Well, Disney just made it through, arguably, their hardest week of the year. AKA, the week where they jack up the prices on practically everything in Disney World, we all complain about it, and then the vast majority of us decide the magic is worth it and keep paying said prices as our wallets sob in despair.

This year, though, Disney really doubled down on distracting all of us from the price increases by dropping TONS of news and updates. Did it work? Well, our team was certainly busy keeping up with it all, but we’ll let you make the final call on how successfully they distracted you.

This past week, we saw numerous new booths open up at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, which was a pretty successful distraction at the start of the week, but that was before price increases dropped. The Diamond Horseshoe also officially opened in its new pop-up restaurant format, bookings opened up for Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge, and we saw an entire new store open up in Disney Springs. The changes don’t stop there, either. Let’s take a look at what you need to expect in terms of closures and ongoing construction in Disney World from October 9th through October 16th.

Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World Railroad

The Walt Disney World Railroad temporarily closed on September 28th for reasons that Disney hasn’t released. Fortunately, the closure isn’t expected to last long.

Disney has listed that the train should reopen on October 30th, so we’ll only have to go without it for about a month. When it reopens, though, a reminder that it’ll only be running from Main Street to Fantasyland and back, as the Frontierland station is closed due to construction happening in Villains Land and Piston Peak.

Carousel of Progress

Carousel of Progress closed on July 6th to undergo a major refurbishment. The work will include completely revamping the scenes in the attraction to make them more modern and represent more recent parts of history, as well as adding a new Walt Disney animatronic at the opening.

Currently, the attraction is set to reopen in 2027, though no official date has been set yet.

Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island

An iconic part of the Magic Kingdom is now permanently closed. As of July 7th, 2025, the Rivers of America, including the Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island, are permanently closed to make way for the new Cars area, Piston Peak. There are lots of construction walls up in the area now, and the structures on Tom Sawyer Island have been demolished. Most recently, we saw some pretty great updates to the progress on the site!

Piston Peak National Park will be replacing this area of the Magic Kingdom. Disney has not yet announced an opening date for the new Cars area, but we do know it will feature two brand-new attractions and be themed to look like a National Park.

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Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Muppets Courtyard

Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo closed on June 8th, 2025, and Muppets Courtyard has been walled off for construction on the new Monsters, Inc. land. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano has been closed since May 11th, 2025. Most recently, Disney released new information about Monstropolis, saying that “Monstropolis — the monster city now powered by laughter — is getting ready to give humans a glimpse of what’s been hidden from their world for generations. Which raises an interesting question: if humans were never meant to enter the monster world … why are the doors finally opening to us?”

We’ll get to explore their world during H.U.M.A.N. Day, or “Humans Understand Monsters Are Nice” Day, with Disney continuing to say, “Human guests will have the chance to explore the city, meet its citizens, taste unique cuisine, and step into the everyday world of monsters in a totally new way. For the first time, two worlds once separated are meeting face to scaly, furry, and fang-filled face – brought together not by screams, but by laughter.”

It’s also been fully confirmed that Harryhausen’s will be one of the restaurants in the new land, in addition to Archie’s Square Pig Pizza. Most recently, we got a look at some of the new food coming to the land, and we’ve gotta say, we’re pretty excited!

If you’re missing The Muppets, you can go visit them at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets right now!

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EPCOT

Coral Reef Restaurant

Coral Reef, one of the most controversial restaurants in all of Disney World, closed for refurbishment on September 8th.

The Disney World website recently adjusted to allow guests to begin booking reservations again on November 4th and beyond, which we’re now considering the reopening date, unless Disney tells us differently.

La Signature

La Signature, one of the stores located in the France Pavilion, closed for refurbishment on June 30th.

The store specializes in French cosmetics and fragrances from Guerlain. During the closure, if you’re looking to buy Guerlain products, they’ll be temporarily available at the nearby Plume Et Palette.

Sections of Germany Pavilion

On July 13th, both the guest bathrooms in the Germany Pavilion and the majority of the Volkskunst store in EPCOT’s Germany Pavilion closed for refurbishment. The roof of Das Kaufhaus is also under refurbishment.

While a Cast Member did tell us the store closure was to fix the Cast Member bathrooms out of sight, Disney has not revealed a reopening date for the store or the public bathrooms. Other parts of the pavilion are also seeing construction and refurbishment, but are not causing additional closures.

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Disney’s Animal Kingdom

DinoLand, USA

On February 2nd, DinoLand, USA, officially closed to make way for the new Tropical Americas land, Pueblo Esperanza. Most recently, we noticed that large cranes are in the area to adjust the roofs of existing buildings, likely to keep them in theme.

We can also see lots of work happening at the front of the new Indiana Jones ride, Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent! Recently, we got an updated look at the new Indiana Jones ride, which looks like it’s coming along well!

This new land will have three new rides: El Carrusel de los Animalitos featuring classic Disney animals, Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent where you’ll explore a Mayan temple, and Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto that invites you into the Madrigals’ home. We can’t wait to continue to see how it all shapes up.

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Disney World Hotels

Disney’s Port Orleans — French Quarter

Scat Cat’s Club and Lounge at Disney’s Port Orleans — French Quarter officially closed for refurbishment on October 6th. Don’t worry, you can still grab the iconic beignets next door at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory

Additionally, to make up for the lack of drinks at the lounge, a temporary bar will be available near the cafe from 5 PM to 11 PM each night. When it comes to reopening, the cafe is set to be closed till December and the Lounge until January, though Disney hasn’t released official dates.

All-Star Sports Resort

Disney quietly announced that Grandstand Spirits Pool Bar is closing for a refurbishment. It closed on September 18th and is expected to last through mid-December 2026.

During the closure, we recommend you swing by End Zone Food Court, just a short walk away from the pool, to snag your eats and drinks.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

There are numerous closures taking place around Animal Kingdom Lodge over the next few months that may affect your vacation.

• August 17th through October 9th: The main lobby and primary entrance will be closed. Check-in will move to the Palace Library during this time.
• September 28th through October 9th: The north side lobby corridor will be closed. During this time, the north side lobby elevators on the second floor and the outdoor terrace observation deck will be unavailable.
• October 26th through November 6th: The south side lobby corridor will be closed. During this time, Community Hall, Safari So Good Arcade, the laundry room, the Palace Library, lobby restrooms, and the outdoor terrace observation deck will be unavailable.

Convention Center and El Centro Corridor — Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Beginning on August 10th, the Convention Center at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort began a planned refurbishment that is expected to last through September 2027.

Additionally, the hotel’s El Centro Corridor and surrounding areas will also undergo refurbishment tied to the convention center refurbishment. While there’s no end date for this construction project, we do know that work will be completed in phases, with certain spaces being temporarily inaccessible at times.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

This hotel has been undergoing refurbishments for quite some time now, but some sections of the hotel — specifically the porte cochere — will continue to undergo refurbishment through at least early 2027.

We certainly hope it’ll actually reopen on this timeline — we’re a little tired of seeing construction all over this beautiful hotel!

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Currently, work is taking place all over Bay Lake Tower through Late 2027.

While currently no major closures are taking place due to this construction, it’s important to note that you may see or hear construction during your stay.

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort

The tennis courts at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort are currently closed for refurbishment.

While Disney hasn’t shared an exact reopening date, the current timeline is that they’ll be closed from late August through November 2026.

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Resort

The Promenade Fine Art Gallery closed its Disney’s Boardwalk location on October 20th, 2025. However, the Promenade Fine Art Gallery isn’t closing for good, and it will just be moving to a new location.

Disney filed permits for the Boardwalk titled “Project Amazon” and “Project Bubbles” earlier this year, and now that we have a bit more information on them, we’re thinking that this currently vacant spot could soon become the home of the new Basin on the Boardwalk store on its way! The shop will be rooted in the resort’s classic boardwalk heritage and will offer a sensory shopping experience that is described as “both timeless and distinctly new.”

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We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest Disney World news, so stay tuned to DFB!

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When is your next Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments!