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Disney's Animal Kingdom Is Testing a New Rope Drop That Moves the Morning Wait to Discovery Island

Animal Kingdom began testing a new morning routine early this week, one that walks non-resort guests out of the Oasis and onto Discovery Island before the 8 a.m. opening, then fans them out through three checkpoints toward Pandora, Expedition Everest, and the former DinoLand U.S.A. bridge. Cast Members told WDW News Today the procedures are still a test and may not look the same from one day to the next.

July 18, 2026 News

Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando Drops Express Pass From Every Multi-Night Halloween Horror Nights Pass After 23 Years

Universal Orlando has discontinued every multi-night Fear pass that included Express Pass for Halloween Horror Nights 35, ending an add-on it had sold since 2003. Rush of Fear, Frequent Fear, Frequent Fear Plus, and Ultimate Frequent Fear are all affected. Multi-night passes without Express are still coming, and single-night Express Passes remain on sale starting at $170.

July 18, 2026 News

Disney World

Where to Get Dole Whip at Walt Disney World: Every Location, Flavor, and Spiked Version

Dole Whip has escaped Adventureland. The cult pineapple soft-serve now turns up in every Walt Disney World theme park, both water parks, Disney Springs, and nine more stops across five resort hotels, in flavors from orange and watermelon to lime, plus rum floats and frozen margaritas. Here is where to find every version.

July 17, 2026 Food & Dining

Disney World

Disney Sets a September 14 Opening Date for The Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios

Disney has confirmed The Magic of Disney Animation opens September 14, 2026 at Disney's Hollywood Studios, taking over the former Star Wars Launch Bay building and rebranding Animation Courtyard as The Walt Disney Studios. The reveal covers five experiences: Once Upon a Studio Theater, Olaf Draws!, Off the Page!, Drawn to Wonderland, and an Enchanted Art Gallery.

July 16, 2026 News

Universal Orlando

Universal Will Close Fast & Furious: Supercharged for Good on August 17, a Full Year Ahead of Schedule

Universal Orlando has confirmed Fast & Furious: Supercharged at Universal Studios Florida will close permanently on August 17, 2026, with the last day to ride August 16. That moves the shutdown up about a year from the vague 2027 timeframe announced in January. Universal has not said what will replace the ride.

July 16, 2026 News

Disney World

Disney's D23 Auction Reveals Its First Walt Disney World Lots, Including a Big Thunder Mountain Mine Car, With Bidding Open July 20

The Disney Experiences Auction has revealed its first park-used lots, and the headliners are pure Walt Disney World: a Big Thunder Mountain Railroad mine car rebuilt into a bench, decorative Miss Piggy and Kermit figures from the shuttered MuppetVision 3D, and more. Online bidding through Heritage Auctions opens July 20, with the live sale August 16 at D23 in Anaheim.

July 15, 2026 News

Universal Orlando

Construction Walls Now Surround Mythos as Universal's Demolition of The Lost Continent Reaches Its Last Corner

New construction walls have gone up directly in front of Mythos Restaurant, and the Lost Continent restrooms have closed, leaving just four venues open as Universal tears down one of Islands of Adventure's six original 1999 lands. Mythos itself is still set to close permanently in 2027, and Universal has not said what will replace the area.

July 15, 2026 News

Universal Orlando

Universal Reveals Infernal Carnival of Nightmares, the First Scare Zone for Halloween Horror Nights 35

Halloween Horror Nights 35 has its first scare zone. Universal announced Infernal Carnival of Nightmares, a decrepit-carnival street experience that unites the event's icons Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow, and ties directly into the announced Jack and Oddfellow haunted house. HHN 35 runs select nights from August 28 through November 1.

July 14, 2026 News

Disney World

Magic Kingdom Quietly Strips the Toy Story Theming From Its Old Buzz Lightyear Meet-and-Greet in Tomorrowland

The character spot next to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom has quietly lost its Toy Story look. Disney stripped the toy buttons and battery-tile flooring and repainted the backdrop a generic blue and silver, and the location is now used mostly by Stitch and Chip and Dale rather than Buzz.

July 14, 2026 News

Disney World

D23 2026 Reveals Its Full Programming Lineup, Including a Saturday Disney Experiences Showcase Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026 has revealed its full programming lineup for August 14 to 16 in Anaheim. For theme park fans, the marquee is Saturday's Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, where Disney will share what is next for its parks. Reservations for select presentations open July 20.

July 13, 2026 News

Disney World

Disney Has Fully Cleared Tomorrowland's 1994 Entrance Towers at Magic Kingdom, Leaving Bare Rockwork

The last of the themed towers that framed Tomorrowland's entrance since its 1994 makeover is gone. As of this week, Disney has removed every decorative structure from the Magic Kingdom land's entryway, leaving repainted but bare rockwork. Disney has not said what, if anything, will replace them.

July 13, 2026 News

Universal Orlando

New Aerials Show the Luke Combs Category 10 Site Largely Cleared at Universal CityWalk as a New Bus Lane Takes Shape

Fresh aerial photos show two changes reshaping Universal CityWalk Orlando at once. The site for the Luke Combs Category 10 venue, a three-story bar and music hall, has been largely cleared near Margaritaville, and a new dedicated bus lane is taking shape nearby. Category 10 is projected to open in late 2027.

July 13, 2026 News

Disney World

A Rumor Says Magic Kingdom's Space Mountain Could Close for a Major Retrack, but Disney Has Not Confirmed Anything

A rumor making the rounds this week claims Magic Kingdom's Space Mountain could close for a major retrack or reimagining, possibly as soon as 2027. It is worth stressing up front that this is unconfirmed speculation. Disney has announced no closure, dates, or plans. Here is what is actually known and what is not.

July 13, 2026 News

Universal Orlando

Epic Universe Quietly Opens Satellite Shakes, a New Milkshake Stand in Celestial Park

Epic Universe has quietly opened Satellite Shakes, a new milkshake pickup window in Celestial Park that took over the former Meteor Astropub pickup window. The menu is short and space-themed: three specialty shakes priced from $12.99, including a chocolate-forward Captain Cacao's Starlight Voyage.

July 13, 2026 News

Disney World

Disney World Is Adding a Walk-Up List Option for Two of Its Hardest-to-Book Lounges, Beak and Barrel and GEO-82

Two of Walt Disney World's toughest reservations, the Pirates-themed Beak and Barrel at Magic Kingdom and GEO-82 inside Spaceship Earth at EPCOT, are getting a walk-up list option in the My Disney Experience app. The Join Walk-Up List button has appeared on both lounges, though it is not fully live yet, with activation expected within days.

July 12, 2026 News

Universal Orlando

Universal Reveals Nightmare Fuel: Blood Noir, a Vampire-Themed Live Show for Halloween Horror Nights 35

Halloween Horror Nights 35 is getting a new live show. Universal has announced Nightmare Fuel: Blood Noir, a vampire-themed stunt and aerial spectacular and the sixth installment of the Nightmare Fuel franchise. HHN 35 runs select nights from August 28 through November 1 at Universal Studios Florida.

July 12, 2026 News

SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld Orlando Reveals Howl-O-Scream 2026 Dates and Its First New Haunted House, Everything Must Stay

SeaWorld Orlando has announced that Howl-O-Scream returns on select nights from September 11 through October 31, and revealed the first of its five haunted houses, Everything Must Stay, set in a suburban home no one can sell. Limited-time Sinister Sale tickets start at $34.99.

July 10, 2026 News

Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando Launches a $199 Florida Resident Ticket With Unlimited Visits to Two Parks Through December

Florida residents can now visit Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure an unlimited number of times through December 16 for $199 plus tax. The new 2-Park Unlimited Days ticket does not include Epic Universe or Volcano Bay, and Universal is pairing it with up to 25 percent off select hotels for Florida residents.

July 10, 2026 News

Disney World

A New Permit Points to Active Work on The Glob Theater in Disney World's Upcoming Monstropolis Land

Walt Disney Imagineering has filed a fresh electrical permit for The Glob Theater, the show venue taking shape inside the former MuppetVision 3D building as part of the Monsters, Inc. themed Monstropolis land at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It is a small but concrete sign that interior work is moving on one of the park's biggest expansions.

July 10, 2026 News

Disney World

Joe Schott Becomes Walt Disney World President on August 3 as Jeff Vahle Retires After 36 Years

Walt Disney World has a firm date for its leadership change. Joe Schott, currently president of Disney Signature Experiences, takes over as resort president on August 3, 2026, succeeding Jeff Vahle, who is retiring after 36 years with the company.

July 9, 2026 News

Universal Orlando

Universal Nights Debuts at Epic Universe: A Separately Ticketed After-Hours Event on Two October Saturdays

Universal Orlando is bringing its own separately ticketed after-hours event to Epic Universe. Universal Nights runs two Saturday nights this fall, October 3 and 17, from 9 p.m. to midnight, with 7 p.m. early entry, complimentary snacks, and lighter crowds. Tickets start at $179.99 and go on sale August 13.

July 9, 2026 News

Legoland Florida

LEGOLAND Florida Summer 2026: Every Event You Can Still Catch, From the LEGO Festival to Brick-or-Treat

Now that Red, White & BOOM has wrapped, LEGOLAND Florida still has a full summer on the calendar. Catch the FIFA World Cup Experience before it ends July 19, dive into the new LEGO Festival and its Pokémon and F1 zones from July 20 to August 16, cool off at the water park through August 30, and get ready for Brick-or-Treat on Labor Day weekend. Here is every remaining event, in order.

July 8, 2026 News

Universal Orlando

Universal Celestial Goodnight Is Now Live: Epic Universe's First Nighttime Spectacular Debuts With a 10-Minute Show

After weeks of after-hours testing, Universal Celestial Goodnight officially debuted at Epic Universe on July 7. Universal's first full nighttime spectacular runs about 10 minutes at park close, wrapping Celestial Park in fountains, lights, and a fireworks finale, and the first opening-night video is already out.

July 8, 2026 News

Disney World

Disney Cast Member Unions and Orange County Teachers Deliver 5,000 Petitions Urging Disney to Drop Its Property Tax Lawsuits

On Monday, unionized Disney cast members and Orange County teachers presented roughly 5,000 petitions asking Disney to end its long-running property tax challenges, arguing a $119 million school reserve set aside for potential refunds could instead fund teacher raises. Disney says it is exercising a legal right and declined to comment.

July 6, 2026 News

Universal Orlando

Epic Universe's Darkmoor Monster Makeup Now Offers a Temporary Tattoo Option in Dark Universe

Universal has added a temporary tattoo choice to the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience at Epic Universe, a lighter-commitment way to get transformed into a classic Universal Monster like Dracula or the Wolf Man. The experience starts at $45 and is open to guests ages 5 and up.

July 6, 2026 News

Disney World

A New Permit Pushes the Indiana Jones Ride at Animal Kingdom Into Summer 2027 as Tropical Americas Takes Shape

Imagineering has extended a key construction permit for the Indiana Jones ride replacing DINOSAUR into summer 2027, and with the land's other permits set to expire by spring 2027, fans are debating whether the Encanto and Indiana Jones land opens by next summer or later in the year. Disney's only official word remains 2027.

July 6, 2026 News

Disney World

Disney World Goes Big for America's 250th With Rare EPCOT Fireworks Three Nights and a July 4 Air Force Flyover

For the country's 250th birthday, EPCOT's rare Heartbeat of Freedom fireworks finale is running three nights instead of one (July 3 through 5), Magic Kingdom brings back its Celebrate America concert in the sky, and a U.S. Air Force Reserve flyover buzzes both parks on the Fourth. Here is the full holiday rundown.

July 4, 2026 News

Universal Orlando

Universal Pulls Hagrid's, Its Longest-Wait Ride, From Express Pass, Sending Everyone to Standby

As of July 1, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure no longer accepts Universal Express Pass, so even guests who paid to skip the line now ride standby. Universal calls it an operational update, and it targets the single longest wait at the resort. Here is what changed and how to plan around it.

July 4, 2026 News

SeaWorld Orlando

Baby Shark Splashes Back Into SeaWorld Orlando July 6 With a Live Show and Character Meet-and-Greets

Doo doo doo: the Baby Shark at SeaWorld event returns July 6 through September 7, included with admission. Expect a live Pinkfong stage show, character meet-and-greets with Baby Shark and Pinkfong, and Baby Shark themed snacks and souvenirs across the park.

July 4, 2026 News

Universal Orlando

Universal Will Close the Award-Winning Mythos for Good and Reimagine Thunder Falls Terrace as a New Signature Restaurant

As Universal prepares to redevelop The Lost Continent, the beloved and award-winning Mythos will close permanently by 2027. Taking over as the park's fine dining flagship, Thunder Falls Terrace in Jurassic Park closes this summer and reopens in 2027 as a new full-service restaurant, and a $6 million city permit shows the work is already moving.

July 3, 2026 News