
It seems like Disney theme parks just can’t escape the headlines lately, with closures and refurbishments continuing to make waves at their world-renowned resorts.
Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida are undisputedly two of the most popular theme park destinations in the world. Drawing millions of visitors annually, these parks have been delivering magic for generations. But in recent years, some of Disney’s decisions have sparked debate among fans and critics alike.
Right now, the biggest conversation revolves around the sweeping changes underway at Walt Disney World, with major projects at both Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
At Magic Kingdom, Frontierland is set to undergo a complete overhaul, making way for Pixar’s Cars franchise. This ambitious reimagining will see the removal of longtime attractions such as Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America, as confirmed by Disney Experiences. Over at Hollywood Studios, fans are preparing to bid farewell to Muppet*Vision 3D, which officially closes on June 7. The closure will pave the way for a new Monsters, Inc.-themed land coming to the park in the near future.
Meanwhile, Disneyland Resort isn’t facing changes quite as dramatic, but the park is far from immune to transformation. With the DisneylandForward initiative on the horizon and Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park set to double in size, the West Coast resort is gearing up for a new era.
However, it’s not just large-scale projects making headlines. Both U.S. Disney parks are dealing with numerous refurbishments and unexpected closures, some stretching well into the future. At Walt Disney World, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is closed through at least 2026. And now, Disneyland Park’s beloved “it’s a small world” has gone dark indefinitely.
Per the official Disneyland Resort website, “it’s a small world” is currently “closed for refurbishment,” with no specific reopening date listed. While not considered an e-ticket attraction, “it’s a small world” is a timeless classic that’s been part of Disneyland’s identity for decades. Its indefinite closure is sure to be met with disappointment from fans.
On top of that, “it’s a small world” is one of Disneyland’s highest-capacity rides, capable of handling over 3,000 guests per hour thanks to its efficient loading system. With the attraction out of operation, those thousands of guests will need to shift elsewhere in the park, potentially increasing crowd levels in already popular areas.
Adding to the frustration, this marks the second closure of “it’s a small world” in recent months. The ride was previously closed in September 2024, reopening briefly in November for the holiday season. And the closures don’t stop there—Disneyland’s Railroad and Monorail are also out of service, further limiting options for guests.
The Disney resorts are undoubtedly in a period of transformation, but the frequency and scale of these closures are making waves among fans.
How do you feel about “it’s a small world” closing indefinitely at Disneyland Park? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
I grew up in Southern Calif, about a 25 minute drive to Disneyland. Why are you going to close ” It’s a Small World, and don’t say times have changed its a different Era! That ride to me has to do with the children of every country of the world, and peace. I’m really ashamed of the “Fat Cats At The Top of The Corporate Ladder” also removing Frontier Land that was Walt’s vision and his design! Do you have any respect for the “Man” you work for, even if he has passed on. I shared the same birthday as Walt Disney Dec.5th and I am now 73 years of age and I always felt close to him even though we never met. As a kid my family visited every year, I became a teenager went there just to dance, as an adult with children of my own I took them to Disneyland even though we had moved to Arizona. I still have an old ticket book which were listed A through E tickets. No matter how things change Disneyland shouldn’t because everyone loves it the way it was!
Not having It’s a Small World, at Disneyland would be like having peanut butter without jelly! It’s a staple at Disneyland. I totally understand and agree with refurbishing but Disneyland and DisneyWorld are making so many changes, yes change is good but not all at once.
Keep the good ones!!!
It’s a small world has been the 1st ride I go on and the last ride I go on. I love Disneyland. I was born January 1956, Disneyland opened I July 1955, my 1st trip was 1957! I’m going for our 70th Birthdays. I hope It’s a small world is open by then!!
As an Annual Passholder from 2010 to 2022 I am appalled at the changes and closures at Disneyland. The magic is gone replaced with greed. Living in No. CA at an 8 hour drive I couldn’t wait to get to the park, going at least 4 times a year. My last visit was June of 2022 and I’m afraid to visit again because I know I’ll just be disappointed.
🙄That’s ENOUGH out of you! Stop talking asinine nonsense like that!!! The magic is NOT gone or replaced by greed at all!!! The magic is STILL there, and we’re going to make it stronger than ever by changing Disney for the better!!! And by that, I mean keeping the old attractions and bringing back Splash Mountain!
Stop being afraid to visit Disneyland!!! June 2022 is NOT your last visit, and it’ll never be your last visit. You’ll never be disappointed ever once you’ve seen the glorious positive changes we’ve made at Disney.
This ISN’T a joke whatsoever! This is a genuine promise!!!
I am from Montana and was able to take my 7 year old daughter to Disneyworld November 2024. The first ride we went on was “It’s a small world” . Love the ride and set our trip perfectly. Hope it reopens. Thankful it was open when we were there.
I love how everyone is freaking about It’s a Small World closing when it does this every year at this time so they can change it over from Christmas. This isn’t new and they usually don’t give an open date. This article is intentionally misleading by not mentioning the fact that this happens every year around this time. The author should be ashamed of themselves for lying.
Absolutely appalling. I was lucky enough to grow up around the corner from Disneyland, indeed knew walt personally. I was there the day Disneyland opened, attended the Park many times over the years, introduced it to my kids and grandkids, but never, ever again. They have declared war on Walt’s dreams and what he gave as a legacy of kindness, imagination, optimism and hope. After all the changes, I will not ever spend a single dime on anything Disney ever again. Sad……