DisWorldGuide

When the Halloween celebration ends on October 31st at Magic Kingdom, a magical transformation happens overnight.

As the last guests leave the park after the Halloween party, a symphony of trucks, trailers, and Disney employees begin removing all traces of Halloween and transforming the park into a winter wonderland.

This process is an impressive logistical feat. In just a few hours, the orange and black decorations are replaced with red and green Christmas decorations. The iconic pumpkin wreaths on Main Street are swapped out for Christmas wreaths, and the park is filled with Christmas trees, lights, and snowflakes.

Behind the scenes, Disney employees work year-round to prepare for this transformation. In a warehouse outside Fantasyland, you can find massive Christmas trees, giant bows, and thousands of ornaments waiting to be set up. This carefully planned process involves 90 trailers transporting nearly 2000 pallets of decorations.

When guests arrive at Magic Kingdom on November 1st, they are greeted by a park that has been transformed into a Christmas paradise. This swift transition from Halloween to Christmas is one of the many ways Disney creates magical experiences for its visitors.

Epcot’s Festival of the Arts is back in 2025 and promises to be one of the most colorful and creative events at Walt Disney World and Epcot. From January 17 to February 24, visitors can enjoy a month of artistic expressions, including visual arts, performing arts, and culinary masterpieces.

The Festival of the Arts was first introduced in 2017 as part of Epcot’s initiative to highlight art and culture. Since then, the festival has grown in popularity and has become a staple of Epcot’s annual festivals. Each year, it attracts artists and visitors from around the world who come to experience a unique blend of art forms.

The festival starts on January 17 and lasts until February 24, 2025. Epcot will be open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM every day, with festival booths and activities. One of the major attractions at the Festival of the Arts is the many food booths. Here, you can taste artistic interpretations of classic dishes, snacks, and beverages. The festival offers a variety of interactive art stations where visitors can participate in activities like the “Paint by Number Mural” and “Figment’s Brush with the Masters” scavenger hunt. There will also be live painting demonstrations, where artists create Disney characters on canvas in minutes.

One of the most popular parts of the festival is the “Disney on Broadway Concert Series,” where Broadway stars perform famous Disney songs at the America Gardens Theater. Additionally, you can experience the acrobatic show “Art Defying Gravity” and learn to draw your favorite Disney characters at the “Animation Academy.” Many of the festival’s activities and performances are included in the Epcot admission ticket. This includes live performances, art exhibitions, and photo opportunities where you can step into famous paintings.

In other words, it’s a perfect opportunity to explore your creative side and enjoy everything Epcot has to offer. So mark your calendar and get ready for Epcot’s Festival of the Arts 2025!

Universal Orlando Resort has just announced that their new theme park, Epic Universe, will open its doors on May 22, 2025. Ticket sales have now started, and there is great excitement about what the new park will be like.

Epic Universe is Universal’s third major theme park in Orlando, and it promises to be a worthy competitor to Disney World with its innovative attractions and unique themed lands.

Epic Universe will consist of five different themed lands, each with its own unique theme and attractions. At the heart of the park is Celestial Park, a lush garden with serene waterways and a grand carousel. This area serves as the gateway to the other four lands, all of which can be accessed through magical portals.

Super Nintendo World will take guests into the world of video games, where they can experience adventures with Mario, Princess Peach, and other well-known characters. This area will also include Donkey Kong Country, which will be available in the USA for the first time.

How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk will give visitors the chance to live among Vikings and dragons, with exciting attractions and character encounters based on the popular film series.

Dark Universe will offer a darker experience, where guests can explore a village filled with legendary monsters like Dracula, the Werewolf, and Frankenstein’s monster. This area promises to be both scary and fascinating, with attractions like Frankenstein Manor, one of Universal’s most ambitious and frightening rides ever.

Finally, we have The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, which combines the magic of 1920s Paris from the Fantastic Beasts films with the iconic British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series. This area will include fantastic dining options, magical shops, and a groundbreaking attraction that promises to be one of the most impressive in Universal Orlando’s history.

With a multitude of attractions, dining options, and entertainment experiences, Epic Universe will offer something for all ages and interests. The park is strategically located near the Orange County Convention Center and will be connected to Universal’s existing parks by shuttle buses.

The opening of Epic Universe marks a new era for theme parks in Orlando, and there is no doubt that the competition between Universal and Disney will become even more intense.

The opening of the new show, which will be named “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure,” was originally scheduled for fall 2024, but Disney has now decided to postpone the opening.

Voyage of The Little Mermaid, which opened on January 7, 1992, at Hollywood Studios, has been a popular attraction in the park. The show combined live actors, puppets, animation, and special effects to bring Ariel’s story to life. The new version of the show will include well-known songs like “Kiss the Girl,” “Part of Your World,” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” and will be inspired by the animated film. Disney has promised that the new show will feature fantastic new sets and groundbreaking effects.

The reopening of the attraction is now expected to take place in the summer of 2025, instead of this fall. In addition to the new “The Little Mermaid” show, a brand new roller coaster is also planned for Hollywood Studios, based on “Monsters, Inc.” The roller coaster will be part of a new themed land called Monstropolis. The land will include a variety of experiences inspired by the popular Pixar film, and the new roller coaster will be Disney’s first suspended roller coaster.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is undergoing a significant transformation. Dinoland U.S.A., an area known for its dinosaur-themed attractions, will soon close to make way for a new and exciting land, Tropical Americas. This change marks an important milestone in the park’s development and promises to bring new experiences and attractions to visitors.

Dinoland U.S.A. has been a part of Animal Kingdom since the park’s opening in 1998. The area has been home to a variety of attractions, including DINOSAUR, TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinorama. These attractions have been loved by many, but Disney announced earlier this fall that it is time for a renewal to keep the park relevant and exciting for future generations.

The first phase of the closure of Dinoland U.S.A. will begin on January 13, 2025. The last day for guests to experience TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures will be January 12, 2025. After this, walls will go up, and work will begin to transform the area into Tropical Americas.

Although many of the attractions in the Dino-Rama area will close, some attractions will remain open during a transition period. DINOSAUR, The Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, Dino-Bite Snacks, and Trilo-Bites will still be available to visitors until later in 2025.

Tropical Americas will be inspired by the culture, wildlife, and environment of Central and South America. One of the most exciting additions to this new area will be Disney’s first attraction based on the movie “Encanto.” This magical experience will invite guests into the heart of the Madrigal family’s casita, where they will participate in a celebration of Antonio receiving his special gift: the ability to communicate with animals.

Additionally, a new Indiana Jones attraction will replace DINOSAUR. This new attraction will take guests on an archaeological journey through a newly discovered Mayan temple, led by Indiana Jones himself.

Construction for the new attractions will begin shortly after the initial closures. The entire Tropical Americas area, which will be named Pueblo Esperanza, is scheduled to open in 2027.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, one of the most iconic attractions in Magic Kingdom, is preparing for a major upgrade that will close the attraction for over a year. This exciting roller coaster, which has delighted visitors since its opening in 1980, will close its doors on January 6, 2025, and is expected to reopen in 2026 with a new version and new magical elements.

The attraction, designed by Imagineer Tony Baxter, takes guests on a wild ride through an abandoned gold mining town in the American Southwest. Inspired by the red rock formations of Bryce Canyon, Utah, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is known for its dramatic landscapes and thrilling turns. The story behind the attraction tells of a small town that experienced a gold rush but was abandoned after a series of mysterious events, including earthquakes and floods. The train, now running without a driver, gives guests the feeling of being on a wild ride through the abandoned mines. Guests start their journey in Frontierland, where they are greeted by an authentic mining town atmosphere. The train then takes them on a three-minute ride through narrow tunnels, steep drops, and sharp turns, all while experiencing the sights and sounds of an abandoned mine.

For many visitors, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is an indispensable part of the Magic Kingdom experience. Although the closure will surely be disappointing for many, it is an exciting opportunity to see what Disney Imagineers have planned for the future. With the promise of new magical elements and improvements, the reopening in 2026 will undoubtedly bring a lot of exciting new features to this classic attraction.

In addition to the upgrade of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Magic Kingdom is undergoing a significant expansion with the introduction of two new themed lands: Cars Land and Villains Land. Cars Land, inspired by the Pixar film “Cars,” will bring Lightning McQueen and his friends to a new part of Frontierland. This area will include two new attractions, one of which will be an exciting rally ride through the mountains, and another aimed at younger guests. Villains Land, which will be located next to Cars Land, will be dedicated to Disney’s most notorious villains and will offer new attractions, dining, and shops.

These expansions, which are part of the larger “Beyond Big Thunder” project, may be related to the upgrade of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. By closing and upgrading this iconic attraction now, Disney can ensure that the entire area around Frontierland becomes a cohesive and updated experience for guests when the new themed lands open.

Lightning Lane MultiPass and SinglePass replaced Genie+ in the summer of 2024. Now, Disney is taking it a step further with the introduction of the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, launching on October 30, 2024.

Lightning Lane was introduced as a replacement for the former FastPass system. FastPass was first launched in 1999 as a free service that allowed guests to reserve times for popular attractions, thereby avoiding the longer standby queues. In 2014, the system was upgraded to FastPass+, which included more digital features and the ability to reserve times in advance via the My Disney Experience app. In 2021, FastPass+ was replaced by Lightning Lane, a paid service integrated into Disney Genie+. This was then replaced by MultiPass and SinglePass for Lightning Lane in the summer of 2024.

The new Lightning Lane Premier Pass offers guests even more benefits, but at a considerable price. With the Premier Pass, guests can gain entry to every available Lightning Lane attraction in a park for one day. This provides flexibility that many will likely appreciate, as they do not need to choose specific arrival times for the attractions. Additionally, the Premier Pass includes unlimited downloads of Disney PhotoPass digital photos from the day, as well as access to Disney PhotoPass Lenses.

However, there is a significant caveat, and that is the price. The Premier Pass can be purchased via Disney’s app up to seven days before the park visit, with prices ranging from $129 to $449 per person per day, depending on the date and demand. To purchase the pass, everyone in the party must have a valid park ticket for the same date. This is intended to make it easy for guests to plan and maximize their time in the park.

It is important to note that the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will initially only be available to guests staying at select Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, and some other selected hotels.

In addition to the Premier Pass, Disney also offers other Lightning Lane passes:

Lightning Lane Multi Pass
This pass allows guests to plan and reserve up to three Lightning Lane experiences in advance. Once they have used the first one, they can make a new reservation, depending on availability. The Multi Pass can be used in multiple parks if your ticket includes ParkHopper.

Lightning Lane Single Pass
This pass gives guests access to one Lightning Lane attraction and typically applies only to the most popular attractions. Guests can purchase up to two Single Passes per day, depending on availability.

The initial reactions to the Lightning Lane Premier Pass have been mixed. Some guests will likely appreciate the increased flexibility and additional benefits that the pass provides, especially for those who want to maximize their time in the park without having to plan every single stop. However, many will probably find the price too high, making it significantly less accessible for most visitors.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is one of the most impressive and innovative attractions at Walt Disney World. This attraction, located in Epcot, officially opened on May 27, 2022.

When Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened in 2022, it replaced Ellen’s Energy Adventure, which was part of the Universe of Energy pavilion. Ellen’s Energy Adventure closed its doors on August 13, 2017, and construction of the new attraction began shortly after. The construction of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was a significant investment for Disney, with an estimated cost of around 500 million dollars. This includes both the construction of the attraction itself and the upgrade of the surrounding area.

The attraction is based on the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. It is located in the World Discovery section of Epcot and is the first attraction at Walt Disney World to include characters from the Marvel universe. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is an indoor roller coaster and one of the largest fully enclosed roller coasters in the world. It also has the unique feature of being the first Disney attraction with a reverse launch. The cars on the roller coaster rotate 360 degrees, providing guests with a dynamic experience where they can focus on the action around them.

Guests start their adventure in the Galaxarium, a planetarium-like exhibition that shows the similarities and differences between Xandar and Earth’s galaxies. Here, you can learn about Xandar’s technology and culture. But things take a dramatic turn when guests are called in to help the Guardians of the Galaxy with an urgent mission. They join Rocket, Groot, Gamora, and Star-Lord on an exciting chase through space to save the galaxy. The attraction also includes a number of music tracks that play an important role in the experience. These include well-known hits like “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears.

The construction of the attraction was a massive operation, including the use of 960 truckloads of concrete for the foundation. The roller coaster itself is manufactured by the Dutch company Vekoma and uses LSM (Linear Synchronous Motor) launch technology to provide a smooth and powerful start. The attraction is designed to be an immersive experience from start to finish. When guests enter the queue area, they are greeted by a futuristic and detailed setting, where interactive elements and impressive visual effects help build the excitement before the ride begins.

When guests finally board the vehicles, they are taken on a journey through time and space. The aforementioned reverse launch provides an unexpected and thrilling start to the ride, and the rotating cars ensure that guests always have the best view of the action unfolding around them. The story told during the ride is both engaging and action-packed, with many references to the Guardians of the Galaxy movies that fans will appreciate. The music is also carefully selected to match the pace and mood of the ride, adding an extra dimension to the experience.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind represents a new era for Epcot. The attraction combines advanced technology with an engaging story and an exciting theme, making it a must-see for everyone visiting the park.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind full ride POV – “One Way or Another” by Blondie (youtube.com)

As Hurricane Milton approaches the west coast of Florida, the weather forecast has prompted Disney World to announce the closure of its parks.

On October 9th, all parks and Disney Springs closed starting at 1 p.m., and they are expected to remain closed at least through October 10th.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is canceled for October 10th. Disney says tickets for the event will be refunded.

Walt Disney World Transportation, including buses, the Disney Skyliner, and the Walt Disney World Monorail, will cease operations while the parks are closed. Limited Minnie Van and Mears taxi service will be available for Walt Disney World Resort guests.

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, and Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf will also be closed during this period. Disney’s Blizzard Beach remains closed for planned refurbishment.

Disney World states that they will not enforce cancellation fees for dining and other reservations until further notice. If you prepaid for something that is now canceled, Disney says you will be automatically refunded within 7 to 10 business days.

The hurricane is currently a category 4 but is expected to make landfall as a category 3 on Wednesday evening. The hurricane’s path is likely to cross just south of the Orlando and Disney World areas.

If you are currently staying at a Disney World resort, know that the buildings are constructed to withstand the strongest hurricanes, and the staff is trained in safety for these situations, so be sure to follow their instructions. We have stayed at Disney World hotels during hurricanes, and we know that Disney always prioritizes safety while ensuring you are comfortable and have access to what you need!

Disney World has recently announced a significant change to its Disability Access Service (DAS), extending the service duration from 120 to 240 days. This change, which recently came into effect, aims to provide better flexibility and accessibility for guests who rely on DAS.

Disney World’s Disability Access Service (DAS) is a service designed to assist guests with disabilities that make it difficult to wait in long lines. The service allows these guests to receive a return time for attractions, enabling them to enjoy the park without having to stand in a physical queue for extended periods.

Earlier this year, in May 2024, several changes were also introduced to the DAS system. Among the most significant changes were the requirement for pre-registration via video chat and the focus of DAS primarily on guests with cognitive or developmental challenges, such as autism.

The latest change, which doubles the duration of DAS from 120 to 240 days, is particularly beneficial for guests who visit the park frequently, plan longer stays, or hold annual passes. This provides them with more time and flexibility to plan and enjoy their visit without needing to renew the service as often.

Read more about the Disability Access Service HERE, or on Disney World’s official website.