Each week we bring you the latest closures and refurbishments going on around Disney World.

Many of these attractions, restaurants, and even entire parks have been closed for an extended period of time with no reopening date in sight. However, while one restaurant has been closed for its intended purpose for several years now, it occasionally reopens as a completely different venue. Now, on May 1st, we’ll once again see it reopen but NOT as a restaurant.

EPCOT

Restaurant Marrakesh

Restaurant Marrakesh is still closed in the Morocco pavilion of EPCOT’s World Showcase, and there’s no word yet on when it might reopen as a dining location. However, the restaurant is kind of opening on May 1st. It will be functioning as an Annual Passholder lounge from May 1st through June 26th.

Even though we’re still waiting for the full restaurant to reopen, Annual Passholders will be able to enjoy the air conditioning, charging stations, and complimentary food and beverages. There may even be opportunities to meet “special friends” throughout V.I.Passholder Days, according to Disney. We still don’t know if it is permanently closed or if it could reopen as a restaurant, but we’ll take what we can get.

Why Every Annual Passholder Will Be in EPCOT on May 1st

Even though Restaurant Marrakesh is sort of opening this week, there are several other locations closed around Disney World! Keep scrolling to find out what will be unavailable if you’re visiting the parks the week of April 28th through May 4th.

Magic Kingdom

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Splash Mountain is permanently closed — this ride is being renovated to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure! The new ride will be themed to The Princess and the Frog.

The ride in Disney World is set to open this summer. Now, we are starting to see some big signs that we’re getting close. New signs have been added to a couple of the stores near the ride! Critter Co-Op and Tiana’s General Store will be coming to Magic Kingdom.

We have also seen Disney Imagineers test riding the ride! Now, that gets us super excited to see! If they’re riding it, that’s gotta mean it’s almost ready, right?

Other subtle details have emerged such as a water lily on the new gate. The water lily is a nod to the movie the ride is inspired by. The queue is also starting to look really good!

And now that some of the walls have come down, you can see new details like this new sidewalk that has been exposed!

We recently learned lots of new information about this ride, including a hint that there will be Splash Mountain Easter Eggs throughout the attraction! Disney recently shared a look at new characters coming to the ride, but there has not been an opening day announced yet. We’ll be watching and listening as summer approaches!

Disney Shares New Look at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and This Might Be My Favorite Yet

If you miss Splash Mountain or want to celebrate the new ride, you should check out our DFB t-shirts! We have a Splash Mountain Farwell Tour shirt…

…and a Tiana tee as well!

You can shop both tees (and lots of other Disney merch) at our online store.

Click here to shop our DFB merchandise store.

Country Bear Jamboree

Country Bear Jamboree closed on January 27th, 2024 for refurbishment. When we recently visited Magic Kingdom, we noticed that the sign for the show has now been covered up!

Disney announced that a NEW show is coming to Country Bear Jamboree, with the bears learning an all-new act. The new show is set to open sometime this summer.

 A Magic Kingdom Ride Entrance Is Finally Back to Normal!

With Country Bear Jamboree and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure closed, that leaves just Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Walt Disney World Railroad open in Frontierland.

Tomorrowland Terrace

Tomorrowland Terrace is a quick-service restaurant that’s remained closed since the 2020 pandemic-related closures, but even before that, this spot was only occasionally open.

Once in a while, you’ll see the dining room open as a rest area (and it’s still being used for the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties), but it’s usually all roped off and empty. Disney hasn’t announced when this spot could finally reopen, but we’ll be watching for updates.

What Will Disney Do with This Deserted Building in Magic Kingdom?

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster closed on January 8th, it won’t reopen until the summer of this year.

Although we don’t have an exact reopening date yet, we know that it’ll be at least a few months before the ride reopens. Last year, when the ride closed around this time (on February 20th, to be exact), it reopened on May 26th.

A New Virtual Queue Is Coming to Hollywood Studios for an Exclusive Souvenir Event

Voyage of the Little Mermaid

Well, it’s official — Voyage of the Little Mermaid is permanently closed in Disney World. We had suspected this was the case for some time (as it hasn’t actually been open for a few years now), but now the permanent closure has been confirmed.

Disney is going to introduce a NEW show in this spot, though it will still be themed to the animated movie The Little Mermaid! The new show will be called “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” and is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Fall 2024.

It will be a “fully reimagined theatrical production inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic.”

Vacation Fun

Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie, is a show that takes place at the Mickey Shorts Theater at Echo Lake in Hollywood Studios.

As of April 29th, the show the show’s website stops showing times to view the production. Luckily, times begin popping back up on May 25th. It is likely Disney is just going to be tidying things up for a little while. We’ve seen other shows in Hollywood Studios get some attention recently, so perhaps Vacation Fun will be getting a little love.

The Danger with Leaving Disney’s Hollywood Studios Late at Night

Blizzard Beach

Blizzard Beach had its last open day on March 16th, 2024 before it closed for refurbishment. Blizzard Beach has nine attractions that we won’t be able to enjoy this week.

While Blizzard Beach closed, Typhoon Lagoon opened on March 17th, 2024. The two water parks often rotate off and on for being open. Disney has not given a timeline for this new closure or how long Typhoon Lagoon will be open. We’ll be watching for any updates, though!

5 Disney World Essentials You Need for Disney World This Summer

Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts to learn all about Disney World’s rides:

• 10 Rides to AVOID in Disney World if You Struggle with Motion Sickness
• What It Takes to CHANGE a Disney World Ride
• 9 of the SCARIEST Rides in Disney World, According to YOU!
• A FULL LIST of the Thrill Rides in Disney World!
• The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride

We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB.

Click here to check out more upcoming closures and current construction projects at Disney World.

Are you visiting Disney World this week? Let us know in the comments!

The post A Long-Closed Disney Restaurant Is Getting a NEW Purpose on May 1st first appeared on the disney food blog.