UPDATED April 29, 2025

Okay, can we tell you how EXCITED we are about 2025 in Disney World? So much new stuff is coming throughout the year and we CANNOT WAIT.

Of course, we’ve got the traditional things we always look forward to like all the EPCOT Festivals (yes, EPCOT Festival of the Arts is a fave). We also love that time around Easter when we get to see the cool Easter Egg displays at the hotels. Then there’s Halloween and the holiday season — SO much to look forward to. However, there are some MAJOR changes happening around Disney World in 2025 that we’re also stoked about, so let’s chat about them!

If you are planning a 2025 Disney World trip, let our friends at Small World Vacations help! They can get you the best deals, work with you and your budget, and so much more!

Magic Kingdom

Lots of Construction

So Magic Kingdom will probably be one of the BUSIEST parks in 2025, and not with people, but with projects — a WHOLE lot will be going on. First off, Magic Kingdom is getting its biggest expansion YET with two new Cars rides in Frontierland AND a new Villains-themed land. You’ll see a lot of construction in 2025, especially around Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island (which are going away for the Cars expansion) and behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad for the new Villains land.

You’ll want to be prepared for that ahead of time if you’re visiting Magic Kingdom in 2025 because you may have to walk around all that construction during your trip.

I Use This Risky Parade Cheat Every December in Magic Kingdom, and I’m Finally Sharing My Secret

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is CLOSED for a Year

Another thing you’ll need to make note of is that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has CLOSED for the whole year as of January 6th, 2025. Yes, Disney has closed the popular ride for a yearlong refurbishment..

Of course, this closure could have something to do with all the construction happening BEHIND the ride as Disney builds its new Villains Land.

What a YEARLONG CLOSURE Means for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disney World

Virtual Queue CHANGE for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure officially opened in Disney World on June 28th, 2024, but now a MAJOR change has come to the attraction. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure previously operated with a Virtual Queue, instead of a standby line, to manage crowds.

But, as of February 25th, 2025, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has switched to a standby queue! This means you do NOT have to wake up early or stop in the middle of your park day to hopefully secure a spot in the queue, and instead, you can just walk up to wait in the line whenever you’d like.

Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern

A Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern will also be opening in late 2025 in Magic Kingdom. We don’t have a LOT of details yet about the new tavern, but it’s expected to extend the story of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. We also know the Barker Bird will be returning to take up residence at the new tavern.

Disney describes the tavern it as a “rambunctious watering hole will offer a welcoming haven for all pirate-kind, big and small, and everyone in between.”

Everything we know about the Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern so far

Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away

Something else to look forward to in 2025 in Magic Kingdom is a new nighttime parade. Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away will bring the magic of technology and light to Main Street, U.S.A. every night with a parade hosted by the Blue Fairy who will use her magic to bring “a star-kissed constellation of Disney dreams” to life.

The parade will feature characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios films such as Encanto, Frozen, and Peter Pan. Expect this new parade to debut in summer 2025.

Everything we know about Disney Starlight

EPCOT

New Test Track

Test Track closed in 2024 and is getting a reimagining. Yep, the ride is changing! We don’t know a lot about what Disney has planned for the ride, but we’ve been keeping an eye on the construction in EPCOT. Chevrolet will still be the ride’s sponsor and the new version will highlight the past, present, and future.

Disney also confirmed that Test Track’s new queue will feature six distinct exhibits that will celebrate vehicles, as well as the people behind the vehicles that will “usher in that next chapter in our collective journey.” The new Test Track will reopen in late 2025. 

What Will Disney World Change at Test Track? Here Are the 5 Biggest Theories

Spaceship Earth Lounge

In August 2024,  Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro announced a NEW tribute to Spaceship Earth coming to EPCOT: a Spaceship Earth LOUNGE is opening on June 4th, 2025! Get ready to visit GEO-82!

Disney shares the meaning of the name: “The name GEO-82 is a nostalgic nod to Spaceship Earth—which opened in 1982. At GEO-82, you’ll be immersed in the storied history and enduring legacy of this timeless EPCOT icon.”

The decor draws inspiration from “the ball’s” unique geometric sphere and hopes to offer a “zen space” to guests, filled with “rich textures and warm metallic tones, giving it a mysterious and elegant intimacy.”

Disney has also promised “delicious culinary creations” specially designed for the location! While we await specific menu details, Disney further shares that “Here, you can experience global flavors blended with culinary artistry in classic cocktails and small plates.”

You can check out a TON of menu highlights for GEO-82 HERE!

Please be aware that Disney has also stated that GEO-82 will require Advance Dining Reservations, and these will open on May 6th for dates starting June 4th, 2025. Additionally, GEO-82 will be exclusively for guests 21 years or older.

P.S. Oh! And the new GEO-82 Fireworks Experience will be part of the Enchanting Extras Collection, where you can watch Luminous: The Symphony of Us from inside the lounge!

Click HERE to check out the upcoming Spaceship Earth Lounge!!

Virtual Queue CHANGE for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

After officially being the longest-running Virtual Queue in Disney World ride history, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has switched to a standby queue.

As of February 25th, 2025, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT no longer requires guests to use a Virtual Queue in order to ride. Instead, you can join the regular standby queue anytime the ride is operating.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Construction

Hollywood Studios is making way for a new Monsters, Inc. land! Monsters, Inc. Land will be taking over what is currently the Grand Avenue south side of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This area is also home to the Muppets Courtyard.

To that end, a phased closure of the Grand Avenue area will begin in May. The last day you’ll be able to dine at Mama Melrose’s will be on May 10th. Following that, Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo will close on June 8th (with the last date to experience that attraction and restaurant will be June 7th). On June 8th, the Muppets Courtyard will be completely walled off and closed.

BUT this isn’t the end of The Muppets in Hollywood Studios. In fact, The Muppets will be moving to Sunset Boulevard and taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster! The Muppets will be the star of the show on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and will be teaming up with some of “music’s biggest stars for a rockin’ music festival.” 

Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After

It’s good to be bad, and Disney has suddenly figured out that all we’ve ever wanted was MORE villains in the parks! So in addition to the Villains land we’re getting in Magic Kingdom, a new Villains SHOW is coming to Hollywood Studios on May 27th, 2025, taking over the Sunset Showcase (where Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy was previously located). Get ready for Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After!

The show will feature a look into the “mysterious, reflective realm of the Magic Mirror” and will feature appearances by villains like Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, Maleficent, and more each “breaking through the glass” where they will take the stage to perform live! WE CAN’T WAIT.

The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure

Get ready to see “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” when it opens on May 27th, 2025! That’s right… Hollywood Studios is also getting a brand new Little Mermaid show that will replace the closed Voyage of the Little Mermaid show. 

The story will be retold almost entirely from Ariel’s point of view and will feature two songs that weren’t in the previous show: “Daughters of Triton” and “Kiss the Girl.” The show will feature live actors, puppets, digital animation, and even some live motion capture integrated together to fully replicate the underwater setting!

Check out the NEW Little Mermaid show!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Construction

Are you sensing a theme yet? Yep, Animal Kingdom is going to be having some major construction happening, too. That’s because Dinoland, U.S.A. is going away to make room for Pueblo Esperanza, a Tropical Americas-themed land that will have an Indiana Jones attraction PLUS an Encanto ride.

The closure of DinoLand will take place in phases, and the last day for TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures at Animal Kingdom was January 12th, 2025. 

Closing dates have not yet been announced for DINOSAUR, the Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, Dino-Bite Snacks, and Trilo-Bites; however, in December 2024, Disney shared the following specifically in regards to DINOSAUR: Disney has officially announced that “2025 is your year to visit before it goes extinct!” So, if you want to ride DINOSAUR at least one more time before it’s gone for good, make sure you plan a trip to Animal Kingdom in 2025.

When Is DINOSAUR Closing in Disney World?

A new Zootopia show

It’s Tough to be a Bug!, which presented inside the Tree of Life, is going away to be replaced by a brand new show, Zootopia: Better Zoogether! The new show will follow some of our fave Zootopia characters like Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, in a production that “will take guests on an adventure through different biomes seen in the film.”

Please be aware that the It’s Tough to Be a Bug! attraction, which was previously housed in the Tree of Life Theater is now officially closed at Animal Kingdom (as of March 17th, 2025) to make way for the new Zootopia show (for which an opening date is yet to be announced).

Learn more about the new Zootopia show!

Disney World Hotels

But, wait, we’re not done. Changes are coming to Disney World hotels, too.

Closures

Jellyrolls announced in February 2025 that it would be leaving Disney’s BoardWalk after 30 years of operation. And it’s final day in Disney World has come to pass: its final day of operation was Saturday, April 19th. 

This isn’t the end of Jellyrolls, it’s just the final night to experience this location at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. The bar has shared that they are “making a move,” and we will keep you posted if any further information is revealed.

Resort Construction and Refurbishments

The Grand Floridian lobby is getting a makeover! Disney Imagineers are approaching the updates carefully to maintain the “heart and story of the Grand Floridian, while adding fresh new life to the lobby for guests to enjoy,” and we just got a FIRST LOOK!

Disney Imagineers will refresh the lobby, staircase, and front desk and introduce a brand-new lobby bar. The lobby will feature brand-new carpeting with Victorian-inspired borders and scrollwork, “featuring hand-drawn florals inspired by turn-of-the-century botanical studies.”

Work has already begun in the lobby of Disney World’s flagship Resort.

It is anticipated to last through November 2025.

The VERY popular Stormalong Bay pool at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts is being refurbished from January through May 2025. It’s just a regular refurbishment, but that pool will be closed. Guests of both hotels can still swim at the Tidal, Admiral, and Dunes Cove leisure pools.

Speaking of Disney’s Yacht Club, some of the rooms are also being refurbished from January through May 2025, so you can expect to see and hear construction during the day.

Over at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Bay Lake Tower is also going through a complete refurbishment, which started in September 2024 and is expected to last for a year. That includes Bay Cove Pool, too.

Disney’s Port Orleans — French Quarter is also under construction. Select rooms are getting refurbished and the construction is expected to last through May 2025.

New DVC Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Disney’s all new Disney Vacation Club tower, Island Tower, just opened in December 2024, so we have to include it on the list because it will still be VERY new in 2025!

The 10-story tower features rooms perfect for groups of all sizes. It also have its own swimming pool, as well as a new eatery, Wailulu Bar & Grill.

EXPLORE Disney’s Polynesian’s NEW Island Tower in Disney World!

Disney World Lightning Lanes

Disney World rolled out Lightning Lane Premier Pass on October 30th, 2024. This inclusive option grants one-time entry into EVERY Lightning Lane entry in a given park for one price, eliminating the need to monitor Lightning Lane availability and make new Lighting Lane reservations throughout the day, and granting the ability to simply show up at an attraction and enter the Lightning Lane (as opposed to booking a specific time).

It was first launched as only available for purchase to anyone staying at a Disney World Deluxe Resort, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, and Shades of Green. Then it became available to all other Disney World Resort guests, and — as of January 21, 2025 — it is NOW available to ALL Disney World guests!

Guests staying at the Disney World hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, and Shades of Green can purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass up to 7 days in advance of their hotel stay for their entire length of stay (up to 14 days) starting at 7AM EST. Those who are NOT staying at a Disney World hotel or the other eligible hotels can purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass up to 3 days in advance of their visit starting at 7AM EST.

Learn all about Lightning Lane Premier Pass HERE!

Disney World Resort Hotel Guest Benefits

Free Water Parks Tickets

One of the best changes could be that you can get FREE water park tickets in 2025 if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel. The only caveat? The tickets are ONLY for the day you check into your hotel. But that could be a great first day activity if you arrive in Disney World early (like most of us do because we will absolutely get up at 4 AM to make an early flight to Orlando).

We also learned that if you book a split stay (staying at more than one Disney World hotel), you can get free water park tickets for BOTH stays, so double the tickets! This perk made its official debut on January 1st, 2025.

Check out HOW to redeem the 2025 Water Park Perk for Disney World Resort guests HERE!

So if you’re visiting Disney World in 2025, you’re going to see a LOT of changes with more on the way! We’ll do our best to keep you updated, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

The Disney World Lightning Lanes That Will Be Impossible To Get in 2025…and How To Get Them

What big Disney World change are you most excited about in 2025? Let us know in the comments!