10 Construction Updates You Need to Know About in Disney World

Listen, there are a LOT of changes happening in Disney World these days.

With a dozen different construction projects, refurbishments, and updates, how on earth can we keep track of it all? Well, here at AllEars, we’ve compiled a list of the latest construction news from the last week so that you can stay in the loop!

Magic Kingdom

Let’s start things off at the project that everyone is talking about, the Tron Coaster! A few days ago, Imagineers began doing push/pull tests on the ride, which is where they move the ride vehicle through portions of the track.

We got to catch this testing in action this week, and it was pretty exciting! After the push/pull tests are complete, they’ll do ride testing with weighted dummies before moving on to tests with actual humans. The entire process will last several months.

It’s very exciting to see some progress.

EPCOT

EPCOT is the hub of major construction updates these days, and this week was no exception! First of all, a bunch of construction updates got added to the EPCOT park map — it now features several upcoming projects.

Over at the highly anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, we’re still continuing to see progress in the front of the building. The Nova Corps Starblaster Ship is getting the finishing touches and the entrance area is coming together quite nicely!

One big update this week is that another pathway opened up in EPCOT! Guests are now free to walk from Spaceship Earth back to the home of the future Connections Cafe and Eatery. It has been a long time since we’ve been able to stroll through this middle section of EPCOT.

And speaking of Connections Cafe and Eatery, new signs for the restaurant/Starbucks location went up this week. They all have that same signature EPCOT font that you see on the signs for Creations Shop, so they match the new theme of the park well.

And scooting around to the other side of the park, Moana — Journey of Water is coming along as well. We’re still in the stage where it’s a little hard to tell exactly what everything is, but we’re constantly spotting new materials being dropped off and workers keeping the progress going.

And finally in EPCOT, the nursery was temporarily closed in the SeaBase to make way for a new exhibit. Currently, the entrance is blocked by a curtain and there’s a sign out front explaining the closure.

Hollywood Studios

At the exit of Toy Story Mania in Hollywood Studios, the gift shop has been closed for a few weeks now. We’ve seen the area get some refurbishments and updates with paint and new scrims, so we’ll continue to look out for more changes.

Animal Kingdom

Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the popular coaster Expedition Everest has been closed since January for a refurbishment. We haven’t noticed any visible changes with the ride itself yet, but expect this attraction to remain closed through mid-April.

Disney Resorts

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is currently getting updates over at Building 9, Big Pine Key. Here, the rooms are being turned into 200 new Resort Studios — Disney Vacation Club Rooms. The other DVC rooms throughout the resort are also getting updated with new features.

Nearby at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, there seem to be some updates coming for the front desk on the first floor. In the lobby, there’s a large black curtain blocking this area from view, along with a sign that announces the refurbishment. The rest of the lobby got some updates last year.

Those are all the major construction updates and changes that you need to know about for this week! Stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney news before your next trip.