CHANGEDOctober 19, 2021
FastPass+
Resort-wide • planning
The free advance ride booking system ended permanently.
- Then
- Free 60-day advance ride reservations
- Now
- Discontinued
Source · Walt Disney World
Since 2019
What's changed at Disney World since 2019
2019 was the last pre-pandemic season at Walt Disney World. Everything about arriving, booking and skipping the queue changed after it — here's the full list, sourced and dated.
- 144 verified changes
- 18 new
- 22 gone
- 11 still to come
The short version
What actually changed
If your last trip was 2019, you saw the old operating model in its final season: free FastPass+ booked 60 days out, Magical Express from the airport, and no reservation needed to walk through a gate. Each of those went away, and what replaced them is not a like-for-like swap.
The attraction line-up moved less dramatically, but the closures were significant ones — the kind guests plan a day around — and several of the biggest openings happened while the parks were operating under restrictions, so they are easy to have missed entirely.
Relearn
The systems that work differently now
Planning, ticketing and transportation rules that changed underneath you.
CHANGEDOctober 19, 2021
Genie+
Resort-wide • planning
Skip-the-line access became a paid daily add-on.
- Then
- FastPass+ (free)
- Now
- Paid per-day service
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDJuly 24, 2024
Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Resort-wide • planning
Paid line-skipping was rebranded and moved to advance booking.
- Then
- Genie+ same-day only
- Now
- Advance booking up to 7 days out
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGED2022
Disney's Magical Express
Resort-wide • transportation
Complimentary airport bus service ended; guests now arrange their own transport.
- Then
- Free airport transfers
- Now
- Discontinued
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDJanuary 9, 2024
Disney Park Pass
Resort-wide • planning
Park reservations were dropped for most standard tickets.
- Then
- A park reservation was needed alongside a ticket
- Now
- Most date-based tickets no longer need a park reservation
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDOctober 19, 2021
Lightning Lane Single Pass
Resort-wide • planning
Top attractions require a separate per-ride purchase.
- Now
- Per-ride paid access
Source · Walt Disney World
Then
What you remember that's gone
These were operating on your kind of trip and have since closed.
GONEClosed January 23, 2023
Splash Mountain
Magic Kingdom • attraction
The log flume closed for good and was rebuilt as Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
- Then
- Open since 1992
- Now
- Closed and rethemed
Source · Walt Disney World
GONEClosed July 7, 2025
Rivers of America
Magic Kingdom • attraction
The riverboat, island and rafts stopped operating permanently.
- Then
- Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island
- Now
- Closed for the Cars expansion
Source · Parkstalgia Research
GONEClosed June 7, 2025
Muppet*Vision 3D
Hollywood Studios • attraction
The Muppets' last attraction at the park closed for the Monsters, Inc. land.
- Then
- Operating since 1991
- Now
- Closed as Grand Avenue becomes Monstropolis
Source · Walt Disney World
GONEClosed July 7, 2025
Tom Sawyer Island
Magic Kingdom • attraction
Tom Sawyer Island closed with Rivers of America.
- Then
- Raft-access play island
- Now
- Closed
Source · Parkstalgia Research
GONEClosed January 14, 2025
Dino-Rama
Animal Kingdom • land
The carnival midway area is gone.
- Then
- Carnival games and Triceratop Spin
- Now
- Closed for Tropical Americas
Source · Parkstalgia Research
TEMPORARILY CLOSEDClosed January 6, 2025
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Magic Kingdom • attraction
The coaster is being rebuilt with new track and promised new effects.
- Then
- 1980 track and effects
- Now
- Closed for extended refurbishment
Source · Walt Disney World
Now
Built since you were here
Attractions, lands and restaurants that did not exist on your last trip.
NEWOpened May 27, 2022
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
EPCOT • attraction
One of the largest indoor roller coasters anywhere and EPCOT's headline attraction.
- Now
- Open in World Discovery
Source · Walt Disney World
NEWOpened April 4, 2023
TRON Lightcycle / Run
Magic Kingdom • attraction
A high-speed indoor coaster in Tomorrowland and the biggest Magic Kingdom addition in years.
- Now
- Open in Tomorrowland
Source · Walt Disney World
NEWOpened December 5, 2019
Rise of the Resistance
Hollywood Studios • attraction
Widely considered one of the most ambitious theme park attractions ever built.
- Now
- Open in Galaxy's Edge
Source · Walt Disney World
REPLACEDJune 28, 2024
Tiana's Bayou Adventure
Magic Kingdom • attraction
The former Splash Mountain reopened with an all-new Princess and the Frog story.
- Then
- Splash Mountain
- Now
- Open in Frontierland
Source · Walt Disney World
NEWOpened October 2021
EPCOT
EPCOT • land
The park's entire layout and naming was restructured.
- Then
- Future World and World Showcase
- Now
- World Celebration, Discovery, Nature, Showcase
Source · Walt Disney World
NEWOpened March 4, 2020
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
Hollywood Studios • attraction
The first ride-through attraction starring Mickey Mouse.
- Then
- The Great Movie Ride
- Now
- Open in the Chinese Theatre
Source · Walt Disney World
NEWOpened October 2021
Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
EPCOT • attraction
A trackless family dark ride added to World Showcase.
- Now
- Open in the France pavilion
Source · Walt Disney World
NEWOpened December 16, 2023
Walt Disney World Railroad
Magic Kingdom • attraction
The steam train circle tour returned after a five-year closure.
- Then
- Closed since 2018 for TRON construction
- Now
- Running again around the park
Source · Parkstalgia Research
Start here
The changes that matter most
Ranked by how much they alter a returning guest's day, not by date.
CHANGEDOctober 19, 2021
FastPass+
Resort-wide • planning
The free advance ride booking system ended permanently.
- Then
- Free 60-day advance ride reservations
- Now
- Discontinued
Source · Walt Disney World
NEWOpened May 27, 2022
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
EPCOT • attraction
One of the largest indoor roller coasters anywhere and EPCOT's headline attraction.
- Now
- Open in World Discovery
Source · Walt Disney World
NEWOpened April 4, 2023
TRON Lightcycle / Run
Magic Kingdom • attraction
A high-speed indoor coaster in Tomorrowland and the biggest Magic Kingdom addition in years.
- Now
- Open in Tomorrowland
Source · Walt Disney World
GONEClosed January 23, 2023
Splash Mountain
Magic Kingdom • attraction
The log flume closed for good and was rebuilt as Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
- Then
- Open since 1992
- Now
- Closed and rethemed
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDOctober 19, 2021
Genie+
Resort-wide • planning
Skip-the-line access became a paid daily add-on.
- Then
- FastPass+ (free)
- Now
- Paid per-day service
Source · Walt Disney World
Next
Still to come
Announced or under construction — not open yet, and not counted above.
COMINGOpening date not announced
Piston Peak National Park
Magic Kingdom • land
Disney announced a Cars-themed area, Piston Peak National Park, for the Frontierland area now occupied by Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. It is not open to guests.
Announced August 2024 · not open to guests yet
Source · Parkstalgia Research
COMINGExpected 2027
Tropical Americas
Animal Kingdom • land
DinoLand is becoming a Latin America-themed area.
Announced January 2025 · not open to guests yet
Source · Parkstalgia Research
ANNOUNCEDOpening date not announced
Muppet*Vision 3D
Hollywood Studios • attraction
Muppet*Vision is being retired to make way for a new land.
Announced June 2025 · not open to guests yet
Source · Parkstalgia Research
COMINGExpected 2027
DinoLand U.S.A.
Animal Kingdom • land
The land is being rebuilt around Encanto and Indiana Jones.
Announced November 2024 · not open to guests yet
Source · Walt Disney World
COMINGOpening date not announced
Tomorrowland Speedway
Magic Kingdom • attraction
Disney announced that Tomorrowland Speedway will close. No replacement has been officially confirmed.
Announced October 2025 · not open to guests yet
Source · Walt Disney World
COMINGExpected 2027
Monstropolis
Hollywood Studios • land
Disney announced that the Grand Avenue area will become a Monsters, Inc. land. It is not open to guests.
Announced August 2024 · not open to guests yet
Source · Parkstalgia Research
Your trip, your report
This page guesses. Your report won't.
Give us the exact month of your last trip and we'll cut this down to only what changed after it.
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