Splash Mountain- Closed for the Splash Mountain retheme until late 2024 for its transformation into Tiana's Bayou Adventure Princess and the Frog Ride.
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana (opens October 16, 2023)According to Disney, this “first-ever experience based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios hit film, 'Moana,' will let guests interact with magical, living water in a beautiful and inspiring setting.
Ultimately, the answer to the question, “should you skip Epcot?” is ABSOLUTELY NOT as of 2023. Navigating the sea of construction walls isn't really as bad as it might seem–and while it'll be a lovely environment once finished, there aren't any rides you'll miss in that Giant Epcot Dirt Pit.
There are 11 rides at EPCOT in 2023, and only 9 rides at Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom. With the addition of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Coaster, EPCOT attractions have even taken a spot as some of the best thrill rides in Orlando!
Splash Mountain has permanently closed at Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida. While the structure and ride path will remain the same, the story will be changed to and rethemed to The Princess and the Frog Disney Animated movie based on New Orleans. There are a few reasons for this change.
Disney announced plans to close Splash Mountain – at Disneyland and Walt Disney World – in 2020 after a petition to change the beloved water ride's theme went viral.
Saying Goodbye. It's official… Splash Mountain at Disneyland will take its final plunge on May 30, 2023. The attraction will be officially closed as of May 31 to begin the transformation into Tiana's Bayou Adventure…and yes, this time Disneyland has confirmed the date.
In a post from Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley, he writes that “with the transformation now well under way” they have decided to close the EPCOT Experience and “make way for exciting new activities of the Odyssey pavilion to create a great experience for our guests.”
The decision was made to postpone development of the Mary Poppins-inspired attraction and Spaceship Earth at this time.” While the Walt Disney World spokesperson used the term “postpone” in the statement, that typically means a project is cancelled or shelved indefinitely.
New Epcot nighttime show and landJourney of Water isn't the only addition expected in Epcot in 2023. The new World Celebration land — including its Communicore Hall and Communicore Plaza, where various festivals and gatherings will take place — is also rumored to be coming later this year.
Nevertheless, wait times are an imperfect measure of Walt Disney World's crowds, especially if you're comparing current conditions to prior years. Walt Disney World attendance has increased by several million people over the course of the last decade-plus, so the vast majority of days in 2023 will be more crowded than ...
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster closed in February 2023 for a refurbishment that seems to have only included general maintenance. The refurbishment quietly completed today, and we saw guests being allowed into the G-Force Records building once more.
And now we know why. In looking at the website today, it can be seen that Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is once again closed indefinitely. The ride opening calendar currently runs through July 29, 2023, and for all dates, it says no time available.
The Moana water ride is an exciting addition to EPCOT. By replacing The Seas pavilion and weaving Moana's narrative into its fabric, Disney is ensuring that the park continues to capture the essence of exploration and imagination.
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana is scheduled to open October 16, 2023 within World Nature—the EPCOT neighborhood dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty and balance of the natural world.
With that said, our actual advice is visiting Epcot on a weekday. Mondays through Wednesdays are all equally good. We've noticed a slight uptick in crowds on Thursdays, and a more significant one on Fridays. Still, not nearly as bad as Saturday or Sunday.
Epcot attracts Disney Resort hotel guests on Mondays. As such, we're left with Tuesday and Wednesday, the quietest days throughout the year, and during festivals such as the Epcot International Festival Of the Arts and Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
However, a NEW ride has taken the spot of highest average wait time — it's Test Track at 69 minutes. Next up is Soarin' at 34 minutes, Mission: SPACE at 20 minutes, Turtle Talk with Crush at 15 minutes, and Spaceship Earth at 16 minutes.