Disney World Just Revealed 6 Official Closures Across the Parks for 2026

Disney World has put six closures on the radar for 2026, and they’re not the kind you can shrug off. Some are short-term disruptions. Some reshape entire corners of a park. And a few sit in that gray area where the goodbye stings now, but the return could feel like a win later.

Instead of being surprised mid-trip, it helps to know exactly where the gaps will be. Because once you map these out, you start to see the bigger picture: Disney isn’t just refreshing a ride or two. It’s shifting the feel of multiple lands at the same time.

Frontierland’s Missing Mountain

If your group treats Big Thunder Mountain Railroad like a tradition, this is the big one. The coaster has been closed since January 6, 2025, and Disney has said it won’t return until sometime in spring 2026. That’s a long stretch without one of Magic Kingdom’s most reliable crowd-eaters.

Disney hasn’t framed this as a quick fix either. They’ve positioned it as a major refurbishment, and they’ve teased “a little bit of new magic” when the attraction comes back. That line matters because it suggests more than basic repairs. Even without specifics, you can tell they want the reopening to feel like an event.

And this closure doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Frontierland is already bracing for a different look and flow with construction tied to Piston Peak and other nearby projects. So even after Big Thunder returns, it may sit inside a Frontierland that feels changed.

Animal Kingdom’s Temporary Goodbye With a Big Payoff

Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Rafiki’s Planet Watch is preparing for a shift that will land differently for each household. The area will close on February 23, 2026, as Disney gets ready to bring a Bluey experience to Conservation Station in summer 2026.

Disney has already hinted at the vibe: kids will get to interact with Bluey and Bingo, move around, dance, and jump into “Keepy Uppy” fun. That’s a clear signal that this won’t be a passive meet-and-greet. It’s meant to be something families build time around.

But first comes the downtime. With Conservation Station unavailable starting February 23, anyone who had Rafiki’s Planet Watch on their checklist needs to plan around that date, especially if the petting zoo and veterinary viewing windows were part of the day.

Tomorrowland’s Shooter Ride Gets Rebuilt

Magic Kingdom also has a major missing piece in Tomorrowland. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has been down since August 4, 2025, and Disney expects it to stay closed through spring 2026.

The upside is the scope. Disney is rebuilding the experience in a way that sounds like a true overhaul, not a patch job. The updated version will add a new character named Buddy, redesigned star cruisers with onboard video monitors, handheld blasters, interactive targets, and a new opening scene that changes how the story begins.

That’s a big list, and it points to a ride that may feel noticeably different when it returns. Until then, though, families planning a Magic Kingdom day before spring 2026 should treat it as entirely off the board.

DinoLand Is Done, and the Future Is Taking Over

Now for the permanent change: DinoLand U.S.A. is officially gone. DINOSAUR closed permanently on February 2, 2026, and Restaurantosaurus closed the same day. Disney is clearing the entire area to make room for Pueblo Esperanza.

This new 11-acre site will feature attractions themed to Indiana Jones and Encanto, a large quick-service restaurant, a carousel, and a central fountain that anchors the space. Disney has said the land will open in 2027, which makes the loss feel a little easier to process—eventually.

Still, if DINOSAUR was your must-do, the window has closed. Animal Kingdom looks and feels different without that whole corner operating.

Hollywood Studios Says Goodbye, Then Changes the Playlist

Hollywood Studios is also closing a chapter. Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith will close on March 2, 2026, which makes March 1 the final day to ride it in its current form.

Disney isn’t removing the coaster entirely. It’s retheming it into Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets, set to open in summer 2026. The Electric Mayhem takes over G-Force Records, Scooter’s uncle J.P. Grosse plays into the story, and Disney has teased a first-of-its-kind Muppet animatronic. The bones stay, but the identity shifts.

A Quiet Closure That Still Matters

Finally, Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Storybook Circus has been closed since January 4, 2026, and Disney hasn’t listed a reopening date through at least April 19. The good news is that the characters haven’t vanished. Guests have spotted them meeting around Storybook Circus, often paired up, and that tucked-away location tends to keep lines reasonable.

Still, losing the dedicated indoor meet-and-greet changes the rhythm for character-focused families.

What These Closures Mean for Planning

Put all six together, and the takeaway is simple: 2026 isn’t a “business as usual” year. Magic Kingdom is missing major pieces in two lands. Animal Kingdom is clearing an entire area as it builds toward something new. Hollywood Studios is swapping out a coaster identity. And even smaller closures can ripple through a day if they are part of your personal tradition.

If you’re booking a trip, treat these like deal-breaker checks before you pick your dates. Because the best plan in 2026 is the one that expects change and still feels fun anyway.