- Mar 13, 2024
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It’s been one of those times in Disney World where, if you blink, you somehow miss five changes that all seemed to have happened in the past 24 hours. It’s a busy time to be in the parks, that’s for sure!
Pua and Thumper in Walt Disney Studios
This past week alone, Disney has opened multiple attractions early, such as FØØD by Swedish Chef and The Walt Disney Studios in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as well as Soarin’ Across America in EPCOT, all of which were originally set to open on May 26th. MORE closures are finally reopening this upcoming week, on time on May 26th (which is when Cool KIDS’ SUMMER is set to officially begin), so if you’re traveling to the parks, now is 100% the time to keep up with ALL the changes.
The highly anticipated changes at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run have also now arrived, resulting in new adventures for guests to experience. Now, you may find yourself wanting to ride the attraction over and over again to get all the new stories and take it all in.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Despite all the exciting reopenings, many other closures are continuing in Disney World this week, so if you’re traveling, let’s take a look at the other closures taking place from May 21st through May 29th.
In preparation for Cool KIDS’ SUMMER, beginning on May 26th, The Diamond Horseshoe restaurant is closed.
The Diamond Horseshoe is closed!
When the restaurant reopens on May 26th, it won’t be a table service restaurant like before. Instead, it’ll be the home of Jessie’s Roundup, an area where kids can craft, dance, and have other kinds of fun inside a nice air-conditioned space. Currently, it’s expected that the restaurant will return to its normal offerings around September 8th when Cool KIDS’ Summer ends.
Pete’s Silly Sideshow is temporarily unavailable as of January 4th, 2026. This is the Storybook Circus meet and greet area, where you can meet Donald Duck, Goofy, Daisy Duck, and Minnie Mouse as they join the circus. Good news, though! While Pete’s Silly Sideshow will be closed, you can still meet all of the characters! You will find Goofy and Minnie at the entrance to Storybook Circus, and you can find Donald and Daisy in the back of Storybook Circus by the restrooms.
Pete’s Silly Sideshow
However, now there’s ANOTHER closure in the land as well. Big Top Souvenirs closed on February 20th, and Disney has said it’ll “reopen for guests to enjoy later this year,” but there’s no date in sight. When we stopped by recently, we noticed that the entire top of the store is GONE right now! Talk about a jumpscare!
The tent disappeared!
We’re really curious to see how this all turns out, so we’ll keep you updated!
An iconic part of the Magic Kingdom is now permanently closed. As of July 7th, 2025, the Rivers of America, including the Liberty Square River Boat and Tom Sawyer Island, are permanently closed to make way for the new Cars area, Piston Peak. There are lots of construction walls up in the area now, and the structures on Tom Sawyer Island have been demolished. Most recently, we saw some updates to the concrete on the land, as well as leveling taking place for the new attractions — how exciting!
Piston Peak construction
Piston Peak National Park will be replacing this area of the Magic Kingdom. Disney has not yet announced an opening date for the new Cars area, but we do know it will feature two brand-new attractions and be themed to look like a National Park.
Animation Courtyard closed on September 25th, 2025, to make way for Walt Disney Studios. This new area was originally set to begin opening on May 26th, 2026, but opened earlier this week! Star Wars Launch Bay will be turned into The Magic of Disney Animation. This attraction will have you interacting and exploring with this fun take on Disney Animation headquarters, complete with the return of the Sorcerer Mickey hat!
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Magical Guides-Construction-Walt-Disney-Studios-Hollywood-Studios-Disney-World-Photo-Apr-14-2026-11-10-50-AM-5712-x-4284-1-700x525.jpg
Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat is back!
Currently, the only areas open are the new courtyard and the Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! show. This area will also feature a new Drawn to Wonderland indoor play area and the current Disney Jr. Play and Dance! show will be getting a makeover. It’ll turn into Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live, and we just recently got confirmed showtimes for the new experience, which will open on May 26th. Some of the walls have also recently been taken down, revealing more of the courtyard area!
Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo closed on June 8th, 2025, and Muppets Courtyard has been walled off for construction on the new Monsters, Inc. land. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano has been closed since May 11th, 2025. Most recently, we saw FOUR permits filed for different buildings inside this area, which is quite exciting. We also recently got some more aerial photos of the upcoming suspended roller coaster, which looks fantastic so far.
©Bioreconstruct
Don’t worry, the Muppets won’t be missing from Disney’s Hollywood Studios forever. The Muppets will be taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster this summer!
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will open on May 26th, 2026! This new ride will feature iconic Muppets like Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Gonzo, plus a brand-new soundtrack featuring Def Leppard, Kelly Clarkson, and Jennifer Hudson! Most recently, we’ve seen a lot of work being done on the guitar, which is now rainbow…
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
…and the front entrance is now painted gray/silver and has a new G-Force Records sign!
Refreshment Port located near the Canada Pavilion in EPCOT’s World Showcase closed for refurbishment on January 12th. We’ve heard nothing on it for months, but now, we know that when it reopens, it’ll become La Poutinerie!
La Poutinerie Concept Art ©Disney
The spot will be sponsored by Air Canada, and promises to deliver “a Canadian classic with a twist.” Disney hasn’t announced an opening date or a menu, but we’re hoping our favorite poutine will come back any day now!
On February 23rd, Disney temporarily closed Rafiki’s Planet Watch and the Wildlife Express, which takes guests over to this part of the park, to make way for the new Bluey attraction coming to the park for Cool KIDS’ SUMMER on May 26th. For the time being, you can still visit the Wilderness Explorer badge offerings, as well as a few character meet and greets, at the train station.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch is officially closed
Bluey’s Wild World will become a permanent addition to the park, where you can meet Bluey and Bingo, play games with them, and even pet animals from Australia in the petting zoo, Jumping Junction! It was recently announced that there will be a Virtual Queue required to experience the attraction, so keep that in mind when planning your visit.
On February 2nd, DinoLand, USA officially closed to make way for the new Tropical Americas land, Pueblo Esperanza. Most recently, a new permit was filed for the new Encanto ride to install set elements, and nine new permits were filed today for electrical work.
©Disney || Tropical Americas Land coming to Animal Kingdom
This new land is shaping up nicely! It will have three new rides – a carousel featuring classic Disney animals, an Indiana Jones ride where you’ll explore a Mayan temple, and an Encanto ride that invites you into the Madrigal’s home! Most recently, we saw two new permits filed for the upcoming Indiana Jones ride!
Starting on May 11th, the Boat Dock at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort became unavailable for guests to use due to refurbishment.
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Magical Guides-_-Atmosphere-_-Polynesian-Village-_-Disney-World-Deluxe-Resort-Photo-May-11-2026-12-18-03-PM-5712-x-4284-700x525.jpg
The dock is closed!
Boat transportation is expected to be unavailable from now through June 5th, though construction on the dock as a whole will continue through late June. It’s not too bad, but this does mean the only way to get from the hotel to Magic Kingdom is to take the Monorail or walk.
Disney recently announced that the Kiddie Pool Deck at Disney’s Pop Century Resort will close for refurbishment beginning April 13th.
Kiddie Pool Deck
The previous timeline for reopening was the end of April, but now the Disney World website lists that the closure will begin on May 4th and continue through mid-May.
This hotel has been undergoing refurbishments for quite some time now, but some sections of the hotel — specifically the porte cochere — will continue to undergo refurbishment through at least early 2027.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
We certainly hope it’ll actually reopen on this timeline — we’re a little tired of seeing construction all over this beautiful hotel!
Currently, work is taking place all over Bay Lake Tower through Late 2027. Additionally, exterior elevator landing repairs will be taking place through late May 2026.
Bay Lake Tower
While currently no major closures are taking place due to this construction, it’s important to note you may see or hear construction during your stay.
For those looking to dine at this hotel, you need to know that the Turf Club Bar & Grill and Turf Club Lounge will both be under refurbishment from mid-March through mid-September 2026.
Turf Club Bar & Grill
In early April, the Turf Club Lounge will close for refurbishment and will reopen in early August. In the meantime, the Turf Club Bar & Grill will remain open with a pop-up bar serving a modified Lounge food and beverage menu. Then, from early to mid-August, the Turf Club patio will close for refurbishment, and finally, from mid-August through mid-September, the Turf Club Bar & Grill will be closed for refurbishment, but the Turf Club Lounge will be open.
Disney’s Yacht Club and Disney’s Beach Club Resort are currently undergoing visible exterior maintenance. The maintenance could affect views and may require alternate routes at times. In addition, two of the resort’s leisure pools will close for routine maintenance.
Tidal Pool
At Disney’s Yacht Club, the Admiral leisure be will be closed for maintenance through early May 2026. At Disney’s Beach Club, the Tidal leisure pool will be closed for maintenance through early May 2026. Guests may see or hear construction work, but it will only be done during the daytime hours.
On May 11th, Yachtsman Steakhouse officially closed for refurbishment.
Yachtsman Steakhouse
The restaurant is expected to open sometime in early August, though no official date has been set.
The Promenade Fine Art Gallery closed its Disney’s BoardWalk location on October 20th, 2025. However, the Promenade Fine Art Gallery isn’t closing for good, and it will just be moving to a new location.
Promenade Fine Art Gallery
Most recently, Disney just filed permits for the BoardWalk titled “Project Amazon” and “Project Bubbles,” so it’s possible we could see some movement on these updates soon!
Jellyrolls at Disney’s BoardWalk officially closed on April 19th, 2025. This entertainment venue has provided our team with countless memories, and we know many others are also sad to see it close. Jellyrolls had its final farewell performance on April 19th. 2025 and closed its doors forever on Disney’s BoardWalk. What is to become of its former location, though? Well, there are now walls all up around the building, so work IS being done, but it’s not yet clear what will arrive in its place.
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Magical Guides-Construction-Jellyrolls-Boardwalk-Resort-Disney-World-Photo-May-19-2026-1-33-41-PM-8064-x-6048-700x525.jpg
Jellyrolls
Now, we know that Jellyrolls will be moving to a new location about 10 minutes away, and a grand opening is planned for late summer or fall 2026. We also know that the new location will have free parking, be closer to the space that the original Disney location was in, and allow people to be dropped off and picked up by rideshare services right at the front door.
We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest Disney World news, so stay tuned to Magical Guides!
When is your next Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments!
Pua and Thumper in Walt Disney Studios
This past week alone, Disney has opened multiple attractions early, such as FØØD by Swedish Chef and The Walt Disney Studios in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as well as Soarin’ Across America in EPCOT, all of which were originally set to open on May 26th. MORE closures are finally reopening this upcoming week, on time on May 26th (which is when Cool KIDS’ SUMMER is set to officially begin), so if you’re traveling to the parks, now is 100% the time to keep up with ALL the changes.
The highly anticipated changes at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run have also now arrived, resulting in new adventures for guests to experience. Now, you may find yourself wanting to ride the attraction over and over again to get all the new stories and take it all in.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Despite all the exciting reopenings, many other closures are continuing in Disney World this week, so if you’re traveling, let’s take a look at the other closures taking place from May 21st through May 29th.
Magic Kingdom
The Diamond Horseshoe
In preparation for Cool KIDS’ SUMMER, beginning on May 26th, The Diamond Horseshoe restaurant is closed.
The Diamond Horseshoe is closed!
When the restaurant reopens on May 26th, it won’t be a table service restaurant like before. Instead, it’ll be the home of Jessie’s Roundup, an area where kids can craft, dance, and have other kinds of fun inside a nice air-conditioned space. Currently, it’s expected that the restaurant will return to its normal offerings around September 8th when Cool KIDS’ Summer ends.
Storybook Circus
Pete’s Silly Sideshow is temporarily unavailable as of January 4th, 2026. This is the Storybook Circus meet and greet area, where you can meet Donald Duck, Goofy, Daisy Duck, and Minnie Mouse as they join the circus. Good news, though! While Pete’s Silly Sideshow will be closed, you can still meet all of the characters! You will find Goofy and Minnie at the entrance to Storybook Circus, and you can find Donald and Daisy in the back of Storybook Circus by the restrooms.
Pete’s Silly Sideshow
However, now there’s ANOTHER closure in the land as well. Big Top Souvenirs closed on February 20th, and Disney has said it’ll “reopen for guests to enjoy later this year,” but there’s no date in sight. When we stopped by recently, we noticed that the entire top of the store is GONE right now! Talk about a jumpscare!
The tent disappeared!
We’re really curious to see how this all turns out, so we’ll keep you updated!
Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island
An iconic part of the Magic Kingdom is now permanently closed. As of July 7th, 2025, the Rivers of America, including the Liberty Square River Boat and Tom Sawyer Island, are permanently closed to make way for the new Cars area, Piston Peak. There are lots of construction walls up in the area now, and the structures on Tom Sawyer Island have been demolished. Most recently, we saw some updates to the concrete on the land, as well as leveling taking place for the new attractions — how exciting!
Piston Peak construction
Piston Peak National Park will be replacing this area of the Magic Kingdom. Disney has not yet announced an opening date for the new Cars area, but we do know it will feature two brand-new attractions and be themed to look like a National Park.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Animation Courtyard
Animation Courtyard closed on September 25th, 2025, to make way for Walt Disney Studios. This new area was originally set to begin opening on May 26th, 2026, but opened earlier this week! Star Wars Launch Bay will be turned into The Magic of Disney Animation. This attraction will have you interacting and exploring with this fun take on Disney Animation headquarters, complete with the return of the Sorcerer Mickey hat!
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Magical Guides-Construction-Walt-Disney-Studios-Hollywood-Studios-Disney-World-Photo-Apr-14-2026-11-10-50-AM-5712-x-4284-1-700x525.jpg
Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat is back!
Currently, the only areas open are the new courtyard and the Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! show. This area will also feature a new Drawn to Wonderland indoor play area and the current Disney Jr. Play and Dance! show will be getting a makeover. It’ll turn into Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live, and we just recently got confirmed showtimes for the new experience, which will open on May 26th. Some of the walls have also recently been taken down, revealing more of the courtyard area!
Muppets Courtyard
Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo closed on June 8th, 2025, and Muppets Courtyard has been walled off for construction on the new Monsters, Inc. land. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano has been closed since May 11th, 2025. Most recently, we saw FOUR permits filed for different buildings inside this area, which is quite exciting. We also recently got some more aerial photos of the upcoming suspended roller coaster, which looks fantastic so far.
©Bioreconstruct
Don’t worry, the Muppets won’t be missing from Disney’s Hollywood Studios forever. The Muppets will be taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster this summer!
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will open on May 26th, 2026! This new ride will feature iconic Muppets like Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Gonzo, plus a brand-new soundtrack featuring Def Leppard, Kelly Clarkson, and Jennifer Hudson! Most recently, we’ve seen a lot of work being done on the guitar, which is now rainbow…
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
…and the front entrance is now painted gray/silver and has a new G-Force Records sign!
EPCOT
Refreshment Port
Refreshment Port located near the Canada Pavilion in EPCOT’s World Showcase closed for refurbishment on January 12th. We’ve heard nothing on it for months, but now, we know that when it reopens, it’ll become La Poutinerie!
La Poutinerie Concept Art ©Disney
The spot will be sponsored by Air Canada, and promises to deliver “a Canadian classic with a twist.” Disney hasn’t announced an opening date or a menu, but we’re hoping our favorite poutine will come back any day now!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Rafiki’s Planet Watch
On February 23rd, Disney temporarily closed Rafiki’s Planet Watch and the Wildlife Express, which takes guests over to this part of the park, to make way for the new Bluey attraction coming to the park for Cool KIDS’ SUMMER on May 26th. For the time being, you can still visit the Wilderness Explorer badge offerings, as well as a few character meet and greets, at the train station.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch is officially closed
Bluey’s Wild World will become a permanent addition to the park, where you can meet Bluey and Bingo, play games with them, and even pet animals from Australia in the petting zoo, Jumping Junction! It was recently announced that there will be a Virtual Queue required to experience the attraction, so keep that in mind when planning your visit.
DinoLand, USA
On February 2nd, DinoLand, USA officially closed to make way for the new Tropical Americas land, Pueblo Esperanza. Most recently, a new permit was filed for the new Encanto ride to install set elements, and nine new permits were filed today for electrical work.
©Disney || Tropical Americas Land coming to Animal Kingdom
This new land is shaping up nicely! It will have three new rides – a carousel featuring classic Disney animals, an Indiana Jones ride where you’ll explore a Mayan temple, and an Encanto ride that invites you into the Madrigal’s home! Most recently, we saw two new permits filed for the upcoming Indiana Jones ride!
Disney World Hotels
Boat Dock — Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Starting on May 11th, the Boat Dock at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort became unavailable for guests to use due to refurbishment.
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Magical Guides-_-Atmosphere-_-Polynesian-Village-_-Disney-World-Deluxe-Resort-Photo-May-11-2026-12-18-03-PM-5712-x-4284-700x525.jpg
The dock is closed!
Boat transportation is expected to be unavailable from now through June 5th, though construction on the dock as a whole will continue through late June. It’s not too bad, but this does mean the only way to get from the hotel to Magic Kingdom is to take the Monorail or walk.
Kiddie Pool Deck — Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney recently announced that the Kiddie Pool Deck at Disney’s Pop Century Resort will close for refurbishment beginning April 13th.
Kiddie Pool Deck
The previous timeline for reopening was the end of April, but now the Disney World website lists that the closure will begin on May 4th and continue through mid-May.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
This hotel has been undergoing refurbishments for quite some time now, but some sections of the hotel — specifically the porte cochere — will continue to undergo refurbishment through at least early 2027.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
We certainly hope it’ll actually reopen on this timeline — we’re a little tired of seeing construction all over this beautiful hotel!
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Currently, work is taking place all over Bay Lake Tower through Late 2027. Additionally, exterior elevator landing repairs will be taking place through late May 2026.
Bay Lake Tower
While currently no major closures are taking place due to this construction, it’s important to note you may see or hear construction during your stay.
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
For those looking to dine at this hotel, you need to know that the Turf Club Bar & Grill and Turf Club Lounge will both be under refurbishment from mid-March through mid-September 2026.
Turf Club Bar & Grill
In early April, the Turf Club Lounge will close for refurbishment and will reopen in early August. In the meantime, the Turf Club Bar & Grill will remain open with a pop-up bar serving a modified Lounge food and beverage menu. Then, from early to mid-August, the Turf Club patio will close for refurbishment, and finally, from mid-August through mid-September, the Turf Club Bar & Grill will be closed for refurbishment, but the Turf Club Lounge will be open.
Leisure Pools — Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Yacht Club and Disney’s Beach Club Resort are currently undergoing visible exterior maintenance. The maintenance could affect views and may require alternate routes at times. In addition, two of the resort’s leisure pools will close for routine maintenance.
Tidal Pool
At Disney’s Yacht Club, the Admiral leisure be will be closed for maintenance through early May 2026. At Disney’s Beach Club, the Tidal leisure pool will be closed for maintenance through early May 2026. Guests may see or hear construction work, but it will only be done during the daytime hours.
Yachtsman Steakhouse — Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
On May 11th, Yachtsman Steakhouse officially closed for refurbishment.
Yachtsman Steakhouse
The restaurant is expected to open sometime in early August, though no official date has been set.
Promenade Fine Art Gallery — Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Resort
The Promenade Fine Art Gallery closed its Disney’s BoardWalk location on October 20th, 2025. However, the Promenade Fine Art Gallery isn’t closing for good, and it will just be moving to a new location.
Promenade Fine Art Gallery
Most recently, Disney just filed permits for the BoardWalk titled “Project Amazon” and “Project Bubbles,” so it’s possible we could see some movement on these updates soon!
Jellyrolls — Disney’s BoardWalk
Jellyrolls at Disney’s BoardWalk officially closed on April 19th, 2025. This entertainment venue has provided our team with countless memories, and we know many others are also sad to see it close. Jellyrolls had its final farewell performance on April 19th. 2025 and closed its doors forever on Disney’s BoardWalk. What is to become of its former location, though? Well, there are now walls all up around the building, so work IS being done, but it’s not yet clear what will arrive in its place.
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Magical Guides-Construction-Jellyrolls-Boardwalk-Resort-Disney-World-Photo-May-19-2026-1-33-41-PM-8064-x-6048-700x525.jpg
Jellyrolls
Now, we know that Jellyrolls will be moving to a new location about 10 minutes away, and a grand opening is planned for late summer or fall 2026. We also know that the new location will have free parking, be closer to the space that the original Disney location was in, and allow people to be dropped off and picked up by rideshare services right at the front door.
We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest Disney World news, so stay tuned to Magical Guides!
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Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
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When is your next Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments!
