Disney World Attractions You Need to Experience Before They Close to Change

Big changes are coming to some of the most beloved attractions at Walt Disney World. Some of the most well-known attractions across Disney World are either getting a makeover or closing for good in the near future. We now have new information on closure dates and periods for these rides.

Even though there are some big changes coming, there is still time to experience these attractions before they undergo these changes or are replaced with new attractions. Below, we list several Disney World attractions that are either experiencing a change or closing in the near future. At Mickey Visit we bring you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including the recent big announcement of dates for Disney World and new rides at Disneyland.

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1. Frozen Ever After

Since its inception to EPCOT’s Norway pavilion in 2016, Frozen Ever After has been an extremely popular attraction. Replacing the once beloved Maelstrom, Frozen Ever After has been a fan favorite. In early 2026, Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff will be getting a makeover.

Currently, the attraction uses projected faces on its Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff Audio-Animatronics. As part of the refurbishment, these animatronics will soon be receiving new, fully sculpted heads and facial features to improve the realistic effects of the ride.

This is already a popular ride and these changes will only enhance the popularity of and demand of this attraction. Frozen Ever After carries an average wait time of 45-60+ minutes and these advancements in animatronics will draw even more of a crowd to the ride.

We now have a closing date for the ride for this addition and opening period. Here’s the information directly from Disney –

Frozen Ever After will temporarily close for refurbishment January 26, 2026 and reopen in February 2026 with updates to Anna, Elsa and Kristoff Audio-Animatronics figures.

2. DINOSAUR

With the transition of Animal Kingdom’s DinoLand U.S.A. to the new Tropical Americas land, DINOSAUR will be closing its doors for good on February 2, 2026. Since 1998 (then known as Countdown to Extinction), DINOSAUR has served as a staple of DinoLand U.S.A., but with the land’s retheming, Disney looked to change the ride.

A new version of Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Adventure attraction will be replacing DINOSAUR. Other DinoLand U.S.A. attractions and eateries, such as Restaurantosaurus, will be permanently closing along with Dinosaur on February 2, 2026. With the permanent closing of DinoLand U.S.A. and specifically, Dinosaur, guests may want to experience this ride one more time before it is gone forever. Having been a popular opening day attraction with the park on April 22, 1998, many guests today have grown up with this ride.

3. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Since 1999, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith has been a staple of Disney’s Hollywood Studios (known as Disney’s MGM Studios when the attraction was built). Set to close for the renovation after the end of 2025 (we don’t have an exact date yet!), Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will transition its musical act from one set of stars to another.

Scheduled to open in Summer 2026 and as of now scheduled to close Spring 2026, The Muppets and the Band, Electric Mayhem, will be taking center stage as the new theming for the high-speed coaster.

With the change of musical stylings from Aerosmith to the Muppets, guests can expect increased wait times (especially with the closing of Muppets Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios) for the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster attraction. Regardless of the likely increased wait times, guests may want to experience Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith one more time as this attraction carries sentimental value for many guests as this ride paved the way for many of Disney’s thrill ride and roller coaster attractions into the 21st century.

We also just got news that they are already starting on the permanent removal of Aerosmith from the roller coaster.

4. Carousel of Progress

First announced at Destination D23 2025, a change is coming to Carousel of Progress, located in Tomorrowland of Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park. Originally debuted at the 1964 New York World’s Fair and later moved to Disneyland before finding its forever home at Walt Disney World in 1975, this attraction has depicted Walt’s vision like no other, demonstrating technological advances and Disney’s hope for a better and brighter future.

Guests will soon get to experience Walt Disney himself as part of the attraction thanks to audio-animatronic technology. As time goes on, the fascination with the incredible life happenings of Walt Disney and his popularity only continue to grow. Guests will now get to experience an up front and personal encounter with Walt with this addition to the ride. This addition to Carousel of Progress embraces the heart of Walt’s ambition in that all things Disney will keep progressing as time goes on.

5. Soarin’

Originally debuted in 2001 as Soarin’ Over California and then updated to Soarin’ Around the World in 2016, today’s Soarin’ attraction will soon be updated to Soarin’ Across America to commemorate the U.S.’s 250th birthday. Using IMAX screen projecting aerial footage, the original attraction was one of the first of its kind. While Soarin’ Across America is sure to not disappoint, the change from exploration of the global landscape to that of America is a big change.

The historic views of the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower, and the pyramids of Egypt will soon be a distant memory, at least temporarily, so guests may want to relive Soarin’ Around the World before it switches.

The Soarin’ attraction has been a guest favorite at both Disney’s California Adventure as well as Walt Disney World for a quarter century now, and while there is no current closure date for this update, Disney has announced that the newest attraction will debut Memorial Day 2026.

We anticipate that we will eventually see both Soarin’ Over California and Soarin’ Around the World again at EPCOT. Though the Soarin’ Around the World film has been the main film playing since it debuted, Disney has made surprise appearances with Soarin’ Over California. I assume we’ll see something similar here.

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