently the moat was refilled, and some of the show’s stage equipment has been set up, making us even more hopeful that a fantastic Fantasmic! reappearance is on the horizon, especially with Disneyland Resort‘s opening of Fantasmic! happening later this month.

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finding nemo the big blue and beyond

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Finding Nemo: The Big Blue . . . and Beyond! – Disney’s Animal Kingdom

After fearing the worst last fall–that Finding Nemo the Musical had been canceled–we were delighted to learn that Animal Kingdom was, in fact, NOT doing away with the Guest-favorite Finding Nemo stage show at the Theater in the Wild and that a brand-new expansion of the show was in the works.

Finding Nemo: The Big Blue . . . and Beyond! will debut at Animal Kingdom this summer. The show will be set in the Finding Dory timeline and incorporate events from Dory’s film in the show as well.

Disney has given us a few tidbits of information about the new show at Animal Kingdom. We’ve learned that the new story takes place after the story of Finding Dory, and it will be told from the viewpoint of the Tank Gang, which includes Gill, Bubbles, Peach, Deb, Bloat, Jacque, and Gurgle, all of whom show up at the Marine Life Institute after being scooped up in their plastic bags.

New Updated Finding Nemo Musical Coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme  Park in 2022 | Disney Parks Blog

Credit: Disney Parks

The Theater in the Wild’s theme will be one inspired by the Institute, and new sets for the show include a 32-foot-long sunken submarine and a 15-foot-tall fish tank volcano. The show will also feature beloved sing-along favorites from Finding Nemo the Musical, including “In the Big Blue World” and “Go with the Flow.”

Fan-favorite songs from Finding Nemo the Musical will return in this new version of the show, including “In the Big Blue World” and “Go with the Flow.” Disney has yet to announce an official debut date for the new under-the-sea show, only that it will be sometime this summer.

Enchanted Tales with BelleMagic Kingdom

Enchanted Tales with Belle is one of the few Disney World experiences that has yet to return to a post-pandemic Magic Kingdom. It continues to be listed as “temporarily unavailable” on Walt Disney World‘s official website, a permit filed late last year for “general construction” at the Enchanted Tales location might mean that work is being carried out inside the attraction for a return date sometime soon, though there’s no official word from Disney on that.

enchanted tales with belle

Credit: Disney Parks

Disney’s website, which shows dates through July at this time, notes “no available times” for all dates shown on the park’s calendar.

RELATED: Magic Kingdom‘s ‘small world‘ attraction reimagined by former Disney animator

Walt Disney World Railroad – Magic Kingdom

The Walt Disney World Railroad has been closed for refurbishment of the locomotives and so that the construction of TRON Lightcycle Run could be completed. No doubt delays in TRON’s construction have also delayed the reopening of the Railroad.

disney world railroad

Credit: Disney Parks

While we currently have no projected reopening date for Walt’s beloved trains, we do know that Disney promised the reopening in time for the Disney World Resort’s 50th anniversary celebration, which is in full swing and evident in every corner of the Resort, from Main Street, U. S. A. and Disney’s Contemporary Resort to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at World Showcase at EPCOT and the Art of Animation Resort to Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom and even at Disney Springs.

The anniversary celebration runs through March 2023, so we’re hopeful we’ll be chugging along by then. Recently, Disney World released a TikTok video about testing being conducted for the Walt Disney World Railroad, and we’re taking that as a hint that a reopening date could be announced soon.

@disneyparks

Choo Choo! Testing is just beginning for the Walt #DisneyWorld Railroad crew ? #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneyCastLife #Railroad #Train #TrainTok

♬ original sound – Disney Parks

Blizzard Beach Water Park

Several months ago, Blizzard Beach Water Park closed for scheduled regular maintenance. The water park did not reopen for Spring Break as some had hoped it would. Disney’s official calendar online currently shows Blizzard Beach Water Park closed until July 15, 2022. It’s common for Blizzard Beach Water Park and Typhoon Lagoon Water Park to “trade places” during maintenance periods.

Guests can still beat the heat at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park while they wait for Blizzard Beach to reopen.

Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 – EPCOT

We’ve recently learned that Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 will close temporarily, beginning June 27. The attraction, located at the Canada Pavilion on the World Showcase will take a hiatus while a limited-time marketplace is erected for EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival, which kicks off on July 14 and runs all the way through November 19.

At this time, no other major refurbishment plans are on the schedule for the immediate future at Disney World. Disney Springs also has no scheduled closures or refurbs for the next several weeks. But because things at Disney World can change quickly, be sure to consult the official calendar on Disney World‘s website before your next visit.

About Becky Burkett

Becky's from the Lone Star State and has been writing since she was 10 and encountered her first Disney Park when she was 11. It was love at first Main Street Electrical Parade. Joy is blank lined journals, 0.7 mm pens, and all things Walt, Woody and Buzz, PIXAR, Imagineering, Sleeping Beauty (make it blue!), Disney Parks history and EPCOT. At Disney World, you'll find her croonin' with the birdies at the Enchanted Tiki Room or hangin' with Woody and the gang at Toy Story Land. If you can dream, you really can do it!