Disney motion pictures all the time have a contented ending, however you may’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 new sights 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 appears 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 value.
Disney World is closing a number of standard sights to make method for its subsequent iteration. If one among your favourite rides is on this checklist, 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 Powerful to be a Bug!’
Disney introduced in 2023 that “It is Powerful to be a Bug!” would get a “Zootopia” retheme. Nevertheless, it solely not too long ago introduced an actual closure date for the 4D film based mostly on 1998’s “A Bug’s Life,” which performs a number of instances each day inside Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life.
The movie can be changed by Zootopia: Higher Zoogether! within the winter of 2025-2026. Zootopia: Higher Zoogether! will characteristic 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 partaking.
To make method for the brand new attraction, “It is Powerful to be a Bug!” will shut completely March 17. Due to this fact, March 16 is your final likelihood 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 substitute.
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 sport space closed in January, with solely Dinosaur, a handful of eating places and a dig-site-themed out of doors play space remaining open.
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The brand new Tropical Americas space will characteristic two anchor sights: one themed to “Encanto” and one other designed to imitate one among Indiana Jones’ many adventures. The latter will ultimately change 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 12 months.
When Disney World revealed every thing new coming to the parks this 12 months, they shared that Dinosaur can be accessible “by way of 2025” and that this may be your “final likelihood” to experience. So, when you’ve got a 2025 journey on the calendar, you might wish to pay a go to to Animal Kingdom earlier than this experience goes extinct.
Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D
At this 12 months’s Disney Experiences Showcase throughout 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 could possible be entering into one among two locations: Animation Courtyard (residence 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 last initiatives that Muppets creator Jim Henson labored on earlier than he died in 1990. Disney stated in a weblog publish 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 which may imply.
June 7 is formally the final day to observe Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D and its “superb three-hour finale” earlier than it closes completely June 8 for the forthcoming “Monsters, Inc.” land. Building on the brand new land is slated to start later this 12 months.
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 shifting out of Hollywood Studios for good. Quite, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and their mates 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 kind, however with Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D’s imminent demise, this can be your last 12 months to experience alongside in a brilliant 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 deliver two new sights to Frontierland: One is an exciting 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 sights. In an August 2024 weblog publish, Disney shared that the Rivers of America space — residence to the Liberty Sq. Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island — can be “reworked into huge and rugged terrains for a rally race with among the world’s most iconic racers.”
Building on this new space is slated to start this 12 months. Whereas Disney hasn’t but launched an actual closure date for the Liberty Sq. Riverboat or Tom Sawyer Island, there is a first rate likelihood this 12 months may very well be your final likelihood to expertise these two basic sights.
Disney did acknowledge within the weblog publish that it understands company’ need to say goodbye to those sights. It stated that “company may have loads of time to expertise the appeal and nostalgia of Frontierland as it’s in the present day” earlier than the development gear strikes in. Control the Disney Parks weblog and TPG for extra particulars as they grow to be accessible.
Backside line
I am past enthusiastic about every 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 sights on this checklist in order that I can experience one final time earlier than all I’ve are recollections. Should you do not have already got a visit on the books this 12 months, the tales beneath will help you propose your farewell tour of those soon-to-close rides.
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