The Walt Disney World timeline

Big Thunder Mountain closing for a long refurbishment

The mine train closes for a lengthy rehab tied to the Cars project.

Buzz Lightyear closed for a full overhaul

The ride is gaining new blasters, vehicles and show scenes.

Test Track 3.0 reopened

Test Track closed for a long rebuild and returned with a new look.

Tom Sawyer Island closed permanently

Tom Sawyer Island closed with Rivers of America.

Rivers of America and Liberty Belle closing

The riverboat, island and rafts stopped operating permanently.

Muppet*Vision 3D closed

The Muppets' last attraction at the park closed for the Monsters, Inc. land.

Villains Unfairly Ever After replaced Lightning McQueen

Disney villains argue their case in the former Racing Academy theater.

The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure opened

A fully reimagined Little Mermaid stage show took over the theater.

Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama closed

The carnival midway area is gone.

TriceraTop Spin closed

The dinosaur spinner closed ahead of the Tropical Americas transformation.

Big Thunder Mountain closed for a year-long rebuild

The coaster is being rebuilt with new track and promised new effects.

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular closed

The stunt show ended its decades-long run.

DINOSAUR closed for retheming

The dark ride closed to be reimagined.

Polynesian Island Tower opened

A new villa tower opened at the Polynesian Village.

Lightning Lane Premier Pass launched

A high-priced pass covering one ride per Lightning Lane attraction launched.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster kept Aerosmith but changed audio

A long refurbishment restored effects and lighting.

Genie+ became Lightning Lane Multi Pass

Paid line-skipping was rebranded and moved to advance booking.

Lightning Lane can be pre-booked before your trip

You now plan Lightning Lane selections before arriving instead of at 7am each day.

Lightning Lane Single Pass replaced Individual Lightning Lane

The paid per-ride skip was renamed and rebooked through a new flow.

Country Bear Musical Jamboree debuted

The classic show was reworked with country-music arrangements of Disney songs.

Fort Wilderness cabins fully rebuilt

The cabins were replaced with new units.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure opened

The former Splash Mountain reopened with an all-new Princess and the Frog story.

Space Mountain refurbished

The coaster received an extended refurbishment with updated effects.

Star Tours added new destinations

Ahsoka, Andor and Mandalorian destinations joined the rotation.

It's Tough to be a Bug! closed

The 4D show ended its run inside the Tree of Life.

Park Pass reservations required then relaxed

Park reservations were dropped for most standard tickets.

Dining Plan suspended and returned

The Dining Plan came back with revised inclusions.

Tony's Town Square reimagined with a new menu

Menu and decor were refreshed with a heavier Lady and the Tramp story.

Restaurantosaurus reduced and rethemed plans

Dining in DinoLand is winding down for the new land.

Journey Into Imagination remains unchanged while others updated

One of the few EPCOT attractions untouched by the overhaul.

Walt Disney World Railroad reopened

The steam train circle tour returned after a five-year closure.

Luminous: The Symphony of Us debuted

EPCOT's current nighttime spectacular.

CommuniCore Hall and Plaza opened

A new event and festival venue replaced dormant Innoventions buildings.

Nighttime spectacular changed three times

EPCOT went through Epcot Forever and Harmonious before settling on Luminous.

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana opened

A walk-through interactive water trail.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser opened and closed

The immersive Star Wars hotel ran for only about 18 months.

Mickey's Not-So-Scary and Very Merry prices rose sharply

Separately ticketed party nights cost far more than most returning guests remember.

TRON Lightcycle / Run opened

A high-speed indoor coaster in Tomorrowland and the biggest Magic Kingdom addition in years.

Virtual queues used for the newest headliners

New attractions often require a virtual queue join at set times.

Happily Ever After returned after Enchantment

The fireworks line-up swapped back after a two-year run of Enchantment.

Harmonious replaced then retired

EPCOT cycled through two nighttime shows in three years.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ opened

Toy Story Land's first table-service restaurant.

Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade route timing shifted

Parade times move seasonally and are posted day-of in the app.

Splash Mountain closed permanently

The log flume closed for good and was rebuilt as Tiana's Bayou Adventure.

Resort parking fees introduced then removed

Disney reversed the overnight self-parking fee for resort guests.

Resort parking fee for overnight guests removed

Overnight self-parking fees were dropped.

World Showplace and festival center use changed

Festival seminars and events now happen in the new CommuniCore Hall.

Memory Maker price increased and PhotoPass changed

Photo package pricing rose and single-day options changed.

Parking at theme parks now $30 standard

Daily standard parking rose to $30.

Ticket modification and expiration rules tightened

Unused date-based tickets keep value but require paying the difference.

Walt Disney World Railroad returned

The grand circle tour resumed with a new route and narration.

Fantasmic! returned with a new sequence

The nighttime show came back with updated content.

MagicBand+ launched and free MagicBands ended

Bands became an optional purchase with new interactive features.

Connections Cafe & Eatery opened

A rebuilt quick-service location replaced the Electric Umbrella.

Finding Nemo show retooled as The Big Blue and Beyond

The musical returned in a shorter, restaged form.

Finding Nemo reimagined as The Big Blue and Beyond

The show returned reworked with new staging and a tighter runtime.

Main Street Bakery became a full Starbucks menu

Espresso drinks and Starbucks pastries replaced most of the original bakery items.

Rose & Crown and other World Showcase menus overhauled

Most World Showcase restaurants reworked menus and raised prices post-2020.

Astro Orbiter and PeopleMover long refurbishments

Both classics were down for extended periods and returned refreshed.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened

One of the largest indoor roller coasters anywhere and EPCOT's headline attraction.

Ellen's Energy pavilion became Guardians building

The energy pavilion was gutted and rebuilt for the Guardians coaster.

Star Tours refreshed with new scenes

New planets and characters were added to the ride's rotation.

Festival of Fantasy Parade returned

The daytime parade came back after a long suspension.

Plaza Ice Cream and Casey's reworked menus

Several Main Street quick-service menus were rebuilt post-2020.

Sunshine Flyer airport service launched then ended

A competing airport bus launched after Magical Express and later stopped.

Swiss Family Treehouse hours reduced

Recorded as operating on a limited or seasonal schedule at times; hours are posted day-of.

Magical Express airport bus discontinued

Complimentary airport bus service ended; guests now arrange their own transport.

Mears Connect replaced Magical Express

A paid alternative launched as the airport option.

Cinderella Castle gold trim removed

The bold anniversary paint job was toned back down.

The Land pavilion's Sunshine Seasons refreshed

The food court in The Land got new stations and dishes.

EPCOT festivals expanded to nearly year-round

Festival kiosks are now up almost any week you visit.

Hollywood Brown Derby menu and pricing overhauled

The signature restaurant trimmed the menu and raised prices.

Ticket prices moved fully to date-based pricing tiers

Ticket cost now depends heavily on which dates you choose.

Contemporary and Polynesian rooms fully refurbished

Several deluxe resorts completed full room refreshes.

Space 220 and other reservations became extremely hard to get

Popular restaurants now book out the moment the window opens.

Disney's Magical Express replaced by paid options

Airport transfers are no longer free for resort guests.

Individual Lightning Lane introduced for headliners

Top attractions require a separate per-ride purchase.

FastPass+ discontinued

The free advance ride booking system ended permanently.

Genie+ launched as a paid replacement

Skip-the-line access became a paid daily add-on.

Disney Genie itinerary tool added to the app

A free planning assistant was added alongside the paid Genie+.

Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade added

Mini-parades introduced in 2020 stayed as a permanent daily offering.

EPCOT reorganised into four neighbourhoods

The park's entire layout and naming was restructured.

Le Cellier and France pavilion expansion

The France pavilion expansion added a new creperie.

Remy's Ratatouille Adventure opened

A trackless family dark ride added to World Showcase.

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room show restored

The show returned closer to its original format.

Spaceship Earth entrance plaza rebuilt

The main entrance was demolished and rebuilt with a new fountain and pathways.

Extra Magic Hours replaced by Early Entry and Extended Evening

Morning Extra Magic Hours ended; Deluxe guests get select evening hours.

Main Street Confectionery reopened after a full rebuild

The candy shop was gutted and rebuilt with a visible candy kitchen.

Early Theme Park Entry for all resort guests

All Disney resort guests get 30 minutes early entry every day.

Extended Evening Hours limited to deluxe guests

Late-night extra hours are now a deluxe-resort perk.

Steakhouse 71 replaced the Wave

The Contemporary's restaurant was rethemed to 1971.

Enchanted Tales with Belle and Fantasyland meets adjusted

The storytelling experience returned in a slightly reworked form.

Spaceship Earth's descent and exit games changed

The exit area games and sponsor exhibits were scaled back.

Space 220 Restaurant opened

A table-service restaurant simulating dining in orbit.

Photo and parking changes for annual passholders

Passholder benefits were restructured by tier.

Annual Passes restructured

Pass tiers, pricing and sales availability changed substantially.

Club Cool moved and changed drinks

The free international soda tasting moved and swapped several flavours.

The Hall of Presidents added Joe Biden

The tradition of adding each sitting president continued.

Sci-Fi Dine-In and 50's Prime Time menu overhauls

Table-service menus across the park were rebuilt.

Cinderella's Royal Table pricing moved to prix fixe

Castle dining moved to a single fixed price.

Jungle Cruise updated with new scenes and skippers

Several scenes were rebuilt and outdated depictions of native peoples were removed.

Garden Grill continues but Chip 'n Dale character dining changed

Character dining returned in stages with different service styles.

Creations Shop replaced MouseGear

EPCOT's main store was rebuilt and renamed.

Daily housekeeping reduced at value and moderate resorts

Housekeeping frequency changed after 2020 and was only partly restored.

Primeval Whirl-era Main Street vehicles retired

Main Street vehicle offerings were scaled back after the 2020 closure period.

Coral Reef Restaurant reopened with reduced hours

Operating hours were reduced after reopening.

Tomorrowland Terrace and Cosmic Ray's mobile-order only at peak

Mobile ordering became the primary way most guests order quick service at Magic Kingdom, and some locations lean on it heavily at busy times.

Rafiki's Planet Watch reopened with Conservation Station changes

The train-accessed area returned with a modified experience.

Festival of the Lion King returned after the 2020 closure

The show came back in a trimmed celebration format before the full version returned.

Water park ticketing and hours changed

Disney now alternates which water park is open.

Free digital MagicMobile pass replaced physical cards

You can enter parks and rooms with your phone.

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom closed

The free interactive scavenger game did not return after the 2020 closure.

Pecos Bill and Frontierland dining reworked

The self-serve toppings bar has not been part of the regular service since 2020.

Park hopping rules changed

Hopping rules tightened and then loosened again.

Free MagicBands for resort guests ended

Resort stays no longer include a complimentary MagicBand.

Photos and PhotoPass moved fully into the app

Ride and character photos appear in the app automatically.

Monorail resorts kept service but reduced hours

Monorail hours are more tightly tied to park hours.

Free resort MagicBands ended

The free MagicBand perk ended as phone-based entry took over.

Virtual queues used for new headliners

Some new attractions require joining a virtual queue at set times.

Resort dining locations closed permanently

Restaurants such as Captain's Grille and others did not return.

Star Wars Launch Bay and Path of the Jedi reduced

Several legacy Star Wars offerings were scaled back after Galaxy's Edge.

Cinderella Castle repainted in blue and gold

The castle received a bold new colour scheme that remains today.

Online check-in and room-ready texts became standard

Most guests skip the front desk entirely.

Dining reservations moved to 60 days for all guests

The booking window shortened dramatically.

Cosmic Ray's and quick-service mobile order became standard

Quick service across the park moved to app-based ordering windows.

My Disney Experience app became essential

My Disney Experience became central to managing a Walt Disney World vacation, including mobile ordering, Lightning Lane purchases, dining reservations, planning and MagicMobile entry.

Primeval Whirl closed

The DinoLand spinning coaster was demolished.

Reflections resort project cancelled

The planned lakeside resort was cancelled.

Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. arcade closed

The arcade at the Space Mountain exit did not reopen.

Voyage of the Little Mermaid closed

The Little Mermaid stage show never reopened.

The Diamond Horseshoe closed to regular service

The Diamond Horseshoe has been used for limited and seasonal service rather than a regular daily schedule.

Electric Umbrella closed

A longtime Future World quick-service spot never reopened.

Minnie Van service discontinued then partly returned

The point-to-point car service was cut and only partly returned.

Voyage of the Little Mermaid closed

The puppet-and-live-action show quietly became permanent history.

Rivers of Light ended

The nighttime water show did not return after 2020.

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway opened

The first ride-through attraction starring Mickey Mouse.

Regal Eagle Smokehouse replaced Liberty Inn

The American pavilion's restaurant became a barbecue spot.

Canada Far and Wide replaced O Canada!

The Canada pavilion film was replaced with a newly shot version narrated by Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy.

Awesome Planet film opened in The Land

A new film replaced Circle of Life in The Land pavilion.

Expedition Everest yeti still in B-mode

The yeti figure remains in a stationary lighting effect.

Topolino's Terrace opened at Riviera

The Riviera brought a well-reviewed rooftop restaurant.

Disney's Riviera Resort opened

A new Deluxe Villa resort connected by gondola.

Disney Vacation Club added new resorts

Several new DVC properties opened since 2019.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opened

Widely considered one of the most ambitious theme park attractions ever built.

Illuminations: Reflections of Earth ended

The long-running lagoon show ended after 20 years.

Disney Skyliner opened

Gondolas now connect EPCOT and Hollywood Studios with four resort areas.

Disney Skyliner opened

A skyline gondola system changed how guests move around the resort.

Innoventions buildings demolished

The old Innoventions pavilions were torn down for the new World Celebration.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run opened

The Falcon flight simulator opened with Galaxy's Edge.

Docking Bay 7 and Ronto Roasters became staples

New Star Wars themed dining arrived with the land.

Oga's Cantina opened

A reservation-only cantina in Black Spire Outpost.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opened

An entire Star Wars planet added to the park.

Leave a Legacy monoliths removed from the entrance

The entrance plaza monoliths were moved to make way for the new entrance.

Gran Destino Tower opened at Coronado Springs

A new tower and Toledo restaurant were added.

Echo Lake and Hollywood Boulevard projection shows added

A nightly projection show was added to the park.

Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy opened

A short show experience on Sunset Boulevard.

Bus tracking added to My Disney Experience

You can see bus arrival estimates in the app.

Disney Springs transportation and parking expanded

Parking garages with live space counts changed how you arrive.

Sunset Showcase became a rotating venue

The theatre hosts seasonal shows rather than one permanent attraction.

Storybook Dining and new character meals appeared

The Wilderness Lodge signature became a character meal.

Walt Disney World Railroad paused for TRON construction

The railroad stopped circling the park for four years.

Disney Junior Play & Dance replaced the sit-down show

The seated puppet show became a standing dance party.

Be Our Guest dinner went prix fixe

Dinner became a fixed-price signature experience.

Slinky Dog Dash opened

A family coaster that quickly became one of the hardest rides to book.

Toy Story Land opened

A new land built around backyard-scale Toy Story theming.

Toy Story Mania third track and entrance moved

The queue and entrance moved when Toy Story Land opened.

UP! A Great Bird Adventure replaced the bird show

The classic bird show was rethemed around Up.

Baseline Tap House and Grand Avenue dining added

Grand Avenue's rebuild added new small dining spots.

Pirates of the Caribbean auction scene reworked

The bride auction scene was replaced with Redd, a female pirate directing the sale of stolen goods.

Pirates of the Caribbean reworked the auction scene

The auction scene was rewritten with Redd as a pirate in her own right.

Stitch's Great Escape removed

The Tomorrowland theatre attraction stopped operating and never returned.

Flights of Wonder closed

The natural-behaviors bird show ended after nearly two decades.

The Hall of Presidents added Donald Trump

The show reopened after a year of rework with a speaking Trump figure.

Mission: SPACE Green mission rethemed

The less-intense side became a gentle tour around Earth.

Mission: SPACE relaunched with new films

The ride gained updated films and a gentler Earth orbit option.

The Great Movie Ride closed

The park's original centrepiece attraction was retired.

Universe of Energy / Ellen's Energy Adventure closed

The pavilion was cleared to build Cosmic Rewind.

Pandora night-time bioluminescence became a signature

Pandora's night lighting became a reason to stay late.

Satu'li Canteen opened

A build-your-own bowl quick service widely rated among the best at WDW.

Na'vi River Journey opened

A gentle boat ride through a bioluminescent rainforest.

Avatar Flight of Passage opened

A flying simulator that still draws some of the longest waits at Walt Disney World.

Pandora – The World of Avatar opened

A fully immersive Avatar land with floating mountains.

Main Street Electrical Parade ended its run

The parade left Magic Kingdom and the park has had no regular night parade since.

Disney's Electrical Water Pageant continues but Main Street Electrical Parade left

The lighted parade left Walt Disney World.

Maelstrom-era Norway completed transition to Frozen Ever After

Norway's boat ride became a Frozen attraction.

Soarin' Around the World replaced the original film

The film now flies over world landmarks instead of California.

Nomad Lounge became a top-rated spot

The lounge opened with Pandora-era expansion and is now a favourite.

Discovery River Boats area and Tree of Life awakenings added

Night-time projections on the Tree of Life began with evening hours.

Animal Kingdom night-time hours became standard

Animal Kingdom now regularly stays open after dark.

Toy Story Mania added a third track

Capacity grew by half to tame the lines.

Disney Springs Town Center opened

The multi-year transformation made it a destination of its own.

Kilimanjaro Safaris dropped the poacher storyline

The chase ending was removed and night safaris were added.

Streets of America closed

The New York and San Francisco street sets were torn down.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure closed

The oversized-backyard playground was cleared for Galaxy's Edge.

Lights, Motors, Action! closed

The imported stunt show closed as the park was reimagined.

Skipper Canteen opened in Adventureland

A table-service restaurant themed to the Jungle Cruise skippers.

Captain EO closed for good

The tribute run ended after five years.

Downtown Disney renamed Disney Springs

The shopping and dining district got a new name and a Florida-springs backstory.

The Magic of Disney Animation closed

The animation studio tour ended its 26-year run.

The Sorcerer Mickey hat was removed

The park's second icon was dismantled, restoring the Chinese Theatre view.

Maelstrom closed

The backwards-dropping boat ride closed so Arendelle could move in.

Studio Backlot Tour closed

The tram-and-walking tour ended after 25 years.

Festival of the Lion King moved to Africa

The show relocated so Pandora could be built on its old home.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opened

A swinging family coaster that completed New Fantasyland.

Camp Minnie-Mickey closed

The rustic camp land closed to make way for the world of Avatar.

Princess Fairytale Hall opened

A meet-and-greet home for the princesses inside the castle walls.

Test Track redesigned around a Chevrolet design studio

The queue and ride were rethemed around designing a virtual concept car.

New Fantasyland expansion opened

The largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history added the Little Mermaid ride, Be Our Guest and more.

Be Our Guest Restaurant opened

Dining in the ballroom and West Wing became an instant reservation battle.

Snow White's Scary Adventures closed

The opening-day dark ride made way for a princess meet and greet.

Storybook Circus opened the first phase of New Fantasyland

The first section of the expansion opened months before the rest.

Star Tours became The Adventures Continue

The ride gained 3D and randomly combined scenes for near-endless variety.

Haunted Mansion added an interactive queue

The queue gained a musical crypt, a poetess bust and tomb effects.

Mickey's Toontown Fair closed

The cartoon land was absorbed into the New Fantasyland expansion.

Main Street Electrical Parade returned

The classic light parade returned for what became a six-year encore.

Captain EO returned as a tribute

The film returned for a limited engagement after Michael Jackson's death.

Honey, I Shrunk the Audience closed

The shrinking-machine 3D show gave way to the Captain EO revival.

SpectroMagic ended

The fiber-optic parade made way for the Electrical Parade's return.

Pleasure Island closed

All six nightclubs closed on the same night, ending the resort's club era.

Toy Story Mania opened

The pull-string shooter ride became the park's hottest ticket on arrival.

Haunted Mansion completed a major refurbishment

A months-long rehab added the endless staircase and a floating Leota.

Gran Fiesta Tour replaced El Rio del Tiempo

Mexico's river ride gained Donald, Jose and Panchito.

Finding Nemo - The Musical opened

Disney's first original park musical opened in DinoLand's theater.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends opened

The pavilion reopened with a clamshell ride through the tank.

Body Wars closed

The miniaturized-body thrill ride closed and was never replaced.

Wonders of Life pavilion ceased regular operation

The pavilion stopped daily operation and sat mostly dormant for years.

Pirates of the Caribbean added Captain Jack Sparrow

The film character joined the classic ride after the movies' success.

Mission: SPACE added a tamer Green mission

A non-spinning version was added alongside the original.

Tarzan Rocks! closed

The high-energy Tarzan show ended its run.

The Living Seas closed for its Nemo overhaul

The serious ocean-science pavilion was rethemed around Pixar characters.

Soarin' opened at The Land

A copy of the California Adventure hit took over The Land pavilion.

Food Rocks closed

The rock-parody food show closed so the pavilion could gain Soarin'.

ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter closed

The infamously intense Tomorrowland show was rethemed as too scary for the park.

Mission: SPACE opened

A spinning spaceflight simulator rose where Horizons stood.

Figment returned to the Imagination pavilion

Guest complaints brought Figment back in a third version of the ride.

The Skyway closed

The gondola ride between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland stopped flying.

Journey Into YOUR Imagination opened

The replacement removed Figment almost entirely and was widely panned.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opened

A gentle dark ride through the Hundred Acre Wood replaced Mr. Toad.

Kali River Rapids opened

The park's first water ride arrived with a conservation message.

Test Track opened

A proving-ground thrill ride replaced World of Motion after long delays.

Horizons closed

EPCOT's beloved look at the future closed and the building was later demolished.

The original Journey Into Imagination closed

The original Dreamfinder ride closed and fans have mourned it ever since.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride closed

Fans campaigned to save it, but it closed anyway; the original still runs at Disneyland.

World of Motion closed

The whimsical ride through transportation history closed for a thrill replacement.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea closed

The submarine ride closed quietly and the lagoon sat empty for years.

Captain EO ended its original run

The George Lucas sci-fi film ended its first run.

Kitchen Kabaret closed

The singing food show left The Land pavilion.