Author: waltdisneynews

Not everyone is excited about the big changes happening in Walt Disney World. Credit: Disney Related: Hundreds Stand Up to Disney After Permanent Closure Announcement Change is a necessary part of any theme park, and Walt Disney World has grown and evolved tremendously since it first opened its gates in 1971. Over the last several decades, guests have watched new rides and attractions open at the parks, along with new restaurants, shows, hotels, and shopping locations. Guests have also witnessed the actual operation of Disney World change, with additional services like Lightning Lane fundamentally altering how they interact with the resort’s four theme parks. However, changes also appear in the form of ride and attraction closures, of which there have been dozens. From classic dark rides like Horizons and World of Motion to the more recent closure of Splash Mountain, guests have seen a lot leave the parks, too. Currently, Disney World sits on the cusp of one of its most transformational periods ever, with an unprecedented number of attractions set to close. Some of these closures are more controversial than others, prompting some to claim they are cancelling their trips entirely. Guests Cancelling Their Trips to Disney World Due to Upcoming Closures Credit: Inside the Magic Related: Pedro Pascal Steps Away From Mandalorian Suit, “Wasn’t up for the Task” Disney officially announced in the summer of 2025 that Tom Sawyer Island, Liberty Square Riverboat, and Rivers of America would be closing at the

More new things are coming to Orlando, Central Florida, as Universal continues to dominate headlines. Credit: Andrew Boardwine, Inside the Magic Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe, which opened its gates on May 22, 2025, is already setting the stage for an exciting future. With five immersive lands—Celestial Park, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, Dark Universe, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, and How to Train Your Dragon–Isle of Berk—the park has quickly become a must-visit destination. And now, Universal is hinting at what’s next. A new restaurant in Celestial Park is set to open in 2026. Located between the main entrance and How to Train Your Dragon—Isle of Berk, the building’s exterior is complete, featuring teal and white architecture with outdoor seating. Per new photos, signage on the doors reads, “Travelers—pardon our stardust as we ignite a galaxy of flavors and culinary delights. Coming 2026.” While details about the cuisine remain under wraps, the quick-service venue is expected to offer a new dining experience for guests. Credit: Universal This addition complements the existing dining options in Celestial Park, including The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant and Atlantic, as well as quick-service spots like Comet Dogs, and Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets. Each venue contributes to the park’s diverse culinary offerings, enhancing the overall guest experience Beyond dining, Universal is planning for the future. President Karen Irwin recently stated, “We’re already planning for the next thing at Epic,” indicating that the park’s expansion is

The Muppets will return. Over the weekend, Disney fans were forced to bid farewell to Muppet*Vision 3D, the film brought to life with in-theater 4D effects at Grand Avenue, where it entertained guests for 34 years. Now, the entire area is being repurposed into a Monsters, Inc.-themed land. But the good news is that Kermit and the gang will return later this year. No, we aren’t talking about Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, the Disney’s Hollywood Studios attraction that will drop the Aerosmith theme next year for a complete Muppets makeover. Before that happens, the Muppets will be appearing in another theater show in November. Credit: Disney We’ll start with the good news: the Muppets will be returning in a similar format to Muppet*Vision 3D. While there’s no 3D involved, there is a live orchestra on stage while the beloved 1992 film The Muppet Christmas Carol is played on a theater screen. For the fifth year in a row, The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert will be showing at several theaters and venues, throughout the U.K., this winter, including Manchester, London, Edinburgh, and Sheffield, with screenings starting from November 21. The bad news? U.K., performances will do very little, if anything, to Disney World parkgoers in the U.S. still mourning the loss of Muppet*Vision 3D. Nevertheless, there’s every chance The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert will show up in the States in the near future. Credit: Disney Related: Muppets Attraction Reportedly Coming to the Magic Kingdom

Daredevil: Born Again has officially replaced its superhero with a new actor, and a first look has been given. Credit: Marvel Studios Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+ Announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2022, Kevin Feige initially confirmed that an 18-episode season called Daredevil: Born Again would hit Disney+ in the future. Disney eventually fired creators Matt Corman and Chris Ord, as well as the team of directors and writers, as part of a widespread overhaul before hiring Dario Scardapane as showrunner–an unprecedented move considering Disney’s Marvel exploits had been created similar to movies and not traditional TV since inception. Marvel executive Brad Winderbaum (Head of Streaming, Television and Animation) commented on this change last year, explaining that the studio would utilize a more traditional TV model of using showrunners and developing more than would be produced. Credit: Marvel Studios Daredevil: Born Again began in March 2025 and ran for nine episodes. The Disney show, which followed on from the events of the beloved Netflix series, saw the return of Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio as Matt Murdock/Daredevil and Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, respectively. The pair was joined by other returning cast members, including Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson, Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/Punisher, and Ayelet Zurer as Vanessa Fisk. Newcomers to the Daredevil franchise and the MCU included Margarita Levieva as Heather Glenn, Michael Gandolfini as Daniel Blake, and the late Kamar de los Reyes as Hector Ayala/White Tiger. Daredevil:

Ghostbusters (1984) is one of the most beloved movies of all time — it’s a sci-fi comedy classic. But sometimes, it’s worth revisiting the original, because the process of filmmaking is sometimes as fascinating as the final product itself, with many on-set stories and facts that even the most diehard fan might not be familiar with.  So here are seven bizarre facts you didn’t know about the original Ghostbusters. 7. The Ghostbusters Hotline Was Real Credit: Sony Pictures Before the Ghostbusters become established in New York City, they release a commercial to advertise their services. The three original members — Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) — appear on television, with the number 555-2368. During the film’s theatrical release in 1984, director Ivan Reitman ran that very same commercial, which allowed people to call in. Callers would hear a pre-recorded message from Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd, who announced that they were unable to answer as they were busy busting ghosts! The number received 1,000 calls every hour, 24 hours a day, for several weeks. Sadly, the line is no longer operational, so if you’re being troubled by strange noises in the middle of the night, or you’re experiencing feelings of dread in your basement or attic, we don’t know what to tell you. Related: A Guide to the ENTIRE ‘Ghostbusters’ Franchise 6. “Ghostbusters” Isn’t an Original Title Credit:

For over five years, Pedro Pascal has assumed the role of the Mandalorian, the lone bounty hunter tasked with protecting Grogu, known to most audiences as “Baby Yoda.” One of the key qualities of a Mandalorian in the Star Wars universe is that they do not show their face to others under any circumstances. Credit: Lucasfilm Din Djarin – the real name of the show’s eponymous Mandalorian – follows the same creed. For the most part, at least. Throughout most of The Mandalorian, his character remains fully suited in metal armor, apart from three occasions. The first came in season one when he removed his helmet to allow the droid IG-11 to heal him in battle. The second occasion came in season two when he was forced to remove his helmet while disguised as a soldier to perform a facial scan. At the end of the same season, Mando removes his helmet for a third time to say a proper goodbye to Grogu as he departs for Jedi training with Luke Skywalker. Credit: Lucasfilm These are the only times we see Pedro Pascal’s face in the show, with the actor remaining masked for the majority of shots. In fact, fans were frustrated that he didn’t appear once in the third season of the show, with a face reveal for Mando reportedly scrapped from the finale. That means that the odds of us actually seeing Pascal on the screen once were next to zero, as