Hi there, Ashley! Welcome to planDisney, and thanks so much for bringing your question our way. A January trip to Walt Disney World sounds like the perfect time for your parents to experience the magic for the very first time!
I totally understand wanting to make sure they don’t miss out on some of the big thrill rides, especially with a few changes coming to the parks in the near future. While Disney doesn’t always release refurbishment schedules far in advance, here’s what we know right now:
DINOSAUR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is expected to remain open through all of 2025. It’s supposed to close sometime in early 2026 as the park begins its transformation into the Tropical Americas land, which will eventually have a brand-new Indiana Jones attraction. So far, Disney hasn’t shared an official closure date for DINOSAUR (rumor has it even Dr. Seeker doesn’t know yet). Some surrounding areas of DinoLand U.S.A. have already closed in 2025, but the ride itself should still be operating through the rest of this year.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith will also be getting an update, as it’s set to be reimagined into Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets. The retheme is expected to happen sometime in 2026, but again, there’s no specific closure date yet. Based on how Disney usually handles projects, I’d
guess the current version will stay open at least through the first week of January to accommodate holiday crowds.
So if you’re planning your trip for early January 2026, especially that first week, there’s a
chance both of these rides will still be open. If you’re leaning more toward mid-to-late January, you might trade those two attractions for smaller crowds and lower hotel rates.
Either way, there’s so much for your parents to look forward to! Magic Kingdom’s brand-new nighttime parade,
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, is a must-do. And since it sounds like your crew loves thrill rides, be sure to check out the updated version of
Test Track at EPCOT. A couple more favorites I think your parents will love are Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle / Run.
For the latest updates, I recommend keeping an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog and the official Disney Parks Instagram account. They’re great about sharing breaking news when it comes to attraction closures and new openings.
I hope this helps, Ashley! Please feel free to reach back out as you start planning. Maybe 2027 will bring another magical trip your way once those refreshed attractions make their debut!
See ya real soon,
Eean