Robert Niles
Editor
Robert Niles

Theme park refurbishment and reopening schedule for March 2012 and beyond

February 24, 2012, 9:32 AM · Here's the latest schedule for what will be opening and reopening at the Disney, Universal and SeaWorld theme parks in Central Florida and Southern California this year: [*with updates from the comments.]

The new Blue Sky Cellar exhibition, focusing on Cars Land, opens at Disney California Adventure on Feb. 29.

Mark Twain Riverboat at Disneyland reopens March 5.

Mark Twain

Disney California Adventure's Grizzly River Run reopens March 9. *The Disneyland Monorail will reopen that day, after a short refurbishment beginning Feb. 27.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man reopens with its HD 3D upgrade sometime in March. No specific date yet.

The first two elements of the new Fantasyland at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, the relocated Dumbo and the Great Goofini (formerly Goofy's Barnstormer) also reopen in March - *starting with Dumbo on the 11th.

SeaWorld Orlando's Turtle Trek opens April 27.

The Magic Kingdom's Liberty Square Riverboat reopens May 20.

SeaWorld San Diego's Manta roller coaster opens May 26.

Walt Disney World's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens May 27.

Snow White's Scary Adventures closes permanently at the WDW Magic Kingdom on May 31.

Walt Disney World taketh away but also giveth: The Art of Animation Resort opens the same day, May 31.

Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds reopen June 14.

The next day, is Disney California Adventure's big reopening, with the Cars Land attractions opening June 15.

Epcot's Test Track will be closed from April to September 2012.

No firm opening dates yet for Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, or Universal's Cinematic Spectacular and Universal's Superstar Parade at Universal Studios Florida.

Please add any other attraction opening/closing/reopening dates in the comments. Thanks!

Replies (19)

CentralFloridian99
Dominick D
February 24, 2012 at 10:27 AM · Robert, the Circus is opening on March 11 or 12, and only the new Dumbo spinner will be ready.
vickaye
Victoria Jurkowski
February 24, 2012 at 10:42 AM · Disneyland monorail is closing February 27 and reopens March 9.
scaught
Scott B
February 24, 2012 at 11:50 AM · I don't get the timing of the Test Track closure. Are the improvements so vital that it has to be closed during the busiest time of the year?
nt3
Neil Trama
February 24, 2012 at 11:45 AM · @ Scott B
I would guess that they want it open by Christmas. Plus those are the rainest months of the year when the ride ends up shut down half the day anyway.
scaught
Scott B
February 24, 2012 at 11:50 AM · That makes sense Neil. I am only complaining because I will there at the end of May!
Bigwig30
Writer
James Rao
February 24, 2012 at 12:51 PM · Rumor has it Big Thunder and Indiana Jones at DLR will be down for extended refurbs starting sometime in September. Bad news for me as I am hoping to visit the SoCal parks around that time. Honestly, I can probably miss Big Thunder, but IJ is a must do. I will postpone the trip if it is down.
SalvDrew
Nick Orlando
February 24, 2012 at 2:19 PM · Aquatica San Antonio opens May 19th!
anonymous
66.25.86.32
February 24, 2012 at 5:44 PM · Aquatica near SeaWorld San Antonio opens May 19 and their Dolphin Cove/Sharks & Coral Reef exhibits re-open March 7th after being closed all of February due to construction!
anonymous
68.161.186.192
February 24, 2012 at 6:05 PM · Spider-Man is supposed to be open around march 8th give a few take a few. I heard this as a rumor though
anonymous
174.251.251.116
February 24, 2012 at 8:50 PM · Just out of curiosity . Why does it take a month to upgrade the ride and close it?(amazing spiderman)
RandallPeek
Randall Peek
February 25, 2012 at 2:45 AM · I'm sure the upgrade of Spider-Man has to do with installing new projectors and the screens will almost definitely need to be replace by new ones capable of showing off the higher definition projections. You wouldn't want those shiny new animations to be shown on the equivalent of a brick wall, would you?

Anyone have an idea what's in store for Test Track? A five month refurb doesn't actually seem long enough to rebuild the entire ride experience. I imagine the track will stay the same but the sets will be replaced and a new storyline put in place. I'm hoping for some Next Gen love for Test Track...

brynmelyndavid
David Brown
February 25, 2012 at 7:46 AM · According to Screamscape, The Little Mermaid and the Be Our Guest restaurant are slated for a late September opening.

As for Test Track I agree that 5 months is way too short to make any major alterations to layout, which is a shame as the indoor section is all a bit stop-start and the outdoor section is a) over too quickly and b) is actually pretty dull. In fact it replicates almost exactly the experience of travelling down to I4 to get to Epcot, (not exactly classic Disney fantasy imagineering). I really hope they can pull something out of the bag. Radiator Springs Racers shows what they can do with the technology and a decent storyline, but Test track as it's been just ain't in that league...

coasterdude
Writer
Anthony Murphy
February 25, 2012 at 9:49 AM · NOOOO SNOW WHITE!!!
mryantraylor
M. Ryan Traylor
February 25, 2012 at 11:54 AM · Although nothing confirmed yet, but it's just my prediction, you forgot to mention that Indy at DL closes June 16th for refurbishment. ;)
Bigwig30
Writer
James Rao
February 25, 2012 at 2:27 PM · I read IJ at DLR would be down later in the year, after summer. But I hope you are right and I am wrong, this time!
CentralFloridian99
Dominick D
February 26, 2012 at 8:48 AM · The new Habit Heroes exhibit in Innoventiions at Epcot has closed for re-imagining. The exhibit lasted only 16 days after too many complaints from people saying that this is bullying kids who are overwheight.
Bigwig30
Writer
James Rao
February 26, 2012 at 12:15 PM · Heaven forbid Disney should build an attraction that points out that being overweight is unhealthy!
mryantraylor
M. Ryan Traylor
February 26, 2012 at 1:35 PM · James:

Honestly, I think that they will keep it open for the busy season and then close for major rehaul. The refurb on Indy was something I predicted to occur after the announcement of Cars Land.

chihuahua127
Andrew Dougherty
February 27, 2012 at 8:36 PM · IJ is gonna be down for a refurb and I imagine that with the new referbeshments on Big thunder @ Walt Disney world Disney will want to also instal whatever the refurb is into all it's editions and I wouldn't be suprised if BTM gets an anamatronic or interactive que. And test track a very touchy subject for many fans will be getting a new sponser so the after show will be a showroom and I think the ride will let u make a car and than take it fr a ride or something the referbeshments on Indy I have no info on that st the moment and don't postpone a visit for 1 ride. It might be a must do but there r other rides too.

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