Disney World is no stranger to change, but the scale of updates coming in 2025 is unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years. Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios are all set to undergo significant transformations, which is exciting for the future—but it’s going to make navigating the parks in 2025 much more challenging. Add this to Disney World’s busiest times of year, and you’ve got a recipe for some serious crowding issues.
In Animal Kingdom, DinoLand U.S.A. will officially close in January to make way for Tropical Americas land. This new area will feature an Encanto-themed ride centered around the Madrigal family’s magical Casita, as well as an original Indiana Jones attraction. Discovery Island will also get an update, with the Tree of Life Theater hosting a Zootopia experience called Better Zoogether! by the end of 2025. With so many areas closed, guests will find fewer attractions to spread out the crowds, especially during spring break and Thanksgiving week, when the park tends to be busier.
Over at Hollywood Studios, the Muppets Courtyard will be transformed into a Monsters, Inc.-themed land. Meanwhile, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is being rethemed as a Muppets ride. These changes are exciting, but during construction, the park is likely to feel more chaotic than usual. Hollywood Studios already struggles with narrow pathways and bottlenecks, and the added disruption will only make things more intense. This will be especially noticeable during summer vacation, one of the busiest times for the park.
Magic Kingdom is facing some of the most significant updates. Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America are closing permanently to make room for a Cars-themed area, while a new Villains Land is being built beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Big Thunder will close in January for a refurbishment lasting over a year, and Astro Orbiter will also be down for months. These closures will put extra pressure on the rest of the park, particularly during the holiday season, when crowds tend to swell. Navigating Frontierland and Liberty Square will be a test of patience as construction walls and rerouted paths take over.
Disney World sees its busiest times during school breaks and holidays, and in 2025, the usual crowds will be amplified by these construction projects. For those planning a trip, it’s worth considering less crowded times of year, like mid-January or early September, or focusing on EPCOT, which isn’t experiencing the same level of disruption.
While 2025 might bring its fair share of challenges, it’s all paving the way for a brighter, more magical Disney World in the future. With careful planning and a bit of patience, guests can still have an amazing experience—even if it means dodging a few construction walls along the way.
