Ride closures and refurbishments are a fact of life at Walt Disney World. Odds are slim that you’ll ever visit the resort and find every single ride and attraction operating on a single day.
Welcome to Magic Kingdom
In fact, if you’re planning on heading to the Magic Kingdom later in 2025, you’re going to find not one, but two of the park’s best-known attractions will be CLOSED for the remainder of the year!
Big Thunder Mountain
First up, there’s the Magic Kingdom’s iconic E-Ticket attraction, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The “Wildest Ride in the Wilderness” has been closed since early January of 2025, as the coaster is undergoing a full track replacement and refurbishment.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
According to Disney, the ride is scheduled to be closed throughout the calendar year and open sometime in 2026 with “new magic.” It hasn’t been confirmed exactly what they might entail, though speculation indicates that it may mean new effects added to the final tunnel sequence, similar to Disneyland.
Big Thunder Mountain Construction
Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin’s Evolution
Across the park from Big Thunder’s home in Frontierland, Tomorrowland’s Buzz Lightyear attraction is also going to be closed for an extended period that will extend into 2026.
©Disney
The 26-year-old attraction is scheduled to close this coming August for a refurbishment that will see several major improvements added, including:
- An additional scene at the beginning of the ride will feature a new robot character, Buddy, who will ensure that guests are “fully prepared for their mission, enthusiastically providing encouragement, final system checks on their Star Cruisers and a chance to hone their blaster aim.”
- New enhanced ride vehicles that include a Buzz Lightyear paint scheme and “video monitors that provide real-time scoring updates and other exciting features.”
- Newly redesigned blasters featuring a refined shape, an always-on laser, and “new lighting, sound and vibration effects, so players know where they’re aiming throughout the mission.”
- Updated interactive “Z” targets throughout the ride that react and light up when hit.
©Disney
If you’re heading to the Magic Kingdom later this year, be forewarned that both of these attractions will be closed until 2026. Stay tuned to DFB for more on Disney’s refurbishment calendar.
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What’s wrong with this whole video is it’s all about money who cares! It takes away all the magic and the paying attention to money makes you feel like that’s all they care about
Yes will be going first week in August.
Why do they keep doing this? They have plenty of land, and each era of rides are magical and iconic to different people. Each generation wants to see the ones they grew up with. Just add on! Quit tearing down or refurbishing rides, please!