Shocking: Disney World Closures Revealed – Is Your Vacation in Jeopardy?

The Pandemic’s Lingering Shadow: Investigating how the pandemic-induced development delays are contributing to the current wave of closures

For generations, a visit to Walt Disney World has been a rite of passage. Kids around the country — and around the world — make the trek to sweltering Orlando. They ride It’s A Small World. They buy a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar. They take a photo with the main mouse himself. They get a respiratory virus from licking the handrails while in line for Haunted Mansion. But the kids coming through the turnstiles this year might have a problem replicating some of the moments that make this swampland the most magical place on earth. Namely: a lot of Disney is closed right now.

Anywhere between one-fourth and one-third of the Walt Disney World Resort is expected to be closed this year, according to Gizmoposts24, a Disney news site. And exclusive data provided to Gizmoposts24 by Touring Plans, a service that crowdsources wait times on theme park rides to recommend personalized plans for guests, shows that the number of rides closed across Disney World at any one time this year — 13 in all — is the second-highest outside of the COVID-19 pandemic since Touring Plans began recording data in 2010, excluding one six-day spell in January 2023.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s runaway rollercoaster is closed until 2026. Want to cross the water to Tom Sawyer Island, or meander on the Liberty Square Riverboat? Run — even if it’s banned in the parks — because they’ll be closing, too. Over at Epcot, Test Track is being rethemed and due to open later this summer, Spaceship Earth is rumored to be closing for maintenance shortly, and even cult favorite Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros (check out the back of the Mexico pavilion for the best wait-time-to-enjoyment ratio in the entire resort) is shut through mid-March. Animal Kingdom is similarly somnolent. Only Disney’s Hollywood Studios is (relatively) unscathed.

“This is one of the largest sets of resort-wide closures probably in almost a decade,” Len Testa, president of Touring Plans, said. Testa is also the coauthor of “The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.” What Testa finds different in this year’s experience compared to the expansion of Hollywood Studios in the mid-2010s, for example, is that by and large, Disney isn’t unveiling grand new attractions after the closure.

“The pipeline ran dry,” Testa said. “The increasing closures at Walt Disney World are largely due to costs of running certain attractions, especially things like shows that might involve live performers,” said Rebecca Williams, a theme park researcher at the University of South Wales. “It’s also a knock-on effect from the pandemic where development of the parks had to take a back seat and has led to some of that work happening at the same time due to delays.”

The Mouse’s Big Challenge: Competition Heats Up

Universal’s Epic Universe: Exploring the threat posed by Universal’s new theme park and its potential to draw guests away from Disney

Traditionally, Testa said, an Orlando vacation for most people has taken a similar form: you come for and spend the most time at Disney World, and then tack on a few days at Comcast’s Universal, its main competitor in Florida. But with Universal opening a new theme park, Epic Universe, later this summer, the calculus for many tourists is changing.

Disney’s Response: Examining Disney’s strategy to maintain its appeal by focusing on park enhancements and ensuring a polished experience

“The opening of Universal’s Epic Universe park in May gets talked about a lot in terms of how Disney can compete with that — and whether the perception is that Universal is innovating while Disney is standing still,” Williams said. Disney is responding to that by making sure its parks look their best, hoping to capture that audience traveling to Orlando for Universal’s theme park unveiling. “I think that’s back of mind for them, to try to have things ready,” Scott Gustin, a Disney analyst and journalist, said.

Gustin said that in the last decade or so, Disney has used the summer months for refurbishment as vacationers avoid the hottest, stickiest months of Florida’s climate. But thanks to the new competition, they’re ramping up efforts earlier in the year.

The Shifting Landscape: Analyzing the implications of this competition for the future of Disney World and the theme park industry as a whole

This competition is forcing Disney to re-evaluate its strategies and offerings. It’s a dynamic situation with the potential to reshape the theme park landscape, both in Orlando and beyond.

Planning Your Trip: Navigating the Closures

Essential Tips for Disney Visitors: Providing practical advice for guests planning their trips, including how to research ride closures and adjust itineraries

For those planning a trip to Disney World, it’s more important than ever to be prepared for potential closures.

• Research ride closures: Before your trip, check the official Disney World website or apps like Touring Plans for up-to-date information on ride closures.
• Be flexible with your itinerary: Build in some buffer time and be willing to adjust your plans if necessary.
• Consider visiting during off-season: While crowded, off-season months may have fewer closures.

Finding the Hidden Gems: Highlighting alternative attractions and experiences that guests can enjoy amidst the closures

Despite the closures, there are still plenty of magical experiences to be had at Disney World.

• Explore the Disney resorts: Each resort has its own unique theme, dining options, and activities.
• Attend shows and parades: Disney is known for its spectacular entertainment, and shows and parades are often less affected by closures.
• Discover hidden gems: From charming shops to lesser-known attractions, there are plenty of hidden treasures to uncover throughout the parks.

Making the Most of Your Magic: Offering suggestions for maximizing the Disney experience despite the limitations

Remember, even with some closures, a Disney World vacation can be magical.

• Embrace the unexpected: Be open to trying new things and going with the flow.
• Focus on the things you can control: Make the most of your time with loved ones, enjoy the atmosphere, and soak up the Disney magic.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help: Cast members are always happy to assist with questions and recommendations.