Downtime Expected for Walt Disney World Railroad as Cars Construction Starting Soon

Guests visiting Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom may once again find themselves short a classic attraction. The Walt Disney World Railroad will likely experience another extended period of downtime as significant changes are planned for the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island areas.

Downtime Expected for Walt Disney World Railroad as Cars Construction Starting Soon 2

Starting in 2025, according to newly submitted permits, the railroad’s tracks will be positioned between the construction staging area and the active site on Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America. To facilitate the movement of vehicles and materials across the tracks, the railroad is expected to be taken out of service.

This closure will likely mirror the extended downtime seen during the construction of TRON Lightcycle Run, where the railroad was closed for four years. During that time, the trains were displayed as static exhibits, first at the Main Street U.S.A. station and later at Fantasyland station, offering guests a close-up look at these historic trains even though they were not in operation.

Downtime Expected for Walt Disney World Railroad as Cars Construction Starting Soon 3

While no official construction timelines have been confirmed for either the Cars-themed attractions or Villains Land, it is anticipated that both projects will be completed by 2030, with the Cars area expected to open first. As of now, Disney has not announced any operational changes to the Walt Disney World Railroad due to the upcoming construction, so we do not yet know if the railroad will be shuttered for an extended period or just experience intermittent construction-related closures.

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Chris B 1,815 Posts

Chris is a Pennsylvania native who escaped the cold and relocated to the Orlando area. Our resident Universal expert, Chris has been visiting the Universal Orlando Resort since the 1990s. Chris is a Universal and Walt Disney World Passholder, and can often be found exploring the parks taking in the sites (and finding new things to write about!).

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