Lots of changes are happening in Disney World in 2023. And we want to make sure you are really prepared to conquer the parks on your trip!

There are some big opening dates coming up, like the official opening of the Moana-themed Journey of Water and the completion of the EPCOT transformation. But unfortunately, there will also be some closures. Some of these closures are permanent, some of left over from the COVID-19 park closures, and others are refurbishments. Let’s take a look at the closure FULL list for 2023.

The easiest way to sort out this list is to go by location, so let’s head to each park and the resorts and see what we’ve got so far!

Looking for info on what’s coming to Disney World in 2024? Click HERE!

Magic Kingdom

50th Anniversary Celebrations

Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebrations officially ended on March 31st, 2023.

For 18 months, Disney gave us special entertainment, snacks, merchandise, and more, and we have LOVED sharing it all with you! And remember, The Walt Disney Company’s 100th Anniversary celebrations are bringing MORE fun to the parks… especially to EPCOT, which will serve as the host of the Disney100 celebration in Disney World!

Magic Kingdom Ride Closures

Splash Mountain

Splash Mountain in Frontierland is — as of January 23, 2023 — permanently closed. The crowds came out in full force on January 22nd for one last splash on this attraction which opened in July of 1989.

The ride has closed to make way for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

The retheme of the ride will bring characters from Princess and the Frog, along with new music, new animatronics, and a new storyline. The new ride is expected to open in late 2024.

Read all about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure here!

Magic Kingdom Show Closures

Disney Enchantment

Magic Kingdom’s evening fireworks spectacular, Disney Enchantment — which made its debut on the 50th Anniversary of Magic Kingdom (October 1, 2021) — ended its run with its final showing on April 2, 2023. But where there is a “goodbye,” there is also a “HELLO” to follow…

On April 3, 2023 the Happily Ever After fireworks show returned to Magic Kingdom! You can watch Happily Ever After each night in Magic Kingdom at 9 or 9:20PM depending on the day (times are subject to change).

Click HERE to read about the return of Happily Ever After!

Magic Kingdom Character Greetings

The Merida meet-and-greet at Fairytale Garden is officially closed. Mirabel from Encanto now has her own meet-and-greet in Magic Kingdom and is meeting guests in a transformed Fairytale Garden instead.

The good news is that Merida is now meeting guests at the Liberty Square Enchanted Glade Gazebo. (It’s the gazebo near Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe!)

Check out Merida’s NEW Meet-and-Greet spot HERE!

Other Unavailable Magic Kingdom Offerings

• Citizens of Main Street
• Main Street Trolley Show
• Meet Alice at the Mad Tea Party
• Meet Gaston near his Tavern
• Meet Tinker Bell at Town Square Theater
• Agrabah Bazaar
• Casey Jr. RailRoad Mercantile
• Main Street Chamber of Commerce (Package Pickup)
• Tomorrowland Terrace — currently only open for dessert parties, not as a full restaurant

EPCOT

Most of World Celebration

EPCOT’s lengthy transformation is coming to a close, and some of the construction walls came down to reveal EPCOT’s all-new World Celebration Gardens as well as the Walt the Dreamer statue in early December 2023!

However, the opening of CommuniCore Hall and Plaza — which was set to debut in late 2023 in World Celebration — has met with delays. 

The new area will serve as a central location for EPCOT’s rotating festivals throughout the year. While CommuniCore was previously set to open in late 2023, Disney has now confirmed that it will open in 2024. 

In addition to providing dedicated spaces for EPCOT’s seasonal Festivals, CommuniCore Hall will also be the location of a new Mickey & Friends meet-and-greet!

We’ll continue to keep our eyes peeled for updates!

EPCOT Show Closures

Harmonious and EPCOT Forever

Like Disney Enchantment, Harmonious was introduced for the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World. And sadly, this fireworks show ended on April 2, 2023 as well.

With Harmonious ending on April 2nd, 2023 (as mentioned above), EPCOT Forever returned for a temporary run on April 3rd. Disney brought back this classic show as a placeholder while the Entertainment team prepared the World Showcase Lagoon for an entirely new production to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of The Walt Disney Company!

That’s right… Luminous The Symphony of Us made its debut on December 5th, 2023!

The production brings guests together nightly around World Showcase Lagoon.

Disney shares that the show is meant to “reflect the commonality in all of us,” and that the show invites “everyone to gather around World Showcase Lagoon for a show that will unite us through commonalities of the heart in a dazzling display of fireworks, lasers, music and light. Featuring an original composition along with select songs from the Disney songbook, this new spectacular will remind us that we’re more alike than different, connecting our hearts together as one.”

Click HERE to see pics and videos of LUMINOUS!

EPCOT Restaurant Closures

Restaurant Marrakesh

One thing that has been closed since the reopening of the parks is Restaurant Marrakesh in the Morocco Pavilion. In the past few years, it has been used as everything from a relaxation station to a lounge (as it is NOW during the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival), but the dining location hasn’t yet returned to its former glory.

We’ll be on the lookout for an opening date for the table service spot that formerly had authentic Moroccan food and a belly dancer for entertainment. For now, you’ll have to check out Spice Road Table instead.

Tokyo Dining

Tokyo Dining in EPCOT has permanently closed in EPCOT’s Japan pavilion, but the great news is that when the location reopened on August 15th, 2023…

… it did so as a whole new restaurant!

That’s right! A brand new restaurant is NOW OPEN in EPCOT’s Japan pavilion: Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya! 

The menu features “Japanese delights like sushi and teppan items,” plus an open sushi bar and grill. Sushi fans can enjoy the Kobore Sushi, Tokyo Negi Roll, and Funamori. Not only that, but you can enjoy Japanese Izakaya, a type of casual pub-style restaurant that puts an emphasis on drinks and conversations with friends.

The restaurant is located in the Japan Pavilion, on the second floor — above the Mitsukoshi Department Store (where Tokyo Dining was previously located), so it boasts the same World Showcase and fireworks views that guests loved at Tokyo Dining!

JOIN US for our Opening Day visit at Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya HERE!

Other Unavailable EPCOT Offerings

• The Brass Bazaar
• Casablanca Carpets
• Der Teddybar
• El Ranchito de Norte
• Marketplace in the Medina
• Mitsukoshi Kiosk
• Village Traders
• Jeweled Dragon Acrobats (China)
• Serveur Amusant (France)
• Viva Mexico (Mexico)
• Tangierine Cafe — currently being used as a food booth at EPCOT festivals

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios Ride Closures

Voyage of the Little Mermaid — UPDATE BELOW!

What’s going on with Voyage of the Little Mermaid in Hollywood Studios? It seems to currently be the red-headed (pun intended!) step-child of the park. The show has been quietly closed since the reopening, with no information mentioned about it in over two years.

Will it reopen in 2023? Only time will tell. But with this show and the gift shop next to it currently closed, it makes Animation Courtyard seem a bit like a ghost town.

UPDATE: Disney announced in December 2023 that a NEW show — “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” — is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Fall 2024! It’s also been confirmed that Voyage of the Little Mermaid is permanently closed in Disney World.

Other Unavailable Hollywood Studios Offerings

• Citizens of Hollywood
• Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple
• Disney Studio Store
• Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost
• It’s A Wonderful Shop

• Launch Bay Cargo
• Star Wars Launch Bay Theater
• Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom Store Closures

The Outpost Shop

In Animal Kingdom, one big thing has remained pretty obviously closed since the pandemic, and that’s The Outpost Shop outside of the park. This gift shop used to be home to a variety of souvenirs, but it has been blocked off for a while now.

We’ll be interested to see if it opens in 2023, but with possible staffing issues, it might not be a high priority.

Other Unavailable Animal Kingdom Offerings

• Meet Russell and Dug at Discovery Island — Look for Russel and Dug on the NEW Adventure Flotilla!
• Meet Timon and Rafiki at Discovery Island — Look for Timon and Rafiki on Animal Kingdom Flotillas sailing throughout the day!
• Pandora Drummers – Swotu Waya

• Pandora Rangers
• Colors of Mo’Ara
• Restaurantosaurus Burgers & Sundaes
• Yak & Yeti Quality Beverages

Disney Springs

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique finally reopened in Magic Kingdom in 2022, but the other two locations (at Grand Floridian Resort and Disney Springs) are still mysteriously closed. The Disney Springs shop was said to be opening “at a later date” but that date hasn’t yet been revealed.

For now, it looks like you’ll have to take your kiddos to the theme park to get those makeovers!

Other Disney World Closures

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

In May 2023, Disney announced that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser would be closing permanently. The final voyage for the Star Wars Hotel took place from September 28th-30th, 2023. 

Here’s the statement a Disney spokesperson has released on the matter: “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is one of our most creative projects ever and has been praised by our guests and recognized for setting a new bar for innovation and immersive entertainment. This premium, boutique experience gave us the opportunity to try new things on a smaller scale of 100 rooms, and as we prepare for its final voyage, we will take what we’ve learned to create future experiences that can reach more of our guests and fans.”

Read about the closure of the Galactic Starcuiser here. 

Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

Ever since the water parks first reopened, we’ve been in this back-and-forth game with Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. When one opens, the other one immediately closes.

Currently, Blizzard Beach is open, which means that Typhoon Lagoon is closed right now. 

Disney Resorts

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

Finally, let’s talk about the Disney World resorts. At the Grand Floridian, we’ve got a few closures to mention. 1900 Park Fare has been closed since the pandemic, with no reopening date in sight currently.

The Garden View Tea Room is also unavailable at this time, and as we mentioned above, the third Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique location is closed as well. Here’s to hoping those things return in 2023!

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

There are some big restaurant changes happening at BoardWalk Inn currently!

ESPN Club has closed down and it will be replaced with The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Finally, we need to mention the Polynesian Resort, where a new DVC building is currently under construction.

In order to make way for this building, the Spirit of Aloha dinner show building was demolished earlier in 2022.

Looking for info on what’s coming to Disney World in 2024? Click HERE!

Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, check out our DFB Guide Everything Bundle here. You will get ALL of our best-selling eBooks with details on Disney World Dining, EPCOT Festivals, the BEST snacks in each park, and soooooo many tips and tricks we’ve learned over decades of visiting our happy place.

Click Here to See NEW Problems You’ll Face in Disney World in 2023!

Are you planning a 2023 Disney World trip? Tell us in the comments!