Summary
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom closes in 2025 for Villains-themed land construction.
- Test Track at Epcot undergoes refurbishment, set to reopen in late summer 2025.
- The Red Car Trolley at Disney California Adventure to end operations on February 9, 2025, due to Avengers Campus expansion.
Few things are more disappointing than anticipating a specific Disney attraction, only to find it closed upon arrival. Not all Disneyland and Disney World closures are planned, as attractions may shut down unexpectedly for various reasons. Regular maintenance is essential to ensure the parks continue to operate smoothly, and cast members should not be blamed for these necessary interruptions.
Magic Kingdom (Walt Disney World)
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is set to close for an extended refurbishment starting January 6, 2025, with plans to reopen in 2026. This is likely due to the construction relating to the new Villains-themed land coming to Magic Kingdom. Earlier this summer, Walt Disney World Resort officially announced the highly-anticipated Villains Land, and new details about the exciting addition have recently emerged. At a recent event in Brazil, Disney unveiled the lineup of villains set to feature in the new area, showcasing a magical blend of characters from beloved classics and more recent films.
Epcot (Walt Disney World)
Test Track is currently closed for refurbishment and is expected to reopen in late summer 2025. Additionally, the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros will undergo a refurbishment from January 6 to March 15, 2025, before welcoming guests again in the spring. Meanwhile, the popular show ¡Celebración Encanto!, originally scheduled to close in September 2024, has been extended through winter 2025.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The iconic Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is set to undergo a re-theme featuring The Muppets, with the exact date yet to be announced. Additionally, Muppets Courtyard will permanently close to make way for a brand-new Monsters, Inc.-themed land, though the timeline for this transformation has not yet been revealed.
Disney has also announced that The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure will officially replace Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Originally slated for a fall 2024 debut, the opening has been postponed to summer 2025. Joining it that summer will be a new Disney Villains stage show, set to take over the space previously occupied by the now-permanently closed Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Walt Disney World)
The last day to experience TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be January 12, 2025. Starting January 13, construction walls for the Tropical Americas-themed area will go up. While DINOSAUR will remain open throughout 2025, other nearby attractions like The Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, Dino-Bite Snacks, and Trilo-Bites will continue to operate for the time being.
Disneyland Park
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will remain closed through December 12, 2024, as part of its ongoing refurbishment. Haunted Mansion Holiday is set to close on January 7, 2025, with plans to reopen in winter 2025, likely in early February. Additionally, “It’s a Small World” will close for refurbishment starting January 21, 2025, and is expected to reopen in spring 2025.
On a brighter note, several exciting re-openings and returns are scheduled for May 16, 2025. Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln will officially reopen, while the beloved Paint the Night Parade and Wondrous Journeys fireworks spectacular are set to make their much-anticipated comebacks on the same day.
Disney California Adventure (Disneyland)
Grizzly River Run will undergo its seasonal closure and refurbishment starting January 6, 2025, alongside Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind, which will also close for updates on the same day. The major upcoming closure at Disney California Adventure is the Red Car Trolley, as Disneyland Resort representatives have confirmed that the expansion of Avengers Campus will require the demolition of the Red Car Trolley barn.
Operations for the Red Car Trolley attraction will officially end on February 9, 2025, making February 8 the last chance to experience it. While Disney has not confirmed its permanent closure, it is widely expected that the Red Car Trolley will not return, even after construction on Avengers Campus and the new Pandora area is completed—a process anticipated to take at least five years.