This Walt Disney World experience refurbishment calendar lists the closure schedule for late 2022 and early 2023 at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios & Animal Kingdom. Attractions shut for routine upkeep, security upgrades, enhancements, and reimaginings. (Updated November 19, 2022.)
While nobody needs attraction downtime throughout their journey to Walt Disney World, refurbishments are essential to hold the rides trying good (and protected!) for future guests. Usually, there are solely a handful of simultaneous closures, plus new points of interest being constructed. Note that the checklist under consists of a number of refurbishments which have both been scheduled last-minute, prolonged, or are longer than regular.
Over two years after Walt Disney World’s reopening at a time when the parks have in any other case largely returned to regular operations, there’s rather more on the under checklist than regular. However, many of those points of interest are at present closed for budgetary, staffing, or different non-maintenance associated causes. There are literally far fewer conventional refurbishments occurring proper now than usually.
There’s additionally a variety of development occurring, albeit not almost as a lot as even just a few years in the past. However, that massively understates the present closures and impression of development on guests to Walt Disney World by way of this yr and even 2023.
At Epcot particularly, the refurbishment checklist is misleading, as colossal adjustments have begun that aren’t totally mirrored on the checklist under. There are partitions up round a lot of the entrance of Epcot, with bypasses in place that lead visitors previous the middle of the park. These have lately barely shrunk in dimension due to a brand new path in entrance of Connections Cafe and Creations Shop, however they received’t be gone completely till someday in 2023.
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Here is the present schedule of Walt Disney World refurbishments to points of interest, when the closure begins, and when the refurbishment will conclude, up to date as of November 19, 2022:
Animal Kingdom
- Primeval Whirl – Permanently Closed & Demolished
All of Dino-Rama is more likely to shut in some unspecified time in the future in 2023, as that’s the following large enlargement website at Walt Disney World. This was primarily confirmed in the course of the D23 Expo. During that, Disney shared potential enlargement plans for a alternative of Dino-Rama, together with detailed idea artwork for a Moana Mini-Land at Animal Kingdom.
Another risk is a Zootopia Expansion for Animal Kingdom that will be constructed past Dino-Rama. The idea artwork present that each of those proposals are concurrently viable. The element of the idea artwork suggests they’re far alongside within the improvement. The caveats supplied by Disney point out that they’ve not but been greenlit or funded, that means that they might by no means occur. Regardless of what finally ends up changing it, it’s clear that Dino-Rama’s days are numbered.
Magic Kingdom
- Enchanted Tales with Belle – Return date TBD
- Enchantment Fireworks – End date TBD (Likely Spring 2023)
- Happily Ever After Fireworks – Return date TBD (Likely Spring 2023)
- Splash Mountain – Closure date TBD (Likely January 2023)
- Walt Disney World Railroad – Reopening TBD (Likely Christmas 2022)
With stage reveals and parades now again, issues are largely again to the pre-closure regular at Magic Kingdom. It solely took nearly two years! Enchanted Tales with Belle is the one holdout, and we’re optimistic that’ll return sooner quite than later.
There are a few wildcards. First, the Walt Disney World Railroad stays closed. That itself is nothing new–it’s been down since 2018. This closure started within the early phases of TRON Lightcycle Run work, and that development is (fortunately) nearing completion however received’t open till Spring 2023. This extended practice downtime is by design, with the purpose of saving working bills underneath the guise of a vital closure attributable to development.
On a optimistic be aware, the Walt Disney World Railroad is getting very shut to returning, with Cast Member coaching and testing now underway. Our expectation is that an announcement received’t come till absolutely the final minute, however that it’ll open in direction of the top of November or December 2022. If you’re within the park this vacation season, it’s value checking on the standing of the railroad, because the transportation attraction may simply quietly open some day with none advance discover.
Second, the Princess and the Frog reimagining of Splash Mountain. Recently, Disney introduced that this attraction will likely be known as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and can open in Late 2024.
In order to make that opening timeline, it’s possible that the present incarnation of Splash Mountain will shut for its regular winter refurbishment in early 2023. That closure date would give Magic Kingdom the headliner in the course of the vacation season, which is the busiest time of the yr.
EPCOT
- American Adventure – Closed by way of December 16, 2022
- Canada Far & Wide in CircleVision 360 – Closed by way of November 27, 2022
The large information right here is that the American Adventure is now closed for a 3-month refurbishment, and can reopen on December 17, 2022.
As for what the refurbishment will entail, that’s utterly unclear. I hate to go there, however I’ll handle the elephant within the room–and the place my thoughts instantly went when listening to about this refurbishment…
Walt Disney World has undertaken an inclusivity initiative within the final couple of years and is within the technique of reviewing and modernizing a number of points of interest perceived as problematic. Despite its age and subject material, I’d say that the American Adventure has aged shockingly effectively and usually holds up.
Obviously, the American Adventure isn’t going to please everybody, however for a present written within the early Eighties in an space representing romanticized nations, it’s extremely well-done. Obviously, it’s no historical past guide or Ken Burns documentary, however for an attraction in a theme park (which is what it’s!), I don’t assume it may thread the fragile needle of leisure and training any higher. Some scenes, like Chief Joseph interrupting Mark Twain’s narrative, are even considerably difficult to visitors.
Accordingly, I don’t assume there’s trigger for concern that this masterpiece of Imagineering will likely be retired, butchered, and so on. My expectation is that this can be a routine refurbishment and never something that’ll find yourself being outrage-inducing. Audio Animatronics want upkeep, and the present hasn’t had prolonged downtime in roughly 4 years.
It’s additionally attainable minor upgrades are made that don’t materially change the character of the present. Ironically sufficient, the latest half–the montage finale–holds up worse than the primary present! That movie could possibly be improved and diversified rather more simply than the primary present.
Additionally, Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 is closed for the 2022 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. It’s at present house to Appleseed Orchard, which is without doubt one of the worst Global Marketplaces of the occasion. The Circle-Vision 360° theater’s A/C is sweet, although!
EPCOT’s annual Food & Wine Festival runs by way of late November 2022–for extra on that occasion, see our Guide to the 2022 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. Currently, Canada Far & Wide is scheduled to reopen proper after (American) Thanksgiving.
Beyond that, the core of Epcot continues to be a sea of development partitions, however issues have improved with the opening of Creations Shop, Club Cool, and Connections Cafe & Eatery. With the opening of this, the trail connecting Spaceship Earth to World Showcase is again, which is a welcome aid.
Speaking of Spaceship Earth, our expectation is that it’s going to go down for a prolonged refurbishment in some unspecified time in the future someday in 2023. This may embrace the previously-announced reimagining. Either approach, there’s appreciable work needing to be carried out on the experience system that may’t wait an excessive amount of longer.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Frozen Sing-Along Celebration – Closed January 9 by way of January 27, 2023
- Jedi Training Academy: Trials of the Temple – Permanently Ended
- Star Wars: Galactic Spectacular – Permanently Ended
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid – Permanently Closed
“For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” beforehand was scheduled to go darkish within the fall low season for just a few weeks, however that now has been formally delayed till January 2023. Walt Disney World calls this one a “routine refurbishment.”
Outside Theme Parks
- Typhoon Lagoon Water Park – Reopening date TBD (Likely Spring 2023)
- Disney Skyliner Gondolas – Closed January 22 till January 29, 2023
Walt Disney World introduced all routes of the Skyliner will shut in late January. Here’s the official announcement: “In order to take care of the best high quality requirements, Walt Disney World should conduct refurbishments every now and then. To assist visitors plan for holidays early subsequent yr, Disney is sharing that each one traces of the Disney Skyliner will likely be closed for routine upkeep from January 22 till January 29, 2023.
Bus transportation will likely be accessible in any respect Disney Skyliner Resorts all through the deliberate closure so visitors can attain their desired locations throughout Walt Disney World.”
Otherwise, the attraction closures above are fairly straight-forward. To the extent that particular dates will not be but listed, these will likely be up to date as soon as Walt Disney World supplies exact begin and/or finish dates.
In addition to scheduled attraction refurbs, unscheduled downtime may also happen throughout a go to. This normally solely happens for just a few hours at a time, so in the event you discover an attraction is closed throughout your trip and it’s not listed under, it’s possible a short lived closure that may final (at most) for just a few hours. Check with close by Cast Members to substantiate.
For resort work, please see our 2022-2023 Walt Disney World Hotel Construction & Refurbishments. If you’re nervous that any of resort lodge renovations will impression your keep, right here’s a common rule to remember: room refurbishments hardly ever impression lodge stays. These happen in particular clusters, and also you’ll hardly ever discover the work being carried out.
Now, right here’s a little bit of my philosophy regarding refurbishments…
General Thoughts on Refurbishments
When information comes out about any refurbishment, my rapid response is all the time, “this is great–it means they’re actually doing something to the attraction!” My thoughts races with the chances of how points of interest could possibly be improved or plussed by Walt Disney Imagineering. Even although we’d miss it on our subsequent Walt Disney World go to, I’m all the time excited.
In studying suggestions from others, I’ve found this angle places me within the minority. Others on-line fume about this, and the way it could alter or impression their trip plans. The saying “vacation ruined” has attained near-meme standing amongst some followers, and that felt apt for a few of the complaints. I can perceive the attitude. Assessing the scope of the refurbishment prematurely, scheduling liberal refurbishment dates, and opening early (under-promising and over-delivering) is all the time preferable to the choice.
I may also perceive that there’s different pent-up frustration at play right here, starting from radio-silence on initiatives to Walt Disney World’s tardiness in releasing park hours whereas anticipating visitors to plan a number of months prematurely. Neither of those strikes by Disney, amongst others, are defensible. At greatest, this communication is poor visitor service. At worst, it’s demonstrative of a contemptible perspective in direction of visitors.
However, I stay of the mindset that this refurbishment extension–and different present refurbishments–is doubtlessly an excellent factor. Among essentially the most vocal followers upset concerning the extension are those that are like me: visitors who go to Walt Disney World not less than every-other yr. We are taking part in the ‘long’ fandom sport. We can look again on the times of the notorious wand over Spaceship Earth and are additionally trying ahead to Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary.
From my perspective, investing within the long-term high quality of an attraction is way extra essential than the short-term satisfaction I’ll get out of using it on my subsequent go to. I get excited when desirous about methods rides could possibly be plussed, enhancing the expertise for years to return. This is why it all the time perplexes me when regulars contend that their trip will likely be ruined as a result of their favourite attraction will likely be closed.
If it’s your favourite attraction and also you’re energetic within the Disney fan neighborhood, which means you’ve been to Walt Disney World earlier than and possibly will go to once more. It would thus stand to motive that you’d need one thing you like to get the TLC it deserves, and proceed to enhance.
DINOSAUR works as an excellent instance right here. This attraction was known as Countdown to Extinction (“CTX”) earlier than an ill-advised film tie-in was added. During that period, DINOSAUR had a litany of further results, lots of its AAs had larger performance, and the attraction was, as a complete, extra spectacular.
If you’re a long-term fan, would you quite expertise DINOSAUR each single yr with 66% of the results working, or each single yr minus one with 95% of the results working? For me, the reply to that’s simple. I’ll take a superior long run expertise each time. (That that is even a professional query for long-time followers speaks to the ‘instant gratification’ nature of issues at this time, however that’s effectively past the scope of this publish.)
Beyond that, there’s the rather more compelling justification for normal refurbishments: they’re important for the security of points of interest. While we consider these points of interest as all enjoyable and video games that supply a protected sense of exhilaration, that’s when they’re correctly maintained.
It’s disagreeable to consider, however there have been a number of preventable deaths within the historical past of Disney’s parks. During a darkish period of Disneyland historical past, improper upkeep was the reason for demise on Big Thunder Mountain (fortunately, Paul Pressler’s reign of terror is over). Years of neglect at Disneyland Paris have led to incidents of harm that could possibly be attributed to an absence of upkeep (once more, this has been addressed).
This shouldn’t be meant to scare anybody or provoke an emotional response; the very fact is that Disney’s worldwide security report is sterling as in comparison with different park operators. It’s nonetheless essential to keep in mind that these enjoyable, ‘magical’ locations additionally exist in the true world and use a variety of doubtlessly harmful components if security shouldn’t be considered as key. (Or, in Disney’s case, one of many “Five Keys.”)
When it involves upkeep that’s not important to the protected operation of an attraction, we’re left to ponder what quantity of present high quality ought to be accepted. If following a strict Nunisian practitioner of the Four Keys, present is one other paramount consideration, and it ought to all the time be 100%. This is sweet company propaganda, however I feel the sensible actuality is that 100% is an unworkably excessive threshold in lots of circumstances.
I feel we now have seen this play out with Expedition Everest. Fans joke concerning the “Disco Yeti” and lament the truth that this jaw-dropping Audio Animatronics determine has not labored in almost a decade. There are quite a few theories as to why the Yeti hasn’t been mounted; what every of those share is that there are large-scale issues and no fast fixes.
Fixing the Yeti would require a closure of not less than 6 months, and be fairly costly. The working Yeti is really a powerful sight to behold (and one most of you most likely haven’t seen in A-mode except you rode over a decade in the past), however the attraction continues to be spectacular with the Disco Yeti. At this level, it’s possible that Disney has decided the closure would take too lengthy, value an excessive amount of, and the development wouldn’t be well worth the funding.
There’s additionally the truth that Animal Kingdom is missing in rides. Even after the opening of Pandora – World of Avatar, the park nonetheless is heavy on reveals and animal reveals and lightweight on rides. Taking one of many park’s flagship rides down for six months to a yr to repair one Audio Animatronics determine that visitors see for 1-2 seconds may not be well worth the sacrifice.
As a staunch proponent of present high quality, I’ve a tough time accepting the identical argument for any attraction in Magic Kingdom, a park with a veritable “mountain range” and various slate of different points of interest. In reality, the identical goes for each citadel park. These parks have sufficient points of interest to choose up the slack if 1-2 points of interest need to be taken offline concurrently with out ruining any holidays.
Guests are understandably involved when it seems an inordinate variety of points of interest are closing throughout their trip. Walt Disney World holidays will not be low-cost and are sometimes as soon as in a lifetime experiences. First-timers actually don’t wish to miss out on experiences about which they’ve learn in depth hype.
However, the issue with a “not during my vacation” perspective like that is that it’s all the time going to be somebody’s (or tens of hundreds of someones) trip. If points of interest with present high quality points don’t shut for refurbishments for concern of some visitors throughout a time-limited window lacking out, all visitors in perpetuity are going to have a lesser expertise.
Running an attraction with damaged results is simply going to compound issues, and finally a single damaged impact will flip into myriad damaged results. Imagine this state of affairs park-wide, performed out to its pure penalties. That’s not precisely what I’d name the “Disney Difference.”
Again, DINOSAUR is an effective instance right here. If it’s your first go to and also you expertise DINOSAUR with 66% of the results working, you received’t know what you’re lacking. Riding it’s going to, little question, be superior to not using it. However, I’m guessing your satisfaction score of the attraction wouldn’t be almost as excessive, and also you may query why so many individuals love the attraction, and why Disney was lazy with a lot empty, darkish area. (Or, maybe you received’t: in the event you solely ever eat pet food, you received’t know what you’re lacking in a pleasant steak.)
The factor is, if Disney wouldn’t shut DINOSAUR throughout your trip so that you don’t miss out on it, likelihood is that they’d lengthen the identical “courtesy” for different visitors, and it could be normal working process to by no means shut something throughout anybody’s trip.
The finish results of this may be a park filled with “66% attractions” and first-timers can be left questioning why there was a lot hype about Walt Disney World, within the first place. If you’re studying this as a lifelong fan, take into account the likelihood that you simply wouldn’t have turn out to be a lifelong fan if this had been truly Disney’s modus operandi. (In reality, I’d argue that Walt Disney World is trending on this route, dragging its ft on a number of vital refurbishments, with the inaction being predicated upon brief time period visitor satisfaction or cost-savings.)
This may sound like we’re making use of ‘heavy’ Rawlsian idea to the lighthearted matter of theme parks, however philosophy isn’t value a rattling if it will probably’t be utilized to theme parks. ????
Plenty of this may look like an effort to absolve Disney of blame in the case of refurbishments, however this isn’t the case. Disney has introduced a variety of the visitor unrest regarding refurbishments upon itself. The first difficulty is that Disney has quite a few parks which have opened within the final twenty years with incomplete slates of points of interest, making it tough to justify taking points of interest offline for refurbishment. So the first step, an entirely impractical step at this level, can be to open theme parks which can be full on day one.
Failing that, Disney may keep away from a variety of the visitor backlash regarding refurbishments if they’d schedule extra 3-4 day refurbishments of points of interest to proactively handle issues with preventative upkeep. Although this may not completely negate the necessity for prolonged refurbishments, it could enhance present high quality throughout the board and assist keep away from a variety of conditions the place points of interest need to abruptly shut as a result of they’re in dire want of upkeep. Moreover, a 3-4 day refurbishment is shorter than the length of most holidays, permitting vacationers to successfully plan across the refurbishment.
In this case, each events planning forward would forestall these “vacation ruined!” complaints. Don’t fear, Disney, we followers are resilient: we’ll nonetheless discover one thing else to complain about. ????
Joking apart, I understand that’s a troublesome line to attract between an excusable refurbishment and a frustratingly irritating one. Even in the event you subscribe to the some extent of the ‘philosophy’ I’m advancing, there isn’t any bright-line rule. It’s nonetheless going to quantity to a worth judgment about what ought to ‘trigger’ a necessity for refurbishment, what number of points of interest ought to be down concurrently throughout Walt Disney World, and what instances of yr are perfect for which refurbishments.
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Your Thoughts
Any questions concerning the present refurbishments at Walt Disney World? What do you concentrate on refurbishments on the Disney Parks? Are you extra involved about an improved long-term expertise, or do you assume “not during my vacation!”? Where do you draw the road? Any different components you assume are value contemplating? As talked about, we expect this can be a dialog, so please share your ‘refurbishment philosophy’, or every other ideas or questions you’ve gotten, within the feedback!