At Walt Disney World Resort, exciting transformations are underway as several attractions undergo refurbishment, ensuring they remain safe and magical for years to come. This process is an essential part of Disney’s commitment to guest experience and attraction upkeep.
Currently, multiple attractions are temporarily unavailable. At Magic Kingdom, both Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Astro Orbiter are closed, while over at EPCOT, Test Track is receiving updates. Meanwhile, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is preparing for changes along Grand Avenue, including the retheme of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. And over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, some attractions have closed permanently, making way for new possibilities. With so many updates happening at once, what’s driving this transformation?
There are a couple of major factors at play. With Universal Orlando Resort preparing to debut its Epic Universe theme park, Disney has chosen to focus on refining its existing parks rather than announcing a fifth gate. Additionally, Disney Experiences (formerly Disney Parks, Experiences and Products) has been looking to deliver on concrete projects after past criticism over unfulfilled ‘blue sky’ concepts introduced at D23 Expo 2022.
Beyond major expansions and updates, Walt Disney World consistently maintains its attractions to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Recently, Disney offered a rare glimpse into this meticulous process. Fox 35 Orlando reported on the role of Disney Central Shops, where skilled engineers, mechanics, painters, and artists dedicate themselves to keeping attractions in peak condition.
Central Shops is where Disney engineers, mechanics, painters, and artists ensure rides, like the Mad Tea Party and Space Mountain, are safe and in tip-top shape,” the outlet reported. “After every 200,000 laps, which is about 3-5 years, each train of each ride at Walt Disney World is brought to Central Shops to be inspected, tested, repaired, and painted if needed.”
Director of Manufacturing Fredrick Cox Jr. shed light on just how thorough this process is. “We do that to help make sure that from a safety perspective, everything is functioning properly. That there are no indications, no cracks in the chassis, and there are no issues with the brakes,” Cox Jr. explained. “We do a complete teardown and do an entire rebuild, make it shiny, fix any kind of bodywork, any panels, and send it back out looking brand new.”
Each ride spends 12-18 weeks inside Central Shops, followed by two additional weeks of rigorous testing before reopening to guests.
In addition to permanent closures, the refurbishment list continues to include popular attractions such as Test Track at EPCOT and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Astro Orbiter, and The Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom. The latter has yet to reopen since the election of President Donald Trump, sparking speculation about potential changes to its presentation.
For Disney guests, these refurbishments may mean temporary closures, but they ultimately ensure that each attraction remains safe, immersive, and true to Disney’s high standards.
What do you think about Disney’s approach to attraction maintenance? Share your thoughts!
