Walt Disney World Resort is no stranger to change, but the transformation currently unfolding across the Florida parks is larger than most fans have seen in years. With new lands on the horizon and long-loved attractions closing to make way for future favorites, the question on some guests’ minds is becoming increasingly common: Is now the right time to visit?
As announced at the 2022 D23 Expo and reaffirmed by Disney Experiences since, Magic Kingdom is undergoing its most ambitious expansion ever. Frontierland, in particular, is seeing dramatic changes. Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America will officially close on July 7 to make way for Piston Peak National Park, a brand-new area inspired by Pixar’s Cars. Looking even further ahead, a new land themed to Disney Villains is planned for the “Beyond Big Thunder” space, though details remain under wraps.
Meanwhile, similar plans are unfolding at Disney’s other parks. Disney’s Animal Kingdom has begun phased closures of DinoLand U.S.A. as work on the new Tropical Americas area—highlighted by the upcoming Plaza Esperanda—gets underway. Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Grand Avenue has become a thing of the past. With the closure of Muppet*Vision 3D, that section of the park is being rethemed entirely, and Disney plans to bring guests into the world of Monstropolis from Monsters, Inc.
Naturally, all this construction has sparked a wave of online discussion. One recent Reddit thread summed up the current sentiment perfectly. A guest from Europe, planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip between January and May 2026, asked if it would be smarter to postpone their Walt Disney World vacation to avoid a “construction year.”
Responses rolled in quickly. User SinHarvestz responded, “If you’re waiting for there to be no construction, then you’ll be waiting forever. You’ll still have a great time in 2026, I’d say stick to the plan!” Another Redditor, harmacist87, pointed out that major projects will continue into the next decade: “We don’t know when the Cars land or Monsters, Inc. coaster will open. Waiting until 2029 or 2030 might not guarantee anything either. You’ll remember the fun you had, not the construction walls.”
Still, some offered a more cautious view. Jehosophat44 shared, “It’s never a bad time to visit WDW… but delaying until 2027 is a safer bet to see new offerings and fewer construction barriers.” They also noted that the rapid development pace suggests that construction may be a fixture at Walt Disney World through the early 2030s.
While Disney has not officially announced opening dates for most of the upcoming projects, the Tropical Americas land at Animal Kingdom is currently projected for 2027. As with all major developments, that date is subject to change.
Other noteworthy shifts include Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopening in 2026 after a long refurbishment and the anticipated Muppets-themed overlay of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios.
Ultimately, as many fans have said: there will always be a crane, a construction wall, or a project underway. But that doesn’t mean the magic is gone. Quite the opposite—it’s just making room for what’s next.
How do you plan your Disney vacation when there’s so much in progress? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
