Overview
- Multiple confirmed changes across the resort include the permanent closure of Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Liberty Belle to make way for the Cars‑themed Piston Peak National Park expansion.
- Disney has officially announced that DINOSAUR at Animal Kingdom will be transformed into an Indiana Jones attraction as part of the Tropical Americas expansion and will reuse the existing ride system for the new theme.
- At Hollywood Studios, Muppet*Vision 3‑D was closed in 2025 and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster was rethemed in 2026 to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, preserving ride hardware while replacing original show elements.
- Carousel of Progress is scheduled to close for a major overhaul in July 2026 with a new timeline, updated scenes, and a new Walt Disney Audio‑Animatronic figure, signaling willingness to substantially rework even legacy attractions.
- Reporters and historians frame these clustered moves as part of a longer pattern—examples include Maelstrom→Frozen Ever After and Splash Mountain→Tiana’s Bayou Adventure—and critics warn the focus on IP risks eroding quieter, history‑driven park spaces and changing guest experiences.