Disney motion pictures at all times have a contented ending, however you’ll be able to’t get to the “fortunately ever after” with out some wrestle, battle and heartache. Like its beloved movies, Walt Disney World’s present enlargement plan follows an identical storyline.
In August 2024, Disney introduced a slew of recent points of interest coming to all 4 of its Orlando theme parks. They embrace a “Zootopia”-based attraction coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a “Automobiles”-themed land coming to the Magic Kingdom and a “Monsters, Inc.”-themed land coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
It feels like a fairy story to me, however the pleasure of racing alongside Lightning McQueen and visiting a real-life model of Monstropolis comes at a worth.
Disney World is closing a number of in style points of interest to make approach for its subsequent iteration. If one in all your favourite rides is on this record, it is best to make it a degree to pay your respects in your subsequent go to earlier than they shut for good.
‘It is Robust to be a Bug!’
Disney introduced in 2023 that “It is Robust to be a Bug!” would get a “Zootopia” retheme. Nevertheless, it solely just lately introduced an actual closure date for the 4D film based mostly on 1998’s “A Bug’s Life,” which performs a number of instances every day inside Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life.
The movie might be changed by Zootopia: Higher Zoogether! within the winter of 2025-2026. Zootopia: Higher Zoogether! will function fan-favorite characters like Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and Officer Clawhauser, possible in an identical 3D film format with particular results that make the present much more participating.
To make approach for the brand new attraction, “It is Robust to be a Bug!” will shut completely March 17. Due to this fact, March 16 is your final probability to expertise this fun-loving movie.
Dinosaur
The closure of a experience named Dinosaur brings to thoughts so many extinction puns that I do not even know the place to begin. So, I am going to lower to the chase. Dinosaur — together with the remainder of DinoLand U.S.A. in Disney’s Animal Kingdom — goes the best way of the dodo as Disney prepares to construct out a Tropical Americas-themed land as a replacement.
DinoLand U.S.A. is already within the midst of a phased closure. Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, TriceraTop Spin and the Fossil Enjoyable Video games carnival recreation space closed in January, with solely Dinosaur, a handful of eating areas and a dig-site-themed outside play space remaining open.
Day by day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day e-newsletter
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
The brand new Tropical Americas space will function two anchor points of interest: one themed to “Encanto” and one other designed to imitate one in all Indiana Jones’ many adventures. The latter will ultimately substitute Dinosaur.
Disney held an official groundbreaking ceremony for the Tropical Americas part of Animal Kingdom on Jan. 17, and behind-the-scenes development is already underway. Disney has but to launch an actual closure date for Dinosaur, however with an anticipated 2027 opening, it is prone to shut on the finish of this yr.
When Disney World revealed every little thing new coming to the parks this yr, they shared that Dinosaur might be out there “by 2025” and that this might be your “final probability” to experience. So, if in case you have a 2025 journey on the calendar, chances are you’ll need to pay a go to to Animal Kingdom earlier than this experience goes extinct.
Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D
At this yr’s Disney Experiences Showcase in the course of the biannual D23: The Final Disney Fan Occasion in Anaheim, California, Disney introduced {that a} “Monsters, Inc.”-themed land was being deliberate for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Eagle-eyed followers knew it might possible be entering into one in all two locations: Animation Courtyard (dwelling to Star Wars Launch Bay) or Muppets Courtyard.
To the collective dismay of Muppets followers the world over, Monstropolis is changing the park’s Muppets-themed space and shuttering Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D.
Sights come and go, however this specific one was beloved for greater than its slapstick comedy gags; it was one of many ultimate initiatives that Muppets creator Jim Henson labored on earlier than he died in 1990. Disney mentioned in a weblog put up that it was “exploring methods to protect the movie and different components of the expertise for followers to take pleasure in sooner or later,” however it’s unclear at this level what that may imply.
June 7 is formally the final day to observe Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D and its “wonderful three-hour finale” earlier than it closes completely June 8 for the forthcoming “Monsters, Inc.” land. Development on the brand new land is slated to start later this yr.
Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster
As a part of the announcement concerning the Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D closure, Disney shared that the Muppets weren’t transferring out of Hollywood Studios for good. Relatively, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and their pals are relocating to Sundown Boulevard.
The Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster experience at present options music and a storyline based mostly on the band Aerosmith, however their residency is coming to an finish. The Muppets will quickly take over Disney World’s solely upside-down curler coaster.
Disney has not revealed an actual closure date for Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster in its present type, however with Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D’s imminent demise, this can be your ultimate yr to experience alongside in an excellent stretch limo with Aerosmith.
Liberty Sq. Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island
Radiator Springs is making a everlasting pit cease on the Magic Kingdom. The “Automobiles”-themed space will convey two new points of interest to Frontierland: One is an exhilarating rally race, and the opposite is geared towards younger roadsters.
To clear house for the brand new rides, Disney is bulldozing a big swath of Frontierland that encompasses a number of longtime points of interest. In an August 2024 weblog put up, Disney shared that the Rivers of America space — dwelling to the Liberty Sq. Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island — might be “remodeled into huge and rugged terrains for a rally race with a number of the world’s most iconic racers.”
Development on this new space is slated to start this yr. Whereas Disney hasn’t but launched an actual closure date for the Liberty Sq. Riverboat or Tom Sawyer Island, there is a respectable probability this yr could possibly be your final probability to expertise these two basic points of interest.
Disney did acknowledge within the weblog put up that it understands friends’ want to say goodbye to those points of interest. It mentioned that “friends may have loads of time to expertise the allure and nostalgia of Frontierland as it’s at this time” earlier than the development tools strikes in. Control the Disney Parks weblog and TPG for extra particulars as they turn out to be out there.
Backside line
I am past enthusiastic about every little thing new that may occur within the subsequent few years at Walt Disney World, however that does not make the lack of a few of my longtime favourite rides sting any much less.
A lot of my subsequent Disney World journey will embrace visits to the points of interest on this record in order that I can experience one final time earlier than all I’ve are reminiscences. In the event you do not have already got a visit on the books this yr, the tales beneath may help you propose your farewell tour of those soon-to-close rides.
Associated studying:
