Changes are coming for Disney World soon, and I AM NOT READY.
Cinderella Castle
New attractions, new lands, and construction everywhere? That’s Disney World for you in 2026, and if you’re coming for a visit, you need to be warned. We go to the parks every day, and we’re not prepared mentally yet for some of these changes!
The Loss of DinoLand, U.S.A.
The first thing on our list? We’re not mentally OR emotionally prepared for the loss of DinoLand, U.S.A. This Animal Kingdom land is closing completely in early 2026, and once it’s gone, the park is going to feel fairly dead. Sure, we’ll still have a few attractions and offerings around the park, but the loss of two rides, a restaurant, a play area, and multiple snack spots makes a BIG difference.
DinoLand, U.S.A.
Not only that, but we’ll definitely be mourning the end of the wild ride that is DINOSAUR, a classic quick service spot like Restaurantosaurus, and the quirky theming of the land in general. RIP to DinoLand, we’ll miss you dearly.
Annoying Construction at Magic Kingdom
Right now, Magic Kingdom is absolutely riddled with construction walls. There are bathrooms closed, rides blocked off, and don’t even get us started on all the walls in Liberty Square and Frontierland after the closure of Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat.
Construction for Tom Sawyer Island
Navigating the park is a little tricky, and you’ll want to check the refurbishment calendar on the website before your trip so you’re not disappointed by closures when you arrive. We know that really exciting things are coming with the revamp of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, plus the addition of Cars attractions and Villains Land, but we’ll have to deal with some awkwardness in the meantime.
SO Many Things Closed in Hollywood Studios
Over in Hollywood Studios, there are going to be SO many things closed in 2026. Muppets Courtyard is down to be revamped into a Monsters, Inc.-themed land, and Animation Courtyard will be closed as well to get a full overhaul. Between those two lands, that’s quite a few attractions closed!
Muppets Courtyard behind walls
On top of that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will be getting a new Muppets theme, and is closing in 2026 for the changes. So if you’re visiting Hollywood Studios next year, you might want to prepare for heavier crowds and higher wait times in the parts of the park that remain open.
The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Retheme
Speaking of the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster retheme, we’re not yet prepared to say goodbye to Aerosmith’s version of the ride. While we’re intrigued to see what a Muppets-themed coaster is like, we’ll be feeling pretty nostalgic the last time we hear “love in a roller coaster” playing.
©Disney
So far, people tend to have pretty mixed opinions about the idea of a Muppets coaster, so there’s a little bit of hesitance in general from the Disney community. I guess we’ll have to wait and see!
Re-Learning How to Be a Galactic Hero
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is another one of the rides that’ll be closed for part of 2026, and when it does reopen, we’ll have to re-learn the ride. If you’ve been honing your Galactic Hero skills on the old version of the ride, things might be a little different when it reopens with interactive targets and handheld blasters.
It’s closed!
We know that the ride is also getting new vehicles and a new ride scene. Will they be changing the point values of the targets as well? We’re interested to find out…and you KNOW we will (we’ll be there the day it reopens!).
Price Increases
Last but not least, we’ve got to mention something we’re not prepared for that seems to happen whether we want it to or not…price increases! Disney World tends to get a little more expensive every year with ticket increases, rising hotel room costs, and food price updates.
Disney World Theme Park Ticket Cards
So sadly, we’ll likely need to budget more to visit Disney World in 2026. We hate that, but it’s true!
Disney World is in a big transition period, and there may be some growing pains, but we’re excited for what’s to come! Here’s to visiting in 2026.
If you need help planning your Disney World vacation, check out our friends over at Small World Vacations — they’re experts who’ll help you have a magical trip!
Stay tuned to DFB for more.
Check Out Some Confirmed Ride Changes Coming to Disney World Here!
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Which change are you the most nervous about? Tell us in the comments!
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This is all concerning since I have a 2026 vacation planned !! I’m wondering should I change this to a Universal Studios vacation and save Disney for 2027 or even beyond ? Is it possible to enjoy the Disney Parks with these many disruptions?
I’m taking my family (sister and brother) and my daughter and her family (3 young grandchildren) in late March 2026. I told my daughter that the only way we do it this time is to pay for MultiPass. The kids are too young to want to wait in long lines and last visit they hardly did many of the Magic Kingdom rides. I hope to be able to pay for the tickets.