Disney World Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, Closing Attractions, And I’m Worried The Resort is Going Too Far

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Last summer, as a D23 attendee, I found myself in the Honda Center, where Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro unveiled an exceptionally ambitious blueprint for fresh attractions at Walt Disney World. The sheer volume of new rides and experiences he detailed is nothing short of astounding. When all these changes are implemented, Disney World will undergo a significant transformation, undoubtedly leaving a truly remarkable impression.

Absolutely, the advantage of having so many new attractions opening at Disney World is undeniable. However, the trade-off is that some beloved classic attractions are being closed down. We’ve had a sense for a while which ones were under threat, and now we have a clearer picture of when these cherished experiences will be shutting down. It appears that it’s all happening rather quickly.

It’s Tough To Be A Bug Is The Latest Disney World Attraction To Announce Its Shut Down

Fans of Disney World who were still processing the news about the Muppets Courtyard closing in June are now faced with another blow: It’s Tough To Be A Bug, the 4D theater show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is set to close permanently on March 16. This follows the earlier announcement that the show would be replaced by a Zootopia-themed show called “Zootopia: Better Together.” The final performances of It’s Tough To Be A Bug will take place on March 16, and the transformation into the new show begins the day after.

At Disney Animal Kingdom, “A Bug’s Life” isn’t the only attraction that’s closed. A significant portion of Dinoland U.S.A. is already shut down as they prepare to turn it into a new Tropical Americas area. Add to that the closure of the Muppets area and the planned transformation of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom into a Cars-themed area (which should be announced and started soon), and there will be a lot of construction sites in Disney World all happening simultaneously. It might get a bit overwhelming.

Disney World Is Going To Be Covered In Construction Walls

For the past five years, Epcot enthusiasts have faced challenges due to extensive renovations at Disney World. Nearly half of the park has been under reconstruction, with walls frequently appearing and disappearing as Test Track undergoes a significant transformation. However, when Test Track is set to reopen later this year, Epcot might be the only park without any construction barriers within it.

Initially, when Disney unveiled these extensive plans, I assumed that it would take almost a full decade for them to be fully realized. I thought each significant overhaul would be finished before another one began. However, it seems like we might be entering a phase where a large chunk of Disney World will simultaneously be under renovation.

On a positive note, starting the work immediately means we’ll wrap things up sooner. This implies that some of the new attractions will be available much faster than I initially anticipated, but it seems like the upcoming months or years might be quite challenging before we reach that point. Despite understanding the need for haste, this accelerated pace could make visits to Walt Disney World in the near future feel somewhat incomplete.

Although slowing down the pace of work might limit the extent of the resort areas temporarily shuttered at any given time, it seems inevitable that construction in Frontierland will commence shortly. This could potentially lead to entire lands within three distinct parks being closed during the bustling summer season, which is far too extensive a disruption to handle all at once.

In just a flash, compared to other things, the closing of “It’s Tough to be a Bug” is imminent. Specifically, it’s due to end in March. Meanwhile, we anticipate that a fresh production will debut before the year comes to an end.

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2025-02-05 00:07