Pedro,
Yes you are absolutely correct. You need to have the MW timeframe to replace this if this is in the production.
Following are some options:
1- Copy the config and have it handy(On notepad).
2- Is the switch root bridge which you are trying to replace?
3- Check the new switch before connecting to the network (VTP/STP or any other configuration exist it is worth to console and check those things along with IOS which is supposed to be running on the device before it is place on the network).
4- Now here is the trick as you have many downstream devices using ths switch as there gateway now replacing it will cause the delay. But if you have dual connectivity and hSRP is running this would cause a sec delay in re-convergence.
HTH
Regards
Inayath