Disney World refurbishments happen all the time. Things are often cleaned after hours or overnight. Occasionally rides need to close for bigger maintenance needs or to be reimagined. When you visit during the year will determine what attractions are open to enjoy. Disney is pretty great about sharing planned closures well in advance to help you plan for your best trip. Additionally, unplanned repairs need to be made in a timely manner and rides sometimes close for a day or more without advance notice. For 2025, we already know of quite a few closures. Some of the refurbishments are on favorite attractions and for a long time. What rides are down at Disney World on my visit? Here’s what we know so far. Additional attraction closures and refurbishments can be announced at any time. Sometimes, rides open sooner than planned which is nice.
Disney World Refurbishment Schedule 2025
What Rides are Down for Refurbishment at Disney World?
Based on what Disney has shared, we know the following attraction closure dates. Sometimes a reopening date is shared. Other times, it’s contingent on how long Disney World refurbishments take to complete.
Test Track reopens in the summer of 2025
This attraction is currently closed and will reopen in the summer of 2025. This is the third imagining of Test Track and the brand partnership is returning to General Motors.
The Disney Skyliner usually closes in January for an annual refurbishment
Every year since it opened at Walt Disney World Resort, the Disney Skyliner has closed in mid to late January for a planned refurbishment. However, a 2025 closure has not yet been announced.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is closed for refurbishment nearly all of 2025
We know Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is down for refurbishment from January 6th, 2025 until some time in 2026.
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros has an early 2025 refurbishment
The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros is down for refurbishment early in the year from January 6th through an anticipated March 15th.
Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom closes for annual refurbishment
We see this happen around the same time every year. Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is down from January 6th, 2025 through some time in March of the same year.
Astro Orbiter at Magic Kingdom down for refurbishment first half of 2025
Disney says the Astro Orbiter will be temporarily down for refurbishment beginning January 13th, 2025. It’s reopens in the summer of 2025.
Do Disney rides change after refurbishment?
How a ride is changed during a refurbishment varies quite a bit. Some rides will reopen freshly painted, with other elements refreshed but mostly looking like an updated version of itself. Most attractions have some sort of refresh like this every few years. Many have small maintenance issues fixed overnight without closing for guests during the day.
Other times, attractions have new scenes or characters added. Pirates of the Caribbean adding Johnny Depp’s character Captain Jack is a great example of this. When Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens we may see some enhancements. We know when Rock n Roller Coaster closes in the future it will return with The Muppets added instead of Aerosmith.
What rides at Disney World are going away?
Aside from rides closing temporarily for refurbishment, there are actually some attractions going away forever. It’s always a bummer when something you love permanently closes. Sometimes the excitement of what’s replacing it can soften the feelings.
While we don’t have closing dates for all of the following attractions, Disney has announced they will close to make way for new experiences.
- TriceraTop Spin at Disney’s Animal Kingdom closes permanently starting January 13th, 2025
- It’s Tough to be a Bug! at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Dinosaur at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Muppet Vision 3D at Hollywood Studios
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Hollywood Studios
- Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom
- Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom
For a full list of upcoming ride and attraction closures see our full post on the topic:What’s closing at Disney World in 2025?
Disney Vacation Club Resort Refurbishment Schedule
In addition to this Disney World ride refurbishment overview, you may want to see our DVC resort refurbishment schedule to keep up with resort construction.
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