Visiting one of the Disney theme parks was once as simple as showing up and going on the rides. Yet modern parkgoers use a variety of tools to optimize their experience, potentially leaving those who do not with a very different experience.
The main Disney Parks app, which guests used to plan itineraries and track wait times at the different parks in Florida and California, launched in 2012. By 2018, it was joined by a separate Play Disney Parks app that offered guests various games, activities, and trivia to experience as they moved through the parks.
The official motto for the app was that it could help Disney guests “turn wait time into play time.” The app became a favorite among Disney aficionados but has not been updated with any new experiences since the opening of “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Ride” at Magic Kingdom in November 2024.
Disney will permanently shut down Play Disney Parks games and trivia app
The latest news indicates that the Play Disney Parks app will be permanently discontinued by Sept. 16, according to the Blog Mickey watchdog.
As first reported by Scott Gustin, Disney is permanently sunsetting Play Disney Parks without providing a reason or officially announcing the discontinuation.
Related: Disney quietly cracks down on common tech item
“In terms of the biggest questions beyond just the obvious question of: why? revolves around games with in-park effects,” the blog author writes. “I immediately think of Batuu Bounty Hunters and other Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge offerings, as well as the DuckTales World Showcase Adventure.”
Disney later confirmed that one of its most popular experiences, the “Batuu Bounty Hunters” experience designed to go alongside the “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” ride in both Disneyland Park in California and Hollywood Studios in Florida, will remain available for guests who have a MagicBand+ band.
Image source: Daniel Kline/TheStreet
What else is changing in the Disney parks by fall 2026
Without providing further information, the theme park giant also stated that the popular “DuckTales” experience may also see a return in a different form at some point in the future.
Some of the experiences that will be lost forever include “Off to Neverland” at Peter Pan’s Flight and “Rocket Race at Space Mountain” in Disneyland, as well as “Andy’s Boardgame Blast at Slinky Dog Dash” in Hollywood Studios and “Animal Expeditions” in Animal Kingdom.
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As the theme parks continue to build new areas and prepare for the fall and spooky Halloween season that comes along with it, park visitors can expect some other closures and changes when they pass through in the coming weeks.
In Disneyland, rides including “Storybook Land Canal Boats,” the “Casey Jr. Circus Train,” “Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster,” “Redwood Creek Challenge Trail,” and the “Sorcerer’s Workshop” are all closed to visitors while they are being adorned with seasonal décor for the Halloween Time period running from Aug. 21 to Oct. 31.
In Florida’s Magic Kingdom, the “Rivers of America” waterway was permanently closed in July 2025 as the resort proceeds with a yearslong development project to build new areas inspired by the “Cars” series as well as another land dedicated to Disney villains.
Related: Disney closes 8 popular rides
