If you’re planning a trip to Disney World soon, you may want to double-check what’s currently off-limits. Between ride refurbishments, permanent closures, and full land transformations, guests are arriving to find several favorites simply unavailable—and that’s having a ripple effect across the parks.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is temporarily closed for a major refurbishment, not set to return until spring 2026. That alone would shift crowd patterns in Magic Kingdom, but it doesn’t stop there. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is also down until next year, and the entire Rivers of America section—including Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat—is permanently closed to make way for the new Piston Peak area.
That’s a lot of guest traffic that no longer has its usual outlets, which means other parts of the park are more crowded than usual. Attractions that don’t normally get slammed with long wait times—like Carousel of Progress or Enchanted Tiki Room—are suddenly the go-to fallback for guests who need something to do.
Over at Animal Kingdom, the overhaul of DinoLand U.S.A. is well underway. Several attractions have already shut down permanently, including TriceraTop Spin and Fossil Fun Games, with even more closures scheduled soon. Harambe Market and Kali River Rapids are temporarily down too, which leaves fewer food and ride options to keep guests moving throughout the park.
Hollywood Studios is in a similar situation. The entire Animation Courtyard is blocked off for construction, MuppetVision 3D* is gone, and Vacation Fun is currently unavailable. With fewer indoor shows and low-key activities open, families are crowding into attractions like Alien Swirling Saucers and Walt Disney Presents, which weren’t meant to carry that kind of load.
When so many experiences are offline, it changes the rhythm of a Disney day. Lightning Lanes run out faster, standby lines swell, and some guests leave feeling like they didn’t get to do much. All this is building toward an exciting 2026, sure—but for now, it means a little more patience (and flexibility) goes a long way.
