Goodbye Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, Hello Disney on Broadway – January 2025 at Walt Disney World.
January of 2025 at Disney World will be the start of a major transformation over the next few years. Going away forever is the Dino-Rama section of Animal Kingdom, at Magic Kingdom Big Thunder will close for the next year, Epcot will see the return of the Festival of the Arts, and we welcome in runners from around the world for runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon 2025.
During the Walt Disney World Marathon be aware of road closures and detours. From January 8th, 2025 – Sun, Jan 12th, 2025 runners from around the world come to Disney to race through the Parks and Resort area. Maps of the event and road closures:
Below we have listed each Park at Disney World to include ride closures, refurbishments, and Park Hours.
Magic Kingdom:
Park Hours: Follow the Link to Magic Kingdom Park Hours. They are all over the place because of Marathon and Special Events aka After Hours. January 30th, 2025, Magic Kingdom will close at 4:30 PM due to a private event.
Parade and Fireworks: Happily Ever After 8:00 PM except for January 30th, 2025. Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade at 3:00 PM. Also, during After Hours, Disney Enchantment Fireworks are returning at 11:00 PM.
Closures and Refurbishments:
Astro Orbiter – Astro Orbiter will be temporarily closed for refurbishment beginning January 13, 2025, and is planned to reopen in the summer of 2025.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will temporarily close for refurbishment on January 6, 2025. The attraction will reopen with a little bit of new magic in 2026.
Hall of Presidents – The Hall of Presidents will temporarily close for refurbishment on January 20, 2025, and is expected to reopen later in 2025.
Epcot:
Park Hours: Early Entry 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM, Park Hours 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Parade and Fireworks: Luminous The Symphony of Us 9:00 PM
Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts: January 17th – February 24th, 2025.
Disney on Broadway Concert Series: 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, 8:00 PM
Closures and Refurbishments:
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros – Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros will close for refurbishment on January 6, 2025, and is expected to reopen on March 15, 2025.
Test Track – Test Track Presented by Chevrolet is being reimagined and is currently closed. The attraction will reopen in 2025. Please check back later for updates.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
Park Hours: Early Entry 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM. Park Hours 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Closures and Refurbishments:
Kali River Rapids – Kali River Rapids will temporarily close for refurbishment on January 6, 2025, and is expected to reopen in March 2025.
Triceratops Spin – Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures will close permanently on January 13, 2025, to make way for the Tropical Americas coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park in 2027.
Fossil Fun Games – Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures will close permanently on January 13, 2025, to make way for the Tropical Americas coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park in 2027.
Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures – Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures will close permanently on January 13, 2025, to make way for the Tropical Americas coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park in 2027.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
Park Hours: Early Entry 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM. Park Hours 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Parade and Fireworks:
Wonderful World of Animation 8:45 PM. Fantasmic! 8:00 PM 9:30 PM Fridays and Saturdays in January. Sunday thru Thursday – 9:30 PM only.
Closures and Refurbishments:
Lightning McQueen Racing Academy – Permanently closed in October of 2024, the show building is being rethemed for a brand new show called “Villians Unhappily Ever After” in Summer of 2025
Voyage of the Little Mermaid – The theater has been closed since 2020, but the good news is an updated version of Voyage of the Little Mermaid is opening in the summer of 2025 called “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure“
Disney Springs:
Celebrate The New Year with Wellness Month 2025 at Disney Springs! Throughout January, there are seven different self-care itineraries tailored to different activity levels–plus unique discounts and promotions at popular restaurants and retail locations–all part of Disney Springs Wellness Month presented by AdventHealth. You can either register for a pre-built itinerary of fun wellness activities or take advantage of limited-time offerings like complimentary facials, photography classes, and more.
Goodbye Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, Hello Disney on Broadway – January 2025 at Walt Disney World
