In Memoriam: All The Attractions (and Restaurants) Disney World Lost in 2025
2025 has been a radical year of change at Walt Disney World, as the resort prepares for numerous expansions across its four theme parks.
In the coming years, we will see Monstropolis open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Piston Peak and Villains Land come to life at Magic Kingdom, and Tropical Americas.
Before we turn our attention to the exciting new attractions on the horizon, however, it is only appropriate that we look back.
Muppets Courtyard
With that in mind, I would like to reflect on the attractions and restaurants that we have lost this year.
Let’s get started, shall we?
Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama (Closed: January 12)
On January 12, 2025, Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama officially went extinct, as the land closed to facilitate the construction of Disney Animal Kingdom’s new Tropical Americas land.
Photo: Whatculture.com
Part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom for over 23 years, the Dino-Rama section of DinoLand USA was often maligned by fans and overlooked by guests.
Nevertheless, TriceraTop Spin was the sight of many early memories, Primeval Whirl had its own kitchy charm, and the Fossil Fun Games put a unique spin on classic carnival games.
With its roadside theming and surprisingly intricate backstory, Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama was a fun piece of Disney storytelling for guests who knew where to look.
It’s Tough to Be a Bug (Closed: March 16)
After entertaining guests for nearly 27 years, It’s Tough to be a Bug! was shown for the final time on March 16, 2025.
It’s Tough to Be a Bug
During its run, generations of fans have grown up with It’s Tough to be a Bug!, laughing at Chili, holding their nose when the stinkbug sprays, and cheering when Hopper is finally defeated.
While the attraction was never the most popular at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, it has been an integral part of the park for over 25 years. It also had a wildly interesting backstory.
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano and PizzeRizzo (Closed: May 10)
Never the most popular attraction at Hollywood Studios, Mama Melrose’s was an overlooked eatery tucked away in a corner of the park. Due to its location, many missed out on one of the most immersive restaurants the Studios had to offer.
The place where Italy met California in the heart of the backlot, Mama Melrose’s was a throwback.
Visiting the restaurant was like traveling to the past. It transported guests to a time when Disney eateries were intricately themed, the stars came out at the Disney-MGM Studios, and the park exuded the Hollywood that never was but always will be.
PizzeRizzo, on the other hand, was a latter addition to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, yet one creation was dreamed up decades earlier. While perhaps not the best food in the park, the restaurant delivered plenty of seating, fun theming, and a place to revel in the unique humor of the Muppets.
Muppet*Vision 3D (Closed: June 8)
After 34 years, the final curtain fell on Muppet*Vision 3D this year, as Jim Henson’s final film was removed to make way for the creation of a new Monstropolis land.
Photo: Disney
Muppet*Vision 3D may not have been as relevant as it was 34 years ago when the show opened. Still, for the lovers, the dreamers, and me, it was the last vestige of what Disney’s Hollywood Studios stood for, a beacon of good old-fashioned Vaudevillian humor, and a place to celebrate the Muppets.
Tom Sawyer Island (July 6)
For 52 years, Tom Sawyer Island was an oasis in the bustling Magic Kingdom, a place to escape from the crowds, travel back in time, and let your imagination run wild.
Tom Sawyer Island
Between Fort Langhorn, Harper’s Mill, Injun Joe’s Cave, and the famous barrel bridge, the island rewarded guests who made the trek over with plenty to explore.
Last Day on Tom Sawyer Island
Once again, Tom Sawyer Island was never the most popular Magic Kingdom attraction. It was, however, the backdrop for guests’ fondest memories for over five decades.
The Liberty Belle Riverboat and Rivers of America (July 6)
Since the Magic Kingdom opened on October 1, 1971, the Rivers of America has served as the park’s soul, providing the connective tissue that wove its disparate themes together.
Liberty Square Riverboat
Combining the technology of the past, the stories that have become foundational to the American consciousness, and a dash of nostalgia, the Rivers and Tom Sawyer Island created the soul of the Magic Kingdom. They also grounded the experience of both Liberty Square and Frontierland.
The Boneyard (September 1)
While it hasn’t happened yet, on September 1, The Boneyard will close to make way for Tropical Americas.
Like Tom Sawyer Island, The Boneyard was a place where young guests could let their imagination run wild and explore their environment. It was the kind of attraction that has been replaced more and more frequently in recent years.
In addition to providing a unique Disney World experience, The Boneyard’s theming laid out more of DinoLand’s backstory. While many won’t miss the playground, families with young kids will certainly notice its absence.
In Conclusion
In many ways, it is only fitting to finish this memorial post, the way we started- by looking ahead. Five years from now, Walt Disney World will boast new lands dedicated to Cars, Monsters, Inc., and the Tropical Americas. By that point, it is likely that few will still be lamenting the loss of the attractions that closed this year.
For those of us who have been visiting Disney World for decades, however, 2025 was a time of unprecedented change.
With that in mind, it’s time to say goodbye.
Thanks for the memories.
