6 beloved Disney World attractions that are closing for good
Disney movies always have a happy ending, but you can’t get to the “happily ever after” without some struggle, conflict and heartache. Like its beloved films, Walt Disney World’s current expansion plan follows a similar storyline. In August 2024, Disney announced a slew of new attractions coming to all four of its Orlando theme parks. …
Disney movies always have a happy ending, but you can’t get to the “happily ever after” without some struggle, conflict and heartache. Like its beloved films, Walt Disney World’s current expansion plan follows a similar storyline.
In August 2024, Disney announced a slew of new attractions coming to all four of its Orlando theme parks. They include a “Zootopia”-based attraction coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a “Cars”-themed land coming to the Magic Kingdom and a “Monsters, Inc.”-themed land coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
It sounds like a fairy tale to me, but the joy of racing alongside Lightning McQueen and visiting a real-life version of Monstropolis comes at a price.
Disney World is closing several popular attractions to make way for its next iteration. If one of your favorite rides is on this list, you should make it a point to pay your respects on your next visit before they close for good.
‘It’s Tough to be a Bug!’
Disney announced in 2023 that “It’s Tough to be a Bug!” would get a “Zootopia” retheme. However, it only recently announced an exact closure date for the 4D movie based on 1998’s “A Bug’s Life,” which plays several times daily inside Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life.
The film will be replaced by Zootopia: Better Zoogether! in the winter of 2025-2026. Zootopia: Better Zoogether! will feature fan-favorite characters like Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and Officer Clawhauser, likely in a similar 3D movie format with special effects that make the show even more engaging.
To make way for the new attraction, “It’s Tough to be a Bug!” will close permanently March 17. Therefore, March 16 is your last chance to experience this fun-loving film.
Dinosaur
The closure of a ride named Dinosaur brings to mind so many extinction puns that I don’t even know where to start. So, I’ll cut to the chase. Dinosaur — along with the rest of DinoLand U.S.A. in Disney’s Animal Kingdom — is going the way of the dodo as Disney prepares to build out a Tropical Americas-themed land in its place.
DinoLand U.S.A. is already in the midst of a phased closure. Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, TriceraTop Spin and the Fossil Fun Games carnival game area closed in January, with only Dinosaur, a handful of dining locations and a dig-site-themed outdoor play area remaining open.
The new Tropical Americas area will feature two anchor attractions: one themed to “Encanto” and another designed to mimic one of Indiana Jones’ many adventures. The latter will eventually replace Dinosaur.
Disney held an official groundbreaking ceremony for the Tropical Americas section of Animal Kingdom on Jan. 17, and behind-the-scenes construction is already underway. Disney has yet to release an exact closure date for Dinosaur, but with an expected 2027 opening, it’s likely to close at the end of this year.
When Disney World revealed everything new coming to the parks this year, they shared that Dinosaur will be available “through 2025” and that this would be your “last chance” to ride. So, if you have a 2025 trip on the calendar, you may want to pay a visit to Animal Kingdom before this ride goes extinct.
Muppet*Vision 3D
At this year’s Disney Experiences Showcase during the biannual D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California, Disney announced that a “Monsters, Inc.”-themed land was being planned for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Eagle-eyed fans knew it would likely be going in one of two places: Animation Courtyard (home to Star Wars Launch Bay) or Muppets Courtyard.
Related: Disney confirms Muppet*Vision 3D closure at Hollywood Studios, but it’s not all bad news
To the collective dismay of Muppets fans the world over, Monstropolis is replacing the park’s Muppets-themed area and shuttering Muppet*Vision 3D.
Attractions come and go, but this particular one was beloved for more than its slapstick comedy gags; it was one of the final projects that Muppets creator Jim Henson worked on before he died in 1990. Disney said in a blog post that it was “exploring ways to preserve the film and other parts of the experience for fans to enjoy in the future,” but it is unclear at this point what that might mean.
June 7 is officially the last day to watch Muppet*Vision 3D and its “glorious three-hour finale” before it closes permanently June 8 for the forthcoming “Monsters, Inc.” land. Construction on the new land is slated to begin later this year.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
As part of the announcement regarding the Muppet*Vision 3D closure, Disney shared that the Muppets weren’t moving out of Hollywood Studios for good. Rather, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and their friends are relocating to Sunset Boulevard.
The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster ride currently features music and a storyline based on the band Aerosmith, but their residency is coming to an end. The Muppets will soon take over Disney World’s only upside-down roller coaster.
Disney has not revealed an exact closure date for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in its current form, but with Muppet*Vision 3D’s imminent demise, this may be your final year to ride along in a super stretch limo with Aerosmith.
Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island
Radiator Springs is making a permanent pit stop at the Magic Kingdom. The “Cars”-themed area will bring two new attractions to Frontierland: One is a thrilling rally race, and the other is geared toward young roadsters.
To clear space for the new rides, Disney is bulldozing a large swath of Frontierland that encompasses several longtime attractions. In an August 2024 blog post, Disney shared that the Rivers of America area — home to the Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island — will be “transformed into vast and rugged terrains for a rally race with some of the world’s most iconic racers.”
Construction on this new area is slated to begin this year. While Disney hasn’t yet released an exact closure date for the Liberty Square Riverboat or Tom Sawyer Island, there’s a decent chance this year could be your last chance to experience these two classic attractions.
Disney did acknowledge in the blog post that it understands guests’ desire to say goodbye to these attractions. It said that “guests will have plenty of time to experience the charm and nostalgia of Frontierland as it is today” before the construction equipment moves in. Keep an eye on the Disney Parks blog and TPG for more details as they become available.
Bottom line
I’m beyond excited about everything new that will happen in the next few years at Walt Disney World, but that doesn’t make the loss of some of my longtime favorite rides sting any less.
Much of my next Disney World trip will include visits to the attractions on this list so that I can ride one last time before all I have are memories. If you don’t already have a trip on the books this year, the stories below can help you plan your farewell tour of these soon-to-close rides.
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