7 Walt Disney World announcements for summer 2025 just revealed
Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla. is gearing up for an eventful summer 2025, from new live entertainment to refurbishments of longtime attractions. Disney revealed the following announcements on March 26, 2025.
Buzz Lightyear refurbishment + new character
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom will temporarily close in August 2025 and reopen sometime in 2026 with new ride vehicles, handheld blasters, and digital targets. Plus, a new scene will introduce a character named Buddy who trains guests in how to use their blasters.
Imagineers recently tested the handheld blasters onboard the ride after hours.
For now, the blasters attached to the ride vehicle remain in place. As a refresher, here’s what they look like:
Villains show opening date
Opening date just announced: “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” will open on May 27, 2025 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The indoor show will be located in Sunset Showcase near Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster, the former venue of Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy.
Concept art for the show (above), revealed earlier this year, depicts 59 villains. Here’s a list of all of them.
‘Little Mermaid’ show opening date
“The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” will open on May 27, 2025 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. First announced in 2023, the new production replaces “Voyage of the Little Mermaid,” which closed for covid in 2020 and never reopened.
No date for nighttime parade yet
Disney personnel says “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away,” Magic Kingdom’s upcoming nighttime parade, will debut “later this summer,” sometime after the May 27 debut of Hollywood Studios’ Villains and Little Mermaid shows.
As previously revealed, the new parade will feature floats representing “Cinderella,” “Peter Pan,” “Frozen,” “Moana,” “Coco,” and “Encanto.”
Goofy in CommuniCore Hall
Goofy will “take over” CommuniCore Hall at Epcot this summer with “the ultimate game party and play space.” CommuniCore Hall opened in 2024 as a flex space for Epcot’s seasonal events; it currently hosts exhibits for the Flower & Garden Festival.
New ‘kid zones’ with activities
Walt Disney World will introduce “kid zones” with activities and Disney characters from May 27 – Sept. 1, 2025 in Storybook Circus and Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom.
Schedules for Disney characters at resorts
Walt Disney World will post scheduled meet & greet times for Disney characters this summer at Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, and Wilderness Lodge. Currently, character appearances at these and other resorts are surprises for guests, with set times not listed publicly.
Other noteworthy items on Disney World’s summer 2025 calendar
In addition to these news updates, Test Track will reopen late summer 2025 following its yearlong reimagining. Disney did not announce new details about the makeover in its March 25 news.
In other relevant summer news for Disney World, remember to enjoy your last viewings of Muppet*Vision 3D at Hollywood Studios. The attraction closes permanently on June 8, with its final operating day being June 7.
Guests visiting Disney World this summer should also say their goodbyes to the Liberty Belle Riverboat, Tom Sawyer Island, and the Rivers of America at Magic Kingdom, all being uprooted for future “Cars” attractions. Additionally, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith at Hollywood Studios will be reimagined into a new version of the ride starring the Muppets. Closing dates for these attractions remain unannounced at the time of this writing.
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