List: Disney Parks Attractions Closing in 2023

Every year Disney’s attractions are closed for routine “refurbishment.” This is quite a normal part of keeping the rides clean and safe. However, there are notably more closures than many expected.

The following is the complete list of closures as well as reopenings and well-overdue unveilings. Please be sure to check back in for more updates as we find out about them.

Walt Disney World Resort

Magical Kingdom Ride Closures in 2023

• The Entire Magical Kingdom will close early on January 31, 2023. Doors shutter at 4:30 pm. This is likely not for refurbishment but for a Cast Member/Private event.
• Splash Mountain (Closing January 23, 2023) – The hugely controversial closure is official. January 22 is the last day to ride the log flume, find your laughing place and sing “Zip-a-dee-doo-dah.”  The ride is falling into further disrepair, with Guests documenting multiple break-downs and even a boat sinking. Luckily in 2024, the mountain will return as ‘Tiana’s Bayou Adventure,” a ride based on the popular franchise, The Princess and The Frog.

Read More: Splash Mountain Will Be Gone For Good 

• Walt Disney World Railroad: Closed in 2018, Reopened December 23, 2022 – Magic Kingdom Park closed the train back in 2018 in order for the new Tron ride to be built. Because the coaster crosses the railroad track at a crucial tunnel intersect, Disney had to wait until construction on the tunnel portion was completed before cautiously reopening the train to the public on December 23, 2022. For many Guests who had reported several documented instances of the train making test runs leading up to the long-awaited reopening, the railroad’s return couldn’t come soon enough. While it did open ahead of the tentative Spring 2023 targeted time frame, its four-year decommission lasted far longer than anyone initially expected.
• Tron Lightcycle Run: Opening Spring 2023 – Despite the return of the Walt Disney World Railroad, this new roller coaster ride, which was essentially the main reason for the aforementioned having ceased operations for a time, has been under construction for four years. Its long-awaited release will hopefully be announced soon since multiple test runs have already been spotted.
• Enchanted Tales With Belle (Closed 2020 – TBD) – There is still no official announcement for when we may expect this interactive experience with Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast to return to full operations as an engaging attraction. At the moment the space is being used solely for character Meet and Greets with Belle.
• Happily Ever After Fireworks (Returning Spring 2023) – After having been replaced with a new nighttime spectacular, “Disney Enchantment” back in 2021, we now have official confirmation that Disney’s “Happily Ever After” will in fact be returning to the Magic Kingdom, likely sometime during the Spring 2023 season. “Disney Enchantment” will wrap up on March 31, 2023. The former will again take over some time after.
• Tinker Bell Meet and Greet (Closed Indefinitely) – This has been closed ever since the pandemic. Unfortunately, as of October 2022, it was quietly removed from the Disney World website.

For more: Is Tinker Bell Problematic? 

EPCOT Rides Closing in 2023

• Moana: Journey of Water (Opening Late 2023) – The long-awaited attraction has been a part of a significant EPCOT reworking. It will open in the World Nature neighborhood sometime in late 2023. Work has steadily progressed in the area, including the arrival of a 16-ft tall Te Fiti!
• Disney Harmonious (March 31, 2023) – EPCOT’s nighttime spectacular “Harmonious” will be permanently closing by the end of March 2023. It will be replaced with a new show we do not yet have details about but is currently being termed “EPCOT Nighttime Show.”
• EPCOT Seas Adventure Tours (Set to Close January 13, 2023- Mid-March) – Both water-based adventures, DiveQuest and Dolphins in Depth, will be closed for refurbishment.

Animal Kingdom Closures in 2023

• DinoLand (Closures on Attractions TBD) – Parks Director Josh D’Amaro (and potential future CEO) announced at the 2022 D23 Expo that the Animal Kingdom’s dinosaur-themed area is set to get a whole new facelift! Imagineers and D’Amaro shared their concept art, including Moana and Zootopia teases, but have yet to divulge when or how this will take place.
• Dino Diner (Closed September 2022 – TBD) – The quick-service eatery quietly closed after the announcement of the Animal Kingdom expansion project. There has been no news yet on whether this is permanent or temporary, but its complete removal appears to indicate that it is gone for good.
• Primeval Whirl (Permanently Closed) – They demolished the ride in 2021 but have not named a replacement.

Hollywood Studios Ride Closures in 2023

• Frozen Sing-Along Celebration (Closed January 9th – 28th) – Reports indicate this long-awaited routine refurbishment was delayed from its initial plan in 2022.
• Various Attractions – There is still no word if Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple, Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular or Voyage of the Little Mermaid will return since their closures back in March 2020.

Related: Disney’s Slow Reopening Nearly At An End 

Disney World Water Parks Closed in 2023

• Typhoon Lagoon (Closed November 2022 – Reopening TBD) – While the home of Crush n’ Gushers may be locked for the time being, you can still visit Disney World’s other water park: Blizzard Beach.

Disneyland Rides Closing in 2023

• Indiana Jones Adventure (January 9 – Spring 2023) – The famous ride is expected to go dark for some much-needed repairs. Different elements such as the fog effect, ice machine, snake, and fireball effects have been broken for quite some time. Hopefully, some, if not all, of these will be fixed when it plans to reopen before the new film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, is released on June 30, 2023.
• Haunted Mansion Holiday and “it’s a small world” Holiday (Brief Closing January 2023) – These will close briefly in January 2023 to shed their holiday looks and return to their non-seasonal decor. Currently, “it’s a small world” is set to close on January 9 and reopen to the public on January 20. The Haunted Mansion will be closed from January 30 to February 10.
• WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure (Indefinite Closure Beginning January 9) – This “boring” ride opened in June 2021 and is already set for an indefinite closure. The ride was intended to be a multi-age, interactive experience on the Avengers Campus, but it seems it couldn’t draw enough love to keep it going.
• Grizzly River Run (January 9 – Spring 2023) – This water ride is closed yearly for refurbishment. Hopefully, Imagineers can address some of the misbehavior that’s been documented as well.
• Radiator Springs Racers (January 17 – January 24) – After briefly closing in May 2022 due to a smoking vehicle, the Cars-themed attraction is temporarily shutting down again. It’s a trendy ride through the desert landscape of Cars Land, though it needs work since it’s been known to experience temporary closures throughout the day.

Related: Radiator Springs Racers Breaks & Returns

• Toon Town (March 8, 2023) – In addition to the premiering many new and revamped experiences, Disneyland will be receiving its own version of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which will debut at the time of reopening for all of Toon Town.
• Tarzan’s Tree House (Set to Reopen in 2023) – has been closed since September 2021 and will reopen with a new theme and backstory without Tarzan.
• Splash Mountain (Permanently Closing January 23, 2023) – Just like its Magic Kingdom counterpart, Disneyland’s Splash Mountain will close on January 23, 2023

Many have speculated throughout the year that the decline in ride quality, delayed completion of new attractions, and need for so many refurbishment closures are due to Disney Parks’ lingering budget and staffing issues. Staffing has been a known issue since the Park was shut down due to the pandemic. By late 2020, Disneyland alone had laid off 32,000 Park employees, and the struggle to return Cast Member numbers to pre-pandemic levels has proven more and more difficult.

Sadly, the incentive to return is low. Multiple reports of poor treatment, Guest harassment, and low wages have led to strikes. And with a tight budget, CEO Bob Iger announced that he would continue Bob Chapek’s hiring freeze.

Related: Disney World Advertises Jobs Despite Hiring Freeze

With so many closures in January through March, it is best to plan ahead for congestion at popular attractions. With fewer attractions and smaller staff, there will likely be more crowds to navigate. And, of course, check back here for any further updates!