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 testing at Expedition Everest, a short guest relations refurbishment at EPCOT, and some developments around the reopening of the Walt Disney World railroad related to ongoing progress on the TRON roller coaster.
1. Blizzard Beach
Status: Confirmed
Dates: Now – TBA 2022
Blizzard Beach closed for refurbishment several months ago for regular maintenance and though many were hoping that this water park would reopen in a few months, potentially in time for the Spring Break holidays, it now looks like we won’t see Disney’s Blizzard Beach reopening until at least May at the very earliest. Disney’s official calendar now shows this park as closed until then.
Fortunately, in the meantime, guests can check out Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park, which is now open just in time for the weather to warm up. Hopefully by the summer time both this park and Disney’s Blizzard Beach will be available to help guests beat the heat, although a recent rumor questioning whether Disney intends to reopen Blizzard Beach at all in 2022 hasn’t yet been confirmed or denied.
2. Expedition Everest (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: Now – April 30 2022
Though Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has been closed since January for a refurbishment, many were hopeful that this attraction would reopen in time for Spring Break. However, Disney has updated its official calendar and it looks like this refurbishment has been extended a few more weeks, and will now last until April 30, opening back up in May.
Though the extension of the refurbishment into May will certainly be a bummer for those visiting for Spring Break, the good news is it looks like work is progressing quickly on this project as several trains have been seen on the track testing while this attraction is officially closed.
3. EPCOT guest services (next to Spaceship Earth)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: March 22 – April 30 2022
The World Celebration Guest Relations location at EPCOT next to Spaceship Earth will be closing temporarily for refurbishment while construction continues in the area. The refurbishment kicked off on March 22, and a reopening is currently projected for late April. Guests at EPCOT still needing assistance can visit the other Guest Relations locations in the park, which include the former gift shop location at the front of the park and at International Gateway.
4. Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond! (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: Now – TBA 2022
Disney confirmed last year that the newly-reworked Finding Nemo show will be named Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!. This show will be coming to the Theater in the Wild at Disney’s Animal Kingdom sometime later this year and will be set in the timeline of the Finding Dory film, incorporating events from the sequel.
Fan-favorite songs from “Finding Nemo the Musical” will return in this new version of the show, including “In the Big Blue World” and “Go with the Flow.” No details have been released about when this reworked show will debut in the months since it was originally announced but hopefully, Disney will release new information soon as the busy summer season is only a few months away.
5. Fantasmic! (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: Now – TBA 2022
Last year it was announced that Fantasmic! would return to Walt Disney World in 2022 after over two years shuttered. And though we don’t know exactly when Fantasmic! will be coming back to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it was recently announced that the west coast version of this show will return to Disneyland Park on May 28, so hopefully, the Walt Disney World version of the show will be returning soon as well.
Work is still continuing on the stadium at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as a permit was just recently filed for improvements in the area. In addition, the moat where the show takes place has been refilled with water and some of the stage equipment has been set up in anticipation of a reopening in the near future.
Nothing has been announced just yet, but with several other entertainment options returning this month, it seems like a reopening for Fantasmic is imminent, we’re just waiting on a date.
6. Enchanted Tales with Belle (Magic Kingdom)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: Now – TBA
One of the biggest attractions that has yet to return to operation after Walt Disney World’s shutdown is Enchanted Tales with Belle. And though this attraction is still listed as temporarily unavailable on Walt Disney World’s official website, late last year Disney filed a permit for “general construction”, which could mean that work is being done inside this attraction to get it ready for a reopening in the near future.
Nothing has been confirmed yet, but with so many entertainment options reopening in 2022, it would be unfortunate if Enchanted Tales With Belle was left out, especially since it sounds like work is going on at this attraction behind the scenes.
7. Walt Disney World Railroad (Magic Kingdom)
Status: Confirmed
Dates: Now – TBA
Walt Disney World Railroad has been closed since the beginning of 2019 and though there haven’t been any official updates on the refurbishment of this attraction, with the delay of the TRON Lightcycle / Run, it looks like this refurbishment could last for some time longer. Currently there is no opening date projected for this attraction, but it has been predicted that this new ride will likely open as part of Walt Disney World 50th anniversary celebrations, which are set to conclude in March 2023. Last week Disney released a video on TikTok of the Walt Disney World Railroad which could hint at a reopening soon which means we hopefully haven’t got too much longer to wait until the Walt Disney World Railroad rolls again.
Though it has been several years since the Walt Disney World Railroad has operated, Disney has shared an image of newly refurbished Walter E. Disney Engine 1, which you can see above. Work is wrapping up on the new TRON roller coaster, which has recently started push/pull testing, so hopefully this attraction will be able to reopen soon as construction around this attraction enters its final phases.
