The 2025 Disney World Updates Fans Overlooked
Disney World didn’t roll out one massive announcement in 2025 that dominated headlines. Instead, it quietly adjusted the parks piece by piece. Changes that occurred during crowded seasons were incorporated into routine updates or unfolded through phased closures. By the time many guests took notice, entire areas were already gone, and brand-new experiences had taken their place.
That’s what set 2025 apart. Disney wasn’t teasing what might come someday. It actively reshaped the resort in real time. If you weren’t tracking every update, it was easy to miss just how much had changed.
Closures That Reshaped Hollywood Studios
Some of the most significant shifts came from closures that didn’t always feel dramatic in the moment.
Muppets Courtyard quietly closed on June 8, 2025, ending a long run for one of Hollywood Studios’ quirkiest corners. Anchored by MuppetVision 3D and themed dining, the area shut down to make way for Monstropolis, signaling a complete creative reset rather than a temporary pause.
Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster showed signs of what’s next. In early December 2025, its preshow stopped playing altogether. Disney didn’t make a significant announcement, but the missing preshow confirmed preparations for the attraction’s upcoming Muppets retheme, even as the ride itself continued operating.
Hollywood Studios continued its transformation with the closure of Animation Courtyard, Star Wars Launch Bay, and Disney Junior Play and Dance!. Disney confirmed the space will return as The Walt Disney Studios, featuring Magic of Disney Animation and the Drawn to Wonderland playground.
Other Disney World Shutdowns
Magic Kingdom also saw a major turning point on July 7, 2025. Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Bell Riverboat are permanently closed, clearing space for Piston Peak. The move marked the end of one of the park’s most relaxed experiences and opened the door to a bold new land inspired by Planes: Fire & Rescue.
At Animal Kingdom, change arrived in phases. DinoLand U.S.A. began closing section by section in January 2025. While some areas lingered, Disney confirmed that the land’s final chapter arrives in 2026. DINOSAUR and Restaurantosaurus will close on February 2, 2026, officially marking the end of the area as Pueblo Esperanza prepares to take over with themes from Encanto and Indiana Jones.
Openings That Blew Away Fans
While closures grabbed attention, Disney quietly introduced several new experiences.
The Beak and Barrel opened on August 29, 2025, bringing a richly themed dining location that leaned heavily on storytelling rather than splashy promotion.
EPCOT welcomed back Test Track on July 22, 2025, unveiling a reimagined version that refreshed the ride’s visuals and flow. The park also added Geo-82 on June 4, 2025, offering a calmer lounge experience that quickly became a favorite escape.
Entertainment expanded, too. Disney Villains Unfairly Ever After debuted on May 27, 2025, followed the same day by The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure. Both shows added fresh energy to Hollywood Studios. Then, on July 20, 2025, the Disney Starlight parade finally arrived at Magic Kingdom, giving nighttime entertainment a significant boost.
Animal Kingdom closed the year with Zootopia Better Zoogether, which replaced It’s Tough to Be a Bug inside the Tree of Life in November 2025.
Disney News Beyond Walt Disney World
Outside Florida, Disney’s momentum continued. Disneyland marked its 70th anniversary on July 17, 2025, with celebrations that began in May and will run through August 9, 2026. Walt Disney: A Magical Life also opened to celebrate the anniversary, offering a tribute to Walt himself.
Disney also announced a brand-new theme park coming to Abu Dhabi and revealed a next-generation Olaf robotic character in Disneyland Paris, with plans for it to appear in Hong Kong as well.
A Year That Quietly Changed Everything
2025 didn’t rely on spectacle. It relied on motion. Disney cleared space, introduced new offerings, and laid the foundations that will shape the parks for years to come. Many of the biggest changes have occurred without much fanfare — but their impact is already impossible to ignore.
