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Today’s “Creating The Happiest Place on Earth” panel at Destination D23 provided fans with an emotional look at 70 years of memories that celebrate the legacy of the Disneyland Resort, while also looking toward a great big, beautiful tomorrow at Disney Parks around the world. Oscar and Emmy nominated filmmaker (with deep Disney roots!) Leslie Iwerks took the stage at the panel to reveal her new documentary film Disneyland Handcrafted, coming this winter to Disney+ and Disney YouTube. Leslie showcased the inventive creative process behind Disney Parks when she produced The Imagineering Story in 2019, and has ties to a strong family history at Disney that stretches back to Walt’s time. Following the passion and expertise set by her grandfather Ub and her father Don, Leslie continues to leave a legacy of pure technological innovation and key attention to detail — learn more about Ub and Don, two Disney Legends, on D23.com! Disneyland from Early Conception to Opening Day Capturing the excitement of the creation of Disneyland as it was being built more than 70 years ago, you’ll get a chance to peek behind the orange groves and experience the making of the park like never before in Disneyland Handcrafted. This unique film, complete with ASMR moments and constructed using only rarely seen footage that Leslie handpicked through the Walt Disney Archives, depicts the thoughtfulness and care that was put into the development of Disneyland. As featured in the trailer, Walt’s trailblazing embrace of television has been well-documented in the past, which is why he tasked several cameramen to capture the construction of Disneyland leading up to the park’s opening. Providing an up-close, first-hand look at many of the artists, craftsmen, and Walt Disney Imagineers who were actually there during the construction of Disneyland amid tough conditions, so much of this footage has not seen the light of day…until now. During production, Leslie was able to tour the Walt Disney Archives and track down binders full of film reels, discovering historical reels that had never been scanned before (including some raw 16mm footage that was never used for “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color”). Having been stored in the vaults for years, Leslie and her dedicated team were able to produce high-resolution scans of every reel without a timecode, helping to restore beautiful, once-forgotten shots of the early days of Disneyland onto a hard drive through a revolutionary process that had never been tackled before. Disneyland Handcrafted: Exploring the Original Roots of Disney Parks No matter what Disney park you’re visiting around the world, you can still trace that special feeling that you get when passing through the front gates at each park back to the original vision of Disneyland. This new film provides an up-close look at the dedication, effort, and passion that was required to realize a dream that would go on to inspire millions around the world. Honoring the history and revolutionary spirit of Walt Disney has fueled innovation across generations, opening the door for evolution and growth just as Walt dreamed. Disneyland laid the groundwork for a massive global industry that is currently in the biggest era of growth since the original park’s opening, making this film a truly special treat for Disney fans. I loved learning about the behind-the-scenes Imagineering process throughout all six episodes of Iwerks’ The Imagineering Story on Disney+, and the chance to hear soundbites from Walt and discover rarely seen footage from the making of Disneyland is an exciting prospect that had me on the edge of my seat during the announcement. Watch the Trailer Now! Ready to take a step back in time and visit the Disneyland of yesteryear? Watch the trailer for Disneyland Handcrafted right now on @Disney YouTube and stay tuned to Disney+ and Disney YouTube when the film drops this winter. Get More News from 2025 Destination D23 This year’s Destination D23 is still taking place now through August 31, so make sure to stay in the loop with exciting updates and announcements from the event on the Disney Parks Blog and on @DisneyParks. Want to learn more about Disney history and all the new things coming soon to Disney Parks? Stay tuned for the latest exclusive content from Destination D23! New Tron: Ares Ride Overlay Announced for TRON Attractions READ MORE Avast Ye! The Beak and Barrel Photos and Details Await READ MORE Explore Walt Disney’s Legacy at Disneyland Resort READ MORE The post Disneyland Handcrafted: Trailer Revealed for New Documentary Coming This Winter appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

The 2025 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival started on August 28th and is running now through November 22nd. Beautiful! But even as we’ve spent the entire day bringing you full reviews of ALL of the Festival’s Global Marketplace Food Booths, checked out the scene at this year’s Eat to the Beat Concert Series, and checked out all the new merchandise, but the day isn’t over yet. It’s time to cap off this day with a special show that takes place nightly at Spaceship Earth throughout the Festival! Back in October 2021, Disney World enhanced Spaceship Earth with lights that can be programmed to create a bunch of different patterns, colors, and everything in between. Ever since then, there are limited-time special nighttime shows that happen for each seasonal festival! Look at the colors… For the past few years, the Spaceship Earth Food & Wine Festival show has been inspired by Beauty and the Beast, featuring the beloved song “Be Our Guest” (very fitting!), and features that track as well as a song from Disney’s Wish. We were curious to see if this show would change this year or stay the same, and sure enough, it’s back for 2025! Shiny! The colors that light up the attraction are in sync with the iconic tune, and we personally love to watch it from anywhere in front of the park. Now, there’s no set time for this show, as it beings around when it gets dark, so if you want to get a really good spot, start heading to a spot as soon as the sun starts to go down. A wonderful end of the day We hope you’ve had a blast with us as we’ve covered EVERYTHING in EPCOT on the first day of the 2025 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! If you’re planning a trip of your own to enjoy everything the Festival has to offer, you can click any of the links below for the information you need to know: Learn about the Eat to the Beat Concert Series and Dining Packages Check out ALL of the 2025 Food & Wine Booth Menus Find ALL of our Food and Wine Festival Food Booth REVIEWS here! IT'S WINE & DINE TIME! Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Food and Wine Festival 101 Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival - Fans Facebook Page Wine and Dine Half Marathon Details Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What are you most looking forward to experiencing at this year’s festival? Tell us in the comments! The post Check Out Spaceship Earth’s LIMITED-TIME Look for the 2025 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are several important people who help lead The Walt Disney Company, each with their own distinct jobs. Walt Disney Company Headquarters in Burbank From heading up parks and experiences to taking the lead in the media industry, Disney has a team of executives that run various facets of the business. And coming soon, one of those executives will be doing a Q&A. Jimmy Pitaro, the Chairman of ESPN, will be attending the Bank of America Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference. During his time there, Pitaro will take part in a question-and-answer session on Thursday, September 4th. ©ESPN A webcast will go live at approximately 1:10PM ET on the Walt Disney Company website. If you’d like to tune in and find out what Jimmy Pitaro has to say, you’re encouraged to go to the website approximately five minutes ahead of time. A recording of the session will be archived, though. The Walt Disney Company headquarters in California Jimmy Pitaro is reportedly one of the candidates in the running to replace Bob Iger as CEO of The Walt Disney Company. He’s likely competing against Josh D’Amaro, Dana Walden, and Alan Bergman, who are all also executives with Disney. This interview could be a very interesting opportunity to learn more about Pitaro. ©Disney We’ll keep you in the loop with any news from this interview. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news. Click Here to Learn More About the Contenders for CEO! Will you tune in to the interview? Tell us in the comments! The post Why Disney Fans Should Mark Their Calendars for September 4th first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Another attraction is closing for good this week in Disney World! The Boneyard While it may not be the most popular attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we are still sad to see it go, and we know many kids (and adults!) will miss it. We have definitely spent hours exploring this area, and we can’t believe it will soon be closed forever. The Boneyard will permanently close in Disney’s Animal Kingdom on September 2nd, 2025. This is the next phase of closures for the Pueblo Esperanza expansion. If you want one last chance to explore this play area, make sure you stop by before September 2nd. Let’s take a look at the other attractions and locations that will be closed this week, from August 30th through September 6th, at Disney World. EPCOT Spaceship Earth Spaceship Earth has been closed for routine refurbishment since August 25th, 2025. While it will only be a temporary closure as the attraction is expected to reopen later this year, it will still be a few months or so without Spaceship Earth. A closed Spaceship Earth We aren’t expecting any major changes to the attraction, just general maintenance and routine work. During this time, the Project Tomorrow: Inventing the Wonders of the Future exhibit will be closed, as well. It is definitely going to be sad experiencing the start of the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival without being able to ride Spaceship Earth, though. 5 New Things EPCOT World Showcase Bathrooms Desperately Need Magic Kingdom Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin A popular Tomorrowland attraction is now closed! Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has closed for refurbishment as of August 4th, 2025, and isn’t expected to reopen until 2026. While the ride is closed, it will be getting some upgrades! Closed for Refurbishment Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will be getting a new ride scene, new ride vehicles, a new character, and enhanced gameplay elements. Some of those gameplay elements include handheld blasters (soon you can shoot whenever you want!) and reactive targets. We recently got the chance to take a look at the new ride vehicle and test out the new blasters, and we have to say we were impressed! Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island An iconic part of the Magic Kingdom is now permanently closed. As of July 7th, the Rivers of America, including the Liberty Square River Boat and Tom Sawyer Island, are closed for good to make way for the new Cars area, Piston Peak National Park. There are some construction walls up in the area now, and we have seen workers on Tom Sawyer Island. The river has also started to be drained! Rivers of America Piston Peak National Park will be replacing this area of Magic Kingdom, and construction is expected to begin in the area this year. Disney has not yet released an opening date for the new Cars area, but we do know that it will feature two brand-new attractions and will be themed to look like a National Park. 5 Magic Kingdom Shows We’re Getting Worried About Big Thunder Mountain Railroad On January 6th, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed for an extended temporary closure. The “Wildest Ride in the Wilderness” will be closed for at least a year and will reopen sometime in 2026. The ride will be undergoing maintenance while it is closed. When it reopens, it will have some “new magic,” according to Disney. ©Disney Recently, Disney announced some of the new magic! Riders will see “spectacular natural caverns full of phosphorescent pools, shimmering and illuminating iridescent stalagmites (the ones on the floor) and stalactites (the ones on the ceiling)” — the Rainbow Caverns! We can’t wait to see what other changes might be coming to this ever-popular roller coaster! We have spotted some ride testing happening, which was very exciting, and a train car has arrived! It was still covered in a tarp, but it was exciting to see. Tortuga Tavern Tortuga Tavern is a seasonal restaurant in Magic Kingdom. It has been a bit since we saw it open. Most recently, it was used as a cookie location for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Tortuga Tavern We had previously spotted shrubs around the restaurant as they worked on the flooring. However, all the shrubs have been taken down now. We don’t know exactly when/if this restaurant will reopen, but we will keep you updated if we learn more! The NEW Rules You Need to Know For Magic Kingdom Right Now Disney’s Animal Kingdom TriceraTop Spin, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, Fossil Fun Games, and The Boneyard The first round of closures began in DinoLand U.S.A. on January 13th, 2025. TriceraTop Spin, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, and Fossil Fun Game were closed down, and construction has begun on the brand-new land themed to the Tropical Americas, Pueblo Esperanza. The Boneyard will be permanently closing on September 2nd. DinoLand Construction It is definitely a sad sight, but we are also excited to see Pueblo Esperanza! DINOSAUR, Restaurantosaurus, and the snack stands. Disney hasn’t announced an official closing date for the rest of DinoLand. However, they have announced that “2025 is your year to visit before it goes extinct!” It’s Tough to Be a Bug It’s Tough to Be a Bug is closed for good. This attraction in Disney’s Animal Kingdom once invited you to join the bug kingdom on an adventure. While the show didn’t usually make it to the top of favorite attractions in Disney World, it has now closed to make way for a new show. It’s Tough to be a Bug! It’s Tough to Be a Bug closed on March 17th to make way for a brand-new show, “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!”, expected to debut on November 7th, 2025. The show begins when you arrive at the main stage just in time for Zoogether Day festivities, where you’ll spot some new and familiar faces, including Heidi Howler, a wolf who hosts the Zoogether Day LIVE! broadcast. The Retro Animal Kingdom Shirt from Amazon Everyone Will Be Wearing to Disney World Disney’s Hollywood Studios Muppets Courtyard, including Muppet*Vision 3D, PizzeRizzo, and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Muppet*Vision 3D AND PizzeRizzo closed on June 8th, and Muppets Courtyard has been walled off so construction can begin on the new Monsters, Inc. land. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano has been closed since May 11th. Muppets Courtyard behind walls Don’t worry, the Muppets won’t be missing from Disney’s Hollywood Studios forever. The Muppets will eventually be taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in 2026. 3 Cringey Things That Make Me Rethink Walking into Disney’s Hollywood Studios Restaurants Ever Again Disney World Hotels Jellyrolls — Disney’s BoardWalk Jellyrolls at Disney’s BoardWalk officially closed on April 19th, 2025. This entertainment venue has provided our team with countless memories, and we know many others are also sad to see it close. Jellyrolls had its final farewell performance on April 19th and closed its doors forever on Disney’s BoardWalk. Jellyrolls However, this isn’t the end for Jellyrolls, as the bar has said they are “making a move.” We don’t know many details about that move yet, but we will keep you updated. REVIEW: You Can Get Self Serve DOLE Whip At This Disney World Hotel Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts, and determine which works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. They also share expert tips and first-hand advice about your magical vacation. Small World Vacations Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts to learn all about Disney World’s rides: 10 Rides to AVOID in Disney World if You Struggle with Motion Sickness What It Takes to CHANGE a Disney World Ride 9 of the SCARIEST Rides in Disney World, According to YOU! A FULL LIST of the Thrill Rides in Disney World! The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB. I Spent $40 On This Strange Disney World Find and I’d Do It Again in a Heartbeat Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Lightning Lanes Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe When is your next Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments! The post A Popular Disney Attraction Is CLOSING in 3 Days in Animal Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Let’s do some online shopping! ©Disney You never know what you’ll find on Amazon, and we found a lot of Disney gems that we just had to show you. Best of all…they’re on SALE! Take a look at some of our favorite finds. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Get these Haunted Mansion Halloween Decorations ©Amazon Welcome, foolish mortals, to what could make your house the spookiest of them all this Halloween season. Take a look at these Haunted Mansion Portraits! These would make for great Halloween decorations, whether inside or outside your house. It’s a four-piece set, coming with each iconic portrait from the classic Disney ride. It’s available on Amazon for a great price! View price on Amazon This Disney Villains Cookbook is a must-buy ©Amazon Time to get your cooking on, with this Disney Villains Cookbook! This thing is filled with recipes of all sorts of shapes, sizes, and tastes — 50 recipes to be exact. They’re all themed to some of your favorite Disney villains. Try Kronk’s Spinach Puffs, Gaston’s Chicken Drumsticks, Cruella Cookies, and many more. This could be used to make the perfect snacks for you to enjoy while watching Hollywood Studios’ new villains show! You can get the cookbook at a huge discount, as it’s currently 36% off! View price on Amazon We love these Minnie Mouse Earrings ©Amazon If you’re looking to add some extra bling to your Disney day look, we love these Minnie Mouse Earrings! These small stud earrings feature the classic Minnie Mouse head shape, topped with a bow. These earrings have an April birthstone and are crafted from rose gold flash-plated brass. You can get them for 38% off! View price on Amazon Or, you can grab this Snow White LEGO Set ©Amazon For all you LEGO collectors, add this Snow White LEGO Jewelry Box to your collection! A part of the LEGO Disney Princess series, you can build Snow White’s jewelry box and store the beloved princess and the Evil Queen in it. The 358-piece set comes with two minifigures — Snow White and the Evil Queen. It comes with a bracelet and is currently 33% off! View price on Amazon You’ll love this Mickey and Friends Glass Jar Tumbler ©Amazon This Silver Buffalo Mickey and Friends Glass Jar Tumbler is adorable! This is one Disney souvenir we didn’t know we needed, until we saw it. The tumbler features Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Daisy, and Pluto — um…where’s Donald? The tumbler also comes with a glass straw and a bamboo lid. It’s available at 29% off! View priceon Amazon Don’t forget this Haunted Mansion Board Game ©Amazon Call the friends and family, it’s game night, and we’re playing this Haunted Mansion – Call of the Spirits Board Game! Explore all the classic rooms of the iconic ghost-infested manor, from the festivities-filled Ballroom to the Attic and out to the Graveyard and beyond in search of spirits. You can get the game at 30% off! View price on Amazon Get this Mickey Mouse Waffle Maker ©Amazon Who wants to have those beloved Mickey waffles at home? Check out this Mickey Mouse Waffle Maker! Ok, it doesn’t make the EXACT shape that you’ll find at Disney World, but it’s pretty close. We’re definitely getting ourselves one, especially at 17% off! View price on Amazon This Disney Inspirational Wall Sign is so cute ©Amazon This Disney Girl Inspirational Wall Sign is sure to brighten up your everyday! The wooden wall hanger is made from high-quality wood, durable to use, and hard to damage. Hang it up in your house, your room, your bathroom, your workspace, wherever you need that pick me up. This is a no-brainer buy, sitting at under $5 with its 50% discount! View price on Amazon We love this Fairytale Fans Crossbody Bag ©Amazon This Fairytale Fans Crossbody Bag is the perfect park bag! The bag reads the iconic line “These are a few of my favorite things”, and quite literally features some of our favorite Disney things. You’ll find different eats, treats, and icons from a day at Disney. You can get this 14% off! View price on Amazon Or, you can grab these Mickey and Friends Peek-a-Boo Cups We love these glasses! Ok, we’ll admit it, we’re getting obsessed with this JoyJolt Disney Peek-a-Boo Tumbler Collection! Hey, can you blame us? These cute tumblers come in a collection pack of four — featuring Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy. We honestly can’t think of a better cup collection to have your cold drinks in for the summer. The set also comes with four glass straws and a cleaning straw. As if we weren’t going to get it already, Amazon has it for 34% off! View price on Amazon And finally, we NEED this Perry the Platypus Pillow Pet ©Amazon Hey, have you guys seen Perry? We have, and he’s in the form of an adorable pillow. Take a look at this Perry the Platypus Pillow Pet! Ok, we’re seriously obsessed with this thing. This 18-inch pillow is soft, cuddly, and so cute. We were going to get it anyway, so the 21% discount is just a bonus at this point! View price on Amazon We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! The post 11 Fun, Random Disney Things On SALE On Amazon Today first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hey everyone, it’s AJ from Disney Food Blog, and it’s time to address a pretty divisive topic that you may have heard of — and even have a strong opinion about: Disney Adults. Magic Kingdom According to the internet, they’re self-absorbed, indulgent grown-ups who are obsessive about Disney and refuse to face reality, choosing instead to keep throwing their money at a corporate entity that caters to children. I wrote a book about all of this, and you can buy it right now! In the meantime, here’s a little preview for you…who are Disney adults, why does everyone hate us, and — one of my favorite parts of this whole thing — does Disney even know we’re here? What IS A Disney Adult? I’ve been doing a lot of press for the book for the last few months, and this is always the first question from every interviewer. If you Google this, you’ll get some hilariously offensive Urban Dictionary definitions and some super visceral article headlines. But nobody’s really defined the subculture. A.J.’s book! While everyone seems to have an opinion about this subculture, it’s actually much more diverse than the viral Reddit threads would lead you to believe. While some Disney Adults are more outspoken — crying for the camera when they see Cinderella Castle, wearing Disney-inspired tees on the daily, and decorating their house solely with Mickey Mouse Jim Shore figurines and 50 pairs of Mickey Ears tacked to the wall — others may be a little more closeted. There are a lot of us, and we’re not all social media influencers. Jim Shore figurine ©Amazon But in my research, I settled on this broad definition for Disney Adults: These are people who are “intentional about interfacing with Disney products and experiences.” They willingly “choose Disney” regularly. See? Easy. Disney adults don’t have to be millennials. They don’t have to be childless. They don’t even have to like Disney movies or theme parks. There are Disney Adults who align toward merchandise, those who love the music, and those who focus more on Disney history. And yes, there are Disney Adults like me who are obsessed with the theme parks. But we’re all different, and we all fit that definition. How To Spot A Disney Adult Next — if we’re all different, how do you know if you’re looking at a Disney Adult? So many of us won’t cop to the moniker after all. Some Disney adults show their true colors outwardly. They’ve decorated their cube at work with their Disney parks calendar and a bunch of photopass photos from their recent rides on Tower of Terror. They have their “Disney tree” at Christmas. They so badly want you to ask them about the obscure quote on their t-shirt so they can talk to you about that part in Emperor’s New Groove that was re-animated directly from Snow White or whatever. ©Disney Store But, like I mentioned before, Disney Adults can be cloaked, afraid to be marked as someone who’s “obsessed.” OR maybe they’re fine with the “obsessed” title. They just don’t want it to be their ONLY defining personality trait when they’re at work, or dropping the kids off at school, or going out with friends on a Friday night. “As with any fandom or hobby or passion, [the Disney fandom’s] job is to add extra color and brightness — maybe definition, motivation, or inspiration if you’re lucky — to the complex and evolving masterpiece that is your life.” Main Street, U.S.A. My favorite chapter of the book is Chapter 3, where I tell the true stories of a bunch of Disney Adults who are so utterly different from one another. Epically so. Lady Chapelle is a tattoo artist who solely specializes in Disney designs. Julia tragically lost her leg in a freak car accident, but fitted herself with a blade and ran a runDisney race anyway. Jared and Lindsay had made it to the pinnacle of performing on Broadway in New York City, but moved to Orlando and got jobs at Disney World, and don’t regret it for a second. Disney World crowds I was able to collect a LOT of unique Disney Adult stories while writing this chapter — and I know a lot of you sent me your stories as well — I read every single one and used them as inspiration and guiding research as I wrote the book. And you know what I figured out? Disney Adults look a lot like other humans, believe it or not. NO really, we do. We’re seeking something that makes us feel safe and secure and accomplished and happy. Just like everyone else. Why Are Disney Adults So Hated? So why does everyone hate Disney Adults? OK, so Disney Adults have been around since Walt Disney created the first Mickey Mouse watch in the 1930s (which was marketed to men, women, girls, and boys), but it was during the 2020 COVID pandemic that things really ramped up for this group. Health and Safety Reminders Sign When everyone was stuck at home and angry at the world, people went online, and the internet became a receptacle for all of that anger. The Disney Adult community — just beginning to emerge en masse via TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram — was an easy target. But why? It can’t just be because we’re “cringe,” right? I mean, sure, we’ll wait for over 6 hours for the latest limited edition Figment popcorn bucket, cry (and, weirdly, film it) while watching a fireworks show we’ve literally seen 20 times, and complain about there being too many strollers at Disneyland. OK, OK, I see your point. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party But there are other hobbies out there that have annoying and indulgent extremes, too. People wait for hours in online waiting rooms to buy tour tickets for their favorite band (which, to be fair, cost a lot more than that popcorn bucket did). They spend thousands of dollars on season tickets for their favorite sports team. They get tattoos of their pets. They buff their sports cars with diapers (or maybe that was just something I saw in an 80’s movie and doesn’t really happen — but the tattoos of pets thing that is for real). That’s kind of cringe, isn’t it? So why is that all socially acceptable, but being a Disney Adult isn’t? Good question. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure I cover a LOT of reasons in the book, but here are just a couple of the answers to why other hobbies are OK, but this one — for so many critics — isn’t. One: Disney’s for kids. And if you like Disney… as an adult… then what’s wrong with you? There is absolutely an element of Disney Adulthood that is glorifying child-like wonder — but can that nostalgia end up bordering on childishness? For many who haven’t had positive experiences in Disney theme parks or watching Disney movies, obsessing over a theme park with rides for babies is just plain weird. Woody in Frontierland! There’s so much to unpack here… because yeah, man! It sounds super weird! But what’s always been true about what Walt Disney created — from Steamboat Willie to Snow White to Disneyland — is that, in Walt Disney’s own words, “you’re dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up anyway.” He was a shrewd businessman. He knew who held the wallets, and it wasn’t the kids. ©Disney Vacationing at a theme park isn’t weird — nobody bats an eye if I go to Universal Studios or Six Flags — so the problem is perception here. Disney’s stereotype, which is easily disputed with facts about thrill rides, adults-only restaurants and lounges, and drinking around the world. Disney literally owns American Horror Story. ©Disney/FX But my book isn’t a defense of Disney Adults. So we approach this whole thing a little differently in Chapter 4, and I can’t wait for you to read it. Disney and Disney Adults are connected to other hot-button issues. Prejudices you wouldn’t even associate with Disney consciously are absolutely affecting your perception of Disney Adults. Because Disney’s goal is to reflect their audience through their storylines, they end up tapping into a lot of topics that you don’t wanna bring up with Uncle Phil and Aunt Susan during Thanksgiving dinner. 2024 Meilin Lee and Ming Lee From politics to race relations, from socioeconomics to gender roles, etc, the stereotypes around Disney Adults tend to open doors for more serious bouts of online discourse. And while it’s highly unlikely that someone’s Disney obsession originated from one of these more divisive standpoints, for some, the fandom goes hand in hand with where the company stands on other matters beyond faith, trust, and pixie dust. So, a Disney Adult for some might be more of a political symbol rather than just another human being trying to find their happy place. Does Disney Even Know We’re Here? I’m not here to change your mind about Disney Adults. But there’s something that — no matter where you land on the subject — you’ve got to agree with: The Disney Adult Community is HUGE. And getting…huger. A Gathering of the Resistance with Rey This group has created its own subculture, complete with social taboos and mores. They run clothing companies catering to their fellow Disney fans, hold fundraisers for causes dear to the hearts of the community, and run SO. MANY. TIKTOK. CHANNELS. They’ve even created niche communities and events like Dapper Days, Gay Days, and Drinking Around the World at EPCOT. As I was saying — the Disney adult community is mighty. It is impressive. And thanks to social media — as well as a cadre of surveys — Disney listens to its fans. @cherylthrift and @gretchensarah at Dapper Days! Let me say that again: Disney listens to its FANS. They listen to the Disney Adults who are constantly rooting for them and giving that oh-so-important constructive criticism. And you know why? Because THESE are the people giving them money. And if you want proof that Disney listens and changes course accordingly, well, there are plenty of examples in the book. We’re loud and diverse and passionate. And, as someone who runs my own brand, that sounds amazing. To have a dedicated fandom as invested as Disney Adults are in the Walt Disney Company seems like a DREAM. And I hope Disney thinks so, too. At the Peoplemover! So, yes, I am a Disney Adult. I’ve made memories with my family across multiple Disney vacations. I’ve got a closet full of Disney souvenirs. I know Disney menus like the back of my hand. And, yeah, I’ve also had to battle my own Disney demons to pull myself out of some obsessive phases in my life that bordered on addiction (again — it’s all in the book). GET A SIGNED COPY OF DISNEY ADULTS HERE And I can say with dozens of years of experience behind me as part of this community — the stereotypes are there for a reason, but there’s so much more below the surface that you’ve never, ever thought about. I hope that you — whether you’re a Disney Adult, or just someone who’s fascinated with the train wreck that is Disney Adults — love this book as much as I loved writing it, and take away the most important thing — we’re more alike than we are different. You can pick up a SIGNED COPY by clicking HERE! ‘Disney Adults’! And a quick thank you to this incredible DFB audience, because this book wouldn’t have been possible without all my fellow Disney Adults who’ve encouraged me, supported me, sent amazing and encouraging emails, and eaten copious amounts of plastic cheese with me! Our journey doesn’t end here, though — continue to follow us right here at DFB for all the latest Disney coverage! HONEST REVIEW: The Joy — and Pain — of Being a Disney Adult How do YOU feel about Disney Adults? Share your thoughts in the comments below! The post Why Everyone Hates Disney Adults first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Did you know Tokyo DisneySea is celebrating a huge anniversary next year? It’s Rapunzel’s tower! Since its opening, the beauty of Tokyo DisneySea has brought in Disney fans from all around the world. If you’ve been wanting to go back or visit the park in Japan for the first time, next year is when you’ll want to do it! Next year marks the park’s 25th anniversary, and there are some great festivities in store! The celebration will begin on April 15th, 2026, and go through March 31, 2027. This year-long 25th celebration will feature brand-new entertainment, colorful park decor, special food and beverage items, and plenty of adorable merchandise that you won’t want to miss out on. Peter Pan’s Never Land Tokyo DisneySea is a very special and unique park that delivers on thrilling rides, delicious snacks you won’t find anywhere else, and experiences that can only be found in Tokyo! It truly is a magical Disney trip you won’t find anywhere else, not to mention their brand-new Fantasy Springs, which recently opened in 2024. Arendelle at Tokyo DisneySea Alright, so what’s been announced to be coming to the anniversary so far? Let’s start with Tokyo’s fan-favorite character, Duffy and his friends! There will be an array of Duffy and Friends merchandise themed to the 25th anniversary, available only at the park. There will also be additional “Jubilee Blue” merchandise throughout the celebration. Duffy and ShellieMay! Of course, the anniversary will come with spectacular entertainment. Here are some of the entertainment confirmed to be coming to the celebration: Sparkling Jubilee Celebration – Mickey Mouse and friends will sail into the Mediterranean Harbor aboard a specially decorated barge. You’ll get to see some of your favorite characters celebrate the anniversary in style during this cheerful gathering! Dance the Globe – This show will take place at Waterfront Park in American Waterfront, as Mickey invites his friends to dance to different music from around the world. Mickey and his friends will appear in special outfits themed to the 25th anniversary of the show’s finale! The show is going to feature an amazing lineup of some of Disney’s most beloved characters, as well as a variety of dance styles from around the world. Some of the characters you’ll see include Rapunzel, Hiro, Mirabel, and Mickey and his pals in new outfits. There will also be exclusive nighttime entertainment as the facade of Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta in Mediterranean Harbor will be transformed with special projection effects, and accompanied by the new theme song of the anniversary. ©Disney You can expect to see gorgeous 25th anniversary decor all around the park. Each of the themed ports at the park will be covered with bright “Jubilee Blue” decorations. It’s going to look amazing! Tokyo DisneySea Tokyo Disney is known for its food, so you can expect to have some delicious eats and treats for the anniversary. There will be flavored popcorn, delicious shaved ice, and those iconic Little Green Dumplings (you know what we’re talking about). Keep an eye out for special food wagons and additional menu items for the anniversary. Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea We’re going to need to check out the park during the celebration! As we get closer to the date, we’re expecting a lot more news to drop, so we’ll be keeping you updated. For all the latest Disney news and updates, make sure to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog. Are you thinking about going to Tokyo DisneySea for the anniversary? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney Is Celebrating a MASSIVE Anniversary Next Year first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Yes, we’re still trying to get through Halloween, but when it comes to planning for Disney World, if you’ve got a holiday trip coming up, you’re probably thinking a little further ahead than spooky season. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Holiday Fireworks dessert party That’s especially true if you have plans to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (and, yes, tickets are ON SALE NOW). Well, if you’re looking to book the Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party, we’ve got a big update: reservations open on September 3rd. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a separate ticketed event that happens on select nights in November and December in Magic Kingdom. The party includes a special exclusive fireworks show, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks. If you’d like to get a good view of the show, you can book a Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party, which gets you a buffet of sweet treats and drinks, as well as reserved seating for the fireworks. Fireworks for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, you’ll be able to make reservations for the dessert party on September 3rd. All other guests will be able to book a dessert party on September 8th. Two choices are usually available for reserved seating: Tomorrowland Terrace (where the party is held) and Plaza Garden Viewing, which is the garden in front of the castle. The Plaza Garden Viewing party is generally a little less expensive, and in my experience, it’s also the better location to for fireworks viewing. Christmas fireworks Disney has not yet revealed the pricing for this year’s dessert parties, but we’ll be keeping an eye out for that information once it’s available. The price varies by date, and last year, tickets started at $111.73 for adults and $70.42 for children (ages 3 to 9) for Tomorrowland Terrace viewing and $92.95 for adults and $55.39 for children (ages 3 to 9) for Plaza Garden Viewing. Stay tuned to DFB for more. Why We’re Anxious About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party This Year Will you be booking a dessert party for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year? Let us know in the comments! The post We've Got A HUGE Update About Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Fireworks Dessert Parties! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s Destination D23 time! For 2025, the festivities have moved over to Coronado Springs at the Walt Disney World Resort for a weekend full of exciting news, announcements, and, of course, shopping! And don’t worry, you can’t be there in person, following along with the Disney Parks Blog is the next best thing Throughout the weekend, be sure to check in on the latest details coming from the fan-favorite event, because with a little pixie dust, you never know what might happen. Walt Disney Studios Showcase New Tron: Ares Ride Overlay Announced for TRON Attractions The next time you step into the digital frontier with TRON Lightcycle / Run, you’ll launch into a Tron: Ares version of the high-speed, adrenaline-pumping ride that bends reality into the video game world. Replacing the blue and orange hues of the ride, you’ll weave through twisting tunnels of vibrant red and orange light trails, feeling the rush of wind and the surge of acceleration as you compete in a dazzling Lightcycle race. Creating the Happiest Place on Earth Disneyland Handcrafted: Trailer Revealed for New Documentary Coming This Winter Oscar and Emmy nominated filmmaker (with deep Disney roots!) Leslie Iwerks announced on stage at the panel that her new documentary film Disneyland Handcrafted, is coming this winter to Disney+ and Disney YouTube. Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics Figure Coming to the Carousel of Progress Walt Disney Imagineer Chris Beatty revealed that you will soon be able to see Walt Disney through the magic of Audio-Animatronics technology in “Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress” at Magic Kingdom. What’s Cooking with Disney Eats First Look: New Concept Art for Napa Rose at Disneyland When it reopens, the award-winning Napa Rose will offer an elevated dining experience, blending timeless Craftsman design with a fresh take on modern Californian sophistication and warmth, and immersing guests in a way only Disney can do. New Must-Try Drinks Coming to Disney Destiny During your voyage, slip away to The Sanctum, Haunted Mansion Parlor, and Cask & Cannon, all themed spaces that are inspired by the larger-than-life personalities of epic Disney stories, brought to life through elevated interpretation and refined theming. New Novelty Items Coming to Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line Dive into a full menu of announcements, with one of the highlights being the reveal of eight (!!) new novelty items coming to select Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line ships – including popcorn buckets, sippers, and mugs. Disney Villains: Icons of Evil New Details About the Architectural Inspirations for Villains-Themed Land at Magic Kingdom After Imagineers identified the similarities between magical, fluid, and organic appearance of both the animated villains and the Art Nouveau style of construction, the team behind coined the term “Conjured Architecture.” This refers to the blend of historical components and fantastical worlds that have merged to ultimately create something wicked that will be able to be experienced firsthand – a villain-inspired land. Mattel Unveils New Collectible Disney Ursula Doll Joining the Disney Darkness Descends Series Disney’s Ursula is the newest addition to the Darkness Descends Series, which began with Maleficent in 2023 and continued with Cruella de Vil in 2024. These dazzling divas are displayed in intricately designed boxes and made with premium materials – a true celebration of iconic Disney Villains in their most evil, high-fashion forms. Everything Revealed About the Disney Villains-Themed Land, Products, and More at Destination D23 Featuring a mischievous musical medley provided by Disney Concert Group, along with stage and screen stars Michael James Scott and Jodi Benson, this presentation gave a sneak peek into some upcoming villains-focused projects and products – including the new villains-themed land at Walt Disney World, showing that these devilish divas never go out of style. The post Destination D23 2025: All the Disney Parks News appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

As part of their Gold Member-exclusive Destination D23 event, Disney just revealed some blockbuster news about their upcoming slate of films! Destination D23 Touching on every corner of the studio’s output — from Walt Disney Animation, Pixar, and Fox properties to gargantuan franchises like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe — the presentation gave its latest look at what to expect to see in theaters and beyond throughout the rest of 2025 and 2026. Some of the most noteworthy NEW announcements made on the Studios panel include: Hexed Revealed A brand new feature from Disney Animation, this Fall 2026 film will follow “a teenage oddball and his mom, who discover his weirdness is actually hidden magic, transporting them to a world where magic can run free.” Hexed During the presentation, the film’s new magical world was compared to those seen in previous Disney films like Encanto, and it was stated that the film will show that “What makes us feel different can be the best part of what makes us special.” Back to the Grid In preparation for the October 10th release of Tron: Ares, the first two films in the franchise — 1982’s Tron and 2011’s Tron: Legacy — will be released in remastered form on September 16th. A Lightcycle The day before, September 15th, a new overlay featuring story elements from the film as well as music by Nine Inch Nails from its soundtrack, will be added to the Tron attractions at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Shanghai Disneyland. ©Disney Disney made some major announcements about the company’s upcoming film slate at the 2025 Destination D23 Event. Stay tuned to DFB for further coverage! LIVE UPDATES: We’re at Disney’s HUGE Fan Event; Destination D23 Which of these announcements are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below. Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend the Destination D23 2025 Event. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post 10 HUGE Disney Movie Announcements You Don't Want To Miss first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney foodies are flooding Disney Springs right now! It’s time for a special event! If you haven’t heard, it’s currently the 13th annual Great Irish Hooley Boutique Music Festival at Raglan Road. We had to check out the party and all it had to offer, and we’re bringing you along! Raglan Road has been hosting this festival each year for the past 13 years! The festival brings in delicious eats and treats, as well as a variety of beverages for you to taste. Let’s eat! If you didn’t know, a Hooley is a Gaelic term for a party with music and entertainment — that’s exactly what this festival has! You might start hearing our DFB team use the word “hooley” more often; we’ll see if it sticks. The big party started on August 29th and runs till September 1st. We loved the live music! This year, the festival brought multiple different drinks and dishes, starting with the Rosemary Maple Whiskey Sour, which we loved! It was our favorite of the night — the maple was subtle, and you get a hint of smokiness from the charred lemon on top. If you push your rosemary sprig down into the drink, it gives it even more brightness. If you’re a fan of the sweet and sour flavors that typically come with whiskey sours, we highly recommend this one. Rosemary Maple Whiskey Sour We also tried the Blackberry Blonde Ale, which was our second favorite drink of the night. This was incredibly smooth, and the blackberry flavor was the perfect mix of not too sour and not too sweet. It just gave the beer a slight fruit taste that was nice and light. We’d certainly get it again! Blackberry Blonde Ale Our final drink was the Ube Cocktail, and this one, personally, wasn’t our favorite. It was very mezcal-forward, and we weren’t a big fan of the smokiness with the ube. However, if you know you’re more of a fan of mezcal drinks and/or you want to try it in a slightly sweeter way, the ube does help make this a little easier to drink. Ube Cocktail Then it was onto the food! First up was the Crispy Cream Goat’s Cheese Salad, which is Crispy fried goat’s cheese with pickled carrot, squash & arugula salad, pear & shallot relish, blackberries, and a quinoa crunch. Crispy Cream Goat’s Cheese Salad We absolutely love the flavor of goat cheese in this dish, as it goes so well with the other ingredients. It’s not too sharp or offensive, it blends perfectly, and the addition of the quinoa adds a great texture. It’s a great dash of sweetness in there that we loved, and we could get this every time and be overjoyed. We’re big fans! Up next was the Pork Schnitzel, which is served with crispy skin-on fried potatoes, mustard cream sauce, pear & shallot relish, and fine-grated parmesan. Pork Schnitzel Unfortunately, we didn’t taste the Parmesan at all here, and we would have liked to have more of the mustard cream sauce as well! We did love the brightness the relish offered, but the real star here was the potatoes! The pork itself is cooked very well, but we do feel there was some more breading than we would have liked. We think it’s pretty solid, still! A quick bite! Then we grabbed the Gnocchi Nua, which is Potato and herb gnocchi with zucchini, asparagus, yellow squash & peas in spinach, lemon, and parmesan sauce. The gnocchi was plump and easy to cut into, and we love how much the lemon packs a punch in the dish, making it tart and bright. It’s surprising in the best way, and it was our favorite dish of the night! Surrounded by beautifully cooked vegetables, this was a major highlight, and we couldn’t get enough! Gnocchi Nua Then it was time for dessert! We started with the It’s OK To Drool, which is Raglan Road’s famous Bread & Butter Pudding, French toast style with vanilla mascarpone, mixed berries, and crispy maple-glazed bacon. It’s OK To Drool The dish itself is so soft, and matched with the crispy bacon on top, it’s a fantastic mix. This dish has a great mix of sweet and savory, and we appreciated that the vanilla mascarpone on top wasn’t the most prominent flavor. It’s a good treat for those who appreciate more complex flavors! Yum! Finally, we grabbed the Ube Cheesecake, which is one of their special Halloween dishes. This is beautiful to look at, and the cheesecake was light and fluffy, like like we wanted. The ube flavor was very light here, which we appreciated, but it’s important to note that we didn’t think this had an overwhelming cream cheese flavor, so if that’s something you love about cheesecake, you might be missing that here. Ube Cheesecake We also got to take a look at the Halloween shirts Raglan Road will be selling this season! There are four different designs to choose from, so be on the lookout — we have a feeling some of them will sell out fast! Halloween Shirts! The festival is only here for the Labor Day weekend, so make sure to check it out at Disney Springs this weekend if you have a chance! For more Disney news and updates, be sure to follow us at the DisneyFoodBlog. This EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Problem Makes Your Trip 10x HARDER Will you be visiting the hooley this year? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: This Exclusive Disney World Event Is Only Happening THIS WEEKEND! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is back in action. The 2025 edition of the after-hours fright fest remains intense and just may have gotten ickier. Among the trends spotted on Friday, opening night, were a resurgence of puppetry, the returns of a lagoon show and chainsaw-driven walkaround characters, more in-house screen use than ever (mostly positive), plus splattering effects that we’ll continue to cope with by reassuring ourselves that was only water. It’s only make-believe. Repeat, repeat. Thanks to an R.I.P. Tour provided by Universal Orlando, the Sentinel wandered through all 10 haunted house mazes on night one. Here are quick, not-too-spoilery impressions. Dolls: Let’s Play Dead What we saw: It’s the tried-and-true theme park scheme of being shrunken down to the size of deformed dolls. This is the handiwork of creative/twisted young girl who may grow up to be a make-up artist. Oh, hey, was that Woody? (There are also buttons for visitors to push for extra effects.) Why we screamed: That one big baby, that one big baby head and that one baby with three heads. A gargoyle soars over the heads of Horror Nights visitors inside the El Artista: A Spanish Haunting house. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) El Artista: A Spanish Haunting What we saw: The home and architectural splendor of (fictional) Spanish artist Sergio Navarro is pretty to look at and plays well into the conservatory through-line of this year’s HHN. There are scares high and low, including a flying gargoyle. Why we screamed: One extremely well-camouflaged vine-based character, and we were faked out/afraid of some of the statues that weren’t really scare actors after all. Fallout What we saw: That retro futuristic feel of the “Fallout” videogame and TV series. You know, bunkers, Earth and its surviving habitants in upheaval. It wasn’t very populated during our tour, which may have been due to a shift change of scare actors. A Horror Nights scare actor reacts inside the Fallout house at Halloween Horror Nights, which runs through Nov. 2. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) Why we screamed: There was classic misdirection caused by robots, fork-the-eye makeup that prompted a simultaneous “OUCH” from our group and the prospects of a unnerving mirrored room. Five Nights at Freddy’s What we saw: The most in-demand house on opening night, based on posted wait times, features animatronic-inspired looks, and they lurk throughout the Freddy Fazber’s Pizza place. This was achieved by working with Jim Henson Creature Shop. It’s not truly a comedy house, but it has funny situations. Why we screamed: The 150-minute wait time, though not an all-time record, is scary enough. Mythical beasts come to life in the Gálkn: Monsters of the North house during Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) Galkn: Monsters of the North What we saw: A cool, very un-Florida setting, the kind of northern village where you see fjords and Norse mythology. But there’s fire and ice, too, and a young girl in distress (not the first of the evening). They got momma and poppa, she cried. This space had multiple horned beings (Monsters? Demons? Both?) with impressive head pieces. Beastly ending also effective. Why we screamed (and laughed hard): One scare actor got us good, three times, back-to-back-to-back. And then there was follow-up by others in a transition scene. (Co-worker: “I did my scared dance.”) Grave of Flesh What we saw: This is this year’s house with lots of skulls, skeletons and intestines. The space, not for the claustrophobic amongst us, is dirty and littered with decomposition punctuated by assorted underground creatures Why we screamed: The creatures in the black-light stretch were effective, although members of our tour group placed this in the “interesting concept” category (Kind of odd for, you know, flesh-eaters, but it was toward the end of the night.) Hatchet and Chains: Demon Bounty Hunters What we saw: More horned beings, but in an Old West setting where rootin-tootin torture is common among the humans. There’s a wide variety of characters and settings, including a prison, bank and graveyard. Meanwhile, the portal known as Hell’s Well wins the HHN34 “fun to say” prize. Why we screamed: That fireplace scene early on gave the icks. Jason Voorhees is a frequent scary sight at Halloween Horror Nights. This year he pops up a lot inside the Jason Universe house. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) Jason Universe What we saw: It’s the house of a jillion Jasons, presented rapid-fire with the trademark “Friday the 13th” slashing sound effect. Just when you get into the beat of the scares, you know, just strolling along through the woods near Camp Crystal Lake, the pace gets frantic. JU also has an unusual indoor-outdoor floor plan. Kills are largely implied, and there’s less blood that one might expect (See Terrifier house below). Why we screamed: Distracted by one fake Jason only to be jump-scared by live one just inches to the left. Terrifier What we saw: Two words – bloody and stinky. Or maybe wet and dry. This place was dripping in it, and, fans say, true to the three films featuring Art the Clown, who also shows up unannounced in the HHN street program this year, too. There is, indeed, two options at the end, one dry, one wet and, in story, bloody. (There are signs to guide, but they’re kind of high. Know before you go). People have posted that they got “pretty wet,” but our party thought it was no biggie. The dry route was lonely and scary in that way. Both routes quickly arrive up at same exit. Art the Clown of 'Terrifier' fame can be spotted inside a haunted house and on the streets of Universal's Halloween Horror Nights this year. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) Why we screamed: Universal is selling ponchos in the queue. WWE Presents: The Horrors of the Wyatt Sicks What we saw: It’s a long and winding house, featuring menacing wrestlers in the flesh and on screens. There’s Uncle Howdy and a lot of Huskus the Pig, it seemed, and others. Wrestling fans probably spot Easter eggs, but all can watch for the signature lantern of Bray Wyatt, who died (real life alert) in 2023. Why we screamed: There’s a startle on the stoop, but then we were lulled early, only to be “got” by one of the loud drop-down windows and later by the just-after-relaxing finale that causes fists to rise in the air. Halloween Horror Nights runs at Universal Studios theme parks on select nights through Nov. 2. It requires a separate ticket from regular theme park admission. For more information, go to universalorlando.com. Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters. View the full article

We’re always on the lookout for new clues about what Disney is working on. From aerial pictures to financial meetings, if Disney has their name on it, we’re probably looking into it. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser One of the ways we do this is by reviewing the permits we have filed for the company. These have helped us learn about project timelines and what’s happening behind the construction walls. Disney filed another permit, which suggests a new project is on its way. Disney filed a new permit for the Galactic Starcruiser for “general construction.” INSIDE the Galactic Starcruiser In case you missed it, the fully immersive Star Wars hotel, which was open from early 2022 to 2023, is being turned into offices for Disney Imagineering. The building is close to Hollywood Studios and will be a hub for new projects in the works for Disney Parks. Crowds in the Galactic Starcruiser’s Atrium Although this was mentioned in January 2025, we haven’t received any updates on this new “general construction” update until now. Galactic Starcruiser room There are several major Disney World projects currently underway, and it’s easy to see why they would need a new office space to manage them all. In the Magic Kingdom, a Cars expansion, Piston Peak, is coming to the former site of Tom Sawyer Island… Piston Peak ©Disney …and Villains Land will be behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The new Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom will feature fan-favorite Disney Villains from popular Walt Disney Animation Studios films and two new attractions. In Hollywood Studios itself, we’ve been looking forward to the Monsters, Inc. land taking over the Muppets Courtyard (okay, well, we aren’t happy about that). ©Disney The hanging door roller coaster looks like one of the neatest things we’ve seen. It looks just like the movie. ©Disney Animation Courtyard is also being transformed into the Magic of Disney Animation, featuring drawing classes, an indoor playground, and lots of character meet-and-greets. ©Disney We can’t forget about Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets! Aerosmith is moving out and welcoming in our favorite Muppet characters, who have purchased G-Force Records and need to help Electric Mayhem get to their next concert. Rock ‘n Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets ©Disney Animal Kingdom is also getting a new Tropical Americas themed area, Pueblo Esperanza, filled with Encanto, Indiana Jones, and more. A new attraction themed after the Walt Disney Animation Studios film “Encanto” follows Antonio the day after he received his magical gift – the ability to communicate with animals and is situated in the new Tropical Americas land coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. While we’re sad to say our official goodbyes to the Galactic Starcruiser, we’re ready for the future of Disney Parks and can’t wait to explore these projects ourselves. Make sure you keep following Disney Food Blog for more. THESE 9 MAPS SHOW EVERY NEW ATTRACTION COMING TO DISNEY WORLD Which project are you most excited for? Tell us in the comments! The post NEW Permit Filed for Disney's Abandoned Star Cruiser Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

I know, I know. We’re right in the middle of this year’s D23, so why are we already thinking about next year? Destination D23 2025 This massive expo is the Ultimate Disney Fan Experience, where Disney announces tons of details about movies, the parks, cruises, and every element of the Walt Disney Company. They also announced the new dates for next year, so if you’re feeling a little FOMO, you can start planning now. D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience will take place from August 14th to 16th, 2026, in Anaheim, California. It will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center and the Honda Center. Announcements Tickets will be available for purchase starting in spring 2026. Beyond just new announcements, there are also tons of shopping opportunities with exclusive merchandise. This year, there were quite a few Muppet finds! Muppet merch! You can see your favorite Disney stars perform on stage, watch them be inducted into the Disney Hall of Fame, and even interact with some of them throughout the convention. There are plenty of photo opportunities, and some fans even come decked out in the neatest costumes. It’s a whole weekend of spectacular and truly a one-of-a-kind experience that every Disney Adult needs to try at least once. The gang helped with the announcements When new information for tickets is released, we’ll be the first to let you know so you can plan out your tickets and grab them before they sell out (and they will!). Make sure you keep following Disney Food Blog for more. BREAKING: DISNEY ANNOUNCES NEW ORIGINAL MOVIE, ‘HEXED’ Have you ever gone to D23? Tell us about it in the comments. The post DATES ANNOUNCED for Disney's D23 Expo 2026 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Sit down — we’ve got some BIG movie news coming straight at ya! ©Disney We’re at Destination D23, and Disney just dropped a bunch of movie news. We’ve already seen teasers for Toy Story 5, TRON: Ares, and Hoppers, but now we’ve got more information about Zootopia 2 — let’s dive in! During the Walt Disney Studios panel, Disney announced some NEW details about Zootopia 2. Judy and Nick are settling into their new life as partners in the police force, and all your favorite characters will be back again! ©Disney The story for the film picks up right after the first movie, and we got to watch the opening scene during the panel. Unfortunately, Judy and Nick get benched after a difficult case, but they have to get to the bottom of a mystery. A pit viper has been smuggled in to steal a priceless Zootopia artifact, but he’s not the real villain…so what’s going on here? It’s up to Nick and Judy to find out! ©Disney Of course, as Judy and Nick go on an adventure to uncover the snake’s secret, there are dangerous situations, exciting chase scenes, and new animals to meet. In the process of trying to solve the case, they become wanted fugitives! Will they clear their names? Nick and Judy at Hong Kong Disneyland Patrick Warburton has joined the cast to play Zootopia’s new mayor, actor-turned-politician Brian Winddancer. He joined the stage at the panel, and Disney even brought out Officer Clawhauser to make his stage debut. ©Disney It was also revealed that Yvette Nicole Brown will play EMT Otter and Bearoness Bear. Such exciting additions to the cast! We can’t wait to see more details about this movie before it releases on November 26th, 2025! We’ll make sure to keep you in the loop. Be sure to check back with us for all the latest Disney news. In the meantime, be sure to grab your favorite Disney popcorn bucket and pop some popcorn for us! Disney Just Announced a NEW Original Movie — Get the Details Here!  Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think about this news? Tell us in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney to attend Destination D23. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post NEW Characters and Details Just Revealed for Disney's 'Zootopia 2' first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

During the first day of programming at Destination D23 presented by Lug at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Michael Vargo, head of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, kicked off the festivities and revealed a number of exciting programming offerings D23 Members can look forward to over the coming year, including the return of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to Anaheim, California from August 14 through 16, 2026. Vargo also shared the news that Disney Legend Jodi Benson will be the first official D23 FAN-bassador, engaging with fans and making appearances with D23 throughout the year leading up to D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in August 2026. “D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event offers fans from around the globe a chance to experience the very best in storytelling and innovation in a way that only Disney can deliver,” Vargo said “We are already hard at work dreaming up ways to continue raising the bar for Disney fans next year when we return to Anaheim, and we can’t wait to bring them a truly unforgettable event.” Last year, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event was reimagined to be more expansive and immersive than ever before, and in 2026, the highly anticipated event will again be held at both the Anaheim Convention Center and the Honda Center. Fans can be among the first to hear exciting announcements during marquee showcases and presentations, and can also look forward to immersive experiences, exclusive shopping opportunities, and extended magic throughout the week leading up to the event, including the return of D23 Day at Angel Stadium and D23 Day at Disneyland. Tickets for the spectacular event will go on sale in Spring 2026. Stay connected with D23: The Official Disney Fan Club on social media and through their weekly newsletter to be among the first to hear all of the exciting news to come. In addition to the dates for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026, Michael Vargo announced even more things for fans to look forward to in 2025, including: Exciting new offerings from the D23 Spotlight Series such as a D23 Spooktacular Spotlight event with Walt Disney Imagineering coming to Orlando, FL; a Halloween “Boo-nanza” event in California, featuring a panel of some Imagineering and Walt Disney Archives favorites, themed activities, a DJ, and more; and an event celebrating the second season of the Disney+ Original series Percy Jackson and the Olympians this December in California. The next D23 On the Road series, kicking off November 1 and celebrating 35 years of the family holiday classic Home Alone with immersive, interactive screenings in over 18 U.S. cities—bringing D23 directly to the fans. The fan-favorite “A Jolly Holiday on the Lot” will be returning to The Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, CA on Sunday, December 14. The next D23 Gold Theater virtual event, hosted by Disney Legend Don Hahn and featuring a never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes look at the Haunted Mansion’s transformation overlay that occurs each year as it becomes Haunted Mansion Holiday. Details for the all-new Walt’s Los Angeles Tour for D23 Gold Members that will include visits to the Walt Disney Studios lot, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn, the location of Walt’s first studio on Kingswell Ave, and so much more, ending with dinner at one of Walt’s favorite restaurants. More information on Walt’s Los Angeles Tour coming soon. Additional dates to be released soon for The Official Walt Disney Studios Walking Tour – Presented by D23, which will feature new interactive tour elements and expanded ticket opportunities allowing D23 Members to purchase up to four (4) tickets as well as full tour buy outs. Destination D23: A Journey Around the Worlds of Disney is bigger than ever before with an expanded footprint in an all-new location at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, offering fans three days of exclusive programming, limited-edition shopping, and specialty events. Stay tuned for more announcements and exciting moments coming out of Destination D23. Fans can join D23 at D23.com and keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, by following DisneyD23 on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube. The post Dates Announced For D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026 appeared first on Disney Experiences. View the full article

A major transportation improvement has arrived at Walt Disney World. EPCOT In August 2025, work was completed on the new Bust Stop #1 at the EPCOT Bus Depot, and the new element of transportation infrastructure is officially in use. Work on the new project began earlier this year, modernizing the Bus Stop #1 with fresh concrete, stanchions, and structural roof work. EPCOT Bus Depot The infrastructure improvements come at a time when Disney World’s bus system is busier than ever. According to Disney, the resort’s current bus system features 424 buses that traverse 43 square miles of bus routes. It also features ridership that makes it the equivalent to the 13th largest level of bus ridership in the U.S. ©Disney As Disney World’s bus transportation network gets busier, the company is investing in infrastructure improvements. Stay tuned to DFB for further updates on Disney changes! A Definitive Ranking of EVERY Disney World Hotel Based on Its Transportation How often do you use Disney buses while visiting the resort? Let us know in the comments below! The post NEWS: Transportation Change Arrives at EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It is a big, BIG week! EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival has begun, Halloween Horror Nights have also started, and Disney’s fan convention – D23 – has kicked off! Time for the latest news! On top of those major events, we’ve got lots of new snacks to review and even MORE news from the world of theme parks this week. Check out our video below: Latest Disney News: EPCOT Food & Wine, Halloween Horror Nights, D23 & MORE! https://youtu.be/0kPkLBnmCFA Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more theme park news! What do you think of this video? Tell us in the comments. The post DFB Video: Latest Disney News: EPCOT Food & Wine, Halloween Horror Nights, D23 & MORE! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re rolling, people — quiet on the set! In this scene, a group of Disney’s biggest fans sits in quiet anticipation as a fancy executive walks on stage. Then, they break the news that a new movie is coming soon, and the audience erupts in cheers. Aaaand, cut! That’s a wrap. Oh, and guess what? That little story we directed for you is actually pretty realistic. In fact, it just happened! ©Disney That’s right, people. Disney just announced that a NEW movie is in the works, and we can’t wait to learn more. So, what’s next for Disney? Let’s find out! “Hexed is an all-new original film that follows a teenage oddball and his mom, who discover his weirdness is actually hidden magic, transporting them to a world where magic can run free.” The movie is made by the same teams who did Zootopia, Moana 2, and Encanto, so we’re going to be in for a real treat. We’re big Zootopia fans Disney says what makes us feel different can be the best part of what makes us special. We’re SO excited to watch this. We can’t WAIT to learn more about this new movie! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more from D23. NEWS: DISNEY ANNOUNCES CHANGES FOR TRON LIGHTCYCLE / RUN AT MAGIC KINGDOM What’s your favorite Disney movie from the past 3 years? Let us know in the comments! The post BREAKING: Disney Announces NEW Original Movie, 'Hexed' first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Is Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away on your must-do list for your Magic Kingdom visit? If you’ve loved nighttime parades in the past, then it definitely should be! Mickey! The parade has been pretty popular so far, running twice a night and drawing crowds to the point where you have to stake out a spot in advance. And if you’re hoping to watch it on your next trip, you should know that the showtimes are CHANGING. This is your reminder that starting on Sunday, August 31st (that’s TOMORROW!), Disney Starlight will happen at 8:30PM and 10:30PM each night. This is a change from the previous 9PM and 11PM showtimes that have been scheduled since its debut. Disney Starlight The times for the parade fit around the showtime for Happily Ever After, the fireworks show. Starting August 31st, Happily Ever After will move to 9:30PM each evening. It’s common for Disney to shift the fireworks earlier like this at the end of the summer, since the sun sets earlier and fewer people will be staying up as late. Beautiful! So if you’re an early bird, you may want to watch the parade BEFORE Happily Ever After, but if you’re cool with staying up late, we’ve found that crowds tend to be a smidge lighter during the later showing. The parade isn’t too long, and it’s a lovely addition to wrap up a great day in the park. Encanto float in Disney Starlight We’ll make sure to keep you updated with any other schedule changes that you need to know about before your trip, so stay tuned. Stay tuned to DFB for all the Disney World news. Solving the Number One Problem With Disney Starlight — Click Here! Have you seen this parade? Tell us in the comments! The post REMINDER: A Parade Change Hits Magic Kingdom Tomorrow first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the newest and most popular rides in Disney World is in the Magic Kingdom. TRON Lightcycle / Run Yep, TRON Lightcycle / Run is one of those rides that has notoriously high wait times, although you can purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass to bypass the long standby lines. Well, we think the line for the ride might soon get a little longer because it will be getting an update to celebrate the upcoming release of a new movie, Tron: Ares. In the meantime, be sure to mark October 10th in your calendar because that’s the premiere of Tron: Ares in theaters. Stay tuned to DFB for more. No Offense, But These 4 Disney World Rides Just Need To LEAVE the Magic Kingdom What do you think? Let us know in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney to attend Destination D23. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post NEWS: Disney Announces CHANGES for TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Loungefly bags are a popular choice of park bag at Disney World, and for good reason. These compact, yet versatile, bags are excellent for packing snacks, money, ponchos, you name it, for your day in the parks. 2025 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Loungefly Bag While these are fun, creative, and practical bags, there are a few unofficial rules (or pointers, if you will) that we highly encourage you to consider when taking your Loungefly with you to the Disney World parks. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Packing Rules You never know what you’ll need while you’re in the parks. While you can buy many items as you need them inside the parks, we suggest bringing a few things with you. A water bottle, wallet, money, poncho, fuel rod, sunscreen, and chapstick are just a few things you might want to pack in your Loungefly park bag. Princess Books Loungefly While Loungeflys can fit a lot of items, it all just gets tossed into a big, black hole of space in the main compartment (think Mary Poppins’s endless bag, but far more annoying). It can be difficult to find things as you need them when they aren’t organized nicely. To fix this problem with Loungeflys, we highly recommend using the organizing insert to keep everything in its own spot within the bag. Backpack Organizer! This organizer makes finding things as you need them WAY easier. This will especially come in handy when you’re trying to move quickly through the security lines. GET YOUR LOUNGEFLY ORGANIZER HERE Security Rules Speaking of security lines, there is one “rule” we suggest following with your Loungefly bag to make security a breeze. We travel through Disney World’s security lines every single day, and we’ve been stopped so many times to be checked. So take it from us, take everything metal out of your bag to hold as you walk through the detectors. Disney World Security Fuel rods, umbrellas, computers, iPads, phones, etc., don’t need to come out of your bag, but if you want a better chance of not being pulled to the side, we suggest pulling them out. If you walk through the sensors holding the items, security may not call you aside even if they do set off the alarm. This is not a Disney World rule, but it’s a great insider tip to consider. Roller Coaster Rules Avid Disney World goers who enjoy roller coasters and carry park bags likely know that Disney doesn’t generally offer lockers to store your items (with the exception of TRON Lightcycle / Run). Many rides offer a pouch in the seat back in front of you, but some do not. So what do you do with your bag if you have nowhere to put it while you ride? Answer: the good ol’ loop it around your leg trick. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Take those Loungefly straps and loop your leg right through them. This will keep it safe and secure as you go screaming through the ride. Water Ride Rules When you ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom and Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom, you’re going to get wet. Guaranteed. But your bag (that you spent precious money on and are carrying precious items in) doesn’t have to. Kali River Rapids We suggest bringing a plastic bag or poncho to cover your Loungefly in. It would not be fun to ruin such a nice bag or the items in it while on a water ride. Another good idea on a water ride (if you’re not planning to cover it in plastic) is to make sure the material is durable, like faux leather instead of a softer material. ©Loungefly We LOVE Loungefly bags, but we also love when everything goes smoothly on our trips to the parks. That’s why these four “rules” could come in handy on your next vacation. For more Disney news, keep following DFB! I Spent $40 On This Strange Disney World Find and I’d Do It Again in a Heartbeat Do you use a Loungefly bag in the parks? What are you tips for using them as park bags? Let us know in the comments! The post 4 Unspoken Loungefly Bag Rules in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney is constantly developing movies and shows across Disney Animation, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and more. Hollywood Studios Not only do we get to look forward to seeing new Disney works in movie theaters, but each month Disney+ announces new releases, too. If you are a huge Disney entertainment fan, then we’ve got some great news for you! Disney just released the trailer for Toy Story 5. The movie is set to be released on June 19th, 2026. The trailer talks about the battle between toys versus tech as they face off against Lilypad and Smarty Pants. We’ll be introduced to the Multibuzz, which is a 50-piece special edition high-tech buzz toy. They’ll think they’re Space Rangers looking for Star Command. Yikes! The gang helped with the announcements Of course, Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack, who voice Woody, Buzz, and Jessie, will all be back for the fifth movie. Toy Story 5 ©Pixar Buzz Lightyear will also be in the Macy’s Day Parade. We’re so excited to see the balloon back as it floats over the cities of New York. Minnie Mouse and Spider-Man will be there, too. A look at the balloon The original Toy Story will also be returning to theaters on September 12th, so if you want to relive the feeling of watching your first Pixar movie in the theaters, you’ll be able to next month. Back in theaters! We also got to hear a little bit about Hoppers, the new Pixar movie coming soon. It’s going to be like an animal version of Avatar, where your brain can go into fake animals, and other animals will think that you’re an animal. Can this really be real, please? It will come out on March 6th, 2026. ©Disney We’ll continue to bring you the latest Disney entertainment updates, so stay tuned to DFB. What We Know About Disney’s NEW Frozen Sequel So Far Are you looking forward to this new entertainment offering? Let us know in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney to Destination D23. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post Disney Just Dropped 4 New Toy Story Announcements first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Step back into the Grid … only this time, it’s breaking into our world (and Tomorrowland). The next time you step into the digital frontier with TRON Lightcycle / Run, you’ll launch into a Tron: Ares version of the high-speed, adrenaline-pumping ride that bends reality into the video game world. Yvette Nicole Brown announced today at the Walt Disney Studios showcase at Destination D23 that TRON Lightcycle/Run presented by Enterprise at Walt Disney World Resort and TRON Lightcycle Power Run presented by Chevrolet at Shanghai Disney Resort will be celebrating the release of the new Tron: Ares film with a brand-new overlay on their attractions. Replacing the blue and orange hues of the ride, you’ll weave through twisting tunnels of vibrant red and orange light trails, feeling the rush of wind and the surge of acceleration as you compete in a dazzling Lightcycle race. The striking red hues in Tron: Ares within the digital realm contrast sharply with the classic blue tones of the Grid. Adding to the immersive visuals, the pulsating industrial sounds of Nine Inch Nails will drive the ride’s energy, pushing your experience between the Grid and reality into a fully immersive, futuristic symphony of light, speed, and sound. Experience the new Tron: Ares ride overlay for a limited time at Magic Kingdom starting September 15 and Shanghai Disneyland starting September 16. See Tron: Ares in Theaters this October Tron: Ares releases in theaters Oct. 10, 2025, the third film and next installment in Disney’s iconic Tron sci-fi franchise. Ares is a powerful and self-aware program sent from the digital realm into the real world for a mission that could change both forever. Tron: Ares is a mind-bending collision of technology, identity, and reality. Jeff Bridges returns to star in Tron: Ares alongside Jared Leto as Ares, with Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Cameron Monaghan. The film was directed by Joachim Rønning, known for helming Disney action-adventure hits like Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Nine Inch Nails Enters the Grid As announced at D23 last year, Industrial rock band, Nine Inch Nails is adding its signature ambient grit to the Tron universe. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails previously worked with Disney/Pixar to score dark and dreamy beats for afterlife scenes in the 2020 Disney/Pixar Animation, Soul. Those hypnotic rhythms contrasted John Batista’s lilting jazz compositions which layered Soul’s New York City scenes. It’s that dichotomy of worlds that brought Nine Inch Nails to Tron: Ares. As Tron: Ares explores crossing from the Grid to the real world, Nine Inch Nails is incorporating pulsating synths, distorted textures and haunting melodies that rewire the TRON universe from the inside out. The first track from the film has already been released, As Alive as You Need Me to Be, giving fans a pulse-pounding preview of what’s to come. Get More News from Destination D23 2025 Stay in the loop with all the exciting news and announcements from Destination D23 2025, taking place Aug. 29 to 31. We are your eyes and ears inside the event, talking to fans on the floor and dipping into panels for the latest updates. And for even more behind-the-scenes fun, be sure to follow @disneyparks on Instagram, where you’ll find more photos, videos, and stories capturing the magic as it happens. Avast Ye! The Beak and Barrel Photos and Details Await Read More New Magic Coming to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disney World Read More Everything You Need to Know About the World of TRON Read More The post New Tron: Ares Ride Overlay Announced for TRON Attractions appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

Every week, we report the average Disney World wait times in every park so that you can be prepared for your next trip to Orlando! Magic Kingdom With the busy summer ending, wait times are falling fast! So, knowing what the weekly average wait times are for those popular rides can make or break your upcoming trip. If you’re heading to the parks soon, we’ve got all the info you need to know! Take a look at this week’s average wait times for proof! This is everything you need to know about the average wait times in Disney World over the past seven days. Magic Kingdom Wait Times Seven Dwarfs Mine Train TRON Lightcycle / Run — 55 minutes Seven Dwarfs Mine Train — 44 minutes Peter Pan’s Flight — 37 minutes Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — 29 minutes Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — 29 minutes Space Mountain — 28 minutes Jungle Cruise — 26 minutes Jungle Cruise Haunted Mansion — 24 minutes Enchanted Tales with Belle — 15 minutes Tomorrowland Speedway — 14 minutes Pirates of the Caribbean — 13 minutes Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini — 10 minutes The Barnstormer featuring Goofy the Great Goofini! Mickey’s PhilharMagic — 10 minutes Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid — 9 minutes Magic Carpets of Aladdin — 9 minutes Carousel of Progress Country Bear Jamboree — 9 minutes “it’s a small world” — 8 minutes Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover — 7 minutes Dumbo the Flying Elephant — 7 minutes Mad Tea Party — 7 minutes Prince Charming Regal Carrousel — 7 minutes Carousel of Progress — 5 minutes Enchanted Tiki Room — 4 minutes 3 Magic Kingdom Restaurants the Experts Refuse to Book EPCOT Wait Times Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Test Track — 75 minutes Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — 56 minutes Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure — 40 minutes Frozen Ever After — 39 minutes Soarin’ — 20 minutes EPCOT Mission: SPACE — 25 minutes Turtle Talk with Crush — 15 minutes Spaceship Earth — 9 minutes Living with the Land — 9 minutes The Seas with Nemo and Friends — 7 minutes Journey into Imagination — 6 minutes Gran Fiesta Tour — 6 minutes Awesome Planet, American Adventure, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China had no wait times this week. This Is One of the BEST Things To Do in EPCOT, and You Can’t Change My Mind Animal Kingdom Wait Times Kali River Rapids Avatar Flight of Passage — 50 minutes Kali River Rapids — 22 minutes Na’vi River Journey — 36 minutes Tucker on Kilimanjaro Safaris! Expedition Everest — 22 minutes Kilimanjaro Safaris — 17 minutes Dinosaur — 12 minutes The Boneyard had no wait times this week. These Disney Adult Animal Kingdom Hacks Are Getting Out of Control Hollywood Studios Wait Times Rise of the Resistance Rise of the Resistance — 64 minutes Slinky Dog Dash — 54 minutes Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — 40 minutes Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster — 38 minutes Alien Swirling Saucers Toy Story Mania — 39 minutes Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway — 36 minutes Tower of Terror — 28 minutes Alien Swirling Saucers — 20 minutes Star Tours — 7 minutes Walt Disney Presents had no wait times this week. 5 Magic Kingdom Secrets Disney Doesn’t Want You to Know Stay tuned to DFB for more updates from Disney World! Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts, and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation. ‘Menu Sleuths’ Are Taking Over Disney World Restaurants How long would you wait for your favorite ride? Let us know in the comments below! The post Disney World Wait Times Are Falling Fast first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article