Winter Ride Closures at Walt Disney World
By Dave Shute
RIDES CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE AND REHAB AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Walt Disney World rides and attractions can be closed for maintenance, rehab, or replacement at any time.
The way I keep up with this is to check the “Refurbishments and Attraction Closures” part of the weekly Walt Disney World Resort Update section of MousePlanet.com.
That said, the most common time for attraction closures is January and early February. For this reason, this site suggests that first time visitors who are unsure whether or not they will ever return should avoid this period.
Why go during a period when some of the best of Walt Disney World may not be available?
For the currently known 2016 winter closures at Disney World, see this.
However, I’ve seen some claims that “only Splash Mountain is closed” during this period, so I went back and analyzed ride closures over the last five years to double check the facts.
The results of this analysis are presented below.
WINTER RIDE CLOSURES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Over the past five years, an average of three rides are closed in January at Walt Disney World. (This figure excludes rides closed for massive rehabs—e.g. a nine month do-over.)
The average number of closures drops sharply as mid-February and the President’s Day Weekend approaches, and continues to drop into March.
See the chart for daily averages (click it to enlarge it.)
Splash Mountain is indeed the most common ride to be closed in this period–it has been closed each of the last five years, for at least five days, and for an average of almost 30 days.
Other attractions closed more than once during the period include Test Track, Buzz Lightyear, the Backlot Tour, and the Liberty Belle riverboat. Other significant attractions closed at least once in winter include Rock N’ Roller Coaster, Kali River Rapids, and Indiana Jones.
There’s not much on this list I’d want to miss…so the advice to first time visitors who may not be able to return remains the same–avoid January and early February!
This advice is reflected in this site’s 2016 weeks to visit, ranked in order.
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or Pinterest!!
85 comments
Thanks for all your input and advice …. great site and even better host !
My husband & I are planning a trip to DisneyWorld in either January or February 2013. What week would you suggest that has the least amount of ride closures? Also will Disney be offering free dining plans in those months.
Hi Trish, I can’t say for sure if they’ll be offering free dining. The best week in Jan or Feb is the last week of the month of Feb–most ride closures end by the very busy week before (President’s Day week). See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/09/19/2013-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
Hi, we are going to Disney World on January 31 – February 8 (can’t change these date) and wanted to stay at the contemporary…the contemporary isn’t accepting reservations for that week….at all….it’s like it is closed for that time period….the week before you can reserve a room and the week after you can reserve a room but not that time period…any ideas why?
Hey Carol–I don’t know why. I’d guess there’s a convention there that week, which has absorbed all the rooms, but don’t know. There’s no special event that I know of that week…
Hi: I”m planning the first (and hopefully not last) trip somewhere in the ‘quiet’ time of early January – mid February. Any tips on the best week w/in that timeframe for us? I know some rides might be closed but we will probably be back 🙂
Hi Lauren! shoot to arrive after MLK Day, and to depart by the Thursday before President’s Day. The whole period in between should be great–other than closures…
Thanks!…Now my husband is concerned about it being warm enough during that time…is early Feb iffy for outdoor swimming…for kids?
It’s iffy: see this https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/when-to-go/next-best-dates/weather-and-when-to-go/pool-days-november-through-february/ and also this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/when-to-go/next-best-dates/weather-and-when-to-go/high-temperatures-year-round/ Highs can be 45 or 80…
Hi, I’m planning to go to Disney World some time between January 3rd and 17th, 2013. That’s really the only time I’ll be able to make it and it would suck to have some of the best attractions closed. I guess it’ll still be fun and magical and all, but do you have any advice on which 5 or 6 day period would be best within this time frame?
Hi! In your dates, I like Jan 5 or 6 through the 11th or 12th the best.
My wife and I have a son 9 &daughter 7 we are looking to spend around 3000 or a little more if have to this will b are first family trip to disney and are kids first time. we are thinking about going in late feb. early mar. and we d like to get there on a saturday or sunday and stay till the next saturday or sunday. we want to stay on campus. and wld if possible to get free dining plan and go when rides are open. but the overall experience of doing the most is more important than free dining plan. i know i asked alot but i want to maximize my kids first time.
Hi Erik, I don’t think you can do all that for $3000–see this for what you can do for various target budgets: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/what-to-budget/estimating-budgets/designing-your-walt-disney-world-vacation-to-a-lower-target-budget/
Hi, we are thinking of a first time trip with grandson who just turned 4. What park(s) are best for a little one and is mid-end of January a good time for suggested parks? Any pool activity possible at this time? Thanks!
Hi Mary! At that age, you can–and likely should–focus on only the Magic Kingdom. You can do it easily in 2 days. Epcot likely you should skip, and the other two parks may be worth a half day each.
Except for ride closures…and weather…the end of January is a great time to go. See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/07/22/january-2013-walt-disney-world/
My wife and I are planning a trip to wdw in Feb 2013. Currently its planned for the week starting Feb 16. I wasnt’t aware that was such a busy time though and I might be able to reschedule for the week after (starting the 23rd). Would it be worth it to reschedule? I have been several times but not for more then 15years and she has never been.
Hi, the week after would be a much better choice!
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook!
My wife and I are planning a trip to wdw in Feb 2013. Currently its planned for the week starting Feb 16. I wasnt’t aware that was such a busy time though and I might be able to reschedule for the week after (starting the 23rd). Would it be worth it to reschedule? I have been several times but not for more then 15years and she has never been.
Hi…We are just starting to look into going to Disney for the first time ever. When we go our girls will be almost 3 and 6. I do not think big rides will be something we will be doing. So is Jan a good time to go. We would like to make it a Christmas gift next year. Is there usually a free dining program at that time? Also, is the weather usually good enough? We are from Neb so used to colder weather but nice would be great.
Only other question is we want to stay in Animal Kingdom. Is it worth the money to stay in a room overlooking where the animals are?
Thank you so much.
Hi Sarah! If you know you can come back later–and so see later anything that’s closed, or that the girls are too young for next year–January–after the fourth, and ideally the second half–is a great time to go, with low crowds and low prices. Weather, however, can be all over the place. See this–on 2013, but the weather will be the same–https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/07/22/january-2013-walt-disney-world/
My guess is that as there was no free dining this January, there won’t be any next January either…By policy Disney is cutting back on its discounting…
If you are going to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, it’s definitively worth it to spend the extra on an animal view room–what Disney calls a “Savanna view.” See this for more on AKL: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/10/13/review-jambo-house-at-disneys-animal-kingdom-lodge/
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook!
My wife and I are visiting Disney on the 16th 17th and 18th of January which of the four parks would you recommend us going to. Also would the parks be crowded?
Hi John, those will be uncrowded days! You should go to at least Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. Epcot will be best the 16th and 17th, and MK the 16th and 18th. That suggests MK the 16th, Epcot the 17th, and either another park or returning to your favorite one of these the 18th.
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook!
Thanks for that tip Dave! I really appreciate it.
You’re welcome, John!
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook!
Hi,
We’re looking to come from the UK for two weeks either Feb 4th, Mar 4 or early-mid April. We have two young boys, 2& 4 and were thinking march best but are put off by spring break. Which would be the best choice in your opinion please ?
Hi Mike, in this response I’m assuming your dates are 2013. I’d rank your options April best–so long as your arrival date is April 6 or later, then Feb, then March. April after the 6th has low crowds and great weather. February low crowds and low prices–until the 14th or so–but lousy weather. March has high crowds and high prices.
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook!
Love your blog!! It’s the perfect planning site that I have been looking for! I’ve read most of the comments, but I was wondering between December 25 and January 6, what would you recommend is the best time to go!? I love Splash Mountain (I’ve been to Disney Land before) and I’m Canadian so anything above 0 degrees C (32 degrees F?) is warm to me! I have a feeling it will be closed when I go though! Just me and my boyfriend are planning to go and we loooveeee rides!
Hi Monica and thanmks! Through Jan 4th 2014 that’s the most wildly crowded and expensive time of the year, so I don’t recommend any dates between the 26th and the 4th…the 5th and 6th should be fine…
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook!
Hi Dave! Planning a trip to WDW not sure when is best time.We have never been. I have 3 kids ages 5,6,13. All in school so want to go while they out June, July or Christmas. There is 5 of us one is military . What is cheapest way? Im looking for hotel, tickets, & meal plan. Do you know if WDW will do Military Promotional Tickets after Sept. 2013? Are there any good deals to be found for Christmas time?
Thanks
Hi Tonya! If you don’t take them out of school, then you’ll be going at a wildly busy time. Of your choices, as early in June as you can go is the best bet. If you can do that in June 2013 it also solves the Military Salute deal question, as no one knows if it’ll be extended or not.
The cheapest way is the military ticket deal and either the military hotel deal or Shades of Green. For more on these see the links here: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/special-circumstances/military-families/
There are no Christmas deals, BTW–that is by far Disney’s busiest week, and rather than giving deals, they jack up prices…
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook!
Howdy, Dave. I am so happy I found this website. We are planning a Disney World vacay in 2014 with a 5 year old and a 2.5 year old. I have not been to WDW in over 16 years. This will be a first time for my kids and husband. I was thinking Feb or April to avoid Spring Break crowds. I do not want to go during hot times and be miserable hot. I have never flown there nor stayed on property, and we will be doing both on our trip to WDW. What would you suggest for times to go with our kids? Ride closures hopefully will not affect us as we are not going to be going on the “big” rides with two little ones. It is very overwhelming and I’m kind of just spinning on where to start looking/planning. Any help would be greatly apprecaited. Thank you so much!!!
Hi Stacy!! Start here: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/10/15/2014-weeks-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-order/ If you don’t care about ride closures, add to the “recommended weeks” the weeks beginning Jan 25 and Feb 1!
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook!
Speaking about closures Dave, my son regretted during all of our stay about Splash Mountain being closed. He really missed it and said that other parks attractions featuring a similar one, such as Busch Gardens for instance, were bad replicas of the “original” one. Last year we missed Big Thunder Mntn and now it came back better than ever, would Splash follow the same road maybe?
Heya Tom. I think Splash Mountain is the single best example of the best of Disney, so I feel your son’s pain! Everyone hopes that Splash will come out of what for it is an uncharacteristically long rehab with a lot of broken stuff fixed, and more operating reliability, so it should be great for your son’s next ride!
Dave, a year ago (on our prior visit to MK) we rode Splash like three or four times and in each of our rides our boat was stopped momentarily while either inside the tunnel or outside, even once for three minutes. It was clearly giving signs that it needed an overhaul. I do hope they come back with something new to impress us!
Tom, yup–though sometimes Splash pauses because of loading a person from a wheelchair, etc…
Dave, I’m far ahead of myself, but my son and I plan to visit WDW for five days during the latter part of 2014 or January 2015 (My son’s birthday is January 22). My son is not a little kid anymore, He’s an adult. We visited MK when he was a child, but was only there for one day. While we made the most of that one day, there were many things we didn’t get to see. We have always wanted to visit WDW again, but just haven’t been able to. My son has been through a lot lately, dealing with health and personal problems as well. I want to take him someplace where he can forget about his troubles for a few days. He said once that he enjoyed Disney as a child, but now he want to enjoy Disney as an adult.
Here’s my questions. Are there restrictions on fast rides and steep drop-offs for people with heart conditions? He has a duel chamber pace maker/defriberlator.
My next question is, if we decide to visit Disney during his birthday month (Jan.) Do you have any suggestions of something special I could do for him as a surprise for his birthday to make the visit more memorable? (something inexpensive, but nice). He will be turning 35.
And my last question is, how much spending cash do you think I will need to feed two adults for five days at Disney?
Thanks for you help, I love this site, and I’m sure this won’t be the last time I will check out this site for other helpful information.
. My son has been through a lot lately, dealing with health and personal problems
Hi Lisa, and what a wonderful idea! Many of the wilder rides have explicit warnings to avoid them if you have a heart condition. I don’t have a list, but found this here: http://www.mousecounselors.com/walt-disney-world/ride-restrictions/
For some birthday ideas, see the second half of this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/02/01/is-walt-disney-world-free-on-your-birthday/
Food at Disney is expensive. I’d start with a budget of $50/adult/day, but see also this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/08/30/the-tightwads-guide-to-how-to-eat-at-walt-disney-world/
Keep the questions coming!
Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook!
Leave a Comment | Ask a Question | Note a Problem