Walt Disney World ride closures into 2027: Tiana's Bayou Adventure, the Skyliner and three undated D23 projects

By entgrove · October 15, 2026

Walt Disney World's refurbishment calendar, as of October 9, adds a Vacation Fun closure from October 28, Tiana's Bayou Adventure from November 2 to December 17 and a Skyliner shutdown January 24 to 30, 2027. Spaceship Earth, Journey Into Imagination and the Expedition Everest Yeti fix are announced but have no closing dates.

Walt Disney World's ride refurbishment calendar is lighter than it has been in over a year, but a few new closures land between late October and January. The biggest projects announced at the 2026 D23 Expo, from Spaceship Earth at EPCOT to the Yeti at Animal Kingdom, still have no closing dates.

Magic Kingdom closures: the railroad, Tiana's and Carousel of Progress

Two routine refurbishments bracket the holidays at Magic Kingdom while Carousel of Progress stays closed for its reimagining.

• Railroad back October 30. The Walt Disney World Railroad is closed through October 29; the park calendar shows hours from October 30, though Disney's website bulletin still says November.
• Tiana's first refurbishment. Tiana's Bayou Adventure closes November 2 and is scheduled to reopen December 18, its first refurbishment since opening in 2024.
• Carousel of Progress. Closed since July 6 for a reimagining that moves its timeline forward 60 years; Disney said at D23 it returns in late spring 2027.
• Welcome show retired. The "Let the Magic Begin" morning welcome show at Cinderella Castle has been permanently retired.
• Recently reopened. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Big Top Souvenirs are both back open.

EPCOT: Spaceship Earth and Journey Into Imagination await dates

EPCOT's two biggest D23 announcements are reimaginings of Spaceship Earth and Journey Into Imagination, and neither has a closing date.

• Spaceship Earth. Disney announced at the 2026 D23 Expo that the EPCOT icon will be reimagined, without giving a closing date.
• Figment and Dreamfinder. The Journey Into Imagination reimagining reunites Figment with Dreamfinder, his partner from the original 1983 ride, also without a date.
• La Signature. The France pavilion perfume shop is closed and expected back later in 2026; Guerlain products are sold at Plume et Palette meanwhile.
• New and returning. Soarin' Across America debuted this summer for the U.S. 250th, La Poutinerie is open, and Impressions de France and the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along are back.

Disney has not said which of the two EPCOT reimaginings will start first. Impressions de France and the sing-along share one theater in the France pavilion, which reopened after a refresh.

Hollywood Studios: Vacation Fun pauses for Jollywood Nights

One theater closes for the holiday party season, while the Walt Disney Studios Lot and the Muppets coaster are now fully open.

• Vacation Fun closes. The Vacation Fun with Mickey and Minnie theater closes October 28 for use during Disney Jollywood Nights, as it has in recent years.
• Reopening unclear. Disney's notice says it is "planned to reopen later this year," but Jollywood Nights runs into early January 2027.
• Studios Lot open. The former Animation Courtyard, now the Walt Disney Studios Lot, fully debuted September 14 with The Magic of Disney Animation, Olaf Draws, Off the Page and Once Upon a Studio Theater.
• Muppets moved. MuppetVision 3D, PizzeRizzo and Mama Melrose's have closed, and the Muppets now star in Rock 'n' Roller Coaster on Sunset Boulevard.
• Monstropolis in 2027. A theater show, two restaurants and a shop open in the former Muppets Courtyard in 2027; the Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster follows later.

The new Magic of Disney Animation took over Star Wars Launch Bay, which had itself replaced the original Magic of Disney Animation. The Vacation Fun theater regularly doubles as flex space for passholder magnets and merchandise.

Animal Kingdom: the Yeti fix and Tropical Americas

Disney promised at D23 to bring Expedition Everest's Yeti back to life, while Dinoland USA is gone for good.

• Yeti repair coming. Disney announced at the 2026 D23 Expo that it will repair the Yeti, the giant figure fans call Disco Yeti because it has not worked properly in nearly a decade.
• No date yet. Disney has not given a closing date for Expedition Everest.
• Dinoland USA closed. Dinoland USA and DINOSAUR are permanently closed to make way for Tropical Americas.
• Tropical Americas 2027. The new land opens in 2027 with an Encanto ride on the former Primeval Whirl site and an Indiana Jones Adventure reimagined from DINOSAUR.
• Rafiki's Planet Watch. Bluey's Wild World debuted, and Conservation Station, the Wildlife Express Train and Jumping Junction, formerly Affection Section, reopened.

The Animation Experience at Conservation Station is the one piece of Rafiki's Planet Watch that did not come back.

Skyliner closes January 24 to 30, 2027, and Typhoon Lagoon is down for the season

Outside the theme parks, the Skyliner has its next two annual closures posted and one water park is closed.

• Skyliner 2027. The Disney Skyliner gondolas close January 24 through January 30, 2027 for routine annual work.
• Skyliner 2028. Disney has also posted January 24 through February 2, 2028 for the following year's refurbishment.
• Typhoon Lagoon closed. Typhoon Lagoon is closed for its seasonal refurbishment while Blizzard Beach stays open for 2026.
• Water park swap. Typhoon Lagoon usually reopens in winter and Blizzard Beach then closes ahead of spring or summer, though the switch date varies.

Our take. If your trip falls January 24 to 30, 2027, a Skyliner resort such as Caribbean Beach, Riviera or Pop Century loses its gondola link to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, so plan on buses that week.