Disney parks are constantly changing their refurbishment schedules, making it difficult for guests to keep up with the operating times and latest news regarding their favorite attractions, resorts, shops, and restaurants. Here are a few big, upcoming changes that are either confirmed by their respective parks or at the least very strongly rumored for the very near future
This month’s refurbishment update includes two MORE refurbishments set to hit Disneyland in the new year, plus a trio of Walt Disney World refurbishments happening in the first few weeks of 2020.
1. MouseGear (Epcot)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: Now – TBA
MouseGear closed for refurbishment on January 5, 2020, and has temporarily been relocated to the former Innoventions East building. During this closure, the whole store will be getting an upgrade with new displays, signs, and and updated layout. No information has been confirmed about when this reimagined shop will reopen, but we’ll keep you posted as soon as we hear something!
2. Kali River Rapids (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Dates: Now to March 20, 2020
Every year Kali River Rapids goes down for an annual refurbishment, and now this attraction is once again closed through March 20, 2020. The attraction is expected to reopen to guests on March 21, 2020, just in time for Florida’s warm weather to return (and for Spring Break to begin!)
3. Splash Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: Now – February 28, 2020
Splash Mountain is also now closed for its annual refurbishment while the water is drained, the logs are spruced up and various other fixes are performed on this attraction. This year the attraction will be closed for almost two months until spring temperatures bring warmer temperatures to the resort and the attraction reopens just in time for March.
4. Test Track (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Dates: January 13 – February 26, 2020
Test Track will be closing for a brief refurbishment beginning on 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 for the year ahead!
5. Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort)
Image: Disney
Status: Confirmed
Dates: January 21 – 25, 2020
The Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will undergo a brief refurbishment later this month, closing from January 21 through January 25, 2020, for the refurbishment of the show’s venue, Luau Cove. The dinner show will then resume performances on January 28, 2020, following their normal schedule.
6. Spaceship Earth (Epcot)
Image: Disney
Status: TBA
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 will see it transformed into Spacehip Earth: Our Shared Story, a moniker that was recently confirmed with the opening of the Epcot Experience preview center last 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.
The reimagining of this attraction will be a massive undertaking and though Disney hasn’t announced a closing date yet, we’d imagine that guests who want to experience this ride in its original form will probably want to do so before March, as rumors currently suggest that this attraction will close in early Spring (after the aforementioned Test Track refurbishment is complete), and will remain shuttered until sometime in 2021, when the new version is expected to have a grand re-opening.
