Three trip closures at the moment are underway at Walt Disney World, all having their final day of operations yesterday and now starting multi-month (or year-plus!) initiatives right now, January 6, 2025. And much more sights are briefly or completely closing later this month, later this 12 months.
What’s coated under might be the ultimate slate of Winter 2025 closures, however count on to see much more initiatives added to the 2025 Walt Disney World Refurbishment Calendar. Prior to now, these would’ve been principally confined to January by way of early March and August by way of September. Nevertheless, the previous is now pretty busy and different instances of 12 months have slowed down comparatively–so extra initiatives from Might during September wouldn’t be in the least stunning. Not solely that, however prolonged closures are going to embody a number of seasons, slower and busier instances.
As we’ve identified on a number of events, there was loads of deferred upkeep and proportionately fewer closures in the previous few years as a result of pent-up demand and price range cuts. Walt Disney World additionally misplaced loads of seasoned upkeep Forged Members through the closure, a lot of whom took early retirement or just didn’t return.
That is exactly why “Upkeep & Sudden Downtime” made the record of Prime 10 Visitor Complaints About Walt Disney World! Journey breakdowns stay a problem and, in our view, these surprising closures are worse than routine refurbishments as a result of you possibly can’t plan round them. In our view, it’s excellent news that many refurbishments at the moment are being scheduled concurrently, even when it does include the short-term ache of a number of main rides down throughout upcoming holidays.
In any case, simply wished to start out with a fast ‘heads up’ that Walt Disney World has a backlog of postponed initiatives from the previous few years. A number of sights are overdue for refurbishments and can most likely get them in 2025 or 2026–the tough factor might be timing to keep away from having too many “huge” rides down in every park. It’ll assist that pent-up demand is exhausted, staffing has improved, and the cash spigot in Burbank has been turned on for Parks & Resorts, permitting for extra initiatives of this nature to (lastly!) occur.
Right here’s what’s already closed as of January 6, 2025…and what else is on the horizon within the subsequent couple of weeks…
Kali River Rapids
Let’s begin in Animal Kingdom, the place Kali River Rapids has briefly closed for a routine refurbishment identical to it does each single winter. I can’t bear in mind the final time Kali River Rapids did not shut in January. I’m actually stunned Walt Disney World doesn’t pencil this into the calendar earlier as a visitor courtesy.
As at all times, that is as a lot as story of low-demand as a result of climate and crowds as it’s wanted upkeep. This being a “rip-roaring river raft trip” coupled with present excessive temperatures struggling to interrupt out of the 50s ought to inform you all the things you have to know.
Kali River Rapids is at the moment scheduled to reopen in March 2025, with no particular date set. What’s regular right here is for Kali River Rapids to reopen in mid-March on the newest, and forward of schedule if climate permits and demand dictates. The climate normally cooperates, and Kali River Rapids finally ends up reopening in early March–a few weeks forward of schedule.
With Dino-Rama completely closing, it wouldn’t be stunning to see Kali River Rapids returning as early as Presidents Day weekend. Once more, it comes down as to whether the climate is sufficiently good. We had been simply in DCA for New 12 months’s Eve and Grizzly River Run had a 5-minute wait all day lengthy (as lengthy headliners posted triple digits) as a result of it was just too chilly for a rapids trip. Animal Kingdom doesn’t have sufficient to do, however they’re not going to reopen Kali River Rapids in 50-degree temperatures. So it actually comes right down to the prolonged climate forecast. That’s roughly what dictates when this trip reopens.
Gran Fiesta Tour
Over at EPCOT, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros has closed for a brief closure as of January 6, 2025. In keeping with the corporate’s calendar, the boat trip is at the moment anticipated to reopen by March 15, 2025.
In fact, refurbishments are at all times topic to vary, so Gran Fiesta Tour may reopen earlier or later. The present timeline means that the aim is to have it again in the direction of the start of the 2025 EPCOT Flower & Backyard Competition and begin of the Spring Break season. That is sensible, and the capability is required within the Mexico pavilion in March and April.
Each signal factors to Gran Fiesta Tour merely getting some TLC and crucial upkeep throughout this multi-month closure. Though there’s been hypothesis of a trip reimagining, there’s a couple of .001% probability of that taking place throughout this temporary (within the grand scheme of issues) closure. It’s most likely extra about protecting the attraction wanting nice.
Nevertheless, this Gran Fiesta Tour refurbishment may be laying the groundwork for a future reimagining (see the final two years of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster closures for routine upkeep within the lead-up to a reimagining that was lastly introduced). As with RnRC earlier than it, we expect one thing will occur right here finally–and we take a deeper dive into that matter in Is a Coco Boat Journey Coming to EPCOT?
Large Thunder Mountain Railroad
There are a number of main and minor initiatives now underway or beginning quickly in Magic Kingdom. The most important is that Large Thunder Mountain Railroad is now closed for refurbishment as of January 6, 2025. In keeping with Walt Disney World, the wildest trip within the wilderness is deliberate to reopen in 2026 with somewhat bit of latest magic.
That’s all that’s been formally introduced in regards to the Large Thunder Mountain Railroad closure, however we all know there are loads of shifting elements to this reimagining, which had been rumored for over 6 months earlier than being formally confirmed by the corporate. There’s additionally lots we will glean from development permits (plural) which have already been filed, and the presence of an unlimited crane behind the attraction that towers over Frontierland.
Primarily based on earlier rumors and contractors listed on permits, Large Thunder Mountain Railroad wants a major refurbishment involving substantial work on the trip system and an entire retracking. This long-planned venture is considered as preventative work that’s essential to increase the helpful lifetime of the curler coaster, making certain the trip’s longevity and operational standing for many years to come back. Therefore the crane–it’s there to take away outdated observe and substitute it with new observe (must be enjoyable to look at!).
There are much more shifting elements to this, together with how the BTMRR closure pertains to the Rivers of America alternative, pathway development connecting this aspect of Frontierland to Haunted Mansion, and work starting on Vehicles and Villains Lands. There’s additionally the matter of a reopening date in 2026. For all of that and extra, see Large Thunder Mountain Railroad Closed for Refurbishment at Magic Kingdom Till 2026!
Astro Orbiter
Subsequent up in Magic Kingdom is Astro Orbiter. This Tomorrowland spinner might be briefly closed for refurbishment starting January 13, 2025, and is deliberate to reopen in the summertime of 2025.
Astro Orbiter might be closed for 6-8 months, with a reopening possible someday between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It is also shortened or prolonged based mostly on the scope of the work, which is presently unknown. Disney may very well be engaged on the elevators, queue, or trip system itself.
This attraction goes down about as soon as per decade for a closure of this length, which normally consists of disassembling, servicing, and rebuilding the spinner. It additionally sometimes will get a contemporary coloration scheme and new lighting results, however nothing that materially alters the attraction. The identical venture was simply performed final 12 months at Disneyland. We wouldn’t count on an extension of this one until it does contain the elevators, that are at all times a wildcard.
Corridor of Presidents
Walt Disney World has introduced that Corridor of Presidents will go down for refurbishment beginning on January 20, 2025 and is predicted to reopen later in 2025. For many who are questioning, that is customary, and exactly what we predicted would occur. (See our standalone publish in regards to the Corridor of Presidents closure, which has been up to date to debunk reimagining rumors (for now).
In concept, Imagineering may take the simplest choice, reusing each the prevailing Trump Audio Animatronics determine and dialogue. This could primarily imply ‘restoring’ the present to its pre-2020 standing (nicely, plus Biden, who will clearly be moved from center-stage). If that is the end result, you possibly can count on the closure to be considerably shorter than final time. Walt Disney World may theoretically do a fast refurbishment, having the attraction closed for a month or maybe much less.
All of that is in concept as a result of Walt Disney World would possibly choose to go a budget route and maintain Corridor of Presidents closed longer to avoid wasting working bills. Corridor of Presidents isn’t precisely a marketable draw, which means it’s not “wanted” whereas different sights are closed to assist take in crowds. Disney stating that Corridor of Presidents is “anticipated to reopen later in 2025” as a substitute of offering a selected date–and even season–suggests they could draw it out to economize.
Level being, don’t assume that simply because this may have a faster turnaround time that it truly will. At any time when Corridor of Presidents does reopen, it’ll most likely be pretty uneventful. There received’t be something new, per se, to publicize when Trump resumes his talking position and the attraction has develop into divisive no matter who’s entrance and middle.
Dino-Rama
Dino-Rama and Dinoland USA will start their phased everlasting closures, beginning with the next in Winter 2025:
- TriceraTop Spin – Closed completely beginning January 13, 2025
- Fossil Enjoyable Video games – Closed completely beginning January 13, 2025
- Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures – Closed completely beginning January 13, 2025
The final day to expertise this trip and different choices might be January 12, 2025. Building partitions for the reimagining to Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom will go up in a single day and be seen to visitors on January 13, 2025.
The Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, Dino-Chunk Snacks, Trilo-Bites, and DINOSAUR will keep open for now in line with Walt Disney World.
Walt Disney World has individually confirmed that visitors have “by way of 2025 to go get that dino…earlier than extinction” indicating that DINOSAUR won’t shut till someday in 2026. Our expectation is that the trip closes in early January 2026, just like the above timelines, with the aim of protecting it open by way of the vacation season rush.
It stands to purpose that the identical might be true of the Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, and possibly Trilo-Bites. These don’t essentially want to shut earlier. Given their areas and the turnaround time wanted to reimagine or substitute them, they might even keep open a bit longer than DINOSAUR.
It’ll come right down to what is sensible from a capability and crowd-absorbing perspective. With DINOSAUR closed, will visitors actually be venturing to this dead-end nook of the park? Even with DINOSAUR open, it’s doable that demand drops to the purpose that Walt Disney World opts to shut the play space or eating choices earlier. Once more, it is a firm huge on saving working bills at any time when doable.
Blizzard Seashore
Not on any official record, however Blizzard Seashore has already had its first closure of 2025, with at the least two extra on the horizon. Walt Disney World has up to date its calendar to point that Blizzard Seashore might be closed January 7-8, 2025.
That is nothing out of the extraordinary. Walt Disney World’s water parks routinely shut through the winter months when the every day excessive temperatures don’t break the 60 diploma barrier. It’s the very same story right here as with the Kali River Rapids closure–lack of demand. (I nonetheless bear in mind one chilly winter day when my household visited Blizzard Seashore within the 90s, pondering we may “deal with” it since we’re Michiganders. Suffice to say, Blizzard Seashore actually felt on-theme that day, and was completely devoid of crowds. I had a blast, however I used to be a child—I’m positive it might’ve been depressing as an grownup.)
Anyway, we don’t usually report on Blizzard Seashore closures as a result of it’s mainly simply reporting on the climate. And Central Florida together with many of the nation are within the midst of a chilly entrance proper now. Day by day lows in Bay Lake might be within the 40s (minus Friday) by way of January 18, 2025. It’s totally doable that Blizzard Seashore may very well be closed for 8 consecutive days, and 10 out of the subsequent 11 days.
That’s a giant deal by itself, but it surely’s much more vital given Walt Disney World providing free water park admission in your check-in day in 2025. In case you dig into the positive print, Walt Disney World makes clear that this perk is topic to the water parks being closed as a result of climate, and that “no refund or credit score given for any such adjustments or cancellation. Park admission and choices should not assured.”
From that, it appears fairly clear that visitors arriving on days when the water parks are closed as a result of climate are merely out of luck. I’m nonetheless curious as as to whether Walt Disney World will provide any visitor restoration choices for many who are impacted by this and plan their journeys round it. As an example, is Walt Disney World merely going to throw its palms up and say “powerful break!” to a household that books a redeye flight to reap the benefits of this free water park day? This perk is already very restricted in its utility as a result of realities of flight instances and water park hours, so having no restoration choice could be a nasty look.
For no matter it’s value, the positive print typically says issues like this and Walt Disney World’s unofficial coverage is way more versatile. So should you’re one of many uncommon households that’s planning your journey across the water park day, I’d completely suggest inquiring about various choices. I’m not likely positive what the perfect plan of action is since that is model new and unprecedented, however I’d most likely contact Disney as quickly because the closure hits the calendar (earlier than touring). Failing that, asking Forged Members on the entrance desk of your resort upon arrival is an alternative choice, as is inquiring at Visitor Relations. As at all times, you catch extra flies with honey, so be well mannered–and ensure to clarify the way you purposefully deliberate round utilizing the perk.
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Your Ideas
What do you consider Walt Disney World closing so many sights abruptly? Are you keen to “sacrifice” using sights in your subsequent Walt Disney World trip if it means trip refurbishments and reimaginings that enhance the visitor expertise? Or would you like unreliable rides in poor form, however which are truly open (or at the least, scheduled to be)? Do you agree or disagree with my evaluation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
