Master List of Scheduled Walt Disney World Refurbishments

Curious what will be closed during your Disney World vacation? Wonder what attractions are scheduled to get some work done? Check out our master list of refurbishments to help!

Last updated: January 9, 2024

Disney World Refurbishments

Refurbishments are a part of life at Walt Disney World. It’s not uncommon for at least one attraction to be closed at any given time. Restaurants, hotels, and other areas of the property also need freshened up for optimal guest enjoyment.

Refurbishments may take place for various reasons. Whether it be for mechanical issues or cosmetic updates, a refurbishment can take place for many reasons. Based on the nature of the work, the refurbishment may be a few days or several months.

Due to the pandemic and resulting economic hardships that Disney is facing, many projects have been pushed back or even pulled. One refurbishment that comes to mind is Spaceship Earth at EPCOT. This ride was set to be closed in May for a much-needed updated. However, Disney announced that project would be temporarily pushed back.

Now that we understand the nature of refurbishments, let’s take a look at the scheduled ones around the four theme parks.

Magic Kingdom

Splash Mountain is undergoing a complete reimagining when it is rethemed for Princess and the Frog. You can read more about that HERE.

Splash Mountain closed in January 2023 at Disney World and May 2023 at Disneyland. We do know it will open sometime later in 2024. You can read the latest HERE.

Big Thunder Mountain will close for refurbishment in January 2024. This is a typical refurbishment and is expected to last only a few days. See those dates in this post.

Country Bear Jamboree

Disney announced that Country Bear Jamboree will close to bring a brand new look and vibe for this attraction. The most obvious change will come to the name of this attraction. When it reopens it will be called the Country Bear Musical Jamboree in summer 2024. One of the most famous “performers” will also receive a new name change.

New images, Disney inspired musical numbers, as well as adding some “love into the attraction and characters” will bring new life to this attraction. See the closing date HERE.

EPCOT

EPCOT is wrapping up the majority of its projects that were part of the massive transformation of the park. Just in 2023 we saw the opening of Journey of Water, Walt the Dreamer statue, and World Celebration.

Communicore Plaza is still under construction and is expected to open sometime in 2024. See the latest HERE.

Now Disney is once again partnering with Chevrolet to bring new technology and a great new refurbishment to Test Track at EPCOT. This will help this attraction to stay up to speed (see what we did there).

We do not have a start date for this project or a timeline for how long this huge project will take.

Hollywood Studios

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is now set to close for refurbishment on January 8, 2024. You can read more HERE.

Unfortunately, a reopening date is not yet set other than summer 2024. Many believe this closure will be the one that rethemes the ride. We do not think that is the case. It would need to close much, much longer than 6 months for a complete retheme.

Animal Kingdom

Kali River Rapids will close in January 2024 for its annual refurbishment. Winter is the perfect time to refurbish this ride as not too many people enjoy getting soaked when it’s cold! You can find the reopening timeline HERE.

Disney Skyliner

Typically each January, the Disney Skyliner closes for a brief refurbishment. For 2024, the Disney Skyliner will close from January 16 through January 21, 2024 for routine maintenance.

Then, the Disney Skyliner at Disney’s Riviera Resort and International Gateway at EPCOT will remain closed through January 27, 2024. During this time, Disney buses will be offered for guests at Disney Skyliner Resorts.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

The Grand Floridian is currently receiving a lot of work! Disney just converted the Big Pine Key building into DVC accommodations, and the main lobby will also receive a refurbishment to “match” other areas of the resort.

We are still awaiting the reopening of 1900 Park Fare, which will likely open around the same time as the main lobby refurbishment is completed. We expect updated decor and furnishings as we have seen at Narcoossee’s and Citricos.

Wilderness Lodge – Copper Creek

Complete Guide to Disney's Rustic and Cozy Wilderness Lodge Resort — Credit: KtP writer Susan

You can stay in studios, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, or 3-bedroom villas. Additionally, there are 26 waterfront cabins that are completely separate and in a more secluded area of the resort. Combined, there are less than 200 Copper Creek rooms available, which can make it a hard resort to get into.

Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge will be refurbished beginning April 29, 2024. The cabins will be refurbished four at a time, with the remaining cabins available to Members and Guests.

Members and Guests will not be place in cabins that are actively being refurbished. During this time, Guests staying in cabins adjacent to those being refurbished will see and hear refurbishment work during daytime hours.

Disney’s Boardwalk

The boardwalk is undergoing a huge transformation with the addition of The Cake Bake Shop along with newly refurbished rooms and main areas. Most of the refurbishment work is complete with the exception of The Cake Bake Shop.

Cake Bake Shop is expected to open in 2024 after being pushed back from its original late 2023 timeframe.

Disney’s Saratoga Springs

In recent permits filed, Disney also wishes to do some general construction on four of the treehouse villa units. They may be doing work on a few at a time, so it’s possible we may see all 60 completed over the next few years.

At this time, Disney has not shared official plans for the Treehouse Villas.

All-Star Movies

The Fantasia Pool at Disney’s All-Star Movies resort was scheduled to undergo refurbishment from January through April 2024. This was announced a little more than a year ago!

Then, Disney gave us a huge update! The Fantasia Pool will be closed for routine maintenance from January 2025 through April 2025. This is great news for Guests traveling in 2024 but not 2025.