EPCOTNews

Disney World Quietly Closes EPCOT Theme Park Location Early, Indefinite Change in Motion

Walt Disney World Resort is off to a busy start in 2025, with closures and changes affecting multiple attractions as the Central Florida destination undergoes significant transformations.

View of Spaceship Earth from World Showcase with buildings and trees in the foreground
Credit: Reinhard Link, Flickr

In just the first three weeks of January, the Resort has bid farewell to several iconic experiences. While some closures, like EPCOT’s Test Track, have carried over from 2024, new shutdowns have added to the growing list of changes.

Between January 6 and January 13, Disney World shuttered multiple attractions, including Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for seasonal maintenance and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom. The latter, a fan-favorite roller coaster, will remain closed for over a year. Recent photos show parts of the iconic track being dismantled and hauled over Frontierland, marking the beginning of a complete overhaul.

Guests riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom in Disney World
Credit: Disney

January 13 also brought permanent closures to three attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom: TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures. These closures signal the first major steps toward transforming DinoLand U.S.A. into Pueblo Esperanza, a Tropical Americas-inspired land featuring franchises like Encanto and Indiana Jones.

This year is shaping up to be pivotal for Disney World, with several large-scale projects already underway. Among the most significant is Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland transformation, which will introduce Pixar’s Cars franchise to the area. The decision to merge sentient automobiles with the Western era has sparked debate since its announcement at last year’s D23 Expo. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated Disney Villains-themed land is also in development, generating excitement among fans.

Amid these sweeping changes, another operational shift has quietly come to light at EPCOT. The Seas with Nemo & Friends will now close earlier than the rest of the park.

The exterior of The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Credit: Disney

“At EPCOT, guests have noticed a large sandwich board announcing that The Seas with Nemo & Friends will close at 7:00 p.m. this evening,” Kenny the Pirate reported. “Disney has not announced a reason for this early closure.”

According to the official Walt Disney World Resort website, the attraction’s 7 p.m. closing time is indefinite, extending through at least March 18, where the calendar runs up to. While the rest of EPCOT remains open until 9 p.m., the reason for this earlier closure has yet to be confirmed.

Known for its educational charm, The Seas with Nemo & Friends invites guests to explore marine life at SeaBase Aquarium. However, the manatee exhibit is currently roped off, with the animals having been relocated to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park.

Spaceship Earth at EPCOT inside of Disney World
Credit: Disney

Reports suggest the early closure may be tied to ongoing refurbishment work, which includes walkway expansions, escalator maintenance, and updated health and safety measures for divers assisting disabled guests.

While EPCOT continues to offer attractions like Frozen Ever After in World Showcase and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in World Discovery, guests planning their day should note that not everything remains open until the park closes.

Will this change impact your EPCOT plans? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Thomas Hitchen

When he’s not thinking about the Magic Kingdom, Thomas is usually reading a book, becoming desperately obsessed with fictional characters, or baking something delicious (his favorite is chocolate cake -- to bake and to eat). He's a dreamer and grew up on Mulan saving the world, Jim Hawkins soaring through the stars, and Padmé Amidala fighting a Nexu. At the Parks, he loves to ride Everest, stroll down Main Street with an overstuffed pin lanyard around his neck, and eat as many Mickey-shaped ice creams as possible. His favorite character is Han Solo (yes, he did shoot first), and his favorite TV show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer except when it's One Tree Hill. He loves sandy beach walks, forest hikes, and foodie days out in the Big City. Thomas lives in England, UK, with his fiancée, baby, and their dog, a Border Collie called Luna.

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