Disney World feels completely different right now compared to where it was just a few months ago.
This past week alone brought new rides, new entertainment, new character experiences, and some of the biggest additions the parks have seen in years. Guests finally got the opening of Bluey’s Wild World at Animal Kingdom, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets officially debuted at Hollywood Studios, and Disney also brought back Soarin’ Across America at EPCOT.
It honestly feels like Disney suddenly flipped a switch.
The parks feel busier. There’s more energy. There’s more to do. Even longtime visitors who have spent years complaining about construction walls are finally starting to see some payoff from all the work Disney has been doing.
But despite all the excitement, Disney World is still dealing with a surprisingly large number of closures all across property.
And some of them are pretty major.
Magic Kingdom probably has the most noticeable missing experiences right now. Frontierland has been completely transformed by construction as Disney continues work on the future Piston Peak expansion. The Rivers of America are gone, Tom Sawyer Island has closed permanently, and the Liberty Square Riverboat is no longer operating.
For a lot of longtime Disney fans, that entire side of the park feels strange now.
The area used to slow the pace down a bit. You could escape the crowds, take the riverboat, or wander around the island for a while. Now it’s mostly construction walls and heavy equipment.
Storybook Circus is also still dealing with multiple closures. Pete’s Silly Sideshow remains unavailable, and Big Top Souvenirs is still under refurbishment while Disney works on structural repairs.
Hollywood Studios may have gotten several new offerings this week, but the park still feels like it’s in the middle of a huge overhaul.
Animation Courtyard is only partially operating right now as Disney continues building out the new Walt Disney Studios area. Some entertainment offerings have opened, but major parts of the project are still behind walls.
Star Wars Launch Bay is still closed.
Disney Jr. Play and Dance! is also still unavailable.
Then there’s the former Muppets Courtyard area, which remains one of the most talked-about closures in all of Disney World right now. Muppet*Vision 3D is permanently gone, PizzeRizzo closed, and the entire section is being transformed into Monstropolis.
Even though the new Muppets coaster has already opened elsewhere in the park, plenty of fans are still upset about losing one of the last original Muppets attractions Disney had.
Over at EPCOT, things are a little less dramatic, but construction is still impossible to avoid.
Refreshment Port remains closed while Disney rethemes it into La Poutinerie. Work also continues around portions of the France Pavilion near Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
Animal Kingdom may have just opened one of the resort’s biggest new experiences with Bluey’s Wild World, but the park is still missing an entire land.
DinoLand U.S.A. is officially gone as Disney pushes forward with Tropical Americas. Construction walls now dominate the area, and demolition continues as Disney prepares to build the upcoming Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions.
It’s exciting to see Animal Kingdom finally getting expanded, but guests visiting right now should definitely expect to see a lot of construction throughout that side of the park.
The closures extend beyond the parks, too.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is still dealing with boat dock refurbishment work, while Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa continues major construction around its entrance area.
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort also remains surrounded by ongoing exterior work that could continue through 2027.
Disney’s Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts still have pool closures happening, Yachtsman Steakhouse remains unavailable during refurbishment, and Disney’s BoardWalk continues seeing major changes following the closure of Jellyrolls and the relocation of the Promenade Fine Art Gallery.
Even with all of this, Disney World probably feels more alive right now than it has in years.
There’s finally a sense that the resort is moving forward again instead of simply maintaining what already existed. The downside is that guests are experiencing all of this growth while construction is still happening almost everywhere.
That means your next Disney vacation could include incredible new experiences — but also cranes, blocked pathways, missing attractions, and a lot more walls than you may expect.
