Six Walt Disney World Ride Changes That Happen Every Year

Just about the only thing that is constant in Disney World is change! From temporary closures to unexpected breakdowns, it’s almost impossible NOT to run into some sort of attraction closure while you’re visiting the parks. 

If there’s a special attraction that is simply a must-ride for you and your family, you might want to make sure it isn’t closed for seasonal maintenance while you’re on vacation.

We’ve put together a list of all the annual closures around Disney World — let’s take a look!  

Seasonal Closures

Disney has been known to randomly close an attraction every once in a while, but there are some attractions (and locations) that temporarily close around the same time every year.

Water Parks

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

Typhoon Lagoon typically closes each year from January to March. 

During the closure, Cast Members take the time to fix up the park so that it’s all fresh and ready for the hot summer months in Florida! Note that Typhoon Lagoon has not reopened since March 2020.

Click here to read about how Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon makes giant waves!

Disney has not announced when the water park will reopen, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated! 

Blizzard Beach

Blizzard Beach closes every September through January, AKA the “off-season” in Disney World. Make sure to plan your vacation accordingly if you’re interested in visiting a water park! 

If you’re looking for a refreshing way to cool off while the water parks are closed, Disney’s resort pools are open year-round! 

Check out the BEST pools at Walt Disney World!

Blizzard Beach reopened in March 2021, a full year after Walt Disney World temporarily shut down!

Attractions

Jungle Cruise

The Jungle Cruise tends to close for a short period of time in late October/early November and then closes one more time at the beginning of January. 

Imagineers add some festive details during this short closure to prepare the attraction for the Jingle Cruise holiday overlay.

Holiday Ride Overlays Will Return for Disney Very Merriest After Hours Event

It will be interesting to see how the Jingle Cruise looks this year now that Imagineers reimagined some scenes in the attraction!

Splash Mountain

Splash Mountain usually closes sometime in January/February for annual refurbishments and routine maintenance. Luckily most people don’t want to get all wet in the winter, anyway! 

As you may know, Splash Mountain is set to receive a Princess and the Frog retheme in the future, so we’re keeping our eyes and ears out for more information on when that will happen!  

Disney Shares Details on Grand Finale for Splash Mountain Re-Theme

Kali River Rapids

Are you sensing a theme, here? Disney likes to close their water rides in the colder months, and Kali River Rapids is no exception! 

Kali River Rapids closes in early January/February (and sometimes March) for routine refurbishments.  

Liberty Square Riverboat

You can expect some other attractions, like the Liberty Square Riverboat, to temporarily close each year, but the closure timeframe isn’t as consistent.

In the past, the Liberty Belle has undergone refurbishment in both January and August.

We hope that this list will help you plan your next trip to Walt Disney World! Keep in mind that these dates and timeframes are always subject to change, so be sure to double-check all the scheduled closures before you leave! In the meantime, stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney news and updates!

Click here to learn more about all current closures and refurbishments in Disney World!

Are any of these attractions a must-ride in your family? Let us know in the comments!