Walt Disney World guests have watched several familiar experiences disappear throughout 2026, and the resort isn’t finished saying goodbye to longtime favorites.
Between major attraction replacements, ongoing construction, and changes to entertainment offerings, Disney World looks noticeably different than it did at the beginning of the year.
Some closures have made headlines because they involve popular theme park rides. Others have received less attention, even though they affect experiences that returning visitors have enjoyed for years.
Now, two more Disney World offerings have officially ended their public operations, adding to an already lengthy list of departures.
And while these closures might not affect everyone’s vacation plans, they’re another example of how Disney continues reshaping the resort ahead of 2027.
Disney Loses Another Familiar Location
Disney Springs has experienced several business closures throughout 2026, and one of its more unusual snack offerings has officially disappeared.
Sunshine Churros permanently closed both of its Disney Springs stands following its final operating day on September 5, 2026.
The business offered more than traditional cinnamon-sugar churros. Guests could purchase specialty creations featuring unexpected flavors, including Pop Rocks and Dubai chocolate.
Sunshine Churros also kept its menu interesting with a Churro of the Month promotion, introducing rotating selections that gave returning visitors something new to try.
For guests spending an afternoon shopping or exploring Disney Springs, the stands offered a convenient place to grab something sweet without stopping for a full meal.
Unfortunately, neither location remains open.
That doesn’t mean Disney World has stopped selling churros. Visitors can still find the popular snack elsewhere around the resort, although Sunshine Churros’ specialty offerings are no longer available at those former locations.
The closures also follow several other departures from Disney Springs.
Shore, Sprinkles, and Francesca’s have all closed during 2026, leaving returning visitors with fewer familiar businesses to explore.
However, Disney Springs isn’t the only destination outside the theme parks experiencing permanent changes.
A Longtime Tradition Comes to an End
Another major departure involves Atlantic Dance Hall, a familiar entertainment destination at Disney’s BoardWalk.
The nightclub welcomed guests for years, offering adults a place to enjoy music, dancing, and late-night entertainment after leaving the theme parks.
But that experience has officially ended.
Atlantic Dance Hall held its final night of regular public operations on September 27, 2026, permanently closing its nightclub experience to general visitors.
Guests can no longer walk into the venue for an evening of dancing, and Disney hasn’t announced plans to restore regular public nightlife there.
However, there’s an important distinction between the nightclub’s closure and what happens to the building itself.
Beginning October 1, Disney made Atlantic Dance Hall available for private functions through Disney Meetings & Events and Disney Fairy Tale Weddings.
That means private events can still take place inside the building, even though ordinary visitors no longer have access to its former nightlife experience.
The BoardWalk has also welcomed another entertainment offering.
Hurly-Burly Lounge opened earlier in October inside the former Jellyrolls location, providing guests with another option for evening entertainment.
Still, the new lounge doesn’t bring back Atlantic Dance Hall’s dance-floor experience.
For guests who enjoyed spending their evenings there, the public nightclub’s permanent closure ends a familiar Disney World tradition.
The Closures Are Part of a Much Bigger Picture
These departures follow several significant changes inside Walt Disney World’s theme parks.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith permanently ended its original run in March 2026.
The attraction first opened in 1999, but Disney replaced its Aerosmith theme with a new Muppets-inspired experience.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets keeps the familiar ride system while introducing new characters, music, and themed elements.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom also lost DINOSAUR in February 2026.
The attraction originally opened in 1998 as Countdown to Extinction. Disney is now transforming the experience into Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent as part of the Tropical Americas expansion.
Meanwhile, Magic Kingdom’s Carousel of Progress closed in July for an extensive reimagining.
Unlike the other permanent departures, this attraction is expected to reopen in late spring 2027 with updated scenes and a Walt Disney animatronic.
More Disney World Changes Are Coming
With 2027 approaching, Disney World guests have plenty of reasons to check attraction and entertainment availability before their vacations.
Atlantic Dance Hall and Sunshine Churros offered very different experiences, but both contributed to the resort’s variety beyond its four theme parks.
Their closures show that Disney World’s transformation reaches well beyond major rides and construction projects.
And as Disney continues preparing new experiences, visitors should expect even more differences between the resort they remember and the one they’ll discover on their next trip.
