Typhoon Lagoon Closes, the Railroad Goes Down September 28, and Tiana's Bayou Adventure Follows November 2

By entgrove · September 10, 2026

Four things guests plan around close at Walt Disney World between September 9 and November 2: Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, the Walt Disney World Railroad, Scat Cat's Club at Port Orleans French Quarter and Tiana's Bayou Adventure. Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress stays down until late spring 2027, and the full list covers every park, water park, resort hotel and transportation closure Disney has announced through 2028.

Typhoon Lagoon Closes, the Railroad Goes Down September 28, and Tiana's Bayou Adventure Follows November 2

Disney's Typhoon Lagoon closed on September 9 with no reopening date attached, and it is the first of four closures that land on Walt Disney World guests between now and early November. The Walt Disney World Railroad goes down September 28, Scat Cat's Club at Port Orleans French Quarter follows on October 6, and Tiana's Bayou Adventure closes November 2. Here is the full refurbishment picture across the four parks, the water parks, the resort hotels and transportation.

Four things guests plan around close at Walt Disney World between September 9 and November 2: Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, the Walt Disney World Railroad, Scat Cat's Club at Port Orleans French Quarter and Tiana's Bayou Adventure. Photo: wdw-magazine.com

Closing Between Now and November

September 9: Disney's Typhoon Lagoon — closed, reopening date TBA
September 18: All-Star pool bars begin phased refurbishment
September 28: Walt Disney World Railroad — expected back in November
October 6: Scat Cat's Club Café and Lounge, Port Orleans French Quarter
November 2: Tiana's Bayou Adventure — expected back in December

Magic Kingdom Refurbishments and Closures

Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress closed on July 6, 2026 and will not be back until late spring 2027. This is not a routine touch-up: the attraction is getting refreshed scenes, updated Audio-Animatronics and a new Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic figure. Disney has not put a date on the reopening beyond that season.

An animatronic man with a dog in a 1920s-era kitchen with early electric appliances and wires running across the walls — An animatronic man with a dog in a 1920s-era kitchen with early electric appliances, wires running across the walls, and a window in the background.

The Walt Disney World Railroad closes on September 28, 2026 for routine refurbishment, with Disney currently expecting it back in November. The train has already been running short of its usual self — construction in Frontierland has forced a modified shuttle route between the Main Street, U.S.A. and Fantasyland stations rather than the full circle of the park.

The front and side of a red and black steam locomotive, number 1, at a train station platform — The front and side of a red and black steam locomotive, number 1, with a driver in the cab, sitting at a train station platform.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure closes for routine refurbishment on November 2, 2026 and is expected to reopen sometime in December, though Disney has not named a day. For a headliner that draws long queues, a November closure is the gentlest window available before the holiday crowds arrive.

An animatronic of Princess Tiana in a green dress and crown beside Prince Naveen playing a ukulele, in a setting adorned with flowers and ribbons — An animatronic of Princess Tiana in a green dress and crown, and Prince Naveen playing a ukulele, in a setting adorned with flowers and ribbons.

Two long-term projects also shape the park. Piston Peak National Park, the Cars-themed area rising in Frontierland, is under construction with no opening date announced; Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat closed permanently in July 2025 to make room. It will hold two attractions: Cars Ridge Run Rally, an off-road adventure through the mountains, and Miss Fritter's Daredevil Spin-Along, a family demolition derby. Beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a Disney Villains-inspired land remains in development with no construction timeline or opening date.

Disney's Hollywood Studios Refurbishments and Closures

The news at Hollywood Studios is an opening rather than a closure. The Magic of Disney Animation opens September 14, 2026 inside the former Star Wars: Launch Bay building, as part of the Walt Disney Studios Lot area that replaced Animation Courtyard. Two other pieces of that reimagined area — Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! and The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure — are already running.

A wide shot shows the exterior of a building with a large blue conical structure featuring a white crescent moon and stars, and a sign that reads "ANIMATION" in silver letters, under a clear blue sky. Photo: Blog Mickey

Monstropolis is the long project here. Muppets Courtyard closed permanently in 2025 to make way for the Monsters, Inc.-themed land, which will include the first suspended roller coaster at a Disney park, built around the door-vault sequence from the film. Construction is underway and the land opens in phases, with the first phase planned for 2027.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Refurbishments and Closures

The former DinoLand U.S.A. is becoming Pueblo Esperanza, the centrepiece of the new Tropical Americas land, scheduled to open in 2027. DinoLand U.S.A., including DINOSAUR, is permanently closed. The land draws on Central America, northern South America and parts of Mexico, and will include:

A new Encanto attraction set inside the Madrigal family's magical casita
An original Indiana Jones adventure inside a Maya temple
El Carrusel de los Animalitos, featuring 22 carved animals
A Maya-inspired children's play area
New dining, shopping, character and entertainment experiences

Expedition Everest is the one to watch. Disney has announced plans to bring the Yeti back to life, but has not said when the attraction will close, how long the work will take, or when the restored figure will debut. Until a closure date appears, Everest keeps running — and any guest with a 2027 trip in mind should treat it as a ride that could vanish from the schedule at short notice.

EPCOT Refurbishments and Closures

EPCOT is the quiet park this season: no major ride refurbishments are currently scheduled. Soarin' Across America debuted on May 26, 2026, replacing Soarin' Around the World for the United States' 250th anniversary, so the film swap that dominated the park's schedule earlier in the year is finished and open.

Water Park Closures

Disney's Typhoon Lagoon closed on September 9, 2026, and Disney has not announced when it will reopen. Disney's Blizzard Beach stays open through the closure — the resort rotates its two water parks so one can take seasonal maintenance while the other keeps operating, which means a water park day is still possible, just not the one with the surf pool.

Water park dates and hours are the most weather-sensitive thing on the property, so check the calendar the morning of a planned visit rather than the week before.

Disney Resort Hotel Refurbishments

Most of these projects mean construction noise, obstructed views, a closed amenity or an alternate walking route rather than a closed hotel. Nearly every resort below stays open throughout.

All-Star Movies: guest room refurbishment through January 2027; visible and audible construction, occasional alternate walking routes.
All-Star Resorts (Movies, Music, Sports): pool bars refurbished in phases from September 18, 2026 through early July 2027, with only one closed at a time.
Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House: guest rooms under refurbishment from May 2026 through January 2027; most amenities remain available.
Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village: phased lobby work through early November 2026. Through October 9 the main lobby and primary entrance are closed and check-in moves to the Palace Library; Johari Treasures is closed through late September; September 28–October 9 takes out the north lobby corridor, second-floor north elevators and outdoor terrace observation deck; October 26–November 6 takes out the south lobby corridor, Community Hall, Safari So Good Arcade, laundry room, Palace Library, lobby restrooms and the observation deck.
Art of Animation: guest rooms from mid-June 2027 through October 2028, one themed section at a time.
Beach Club Resort and Villas: exterior maintenance at the Resort through late 2027, affecting views and walking routes; the Villas lobby is under phased maintenance through mid-September 2026.
BoardWalk Inn and Villas: work in select areas through 2027. From January 11 through April 2027, Luna Park Pool, the Luna Park Crazy Play Area and Leaping Horse Libations close; the Villas Pool and Inn Pool stay open. New on the BoardWalk: Hurly-Burly opens October 1, 2026, Basin on the BoardWalk arrives in late 2026, and a new quick-service restaurant has no date yet.
Caribbean Beach: exterior painting and column repairs at Barbados buildings 31, 32 and 33 through early February 2027; the Fuentes del Morro Pool slides are serviced one at a time from September 8 through late September 2026, leaving one open.
Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower: phased work through late 2027 covering Bay Lake Tower, the Main Tower atrium and the Main Tower exterior; expect daytime noise, impacted views and alternate routes.
Coronado Springs: Casitas Building 1 courtyard concrete replacement through late September 2026; the Convention Center, El Centro corridor and surrounding areas under phased refurbishment through late September 2027.
Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground: a new pool is being added near the Meadow Swimmin' Pool and the tennis court is being refreshed for tennis and pickleball. Both existing pools stay open. Sidewalk work along Big Pine Trail continues through October 2026, and Loop 700 (Cinnamon Fern Way) is closed for utility work through late September 2026.
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: the covered entrance and porte cochere are under renovation through early 2027. Grand Floridian Cafe is closed through October 2026, with brunch moving to Cítricos.
Old Key West: Hospitality House exterior maintenance through late September 2026; Sassagoula River Cruise service is suspended; Lake Buena Vista Golf Course is closed for renovation through October 2026, which may affect room views.
Polynesian Village Resort and Villas & Bungalows: work in select areas through late 2026, including a reconfiguration of the front entrance roadway and bus area. Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace is closed through late October 2026, and the monorail beam in front of Island Tower gets overnight cleaning through November 9, 2026. Most restaurants and pools stay open.
Port Orleans French Quarter: Scat Cat's Club – Café and Scat Cat's Club – Lounge close October 6, 2026. The café is expected back in December and the lounge in January 2027. Beignets and coffee stay available at Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory, and a temporary evening bar operates near the café.
Port Orleans Riverside: guest rooms under phased refurbishment through August 2027, with the lobby taking its turn from early October through early December 2026. Disney confirms the room project on its own Port Orleans Resort – Riverside page.
Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa: phased work through fall 2026 including the Treehouse Villas; porte cochere and covered walkway maintenance through late November 2026; the Turf Club Bar & Grill closed through late September 2026 with the Turf Club Lounge open; tennis courts closed through November 2026.
Wilderness Lodge and Copper Creek Villas & Cabins: exterior work through late 2026 and an expanded security kiosk through mid-October 2026, with lane closures possible. Copper Creek Springs Pool closes January 10 through April 2028.
Yacht Club: routine exterior maintenance through late 2026; valet, luggage assistance and transportation all keep running.

A vertical maroon sign with a cartoon of a man playing a trombone and the words "SCAT CATS CLUB" hangs from an awning, partially obscured by blue poles. Photo: Blog Mickey

One entry on the list is not a refurbishment at all. Disney Lakeshore Lodge, a new Disney Vacation Club resort, is under construction on Bay Lake and is scheduled to open July 1, 2027.

Transportation Closures

The Disney Skyliner takes its annual refurbishment from January 24 through January 30, 2027, with complimentary bus service replacing it for affected resorts. Disney has already posted a second closure a year later, from January 24 through February 2, 2028. The Skyliner serves Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, Riviera, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios — so a January stay at any of those four hotels means buses to two parks.

Our hotel in Walt Disney World. Photo: HarshLight from San Jose, CA, USA via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

The Sassagoula River Cruise between Old Key West and Disney Springs is suspended for work along the route, with no announced return date. Buses run between the two in the meantime.

The Buzz

Refurbishment lists move fast in September, and this one moved twice in a week: Typhoon Lagoon shut its gates the same week the Railroad's closure date was confirmed and Scat Cat's Club got an October date. Guests booking late-autumn trips are recalculating around four closures inside eight weeks, and the Carousel of Progress — down until late spring 2027 for a rebuild that adds a new Walt Disney figure — has become the one people ask about most.

Four Closures in Eight Weeks, and One Date Disney Still Owes Guests

Between September 9 and November 2, four things guests actually plan around go away: a water park, a park-circling train, a French Quarter lounge and a Magic Kingdom headliner. Three of the four have expected return windows — the Railroad in November, Tiana's Bayou Adventure in December, Scat Cat's Café in December and its lounge in January. Typhoon Lagoon is the outlier: closed as of September 9 with nothing announced about when it comes back.

Mardi Gras decorations hang from the ceiling of a building with visible ceiling beams, including a jester figure, a crown, and large beads. Photo: Jared via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Schedules move. Disney extends, shortens and cancels planned work, and attractions go down unexpectedly on any given morning. Check the official Walt Disney World calendar and the My Disney Experience app in the days before a visit rather than trusting a list written weeks out — including this one.