food IS a theme park
Going to Disney World soon? You should know that a lot of it is closed right now. Okay, maybe not the majority of things, but it does feel like you need to wear a hard hat wherever you go these days.
Magic Kingdom
A huge chunk of Animal Kingdom is closed and not reopening until next year, Hollywood Studios is having a slight identity crisis, and Magic Kingdom is going through it. Now, another closure has started in Magic Kingdom, and this time it’s for a classic attraction.
Magic Kingdom has been making some MASSIVE changes. We’ve seen both Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad get HUGE updates. Villains Land is being built behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Piston Peak is being built in Frontierland. But we have yet another change to warn you about soon, too.
The Walt Disney World Railroad
The Walt Disney World Railroad is set to close soon, so if you have plans to ride this attraction, you’ll want to make note!
When it comes to iconic rides and classic attractions, Haunted Mansion could be at the top of almost every Disney fan’s list. The ride could be one of the most unique in the world, known for both its spooky vibe, as well as its dark humor. That makes it a must-ride when you visit Disneyland.
The Haunted Mansion in Disneyland
Well, if you’ve been looking forward to hopping on a Doom Buggy for an adventure through the Haunted Mansion next week, you might be surprised — the ride is scheduled to close soon.
It isn’t just Disney World’s theme parks that are going through a ton of changes with construction almost EVERYWHERE. Even Disney Springs has seen a ton of changes recently, with stores permanently closing, new stores moving in, and even new restaurants popping up.
Columbia Sportswear
Back in May, a popular store in Disney Springs, Columbia Sportswear, closed for a temporary refurbishment. For a while, we didn’t know when the store might reopen, but then Disney finally revealed an opening date…and that day has finally come. So we swung by Columbia Sportswear and confirmed that, yes, it has reopened as of July 24th.
Changes have been a constant at Disney World for decades, with rides, attractions, restaurants, and even a whole water park closing over the decades. In the last few years alone, iconic attractions like Muppet*Vision 3D, Tom Sawyer Island, and The Rivers of America have all shuttered for good, with fans making one final visit while lamenting their loss in the buildup to their final day of operation. However, not every closed Disney location has gotten a grand send-off.
Tortuga Tavern
Instead, some – – ranging from merchandise locations to a decades-old show – – closed without warning and simply never reopened, changing the face of their respective Disney park with nothing but a whimper.
Disney World is in the midst of a lot of construction right now. In Magic Kingdom, Frontierland is getting a Cars expansion, while a new Villains land is being added behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a Monsters, Inc. land is being constructed. A Tropical Americas-themed land is being created in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Germany Pavilion in EPCOT
In EPCOT, the construction is a little more subtle, but it’s still happening. Most recently, we discovered that a store in EPCOT’s Germany Pavilion and the pavilion’s guest restrooms are closed for refurbishment.
One of our favorite places to shop might surprise you because it isn’t Disney Springs.
France Pavilion
Instead, one of our favorite places to shop is EPCOT’s World Showcase, where you can find unique items from every country represented in the park. You can get fun troll dolls in Norway, beautiful ornaments in Germany, Venetian masquerade masks in Italy, Japanese snacks in Japan, and more. However, if you plan on shopping in the France Pavilion, you might notice that one store there is now closed.
Magic Kingdom is a hotbed of activity right now — let’s just say, there’s a lot going on. For starters, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad just recently reopened with a ton of new changes, as did Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.
Diamond Horseshoe
Meanwhile, an entire new Villains land is being built behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, while Frontierland is getting a Cars expansion. Well, now, a Magic Kingdom restaurant has closed to make way for something new. Yep, Diamond Horseshoe has officially closed.
After staying at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, we’ll admit that we were SPOILED when it came to options for dining. Not only do you have all the restaurants and lounges available at the resort itself, but you also have the WHOLE of restaurants nearby at other EPCOT-area resorts within walking distance.
The Crew’s Cup Lounge
However, one of our favorite spots to grab a quick bite to eat without needing a reservation is The Crew’s Cup Lounge, which you’ll find right next to Yachstman Steakhouse. Now, this lounge has been closed since February for a refresh and was supposed to be closed until June 1st. However, the lounge has officially reopened early!
There are a lot of unique things you can do in EPCOT that you can’t do in any other Disney World park. For starters, you can eat, drink, and shop around the World without ever leaving World Showcase. You can also visit an aquarium, go on an out-of-this-world adventure, explore the history of communication, and interact with water. There’s just so much to do!
A dragon made out of sugar
One of our favorite activities was buying sugar art in the China Pavilion, but that activity went away in 2020. However, it returned last month…but now, well, it’s gone away again! OH NO!!!!
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