Disney4me Posted March 21 Report Posted March 21 This past week in Disney World, one of our FAVORITE spots opened back up after being closed for SIX years — there was a time when we didn’t even know if we’d ever be able to dine there again, and now, we can! It’s finally back open! This past week, on March 19th, the Garden View Lounge in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has finally opened back up its doors for guests to experience its beloved tea experience. Reservations for opening day, as well as the weeks following, booked up fast, but keep checking back for reservations! However, in true Disney fashion, that wasn’t the ONLY upcoming change announced last week. The Garden View Lounge opening back up is a BIG deal in Disney World, don’t get us wrong, but it wouldn’t be Disney World if there weren’t a slew of other closures and changes happening all around the resort. When one spot reopens, often, others are announced to be closing. Garden View Lounge It was also announced this past week that the Grand Floridian Cafe will temporarily close for a refresh from mid-July to October 2026. In the meantime, brunch will be served at Citricos, but this is more construction you may hear around the resort during your stay. Buttermilk Fried Chicken at the Grand Floridian Cafe Let’s take a look at the other closures and refurbishments happening from March 21st through March 28th. Magic Kingdom Pete’s Silly Sideshow & Big Top Souvenirs Pete’s Silly Sideshow is temporarily unavailable as of January 4th, 2026. This is the Storybook Circus meet and greet area, where you can meet Donald Duck, Goofy, Daisy Duck, and Minnie Mouse as they join the circus. Good news, though! While Pete’s Silly Sideshow will be closed, you can still meet all of the characters! You will find Goofy and Minnie at the entrance to Storybook Circus, and you can find Donald and Daisy in the back of Storybook Circus by the restrooms. Donald and Daisy are back here! However, now there’s ANOTHER closure in the land as well. Big Top Souvenirs closed on February 20th, and Disney has said it’ll “reopen for guests to enjoy later this year,” but there’s no date in sight. When we stopped by recently, we noticed that the entire top of the store is GONE right now! Talk about a jumpscare! It’s gone! We’re really curious to see how this all turns out, so we’ll keep you updated! Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has been closed for refurbishment since August 4th, 2025, and will reopen on April 8th, 2026. While the ride is closed, it will be getting some upgrades! We recently got to check out the new version of the ride during Cast Member previews! It’s Buddy! Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will be getting a new ride scene, new ride vehicles, a new character named Buddy, and enhanced gameplay elements. Some of those gameplay elements include handheld blasters (soon you can shoot whenever you want!) and reactive targets. Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island An iconic part of the Magic Kingdom is now permanently closed. As of July 7th, the Rivers of America, including the Liberty Square River Boat 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 updates to the concrete on the land, as well as leveling taking place for the new attractions — how exciting! ©Bioreconstruct on Instagram Piston Peak National Park will be replacing this area of 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. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad On January 6th, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed for an extended temporary closure. The “Wildest Ride in the Wilderness” will be closed for at least a year and will reopen in early May 2026. The ride will be undergoing maintenance while it is closed. When it reopens, it will have some “new magic,” according to Disney. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Disney announced some of the new magic! Riders will see “spectacular natural caverns full of phosphorescent pools, shimmering and illuminating iridescent stalagmites (the ones on the floor) and stalactites (the ones on the ceiling)” — the Rainbow Caverns! We can’t wait to see what other changes might be coming to this ever-popular roller coaster! We spotted some ride testing, which was very exciting. 6 HUGE Hidden Secrets in Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin that We ALMOST MISSED! Disney’s Hollywood Studios Animation Courtyard Animation Courtyard closed on September 25th, 2025, to make way for Walt Disney Studios. This new area will open on May 26th, 2026, and will be a special nod to the Walt Disney Studios lot. Star Wars Launch Bay will be turned into The Magic of Disney Animation. This attraction will have you interacting and exploring with this fun take on Disney Animation headquarters. Disney announced that a new Animation Academy experience called Olaf Draws! will be added into this new area, and it’s been…controversial, to say the least! ©Disney However, most recently, we’ve seen a lot of progress on this upcoming land — new pavement is almost all set, and it’s really starting to come together. @bioreconstruct via X This area will also feature a new Drawn to Wonderland indoor play area and the current Disney Jr. Play and Dance! show will be getting a makeover. During the transformation, you will still be able to visit “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” and Walt Disney Presents. Muppets Courtyard, including Muppet*Vision 3D, PizzeRizzo, and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Muppet*Vision 3D AND PizzeRizzo closed on June 8th, and Muppets Courtyard has been walled off so construction can begin on the new Monsters, Inc. land. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano has been closed since May 11th. Most recently, we got a good look at the building being formed for the new attraction, which is set where Cast Member parking used to be, and we’re SHOCKED by how massive it is! ©bioreconstruct Don’t worry, the Muppets won’t be missing from Disney’s Hollywood Studios forever. The Muppets will eventually be taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in summer 2026. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets Disney has already made tons of progress on the new version of this iconic attraction! The previous name of the ride has already been removed from multiple locations, including on the guitar, which is now behind the scrim and scaffolding. Scrim in front of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Disney is also already putting new paint on the car at the entrance to this area, so it looks more like the Electric Mayhem’s iconic van. New paint job! KRNR The Rock Station is also currently closed, and we’re curious to see if it’ll reopen as a new snack spot, just rethemed, in the near future! Closed! We’ll be keeping a close eye on this spot — we know a lot is to come! Does This NEW Disney World Permit Mean a Popular Ride Could Be CHANGING? EPCOT Refreshment Port Refreshment Port located near the Canada Pavilion in EPCOT’s World Showcase is temporarily closed for refurbishment as of January 12th. Not so great news if you were hoping to snag a specialty poutine during EPCOT’s International Flower & Garden Festival. The Refreshment Port is closed However, there will still be plenty of yummy snacks to grab! Disney hasn’t yet announced what will be done at Refreshment Port or when the stand will reopen. However, we will keep an eye and ear out for progress and keep you updated. These 7 EPCOT Area Hotel Hacks Are Getting Out of Control Disney’s Animal Kingdom On February 23rd, Disney temporarily closed Rafiki’s Planet Watch and the Wildlife Express, which takes guests over to this part of the park, to make way for the new Bluey attraction coming to the park for Cool KIDS’ SUMMER on May 26th. For the time being, you can still visit the Wilderness Explorer badge offerings, as well as a few character meet and greets, at the train station. The signs are covered up! Since February 2nd, it’s been official that DinoLand U.S.A. is officially closed to make way for the new Tropical Americas land, Pueblo Esperanza. Don’t get us wrong, we’re looking forward to what’s new, but especially since we just recently saw the DinoLand sign come down, we’re missing DINOSAUR and the rest of this uniquely themed land already! Most recently, we’ve seen updates that show the exterior fountain and Iguanodon statue have been removed outside of the former DINOSAUR attraction. ©Bioreconstruct We’re also seeing lots of progress on the new carousel attraction coming to this land, which is very exciting! ©Bioreconstruct This new land is expected to open sometime in 2027 with three new rides, a new restaurant, shopping spots, a beautiful fountain, and more, so we’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest! REVIEW: One of Our Favorite Disney World Restaurants Changed, and We Aren’t Too Sure About It Blizzard Beach On February 15th, 2026, Blizzard Beach reopened in Disney World, and Typhoon Lagoon closed for refurbishment. Visiting during the summer and don’t want to worry about tons of crowds in one park? Typhoon Lagoon will reopen again on May 12th, 2026, so for the majority of the summer, we’ll have both water parks open again. Blizzard Beach The One Thing I Never Forget to Bring to a Disney World Water Park Disney World Hotels Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa This hotel has been undergoing refurbishments all over for quite some time now, but we know that sections of the hotel — specifically the porte cochere — will continue to undergo refurbishment through early 2027 at least. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa We certainly hope it’ll actually be able to hit this timeline — we’re a little tired of seeing construction all over this beautiful hotel! Bay Cove Pool Area — Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort This week, the Bay Cove Pool, the water play area, and the whirlpool spa at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will temporarily close for maintenance. From January 26th through early May 2026, the pool area will be unavailable. Disney’s Contemporary Resort During the closure, guests can still use the Bay Lake Pool, the feature pool, the water play area, and the whirlpool spa at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort For those looking to dine at this hotel, you need to know that the Turf Club Bar & Grill and Turf Club Lounge will both be under refurbishment from mid-March through mid-September 2026. To break it down, in early April, the Turf Club Lounge will close for refurbishment and will reopen in early August. In the meantime, the Turf Club Bar & Grill will remain open with a pop-up bar serving a modified Lounge food and beverage menu. The Turf Club Lounge Then, from early to mid-August, the Turf Club patio will close for refurbishment, and finally, from mid-August through mid-September, the Turf Club Bar & Grill will be closed for refurbishment, but the Turf Club Lounge will be open. Leisure Pools — Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Resort Disney’s Yacht Club and Disney’s Beach Club Resort are currently undergoing visible exterior maintenance. The maintenance could affect views and may require alternate routes at times. In addition, two of the resort’s leisure pools will close for routine maintenance. At Disney’s Yacht Club, the Admiral leisure be will be closed for maintenance through early May 2026. Admiral Pool At Disney’s Beach Club, the Tidal leisure pool will be closed for maintenance through early May 2026. During the construction, guests may see or hear construction work, but it will only be done during the daytime hours. Crew’s Cup Lounge — Disney’s Yacht Club Resort On February 23rd, Crew’s Cup Lounge closed for refurbishment until May 2026. Crew’s Cup Lounge While we don’t have a specific reopening date yet, we do know that when the lounge reopens, Yachtsman Steakhouse will close instead, also to go under refurbishment. Turtle Pond Pool, Turtle Pond Pool Spa, BBQ Area, and Playground — Disney’s Old Key West Resort Starting early January through early February 2026, the Turtle Pond Pool, Turtle Pond Pool Spa, the BBQ area, and the playground at Disney’s Old Key West Resort will be closed for routine maintenance. Turtle Pond Pool at Old Key West During the closure, guests can head over to the Sandcastle Pool or one of the resort’s leisure pools. There are two different leisure pools available: the South Point Pool and Miller’s Road Pool. Surfboard Bay Pool and Kiddie Pool — Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort From January 2026 through April 2026, the Surfboard Bay Pool and Kiddie Pool at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort will be closed for maintenance. Don’t worry, though, if you are in the swimming mood, you will still have plenty of options for pools. You may just need to travel a bit farther. Surfboard Bay At Disney’s All-Star Sports, the Grand Slam Leisure Pool will still be open. As well, you can also use any of the pools at the other All-Star Resorts. You can use the Calypso Pool and Piano Pool and kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort or the Fantasia Pool and Duck Pond Pool and kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort. Promenade Fine Art Gallery — Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Resort The Promenade Fine Art Gallery will be closing 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. Promenade Fine Art Gallery The gallery hasn’t announced yet where that new location will be, but we will keep you updated as we learn more! Jellyrolls — Disney’s BoardWalk Jellyrolls at Disney’s BoardWalk officially closed on April 19th, 2025. This entertainment venue has provided our team with countless memories, and we know many others are also sad to see it close. Jellyrolls had its final farewell performance on April 19th and closed its doors forever on Disney’s BoardWalk. Jellyrolls However, this isn’t the end for Jellyrolls, as the bar has said they are “making a move.” We don’t know many details about that move yet, but we will keep you updated. My Mom Wants an All-You-Can-Eat Meal on a Budget, So I Sent Her This Disney World Hotel Restaurant Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts, and determine which works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. They also share expert tips and first-hand advice about your magical vacation. Small World Vacations Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts to learn all about Disney World’s rides: 10 Rides to AVOID in Disney World if You Struggle with Motion Sickness What It Takes to CHANGE a Disney World Ride 9 of the SCARIEST Rides in Disney World, According to YOU! A FULL LIST of the Thrill Rides in Disney World! The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB. This Is the Dumbest Thing I’ve Ever Tried for Disney World — I’d Recommend It to Everyone Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW When is your next Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments! View the full article Quote
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