D23 AFTERMATH: The 12 Disney Attractions Already Closed or Closing Soon Worldwide for ‘Turbocharged Growth’

Brit Tuttle

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Collage of four images: a dinosaur statue, a red trolley car, the number 95 from the movie Cars, and a view of a waterfront with boats and a white building. This nostalgic blend reminds us of beloved Disney attractions closing.

D23 AFTERMATH: The 12 Disney Attractions Already Closed or Closing Soon Worldwide for ‘Turbocharged Growth’

There have been a large number of attractions announced to close (with a handful likely to close in the wake of newly announced projects) at Disney Parks around the world. In our memory, there has never been a period where so many long-running attractions are on the chopping block. For your convenience, we compiled a list following D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2024 of all of the rides and shows we expect to be saying “see ya’ real soon” to over the next few weeks and months.

Disney Attractions Confirmed to Close Permanently

Liberty Square Riverboat

Rivers of America, Magic Kingdom

The Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island are confirmed to close to make way for Cars in Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom. A closing date has not been announced, but construction for the new Cars expansion is set to begin sometime in 2025.

The Liberty Belle, which is the resident Riverboat, sails the Rivers of America. The river that flows through the park is also slated to be removed to make more usable land for the new attractions. A new water feature was previewed in the concept art.

The boat is steam powered and went into service in 1973, originally named the Richard F. Irvine. It was predated by the Admiral Joe Fowler, an almost opening day attraction at the Magic Kingdom (it opened on October 2, 1971 — the park’s second day open to the public). That ship was retired when it was accidentally dropped during a dry dock refurbishment in the 1980s.

Watch our video below to see a full ride on the Liberty Square Riverboat.

A section of the audio has been recently updated to remove references to Splash Mountain, which is now Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

Tom Sawyer Island

A rustic riverside wooden dock with barrels and crates, surrounded by lush greenery, with a sign reading "Tom Sawyer Island." Calm water reflects trees and a forested area in the background.

Tom Sawyer Island is also closing as part of the removal of the Rivers of America. In recent years, refurbishments have left portions of the Island unusable to guests for extended periods of time — such as the barrel bridge, which was removed in 2023, and returned nine months later.

Based on “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” the island is a free-roaming attraction with places for guests of all ages to explore, including Fort Langhorn. It opened in 1973.

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy closed permanently at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The final show was performed on October 7, 2024. It will be replaced by the stage show “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After.”

The “Cars”-themed attraction opened in March 2019 as part of the park’s 30th anniversary celebrations. It featured elements and characters from “Cars 3,” including a chance to get a photo with Cruz Ramirez (though she was absent when the parks reopened after the COVID-19 closures in 2020).

Watch our video below from the grand opening of Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy.

“It’s Tough to Be a Bug”

its-tough-to-be-a-bug-seating-6-26-21-1-8260929

Entomophobics may be rejoicing as “It’s Tough to Be a Bug” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will permanently close. Its final performance is scheduled for March 16, 2025. Its replacement, “Zootopia: Better Zoogether,” is scheduled to open in winter 2025.

“It’s Tough to Be a Bug” has been terrifying children since 1998 as an opening day attraction at the park. It’s based on “A Bug’s Life” (even though it opened before the film did) and features the film’s villain, Hopper, who takes over Flik’s show designed to show guests the importance and wonder of bugs in their lives. Hopper thinks Flik’s approach is too compassionate and tries to show guests what it’s like to be fly swatted. It uses 4D effects to create illusions, such as tubes to simulate hornet stings, air cannons, water sprayers, and more.

DINOSAUR

A large dinosaur statue stands in the middle of a shallow water feature in front of a building with a sign that reads "DINOSAUR," surrounded by trees and greenery.

DINOSAUR, another opening day attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is set to meet its end along with the rest of DinoLand, U.S.A. Originally named Countdown to Extinction, the ride is to be rethemed to Indiana Jones. It uses the same ride system as Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland park, but will not feature the same story.

The current ride features two original characters, Dr. Helen Marsh and Dr. Grant Seeker, both of the fictional Dino Institute. Dr. Seeker sends guests back in time to save an Iguanodon (Aladar) despite Dr. Marsh’s objections. It features several dinosaur animatronics, including multiple Carnotaurus.

DINOSAUR will remain open through 2025. The new Tropical Americas land will open in fall 2027.

Watch our 4K multicam POV video of DINOSAUR below.

TriceraTop Spin

TriceraTop Spin was, as the name implies, a spinner ride featuring Triceratops. Guests rode in a four-seater dino vehicle with two rows. The front row had a joystick that controls the tilt of the vehicle (forward or backward), and the back row had controls for the height of the vehicle.

It closed on January 12, 2025, along with Fossil Fun Games and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, to make way for the fictional town of Pueblo Esperanza in the Tropical Americas land.

Watch our video of 4K multicam POV video of TriceraTop Spin:

The Boneyard

Another casualty of the Tropical takeover of DinoLand U.S.A. is The Boneyard, one of few remaining playgrounds at Walt Disney World. What precisely will replace The Boneyard is unclear but it appears to be in part of the area that will become the Pueblo Esperanza town square with a fountain.

The Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, and the rest of DinoLand is rumored to close about one year after the first half in early 2026.

Red Car Trolley

The Red Car Trolley at Disney California Adventure took its final journey on February 8, 2025 to make space for the Avengers Campus expansion. The Trolley barn is slated for demolition, as it is in the area where the expansion will go, which in turn will double the footprint of Avengers Campus.

The Trolley opened in 2012 as part of the reimagined Disney California Adventure and replicates the trolleys that were once prominent in the greater Los Angeles area. Guests could ride the Trolley between Buena Vista Street and Sunset Boulevard (and back). There were two additional stops on the path — one at Carthay Circle and one at Hollywood Boulevard.

Watch our daytime full ride video from the Red Car Trolley:

And watch the attraction’s final moments:

Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters (TDL)

Entrance sign for Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters attraction at a theme park. The area is crowded with people waiting in line, several strollers parked nearby, and excited visitors eager to experience the adventure inspired by the Full Ride Video.

Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters closed permanently at Tokyo Disneyland on October 31, 2024. It will be replaced in 2026 by a “Wreck-It Ralph” themed attraction using an updated version of the ride system.

The attraction opened in 2004, replacing the Visionarium.

Farewell celebrations began earlier in 2024, including a temporary return of the Astro Hero Time version of the ride. A merchandise collection was also available.

Watch our video of Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters below.

Muppet*Vision 3D

Muppet*Vision 3D, Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, and PizzeRizzo at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will close permanently so Grand Avenue can become the new Monsters, Inc. land. Monstropolis will include a suspended coaster recreating the door vault scene from “Monsters, Inc.”, as well as shopping, dining, and a new theater show.

Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo will have their last day of operation on June 7, 2025. Mama Melrose’s will be open through May 10, 2025.

The show’s closure has been controversial, in part because it was Jim Henson’s final project before he passed away. Disney stated that they are “having creative conversations and exploring ways to preserve” Muppet*Vision 3D, along with “other parts of the experience for fans to enjoy in the future.” The Jim Henson Company also shared a statement on the attraction’s closure that said they look forward to the show’s “next act.”

Watch our video of Muppet*Vision 3D from when the show received new projection mapping effects:

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Large guitar sculpture outside a building on the left; colorful poster of animated characters in a car on the right.

The Muppets will move across the park to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. The indoor coaster will now star Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, “music’s biggest stars,” going to a “rockin’ music festival.” Though the band will take center stage, Kermit and Miss Piggy are also featured in the concept poster.

Rumors swirled of an Electric Mayhem reimagining of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster after the creator of “The Muppets Mayhem” said he pitched the retheme back in June.

More details and a timeline for this overhaul has not been announced. Watch our Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster POV video:

Disney Attractions Likely to Close

Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue!

While unannounced at this time, Monsters Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! at Disney California Adventure is likely to close to make way for the “Avatar” boat ride. The new Avatar Land will take up space in Hollywood Land as well as some space not currently included in the park. While only the boat ride details are available, the concept art depicts what appears to be a mini land with shopping and/or dining experiences.

At this time, it’s unclear how much of Hollywood Land will be lost to make way for Pandora — The World of Avatar at Disney California Adventure. Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue!’s location at the back of the land makes it a likely target, since it would no longer fit into the area even if the space wasn’t technically needed.

Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! opened in 2005 as a reskin of Superstar Limo, an infamous Disney California Adventure that operated for less than a year.

Watch our video of Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! below.

What do you think about this list of attractions due to close permanently? Let us know in the comments.

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