Not every Disney World attraction is open 365 days a year! Some are scheduled to close for touch-ups or large construction projects.

Some refurbishments are scheduled months in advance and others are in need of maintenance. It’s good practice to know what Disney World rides and shows are closed so you can plan ahead! Knowing beforehand allows you to create an itinerary based on what’s closed and what’s open in the theme parks! Let’s take a look at next week’s refurbishment schedule between January 18th through January 24th, 2021. 

Animal Kingdom Refurbishment

Kali River Rapids

It’s been pretty chilly and gloomy in Florida lately. Disney tends to close water rides during the cool winter months. It gives Disney a chance to perform routine maintenance during a time when guests don’t normally love to get wet. Kali River Rapids is undergoing a scheduled refurbishment right now and it will continue through April 1st, 2021.

This raft ride is closed but you still have a chance to get soaked at the Magic Kingdom! Splash Mountain doesn’t have a scheduled refurb date as of right now.

See more details about the Kali River Rapids closure here!

Magic Kingdom Refurbishments

Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

The PeopleMover has been playing with our emotions lately! We expected the attraction to open all the way back in July when the Magic Kingdom reopened. The ride unexpectedly remained closed then eventually was put on the extended refurbishment list. The closure was extended three times and we thought it would start moving guests through Tomorrowland on January 10th.

The 10th came along and Disney extended the refurbishment once more. It is now expected to stay closed through January 30th, 2021. We’re fairly hopeful this time because we’ve seen the attraction being tested earlier this week!

See a video of the PeopleMover test ride here!

Walt Disney World Railroad

It’s been years since we’ve been able to take a train ride around the Magic Kingdom! The train has taken an extended hiatus while construction continues for the new roller coaster TRON Lightcycle Run. The thrill ride is massive and takes up a lot of Magic Kingdom territory. This has affected the train’s journey through Tomorrowland.

TRON was originally scheduled to open at the end of 2021. The project has been delayed and it’s unclear when the attraction will open. Once we have an opening day for TRON, we may have a better idea about the railroad. We’ll keep you informed on both attractions in the future!

Learn more about TRON’s construction progress and the opening date delay here!

Tom Sawyer Island and Liberty Square Riverboat

The Rivers of America and the surrounding area is the most noticeable refurbishment happening at Disney World right now. The river has been drained so construction can be done on the guard rails and other elements on the dry river bottom. We also noticed the Harper’s Mill sign has been completely removed from the building on Tom Sawyer Island.

Tom Sawyer and the Liberty Square Riverboat attractions are currently unavailable while the area is under construction. As of right now, the attractions are set to reopen on March 1st, 2021.

See updated photos of the Rivers of America construction site here!

More Refurbishments

Among the scheduled ride closures, a few Disney World resorts are getting some work done too. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is getting a major overhaul to the entryway with updates to the monorail station and lobby. The guest rooms are getting a Moana-inspired theme as well! The project is set to complete sometime this summer.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort will also receive some room updates. The Main Tower guest rooms will undergo refurbishments between April through 2021. It’s unclear what exactly will be updated, but we will keep you informed when we learn more!

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn recently received a big update to the infamous clown slide. Now, the Paddock Pool waterslide will also get some attention. The pool will remain open while the slide is under construction beginning this winter. The Big Blue Pool at Disney’s Art of Animation is also closed at this time. 

There’s a lot more happening at Disney World as the theme parks prepare for upcoming attractions. EPCOT, in particular, is getting closer to finishing the France Pavilion extension including Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. We also noticed the Harmonious nighttime show was running tests. We’ll continue to inform you of all important construction, refurbishments, and closures at Disney World.

See EVERYTHING that will be closed for the month of January here!

Are you heading to Disney World soon? Let us know in the comments below!