This month’s refurbishment update includes some big refurbishments happening in 2020 at both the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
1. Splash Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: January 6 – February 28, 2020
Like clockwork Splash Mountain goes down for refurbishment in January every year while the water is drained, the logs are spruced up and various other fixes are performed on this attraction. And it looks like 2020 will be no exception, as Splash Mountain will once again be closed for almost two months at the start of the year before spring temperatures bring warmer temperatures to the resort and the attraction reopens just in time for March.
2. Test Track (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Dates: January 13 – February 26, 2020
Test Track will be closing for a brief refurbishment from January 13th, 2020 to February 26, 2020. No major changes are expected during this closure, as this refurbishment will largely be a tune up to ensure that Test Track is running in tip top condition during another big closure that is set to hit Epcot early next year and last for a year or more…
3. Spaceship Earth (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Dates: Spring 2020 – TBA 2021
Spaceship Earth will adjusting its theme away from the history of communication and towards “storytelling”, in a landmark reimagining of this ride, which is rumored to reopen sometime in 2021. This attraction is even getting a plussed up name: Spacehip Earth: Our Shared Story, a moniker that was recently confirmed with the opening of the Epcot Experience preview center earlier this year.
This new version of Spaceship Earth will have a new narrator in the form of a story “Light”, that will guide guests through this enhanced ride, that will include both familiar scenes with plussed up effects (as you can see above), and new scenes as well. This new character will be present in every scene and will also be speaking to guests throughout the attraction, explaining how storytelling has changed throughout time.
4. Walt Disney World Railroad (Magic Kingdom)
Status: Confirmed/Rumored
Dates: December 3, 2018 – Late 2020
The Walt Disney World Railroad has been closed for almost a full year now, and while Disney has not released any updates on the refurbishment of this attraction, recent rumors seem to indicate that it will be another full year at least until this attraction might reopen, as construction on the TRON Roller Coaster in Tomorrowland continues to press on.
