Overview
- The closures and re-themes reported Monday leave five long-running experiences either permanently gone, already reworked, or scheduled to change dramatically.
- Magic Kingdom’s Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat have been permanently closed so the land can be redeveloped for the Cars‑themed Piston Peak National Park expansion.
- Muppet*Vision 3‑D closed in 2025 during a Grand Avenue transformation, and Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster was re‑themed from Aerosmith to The Muppets in 2026 while keeping the same coaster system.
- Disney confirmed that Animal Kingdom’s DINOSAUR will be retold as an Indiana Jones adventure using the existing ride system, and Carousel of Progress is slated to close in July 2026 for a major overhaul with a new timeline and a new Walt audio‑animatronic figure.
- Reporting ties these moves to a company focus on global franchises, operating costs, sponsorship and guest demand, and notes that longtime visitors worry the changes remove quiet, historic park elements even as Disney aims to attract larger crowds.