How to Deal With…Construction, Refurbishments and Closings-Oh, My! on Your Disney World Vacation

You may have heard that there is a ton of construction and closures going on around Walt Disney World. That is somewhat true. There are amazing new things coming, and that means that other attractions may have to be closed to make room for the great things to come. All of the attractions also periodically have maintenance and go down for refurbishments and enhancements so that guests get the most enjoyment out of them each and every time. It can get frustrating and seem like there is too much going on, but don’t fret. You can still have a fantastic vacation and still have so many things to do while on property. Here are tips for how to deal with all of the construction, refurbishments, and closings:

6 – Review the closing/refurbishment schedule before you go.

If you do a few Google searches, you can easily find various closing and refurbishment schedules for Walt Disney World. You should definitely take the time to review these so that you can plan your trip accordingly. Suppose certain attractions are the most important to you. In that case, you may need to adjust your dates so that you don’t miss them or minimally have your expectations set so that you or other members of the family aren’t disappointed when you learn of the closures. 

5 – Consider all activities and entertainment, not just the rides.

There is so much to do at each of the parks. Many guests are so focused on the rides that they forget about the shows and character interactions. Be sure to review the My Disney Experience app and look for the other events that occur in each park. Some characters come out throughout the day at various spots that you may not even realize. The app will be your resource to ensure you don’t miss any of the magic and that you have tons of entertainment all day long, even if there are closed attractions. Within the app, be sure to check out Disney Genie, the complimentary planning guide that will suggest things for your family to do and see based on your interests.

4 – Visit water parks, golf, and more.

Don’t get stuck on just the four major theme parks. There are also two water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. There are two different miniature golf courses, ESPN Wide World of Sports and Disney Springs. Between these locations, you have so much more to do than just what is happening in the parks. There could definitely be construction occurring at some of these places when you visit, but it feels less impactful than complete rides being shut down. It is also a great way to get to experience a different aspect of Disney World while still enjoying a lot of magic and fun with your family. We always try to plan a water park day during the week so that we can just focus on fun in the water and relaxation. It is excellent to get that break and mix up the type of fun we have during our stay.

3 – Plan a resort day.

I know you may think that you need to spend every single day of your vacation in the parks to get the most out of your vacation. It is always a great idea to plan a day just to enjoy the resort, especially if you are staying at a Disney Resort. The parks can be grueling and require a ton of walking. Having a lower-key day to recuperate and see the sights is also a great way to get away from the construction for a bit and not worry about it. You can even go and visit other resorts, too. Take a self-guided tour all over property and visit other resorts to experience the different themes, snacks, and entertainment you can find at each resort. (Just remember that you can’t pool hop. You are restricted to the pool at your own resort due to the popularity of Disney pools.)

2 – Enjoy recreational activities.

Need a break from construction and some of the cranes that you may see from time to time? Take a break to enjoy some of the other recreational activities. You can go horseback riding, go on a wagon ride, rent a boat to take out on the water, go fishing, go golfing, rent bikes or surrey bikes to ride around your resort, and so much more. Disney does a fantastic job of making Walt Disney World Resort a place with something for everyone and tons of entertainment and activities that allow you to do just about anything you can think of. Do you want to go on a balloon ride? You can! Do you want to rent a pontoon boat on Bay Lake? You can do that, too! There is too much to do, so don’t let yourself get down about the construction or closures!

1 – Be positive and patient.

Hey, don’t forget… you’re on vacation. I know that sometimes certain aspects can seem frustrating or disappointing, but try to stay positive and patient. It isn’t worth letting closures or these disappointments negatively impact your vacation. You are there to spend a fantastic time with your family and the people you love, and you can still definitely do that and make a ton of amazing memories. You’ll have a much better vacation if you don’t sweat the small stuff and you focus on being in the moment during your stay!