Walt Disney World is constantly changing its refurbishment schedule, making it difficult for guests to keep up with the operating schedules and latest news regarding their favorite attractions.
Here are four big, upcoming changes that are either confirmed by their respective parks or at the least very strongly rumored for the very near future
Status: Confirmed
Dates: April 14, 2016 – July 16 – 2016
It has been confirmed that some more immediate changes in Frontierland are about to take place: Big Thunder Mountain will go down for a lengthy three month refurbishment next spring. While we don’t know exactly what changes will be taking place during this time, considering the length of the refurbishment we’d expect some pretty big ones. Some fans are probably hoping that Big Thunder Mountain at the Magic Kingdom will be getting upgrades similar to those that came to Disneyland in 2014 (which included new track, projection effects and a complete overhaul of the third lift show scene). However, the Disneyland refurbishment lasted over a year, and it seems unlikely that such sweeping changes would come to Big Thunder Mountain at the Magic Kingdom in a much shorter amount of time.
Status: Confirmed
Dates: July 7, 2016 – September 25, 2016
It looks like Disney is ready to do something with the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, as this attraction will be going down for a lengthly, 10 week refurbishment late next summer. One thing that definitely isn’t happening? Destruction. Though many have been calling for this attraction to be removed and replaced over the years, the fact that the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse even has a refurbishment date at all shows that Disney is definitely keeping this attraction around for the foreseeable future, at least in some form.
It’s a Small World 
Status: Confirmed
Dates: August 22, 2016 – September 16, 2016
It’s a Small World goes down periodically for refurbishment every few years while the dolls are cleaned up, sets are re-decorated and the entire ride is spruced up. And while that may be what’s happening when the ride goes down for refurbishment at the tail end of next summer. It’s not unreasonable to hope that there might be something a little extra coming to this attraction later next year. It would be great to see this attraction get some well-deserved attention once it returns from
Status: Rumored
Pirates of the Caribbean recently returned from an extensive refurbishment. And for the most part, the results were pretty amazing, bringing updated animatronics, re-dressed characters, better lighting and more to the attraction, making it look better than it has in years. One contoversial change was the slowing of the slide in the first third of the ride, the slower drop has had the unintended effect of causing a huge splashdown, causing the boats to take on water, which ends up pooling in the bottom of the boat which must be drained periodically throughout the day.
Here is the list of Magic Kingdom refurbishments and closings. All refurbishments and closings are subject to change without notice.
- Monorail
SERVICE CHANGE Now through December 2015
- Liberty Tree Tavern
CLOSED Now through Nov. 19
- The Diamond Horseshoe
CLOSED Now through Nov. 19
- Walt Disney Railroad
CLOSED Oct. 12-Nov. 20
- Disney’s The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour
CLOSED Oct. 12-Nov. 20
- Peter Pan’s Flight
CLOSED Nov. 3-Nov. 9
- Splash Mountain
CLOSED Jan. 10-Jan. 14
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
CLOSED Jan. 18-Feb. 11
Though there is plenty of construction happening on new attractions at Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, it looks like the Magic Kingdom will be getting some attention as well, albeit on improvements to existing attractions. What changes to existing attractions at the Magic Kingdom would you like to see?
