Writer’s Note, News & Views
For a myriad of reasons, this will be my last Walt Disney World Resort Update. As regular readers have noticed, I have been largely absent from this part of the internet this spring and summer, while I have been continuing to provide some content across our social media channels. In addition to posting my own photos and videos there, if you did not know, more often than not, I’m the one who spots official Disney social media posts and adds them to our MousePlanet Facebook and sometimes X channels, particularly those from Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Vacation Club, and Disney Cruise Line, and, less often, Disneyland, as the West Coast is well-covered by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
As long as MousePlanet wants and my schedule permits, I will continue contributing to MousePlanet, but I do not plan to continue writing these Updates. I hope you have enjoyed all my contributions over the past decade; we even had “Fun at Home” during the height of the 2020 global pandemic! My contributions have come from years of Disney fandom that pre-date my time with MousePlanet. I am a Disney Fan. Mickey Mouse was atop my first birthday cake according to family photos (not my conscious memory), and I was fortunate enough to visit Walt Disney World Resort with my parents as a kid a number of times, starting in 1972, about a year after the Resort opened; and to visit Disneyland as a kid with my parents and grandmother in 1976.
As a fan of the company with a curious mind beyond just the parks, film and television offerings, I started following the business of Disney in the mid-1980s right when Michael Eisner and Frank Wells came aboard and gave rise to what folks now refer to as the “Second Golden Age” of Disney Animation along with the revitalization of its live action studio and the expansion of the parks. I followed the Disney fan community, including MousePlanet and some of its Usenet Group predecessors back in the earliest days of the internet fan community in the early 1990s. I started posting my own Disney photos and videos to the Internet in the mid-1990s, and my site is still online (although in need of much updating to restore some functionality). My curiosity has always tended toward Disney history and storytelling (irrespective of media). Applying that curiosity to the parks, also had me focus over the years on their attraction development, operations, and entertainment offerings.
By the mid-1990s, I became a Walt Disney Company shareholder; it was the first stock I ever purchased, and I am still a shareholder today. I purchased my first points and became a Disney Vacation Club Member in 2000, and as DVC has grown, I have visited every DVC resort except for the Villas at Disneyland Hotel, as I have not made it back out to Disneyland since 2019; I have stayed in most of the DVC Resorts, including Aulani (Hawaii), Vero Beach (Florida), and, as of last fall, Hilton Head Island. I have been a Walt Disney World Annual Passholder most years since the early 2000s when I started making reservations with my DVC membership; and I have been a Central Florida resident since 2014, with my house less than two miles from Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom (by comparison, Spaceship Earth at EPCOT is twice as far from Cinderella Castle as my couch).
In keeping with MousePlanet’s core philosophy, I have kept the Updates limited to as neutral presentation of “news” as possible. MousePlanet’s goal is to provide useful information to folks planning to visit Disney Parks, and the Updates have been our “news” presentation rather than a place for lots of reviews and detailed opinions. My goal in writing the Updates has been to let folks visiting or planning to visit the Walt Disney World Resort know what the latest goings-on are filtered by my experience as a local, as long-time DVC Member, as a long-time Passholder, as someone who visited the Resort in its early days as a child and numerous times over the years past us both turning 50 into the present. I also have been able to call upon my experience visiting Disneyland in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000’s to 2019; and Disneyland Paris in 1999 and 2009. I have enjoyed sharing my knowledge of how Disney announcements fit within its business and history, and how that could enhance enjoyment of time in the parks and resorts. You may have noticed that I pay much less attention to the ever-changing array of Disney merchandise, and food & beverage offerings, but I have tried to serve up relevant new information as it became available or, at least, point you to where to find it. I hope that you have been able to take information I have shared and put it to good use in one or more of your visits.
Disney recognized MousePlanet as “media” long before I came aboard. That is a tribute to MousePlanet’s founders and leaders, and its contributors that attended Disney events before me. In my years as the Central Florida writer for MousePlanet, I too have had the privilege of being hosted by Disney and some of its operating partners many times, and, indeed, even Disney Cruise Line. Over this past weekend, I attended Destination D23 as invited media for the 5th time since 2016, and so I will start the news portion of this Update now with a wrap-up of the four bits of Walt Disney World Resorts news Disney shared at the event and, nearly simultaneously, on its social media channels and Disney Parks Blog which recapped all of the Parks news here.
2025 Destination D23 Walt Disney World Resort Announcements
We had a few pretty good hints going into this year’s Destination D23 event that there would be no major announcements for Walt Disney World, or, indeed, the entire Parks & Experiences segment of Disney’s business. First and foremost was the history of the event: since 2009, Disney has made the majority of its biggest announcements of this kind at the event formerly known as D23 Expo in Anaheim, and saved some smaller or less detailed announcements for the Destination D events at Walt Disney World. In that regard, Disney made huge announcements about its capital investment plans for Walt Disney World at last year’s D23: The Ultimate Fan Event (formerly known as D23 Expo), and it has followed those announcements with an assortment of additional details provided in various places, including a major presentation led by Disney Parks and Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro at the South by Southwest Conference earlier this year.
When the schedule was released for Destination D23 in the weeks before the event, the fan community quickly noticed that there was no scheduled appearance by Josh D’Amaro or other Parks and Experiences senior executives. That too was a pretty big clue to the absence of a major announcement, as the four prior Destination D events I attended all had appearances by the then-current Parks Chairman (Bob Chapek in 2016 and 2018; Josh D’Amaro in 2021 and 2023.). So the Walt Disney World-specific announcements this time were woven into other presentations during the event.
TRON: Ares Overlay Coming TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney Studios releases the third film of the Tron sci-fi franchise TRON: Ares in theaters on October 10, 2025. Disney showed scenes from the new film at Destination D23. Attendees were not permitted to record or photograph those scenes, but Disney has released an official trailer which can be viewed on YouTube.
Before the movie debuts in theaters, starting September 15, 2025, TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom will receive an overlay themed to the new movie. The blue and orange hues of the current attraction will be temporarily replaced with red hues of the digital realm portrayed in the movie and orange hues. The attraction’s soundtrack will feature “the pulsating industrial sounds of Nine Inch Nails.” Disney PhotoPass Service later announced that it will update the on-ride image capture as well.
Disney did not announce when the “limited run” will end, but did note that it will also be part of TRON Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disneyland starting September 16. History suggests that the more popular the film and/or the attraction with guests, the longer it may stick around. This sort of update to the attraction probably will not require the attraction to close for installation, but keep an eye on My Disney Experience for any changes to the attraction’s operating schedule.
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress Will Be Updated
During the Destination D23 panel entitled, “Creating the Happiest Place on Earth,” Walt Disney Imagineer Chris Beatty announced that “Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress” at Magic Kingdom would be updated for the first time since 1993. The only specific change shared so far is that a new introductory scene including a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic character will be added.
As the current version of the attraction says, the Carousel of Progress was “Walt’s own idea from beginning to end,” from when it made its debut at the New York World’s Fair in 1964. After the Fair, it moved to Disneyland, and then to Magic Kingdom in 1975, receiving a few changes and updates along the way (like the replacement of the song “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” with “Now is the Time” and then the switch back in the other direction).
Disney has said that more details, like what attraction characters John, Sarah, and the rest of the family are up to, will be shared in the future. Disney has not announced when to expect the updates. History suggests that refurbishment and updating the attraction in the way described so far will take, at least, a few months, and it does not seem likely that these updates can only be worked on outside park hours. In other words, we expect there will be an attraction closing for refurbishment date posted in My Disney Experience before too long.
Magic Kingdom’s Disney Villains-themed Land Will Feature “Conjured Architecture”
When we and the rest of the Disney fan community saw that the Destination D23 schedule included a panel discussing Disney Villains, we all figured we would get some additional detail(s) about the new Villians-themed land Josh D’Amaro announced would be built at Magic Kingdom during his D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presentation last year. So far, all Disney has shared is that this new land will be created by expanding Magic Kingdom “beyond Big Thunder Mountain” and would include two major attractions, dining, and shopping. Indeed, since the announcement last year, Disney has cleared a large amount of land beyond the long-existing northwest corner of the park, nearly all the way to some of the cast parking lots, and the Walt Disney World Railroad has switched to shuttle operation between Main Street Station and Fantasyland Station only on the east side of the park (which, conveniently, is connected to the spur that runs to the backstage barn where the rolling stock is stored and serviced).
At Destination D23, Disney shared that Disney Legend and former animator Andreas Deja is consulting with Walt Disney Imagineering on the project. During his Disney Animation career, Andreas worked on Disney Villains including Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, Jafar in Aladdin, and Scar in The Lion King. As he shared in a video shown at Destination D23 and then released on the Disney Parks YouTube channel, he sees these characters as best source materials for Imagineers to utilize and reference when conceptualizing the land, with big personalities, bold visuals, and rich backgrounds to influence the overall ambiance and the experience that guests will have while visiting.
Disney also shared that imagineers set off on research trips to Paris, France and Barcelona, Spain to learn about each city’s architecture and its unique attributes. In particular, they studied Art Nouveau architecture design and the unique form, scale, and color that define this style, which flourished in the late 1800s. Disney says that the Parisian classic Art Nouveau examples the team studied featured motifs and swirling designs that “make nature appear to be ‘cursed’ like magic has frozen it into place,” while Barcelona’s “Modernisme” style features less natural patterns but has an “otherworldly, unnerving appearance.” They announced that it is these architectural aesthetics that will serve as the overall design inspiration for the land and they have coined the term “Conjured Architecture” to describe the style of the new land; the term is meant to denote a “blend of historical components and fantastical worlds that have merged to ultimately create something wicked that will be able to be experienced firsthand – a villains-inspired land.”
I would expect that we will hear the term “Conjured Architecture” quite a bit over the coming years as we await the land’s construction and debut, sort of like how much we heard the term “Crookedology” during the construction and debut of the Paris-themed expansion of EPCOT’s France pavilion featuring Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Will Be Painted in Colors Inspired by its Original Design
The final Destination D23 panel to provide Walt Disney World Resort news was the one focused on the castles of the Disney Parks around the world. There was a good deal of speculation going into the session that Disney would reveal concept art for the castle intended for the new resort to be built in Abu Dhabi. Well, without someone at the very top of the Disney Parks or Corporate hierarchy on the stage, that did not seem likely to me and, indeed, did not come to pass.
Instead, Disney shared that Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom would be returned to a color scheme inspired by its original design. The current color palette of darker blues and some pinks was applied to the castle ahead of the resort’s 50th Anniversary celebration.
Disney has not announced when the new paint scheme is expected to debut. Given past castle painting projects we have seen, it is unlikely that repainting will begin until after the holiday season concludes in January, 2026. Painting projects of the past have required a very large crane on-site, and Disney has tended to do that after the large seasonal crowds lessen (granted, in the past, painting projects were coordinated with the installation and removal of the “dream lights” icicles which have not decorated the castle since before the global pandemic). At any rate, the announcement was greeted with a good deal of cheer from the Destination D23 attendees, though the same attendees seemed to cheer the photos of the 1996 Castle Cake that the online community seems to have disliked so much (and, personally, I was not fond of either).
The Beak and Barrel Has Opened at Magic Kingdom
As part of the Destination D23 media coverage invitation, MousePlanet was invited to the brand new The Beak and Barrel in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom last week. It officially opened August 29. Getting an invitation was fantastic, as this new reservations-required venue with a very limited maximum occupancy was pretty much the only way I was going to get to see it. (I have yet to see the inside of the new Geo 82 lounge over at EPCOT and really cannot imagine when, if ever, I will get inside.). After hiccups with the reservations system’s scheduled opening, when guests finally could book this new family-friendly lounge, reservations filled quickly. Reports are that they continue to fill reservation slots very quickly after they open–so, if this is a venue you would like to see, be sure to use that reservation window to the fullest and, if you do not succeed in securing one, be sure to head back to the reservations system regularly looking for an elusive slot opened due to cancelation (remember, penalties apply for failing to cancel; read the terms and conditions when you book).
Unfortunately, and, notwithstanding the media invitation, a more-than-thirty minute delay at the understaffed TTC security screening station reduced my visit to the new venue down to 15-20 minutes. The inside of the venue is highly detailed with lots of classic-style Disney storytelling. It does not quite get to the level of detail and special effects as the Haunted Mansion Parlor that debuted aboard the Disney Cruise Line ship Disney Treasure last fall (and will debut on Disney Destiny this fall), but it does approach that to the point that I can say it is the most intricately themed new food and beverage venue to open to all guests at Walt Disney World Resort since Trader Sam’s at Disney’s Polynesian Village (perhaps Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is in that league too — and, obviously, I have excluded Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser from comparison here since it was open only to its registered guests). It is a shame that such a highly themed venue is so small that only a tiny fraction of Magic Kingdom’s guests can experience it in any given day.
The venue’s menu includes small plates, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Disney Parks Blog has provided a first look at its menu at its opening. Remember, all Walt Disney World menus are subject to change, and you can often find the latest offerings in My Disney Experience. Back in May, Disney Parks Blog shared the backstory of the three rooms that comprise The Beak and Barrel. Some of the different elements in the venue come to life at different times. In my brief visit, I saw a few activations of Rummy the tavern’s quartermaster (peg-legged animatronic parrot) high atop the bar, including when Rummy leads the place in song and when he gets the crowd to demand that the rum bottle be refilled (and a special effect refills it). I also saw the battle between ships in two separate bottles (spoiler alert, it does not end well for one of them).
Four Walt Disney World Theme Parks Round-up
Lately, trying to figure out what operational changes are happening in the four Walt Disney World theme parks has required checking the My Disney Experience app to find information about not just attraction routine maintenance closures, but the permanent ones too. News of the more routine refurbishments has rarely been publicized by Disney, but the bigger permanent closures usually were. Yes, Disney has said in multiple places over the past year that the DinoLand U.S.A. area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom would be transformed into a tropical Americas-themed area featuring an attraction themed to Encanto and a make-over of Dinosaur into a new Indiana Jones adventure, and the initial rounds of closings were given some specificity (and those areas, like Chester and Hester’s Dinorama have permanently closed), but other pieces were left vague with comments about being able to enjoy Dinosaur for the rest of the year. This past week, fan site social media was quick with posts about Dinosaur’s last day of operations being set as February 1, 2026, for example, but to find official word on such things, you had to get in to My Disney Experience and drill down to the attraction itself to find that the information was fact and not just rumor since, as far as I saw, Disney did not share that on its official channels or Disney Parks Blog. When I have shared information on MousePlanet social media, I have always tried to verify the information and provide an official source for our readers to see.
At any rate, let’s go around the Four Parks and share the operational status of things:
Magic Kingdom
…Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is underway on select nights until October 31. Tickets for the party nights are on sale, are priced differently by date (generally, with the prices getting higher as Halloween approaches and, indeed, as the typical nighttime weather improves), and tickets are sold out on some nights, including Halloween itself. If logged in with linked credentials, different discounts are available on select nights (on some September dates only) for Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members. For planning purposes be aware that party dates are on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, plus Thursday, September 25th. In October, the parties are every Thursday and Friday, most Sundays, most Tuesdays and Monday, October 13th. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary guests can enter the park without a reservation or other ticket as early as 4:00 p.m. on party night, and the party officially begins at 7:00 p.m.; day guests without party credentials (usually wristbands) will start getting sent toward the park exit at 6 p.m.
While there are some new “pumpkin heads” in the Storybook Circus area as you can see above, the offerings at this year’s party are largely unchanged from other recent years: weather permitting, the Boo-to-You parade runs twice from Frontierland to Main Street U.S.A., the Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular is performed several times on the Cinderella Castle Stage, and Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular is a fireworks display with lots of story-telling elements requiring a good, unobstructed view of Cinderella Castle to see all of them. Trick-or-treat stations and special character appearances are available around the park, and this year’s dance parties are themed to current Disney Channel offerings. MousePlanet was invited to attend the party in connection with covering the Destination D23 event and the following is a sampling of photos from August 29, 2025.
…Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party returns on 25 nights in November and December. Magic Kingdom closes its gates to day guests at 6 p.m. and then hosts the extra-admission required Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party from 7 p.m. until Midnight. Those with tickets to the Party can enter the park as early as 4 p.m., mixing in with the day guests as they are coaxed toward the park exist by cast members that check for Party wristbands starting at 6 p.m. throughout the park and at attraction entrances. Be aware that tickets do sellout on some nights and may not be available for sale on the day of one of the events. This page of DisneyWorld.com is where to get official information about the event and to find the links to official ticket sales (including eligible discounts for those logged in with linked Passholder and Disney Vacation Club credentials) when available; the My Disney Experience app is a useful tool for this as well; guests may also call the Disney Reservation Center at 407-934-7639. Ticket prices for the party nights are $169 to $229 per ticket, plus tax, and they vary by event date (with discounts typically not available on all dates).
For those that visit Magic Kingdom between December 22 and December 30 or 31, guests usually have the opportunity to see Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, and Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration at Cinderella Castle stage, which are all also shown during party nights, weather permitting. All park gusts usually have an opportunity to see a showing of Frozen Holiday Surprise, with Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and the snowgies at Cinderella Castle Stage during regular park hours throughout the holiday season; party goers also have an opportunity to see the show an additional time on Party nights (but we do not expect the return of the old dream lights). Remember that except for IncrediPass, all Passholders are blocked out December 21-31 this year (and January 1, 2026).
In past years, in addition to some usually unannounced daytime performances of Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade for recording for ABC-TV (and other Disney-owned platform) holiday television specials, the Christmas Parade is typically shown during those final days of the year as well instead of the usual afternoon performance of the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade. With the introduction the new nighttime “Disney Starlight–Dream The Night Away” parade, debuting July 20, and Disney’s assurance that it will be scheduled twice nightly throughout the holiday season on nights when there is no Party, we will all need to keep watch for what this end-of-year’s parade schedule will be at Magic Kingdom.
…On nights Magic Kingdom is not hosting a hard ticket party, the park now presents its new nighttime parade twice nightly. “Disney Starlight–Dream the Night Away,” Magic Kingdom’s first regularly-scheduled nighttime parade since the Main Street Electrical Parade last “glowed away” back in October 2016, is presented, weather permitting, twice nightly, at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Unlike most other Magic Kingdom Parades, this parade steps off on Main Street U.S.A. and travels the parade route towards the hub and then exits through Frontierland (next to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure). (Sorry, I have no pictures to share, as I have yet to make it over to Magic Kingdom on a non-party evening to see the parade, particularly because of the weather this often rainy evening summer.)
…Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland has closed for a major refurbishment. Enhancements are coming to the attraction’s ride vehicles, including the “blasters” that guests aim at targets, and a new scene will be added to the ride. The attraction will return to operation at some point in 2026.
…Frontierland, the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the area “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain” are all undergoing major changes. With Disney’s announcements over the past year that a new area named Piston Peak National Park and attractions taking inspiration from the Disney-Pixar “Cars” films will be built, Tom Sawyer Island has closed, the Liberty Belle riverboat has closed, walls have gone up around the Rivers of America which are being drained, and signs of construction are already apparent in Frontierland. Disney has not provided a timeframe as to when to expect this project will be complete.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland has been undergoing a year-long extensive re-tracking and refurbishment project. Disney has not shared a date for its return to operation. My Disney Experience says “The attraction will reopen with a little bit of new magic in 2026.”
Beyond Big Thunder Mountain, land clearing and earth-moving are underway extending outside of the old boundaries of the park, practically all the way to some of the cast parking lots to the north. This is the area that Disney has said will be home to the Disney Villains themed land (discussed above in the Destination D23 section). Disney has not provided a timeframe for its construction or significant details about the new land. Because the construction area includes the route of the Walt Disney World Railroad, trains now operate in a “shuttle” mode only between Main Street Station and Fantasyland Station rather than in a “Grand Circle Tour” of the park.
EPCOT
…Having “completed” its “historic transformation” with the opening of CommuniCore Hall and Plaza in the summer of 2024, there are no major projects that have been announced for Walt Disney World’s second park.
…While CommuniCore Hall is supposed to serve as a Festival Hall, and while the Food & Wine Festival got underway on August 28, CommuniCore Hall is still “Goofy Core,” a leftover from the “Cool Kids Summer” providing entertainment for kids and preschoolers as of this Update. Its Plaza stage still hosts “Celebracion Encanto!” multiple times a day, though when the sing-along debuted it was billed as a limited time offering that was to have ended last fall. On Thursdays through Mondays, La Calle takes the stage in the evening with showtimes between 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. offering up Latin pop music. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the stage features a DJ in the evenings playing “old and new favorites to keep you moving.”
…Spaceship Earth has closed for a “routine” refurbishment. My Disney Experience says the attraction is “planned to reopen later this year.” Disney had previously announced a major renovation of SpaceShip Earth that was indefinitely postponed as a result of the Global Pandemic. There has been no word whether this will be revived at some point, but some sort of major transformation there is long-overdue: the current version of the attraction debuted back in 2007.
…Test Track reopened this summer after a reimagination. We shared details in our Walt Disney World Resort Update for July 9, 2025.
…Quite a few other projects were announced as part of the EPCOT transformation that were either specifically placed on “indefinite hold” like a Mary Poppins themed attraction for the U.K. pavilion, or just quietly allowed to fade away, like the “Play! pavilion” to be built inside the former Wonders of Life pavilion, or the plan to replace the “Wonders of China” CircleVision 360º film with a digitally projected seamless 360º experience. Disney has not shared any additional details about its future plans at EPCOT.
…EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Returns November 28-December 30, 2025. This the Festival that Passholders other than IncrediPass can only enjoy for three weeks: November 30 to December 20, 2025 because of blockout dates (and some Passholders will have more blockout dates in that time frame too). Candlelight Processional returns as part of this festival: a retelling of the nativity story by a guest celebrity narrator along with a large live orchestra, herald trumpets, and vocal ensembles including the Voices of Liberty, Disney Cast Choir, and local community groups, who perform Christmas carols and traditional tunes. It takes place at the America Gardens Theatre three times nightly, at 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m., with a runtime of approximately 50 minutes. Seating is first-come, first-served and often fills up fast, with standing viewing also available along World Showcase Promenade. Dining packages with reserved seating will be available soon. Past celebrity narrators have included Josh Gad, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jodi Benson, among many others, but this year’s line-up has not yet been announced.
Around World Showcase, Holiday Storytellers share festive traditions and bring holiday tales to life in their respective countries. Performances occur throughout the day with the times posted in My Disney Experience and usually on signs near the performance stages. In World Celebration, JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season returns with its concert series that celebrates the spirit of Christmas and Kwanzaa. Shows are performed by the Central Florida group D’Vine Voices in an upbeat mix of music styles including gospel, jazz, and R&B. Check the My Disney Experience app for showtimes.
Like other EPCOT Festivals, this one features kiosks (called “Holiday Kitchens” for the season) that feature specialty food and beverage offerings. Menus and such will be published closer to the start of the Festival. The Holiday Cookie Stroll will return too; when guests purchase any five cookies from the official locations and collect the corresponding stamps in their Festival Passport, it can be redeemed for a special surprise at Holiday Sweets and Treats.
Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt also returns this year. Whether you play for the prize or not, guests can locate Olaf in 13 different spots around EPCOT. To get the “prize,” guests can purchase a map and stickers, available at select festival merchandise locations. Find all of Olaf’s holiday traditions (or not), and then redeem the map at Creations Shop or World Traveler at International Gateway for the gift.
Finally, Living with the Land – Glimmering Greenhouses returns at The Land pavilion. During Festival of the Holidays, the classic attraction Living with the Land transforms into “a glittering greenhouse tour, featuring sparkling Christmas lights and dazzling decor, sure to fill guests of all ages with childlike wonder and awe.” The boat ride still discusses the work of Walt Disney World plant scientists and their growing techniques and technologies, with a holiday-themed narration.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney has announced major changes for Disney’s Hollywood Studios coming in the future. The Muppets Courtyard area is being transformed into a Monsters, Inc. themed land, complete with a coaster-style attraction inspired by the flying doors scene from the Disney-Pixar film. At the other end of the park, The Muppets are relocating to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and evicting Aerosmith. Also, the Animation Courtyard area of the park will have its the studio arch removed, will evict the Star Wars Launch Bay, add will a new sorcerer’s hat and return to hosting a Walt Disney Animation attraction.
…Muppets Courtyard, including MuppetVision 3-D, PizzeRizzo, and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano are now all permanently closed, and the entrance to the courtyard area is walled off for construction. The area will be transformed into a Monsters, Inc. themed land. It’s major attraction, as announced by Josh D’Amaro at last year’s D23 event will be an indoor roller coaster that will extend the area into part of the cast parking lot backstage. Josh said, “You’ll go into the factory and experience the first suspended coaster ever in a Disney park. Remember in the movie how those claws grab the doors and hoist them up into the air to take them away? We’re doing that, too. And you’re going along for the ride.”
…The Muppets themselves will next return to the park when they replace Aerosmith and take over what will be named Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets at some point in 2026. So far, Disney has not announced and My Disney Experience has not posted a closing date for the current version of the attraction.
The main features we know so far is that the attraction’s on-ride music will be from The Muppet’s band, Electric Mayhem. The Muppets themselves take over the G Force Records building and in the pre-show, guests will meet Scooter’s uncle, real estate tycoon and owner of the Muppet Theatre, J.P. Grosse (that Disney says “really puts the G in G-Force”). The concept art shows that some animatronic penguins will run the sound board, and it looks like an animatronic of Scooter will be in the booth too, with video appearances by Miss Piggy and Kermit; Electric Mayhem appear in the sound booth, and it is likely that will be video too, as that is where Aerosmith appear in the current version of the attraction pre-show. Outside, the giant red guitar will be decorated with a “vibrant and psychedelic new design” at its bottom inspired by a classic Muppet car paint job. The piano keyboard at the guitar base will include “a golden key as a nod to a certain far-out band leader.”
…Taking inspiration from the Disney short film, “Once Upon A Studio,” a brand-new experience will open in the Animation building (current home of Star Wars: Launch Bay) which will be made to look reminiscent of the iconic Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, including the addition of a new Sorcerer’s hat over its entrance. The new experience will be named “The Magic of Disney Animation.” The concept art for the entire Animation Courtyard shows that the reimagined area will no longer include the iconic Studio Arch that bounded this area since the park opened in 1989 (and was rethemed when the park’s name changed in 2008, and again modified to its current look around the park’s 30th anniversary). The courtyard area itself will be reimagined into “The Walt Disney Studios,” taking inspiration from several buildings found in Burbank. The home of “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure,” will get some exterior theming intended to be a nod to the Walt Disney Studios Lot’s Studio Theater. The exterior of the soundstage will be refreshed as well, and inside, Disney plans a new Disney Jr. show with the current Disney Jr. Play and Dance “Get Animated” dance parties scheduled for September 24, 2025. (“The Little Mermaid” show and Walt Disney Presents attraction are expected to remain open through the transformation.
Unlike when the Animation Building opened with the park back in 1989, the new The Magic of Disney Animation experience will not house a cast of actual Walt Disney Animation artists working on upcoming Disney movies and television. Instead, the new attraction begins with the premise that “the animators have temporarily stepped away… but the building is still buzzing with activity as the characters have come to life and they’re ready to play.” Disney says guests will be able to interact with “silly takes on the iconic Disney Animation headquarters, including the many different studio departments.” Portraits on the walls will come to life like in “Once Upon a Studio.” The attraction will include a short film and guests will have an opportunity to create a character sketch. Young “animators-to-be” will have the opportunity to explore the “Drawn to Wonderland” playground filled with an oversized flower garden with musical instruments, a Mad Tea Party playset and a Tulgey Wood exploration area, all inspired by the original “Alice in Wonderland” concept art from Disney Legend Mary Blair. The attraction is expected to debut in 2026. The last day to experience Star Wars Launch bay is September 24 according to My Disney Experience; Disney has not said whether Star Wars character meet and greets currently found within will be available in new locations in the future.
…Turning to the holidays, like Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios gets “decked out” for Christmas too. With the introduction of Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios two winters ago, the park increased its decor and then made some of its offerings available only to guests attending its additional-ticket required events. Let’s recap the holiday offerings available to all guests and those announced for Disney Jollywood Nights.
… “Sunset Seasons Greetings” returns at nightfall at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with holiday projections on the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Music accompanied by lighting and projections viewed from Sunset Blvd. transform the Hollywood Tower Hotel into a Muppets gingerbread masterpiece, a “Toy Story” toy hotel, a snowy corner of Arendelle and a Dickensian village from “Mickey’s Christmas Carol.” In the past, those projections have been accompanied by Disney “snow,” though the announcement so far does not say so. The projections continue until park closing, and, on Jollywood Nights, will continue during those events too.
…In the Hyperion Theater, the “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” returns for the holiday season. The Royal Historians of Arendelle retell the story of “Frozen” with the sing-along-scenes from the original Disney animated movie, and with appearances by Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff. For the holiday season, the show concludes with a holiday finale featuring Olaf the snowman.
…In Toy Story Land, Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear meet and greet in holiday attire at their photo opps. Minnie Mouse and friends dressed for the season appear at Hollywood & Vine during Minnie’s Holiday Dine character meals. The venue will mix festive music, decor, and menu items including oven-roasted herbed chicken, carved beef tenderloin, seared salmon, spice-rubbed pork loin and a plant-based roasted mushroom-farro risotto. Desserts offered will include seasonal bread pudding, Mississippi mud pie and more. Advance reservations are recommended (like at other character dining opportunities) and can be in My Disney Experience and the other usual places.
…Disney Jollywood Nights returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on 13 nights this November and December. November dates are set for select Saturdays and Mondays (November 8, 15, 17, 22, 24, and 29), while December dates fall on select Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays (December 1, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, and 22). This separate-admission required event celebrates Christmas with the glitz, glitter, and glam of old Hollywood. Specialty food and beverage offerings will be available (with details to be announced this fall–Backlot Express will have a specialty menu for the event), along with exclusive merchandise, and special photo opportunities.
Tickets for this event permit park entry at 5:30 p.m. before the event officially starts at 7:30 p.m. (while the day guests without wristbands are sent to the park exit) and the event concludes at 12:30 a.m. (note that on event nights, Fantasmic! is scheduled at 6:30 p.m.). Tickets for this year’s Jollywood Nights are on sale. Be aware that tickets can sellout and may not be available for sale on the day of one of the events.This page of DisneyWorld.com is where to find official information about the event and links to tickets when available (and applicable discounts for Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members on all event dates). Event tickets are $159 to $199 plus tax depending on date, and tickets include digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos and videos from the event.
…For both regular day guests and party guests, be sure to check My Disney Experience on the day of your visit, for expected hours of operation and, indeed, operational changes. For example, during DVC Moonlight Magic events at Hollywood Studios, it is not unusual for Rise of the Resistance to close its queue before that event ends because of the attraction’s required nightly maintenance needs.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
…Zootopia: Better Zoogether!, the new 4D experience in The Tree of Life Theater replacing “it’s tough to be a bug,” opens on November 7, 2025, on Discovery Island at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. As the new attraction’s story goes, the Tree of Life Theater is the main stage for the “Zoogether Day festivities with familiar furry faces and new friends, like Heidi Howler – a slick-talking wolf who hosts the Zoogether Day LIVE! broadcast with excitement, energy, and quite a bit of howling.” Disney Parks Blog says:
Zoogether Day, a celebration of unity amongst the diverse biomes across the city, will be recognized with special performances such as ice-skating spectaculars from the heart of Tundratown! Synchronized swimming direct from Marsh Market! Tiny mouse drone shows soaring over Little Rodentia! And of course, a musical finale by superstar Gazelle – all of which we’ll see from the livestream watch party.
With talented cast from the films like Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman returning to lend their voices to these beloved characters, and contributions from filmmakers Jared Bush (who helped write the script) and Byron Howard (who directed the animation – all of which was done by the talented artists at Disney Animation) working closely with the Walt Disney Imagineering team to bring the attraction to life, Zootopia: Better Zoogether! brings us all deeper into the beautiful world of the animal metropolis explored in the original Zootopia as well as the new feature, Zootopia 2, coming to theaters November 26.
Disney has said that as the attraction’s opening date approaches, there will be special previews for cast members, Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members. Details have not yet been announced. Also, Judy and Nick will be sporting their new looks from Zootopia 2 when greeting guests on Discovery Island near the Tree of Life at the Zoogether Day Gathering Spot. At DestinationD23, Disney presented the first on-stage appearance by Officer Clawhauser as a walk-around character during the Walt Disney Studios’ presentation about the upcoming film, but Disney has not shared whether guests will have the opportunity to meet and greet the character in the park.
Earlier today @ #DestinationD23 Patrick Warburton @paddywarbucks introduced a Officer Clawhauser walk-around character. Also on stage Disney chief creative officer Jared Bush @thejaredbush & actress Yvette Nicole Brown @YNB who voices 2 characters in Zootopia 2 @DisneyD23 pic.twitter.com/5qxMrBEbQ4
— MousePlanet (@MousePlanet) August 30, 2025
…The Boneyard permanently closed on September 1, following earlier closures of the Chester & Hester’s Dino-rama area of DinoLand U.S.A. Closing “the rest” of DinoLand U.S.A. for its transformation into the as yet nameless Tropical America’s themed area of the park featuring both an Encanto attraction and a new Indiana Jones-themed adventure is next up for the park on February 1, 2026. The following details were not announced on Disney Parks Blog, the traditional spot for such details, but can be found by drilling through the My Disney Experience pages for the various venues: the DINOSAUR attraction and the Restaurantosaurus dining venue will greet their last guests on February 1, 2026, and will close permanently the next day. Disney previously had announced that guests could get their last DINOSAUR rides in during the rest of this year, and it is now official that continues only until February 1. The good news for fans of the ride is that while we know the story and theme of the ride will go away in favor of a new Indiana Jones-themed adventure taking place in the Tropical Americas region of the world, the “ride” is expected to remain somewhat the same, as the enhanced motion ride vehicles (don’t call them Jeeps since Jeep is not a sponsor) and their path through the attraction are expected to remain (the motion programming probably will change to suit the story).
…Looking ahead to the holiday season, remember that winter is one of the rare times of year these days that Disney’s Animal Kingdom remains open for awhile after the sun sets. It’s a great time to see the nighttime effects over in Pandora-The World of Avatar that were one of the land’s highlights when it opened and when the park often operated until very late at night. In any event, as we have reported this summer, this holiday season, the park again offers up the colors and animated imagery of the “Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition” after dark. The shows occur when it is dark enough, approximately every 10 minutes until park closing. When arriving at Discovery Island, guests will again see the returning winter holiday decor and the artisan-sculpted puppets of arctic animals coming to life during the Merry Menagerie appearances by penguins, reindeer, foxes, and polar bears. Original artwork from artist Rob Kaz will be available at Island Mercantile in Discovery Island throughout the holiday season, and he will greet guests inside Island Mercantile from November 1 through November 20. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will appear at their usual Character Outpost meeting location wearing holiday outfits.
Beyond The Theme Parks
Disney Water Parks
…The Disney Water Parks have, once again, returned to one-at-a-time operation. As of this update, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon has a daily operating schedule (weather permitting), while Disney’s Blizzard Beach is closed. The current parks calendar in My Disney Experience only goes out until November 17, 2025 right now, so it is unclear how long that will remain the case. Remember that in 2025, resort guests at select Disney hotels get in to a water park free on their date of check-in and, as always, parking is free at the water parks, albeit limited.
Disney Springs Returns Seasonal Offerings
…As we reported this summer, Disney Springs will return many of its long-running seasonal offerings this winter. Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll returns across the Disney Springs neighborhoods with its wide collection of themed Christmas trees, including elaborately decorated Christmas trees inspired by Disney, Pixar, and Star Wars stories. Disney “snow” will fall nightly in the Town Center neighborhood. Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar will once again become Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar. The fictional character who was Indiana Jones’ pilot in Raiders of the Lost Ark, turns his mementos-filled venue into one filled with plenty of holiday decorations. The bar will serve up select seasonal bites, brews and libations. Jock Linsey’s is currently operating as a “Halloween Bar” which came as a bit of a surprise to us, and, indeed, the few times I have been over at Disney Springs a few times since Halloween appeared at the bar, but it drew quite a queue of guests waiting entry.
Holiday entertainment and plenty of other specialty food and beverage offerings (plus, of course, holiday shopping opportunities) will be announced as the season draws nearer.
Disney Resorts Deck Out For the Holidays
…The more than 25 Disney Resort Hotels and many of the others on Disney property get decked out for the holidays with bigger-than-life displays. So far, Disney has not shared details of things like the Gingerbread houses or special food and beverage offerings, but those will be coming before too long. We do know that the refurbishment of the lobby at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa means that its life-size gingerbread house will be on hiatus this year.
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Resort Reservations, Ticket Advice & Special Offers
Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Walt Disney World Resort Update.
Visit DisneyWorld.com/Offers for special deals. Military Discounts are now posted for the whole year. And, looking ahead to 2026, there’s a free dining for kids offer that Disney Parks Blog revealed too. The gist of the offer is that guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel will get a free dining plan for their kids (ages 3-9) when purchasing a dining plan with their package for others in their party (ages 10 and up)–remember that, as always, everyone on the same room reservation has to purchase the same dining plan.
MousePlanet’s travel partner, Get Away Today, can help you book each of those offers too, and at no additional cost to you. Each of the following links will take you right there, and you help MousePlanet too!
- Get a FREE dining plan when you purchase a non-discounted, 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney Resort package with Park Hopper option. (This one Get Away Today recommends you book by phone)
Dates: now through Sept. 30, Oct. 20 – Nov. 1 and Dec. 6-22, 2025 - 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket Offer – Enjoy a specially priced 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket that’s valid for admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, EPCOT®, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park only.
Dates: Now through Sept. 22, 2025 - Stay longer and save more on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels – up to 30% on 5-night and longer stays!
Dates: Now through Oct. 11, 2025
REMINDER: Get Away Today’s Walt Disney World Resort vacation packages can now be booked completely on its website! No cumbersome quotes needed! Simply compare all your favorite Walt Disney World Resort hotels and Get Away Today’s hand selected off-property hotels in a few clicks, and then customize for your included tickets for your vacation.
Get Away Today’s Walt Disney World Resort vacation packages now have the option to add Layaway Plans, which allow you to pay the total balance up to eight days prior to travel. You can also add their popular “Peace of Mind Plan” when booking a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, which allows any reschedules and cancellations up to five days prior to travel with no penalty.
When booking with Get Away Today, all Walt Disney World Resort on-site packages include Get Away Today’s e-concierge, which includes its Best Price Guarantee, Dining Reservation Reminders, access to their Concierge Team email for help before and during your vacation, and more.
Looking to go beyond Walt Disney World Resort when visiting Central Florida? Check out Get Away Today’s Universal Orlando Resort ticket offers and resort package stay offers too. Universal Express Pass is now available for the new EPIC Universe theme park opening the summer, and Get Away Today can help you with that too!
Only purchase Disney theme park tickets directly from Disney, an authorized seller, or a travel agency like MousePlanet travel partner Get Away Today! As always, we remind our readers that Walt Disney World Resort theme park tickets are rarely offered at deep discounts unless you are a resident of Florida or eligible for U.S. Military Personnel benefits. Historically, non-Florida residents tend to benefit the most by purchasing tickets in advance (and, of course, being mindful of the rules relevant to those tickets). Don’t get scammed! Never buy tickets from an unofficial or secondary outlet, such as through eBay or Craigslist. Never rent or purchase tickets from people approaching you outside Disney property stating they have remaining days or leftover tickets. This practice is against the terms of use for Walt Disney World Theme Park admissions, and may result in denial of entry. There is no way to determine if these tickets are valid until you try to use them to enter the parks.
Finally, speaking of Florida Residents, the Resort still offers 2025 Florida Resident Summer Magic Tickets:
The Florida Resident Summer Magic Ticket offers four days of fun at Walt Disney World theme parks for just $60 per day (total price: $240, plus tax). This is available for visits through September 27, 2025 (with an advance park reservation, subject to availability). There is also a 3-Day version: $75 per day (total price: $225, plus tax); and a 2-Day Ticket: $105 per day (total price: $210, plus tax). Visit DisneyWorld.com/Summer for more details and offers.
Final Words
So, for now, so long from me, Alan S. Dalinka, on these long-form Updates. As I said atop this one, I still plan to be around our MousePlanet social media channels when I spot interesting stuff around the Worlds and Lands of Disney, and would love to hear from you on those channels. To those of you that have been reading along with me all these years, and especially to those of you that read all the way to end, thank you so much and see ya real soon!
