Last minute weekend trip… Worth it?

[Chili327]

I am thinking of doing a weekend trip in January just to get there before they close Dinoland, and Tom Sawyer Island (as well as muppets and whatever else is closing this year) what is the first date of closings? Do I even have time?

I have a trip planned in Oct already, that could get pushed back to Dec or Jan of 2026, but I’m trying to talk my self into this quick last minute trip, and I need to be talked off the ledge or convinced to do it!!

1. What dates would you go? (I need to check all the closing dates I guess)
2. Would you go if you lived in CA?
3. Is 2 or 3 nights even worth it?

 

[VGCgroupie]

I am thinking of doing a weekend trip in January just to get there before they close Dinoland, and Tom Sawyer Island (as well as muppets and whatever else is closing this year) what is the first date of closings? Do I even have time?

I have a trip planned in Oct already, that could get pushed back to Dec or Jan of 2026, but I’m trying to talk my self into this quick last minute trip, and I need to be talked off the ledge or convinced to do it!!

1. What dates would you go? (I need to check all the closing dates I guess)
2. Would you go if you lived in CA?
3. Is 2 or 3 nights even worth it?

I think if you can find a good deal on flights it's worth it. I just booked a RT to Orlando next August for $90 RT from the West Coast. (budget airline booked in person to save $)

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

Do it!

I’m not certain on closing dates for all but remember reading Dinoland will close in phases starting Jan 12th.

1) My vote is last weekend to avoid a) Marathon week/weekend (Jan 8-12th)…b) MLK weekend when flight $$ are crazy
2) Yes, I would still go but I’d probably need 3 full days
3) I’ve done 3 parks in a single day (not everyone’s cup of tea, I know) and it was very doable! It’s just a different kind of trip.

Sounds fun!!

 

[VGCgroupie]

I am thinking of doing a weekend trip in January just to get there before they close Dinoland, and Tom Sawyer Island (as well as muppets and whatever else is closing this year) what is the first date of closings? Do I even have time?

I have a trip planned in Oct already, that could get pushed back to Dec or Jan of 2026, but I’m trying to talk my self into this quick last minute trip, and I need to be talked off the ledge or convinced to do it!!

1. What dates would you go? (I need to check all the closing dates I guess)
2. Would you go if you lived in CA?
3. Is 2 or 3 nights even worth it?

ohh and another tip from West Coast on a short trip, if you can find a red eye flight you for sure maximize your time by landing early am as opposed to midday to eve.

 

[Chili327]

I think if you can find a good deal on flights it's worth it. I just booked a RT to Orlando next August for $90 RT from the West Coast. (budget airline booked in person to save $)

I found a couple pretty decent DVC reservations for sale, but haven’t looked at just hotels (Pop or AoA), best flight I could find was about $450 RT.

Do it!

I’m not certain on closing dates for all but remember reading Dinoland will close in phases starting Jan 12th.

1) My vote is last weekend to avoid a) Marathon week/weekend (Jan 8-12th)…b) MLK weekend when flight $$ are crazy
2) Yes, I would still go but I’d probably need 3 full days
3) I’ve done 3 parks in a single day (not everyone’s cup of tea, I know) and it was very doable! It’s just a different kind of trip.

Sounds fun!!

Yea I was thinking after the 12th, and I would likely still miss Chester and Hester’s, as well as big thunder, but that’s not a big deal it isn’t going away.

Definitely not concerned with getting any big amount of stuff done, it would be mainly focused on getting just the closure stuff done, the rest would be just bonus. I was thinking I could probably do 2 park days, and maybe even the 2nd day could be my travel home day… so only 2 nights.

I even looked at a redeye, so it would really only be 1 hotel night. lol

 

[Chili327]

ohh and another tip from West Coast on a short trip, if you can find a red eye flight you for sure maximize your time by landing early am as opposed to midday to eve.

Yep, I’m thinking redeye, then 2 nights, so technically 3 day hopper.

 

[Chili327]

Ok, I'm typing this up to have dates all in one place....


Animal Kingdom

Prior to this, Walt Disney World officially announced closure dates for offerings in Dino-Rama:

TriceraTop Spin – Closed permanently starting January 13, 2025
Fossil Fun Games – Closed permanently starting January 13, 2025
Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures – Closed permanently starting January 13, 2025
The last day to experience this ride and other offerings will be January 12, 2025. Construction walls for Tropical Americas will go up overnight and be visible to guests on January 13, 2025.

The Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, Dino-Bite Snacks, Trilo-Bites, and DINOSAUR will stay open for now according to Walt Disney World.

So I'm not going to be able to catch Chester & Hester's (I did check it out a little, but I didn't know it was going away at the time)

No concern for "DINOSAUR" because I rode it, & it will be open for most of the year anyway, but even if not, I rode it.

-
Magic Kingdom
Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island

The South Florida Water Management District has granted the extension request, but only in part. The new deadline is January 9, 2025–one month instead of two. By that deadline, Disney must answer and address the SFWMD’s previous letter requesting changes and clarification, revising its plans to re-route and modify the stormwater management system behind Tom Sawyer Island and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which flows into the Rivers of America.

This is marginally notable because January 9, 2025 is essentially the full and final deadline. No further extensions will be granted from the state. This isn’t to say that Disney couldn’t file a new permit package at a later date, but that would begin this whole process anew, potentially delaying the Rivers of America closure into 2026 (and new Cars and Villains lands well beyond their current targets). I’m somewhat surprised extensions aren’t given more freely, but am perfectly fine with this project tightening up its timeline and certainly. Suffice to say, we should know within a month whether the Rivers of America is safe for 2025 or if Cars Land is kicking into high gear.

Promising, & maybe no need to go in Jan/Feb.

As for the titular question, Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America have no closing date at present. Walt Disney World has only indicated that work will kick “into high gear” in 2025, but before then, that “guests will have plenty of time to experience the charm and nostalgia of Frontierland as it is today.”

Previously, our guess is that this means those closures would not occur until after Easter 2025. We further speculated that Magic Kingdom might try to get through Summer 2025 before closing Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America.

Still possible that my October trip will cover both.

Ultimately, the back-and-forth on the SFWMD permitting process doesn’t really change a whole lot in the grand scheme of things. It does significantly increases the likelihood that the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will be safe through at least Easter 2025, but that was probably always the case.

I’d take that a step further and predict that, regardless of this request, you probably have until at least August 2025 to say goodbye to the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island.
Even beyond that, there seems like a pretty good possibility that Disney does backstage work first, and this serene scenery and access are preserved until early 2026.

Sounds like a risk, but odds are decent.

-

MuppetVision3D

MuppetVision could remain open through at least Summer 2025.

Possible to see again, or my last time was 10+ years ago at DCA.






Best weeks to visit:
Mid-January (January 12-18, 2025)
There’s also the Walt Disney World Marathon that will occur from January 8-12, 2025
AVOID (try to) - National Dance Team Championship, January 31-February 2, 2025
Before or After Mid-Winter Break (February 2-13, 2025)
In terms of dates that are good to visit in February, we’d recommend February 2-13, 2025 as the best dates to visit.


Side Note:
If you’re simply looking for the very best dates in each season, they are as follows:

Spring 2024

• March 17 to 20, 2024
• April 7 to 11, 2024
• April 14 to 18, 2024
• April 21 to 25, 2024
• April 28 to May 2, 2024
• May 5 to 9, 2024
• May 12 to 16, 2024
• May 19 to 23, 2024

Summer 2024

• All Sundays through Thursdays approximately equal in June and July 2024
• August 4 to 8, 2024
• August 11 to 15, 2024
• August 18 to 29, 2024

Fall 2024

• September 2 to 12, 2024
• September 15 to 19, 2024
• September 22 to 26, 2024
• September 29 to October 3, 2024
• October 7 to 10, 2024
• October 13 to 17, 2024
• October 20 to 24, 2024
• October 27 to 31, 2024

Holidays 2024

• November 3 to 7, 2024
• November 10 to 14, 2024
• November 17 to 20, 2024
• December 1 to 5, 2024
• December 8 to 12, 2024

Winter 2025

• January 5 to 9, 2025
• January 13 to 16, 2025
• January 19 to 23, 2025
• January 26 to 30, 2025
• February 2 to 5, 2025

 

[Marthasor]

From CA in January? No, I wouldn't do it. With the flight, jet lag and cold temps, it wouldn't be worth it to me.

 

[Chili327]

From CA in January? No, I wouldn't do it. With the flight, jet lag and cold temps, it wouldn't be worth it to me.

Cold temps in Orlando?
Temps in the 50’s is the least of my worries, it was in the 20’s this morning here in my part of CA.
The jet lag of a red eye and 3 hr time difference only to do it in reverse in 2 days could be a real issue though.

 

[Chili327]

Ok, now i got another dilemma.

I was going to purchase a confirmed res for OKW, but I can actually just use points for a Lake view at BLT... but id have to use VGC points. lol

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

Ok, now i got another dilemma.

I was going to purchase a confirmed res for OKW, but I can actually just use points for a Lake view at BLT... but id have to use VGC points. lol

Could you buy OTUP with the MMB program?

 

[Chili327]

Could you buy OTUP with the MMB program?

You have to qualify for that?

 

[Chili327]

OKW is Total $907.41
BLT is 54 points (at $20) $1080 or whatever my VGC points are worth ($16+ = $864)

I think i might just buy the OKW reservation, as much as id like to stay at BLT, i also want to checkout OKW, & if i save a few bucks in the process. Probably better/smarter thinking.

 

[MerlinandtheMouse]

You have to qualify for that?

You have to qualify for the BOGO but if you just wanted to buy extra points to not use as many of your VGC pts you can still purchase 24 at $20/pt.

If you have the time and the means, definitely go! YOLO!

 

[Chili327]

Yep, i did it. lol

Redeye and 3 nights at OKW, I just had this FOMO for all the things they are closing, & it wasn't going to wait until Oct.

 

[Marthasor]

Cold temps in Orlando?
Temps in the 50’s is the least of my worries, it was in the 20’s this morning here in my part of CA.
The jet lag of a red eye and 3 hr time difference only to do it in reverse in 2 days could be a real issue though.

I'm from New England. I have been to Orlando multiple times in January and February. One year it was in the high 40's and raining most of the trip. So, yeah, cold temps in Orlando, walking for miles, bundled in layers and ponchos. There is no way I would fly from CA for that.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Ok, now i got another dilemma.

I was going to purchase a confirmed res for OKW, but I can actually just use points for a Lake view at BLT... but id have to use VGC points. lol

YOLO

 

[Chili327]

Just adding on that I've realized in my planning that I'm going to start the day at whatever park to take in the stuff that is going away (Muppets-DHS, Tom Sawyer-MK, etc), but after I've done whatever i needed to, the plan is to hop over to Epcot every day, which has nothing going way. lol

 

[Pyxie]

I'm doing this. It didn't start out as a trip to do all the closing things, but it's sort of turned out that way. Some things fell into place that allowed me to book a last minute trip January 11 - 16. Got a Black Friday deal on flights and booked a confirmed res at SSR. It's just a week after my son's 16th birthday so we're making it his birthday celebration. Gonna hit AK on the 12th so we can catch Dinoland and then will make sure we do the other things like Muppets, Tom Sawyer Island, etc. I'm a little sad that so many rides are going down for refurb on the 6th and we'll miss those, but it's nothing that is going away permanently.

 

[Chili327]

I'm doing this. It didn't start out as a trip to do all the closing things, but it's sort of turned out that way. Some things fell into place that allowed me to book a last minute trip January 11 - 16. Got a Black Friday deal on flights and booked a confirmed res at SSR. It's just a week after my son's 16th birthday so we're making it his birthday celebration. Gonna hit AK on the 12th so we can catch Dinoland and then will make sure we do the other things like Muppets, Tom Sawyer Island, etc. I'm a little sad that so many rides are going down for refurb on the 6th and we'll miss those, but it's nothing that is going away permanently.

Oh what's going down on the 6th, maybe i need to prioritize them on the 5th? (i'll look it up)

I know I'm going to get sidetracked and do some of the greats, but I'm really trying to focus on the things that are going way, but if something i like is getting a refurb, maybe i should just run over and get it done too. lol