Author: waltdisneynews

Disney’s Magic Kingdom has never looked so dry. Credit: David Aughinbaugh II, Flickr Related: Original Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park Location Now Extinct There’s been a whirlwind of Disney park news coming out in the last few months, with large-scale projects happening across Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. No matter where guests go, they are bound to encounter construction, with Magic Kingdom arguably having the most going on. The park recently opened its newest location, The Beak and Barrel, a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed bar and lounge. Like Oga’s Cantina at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, The Beak and Barrel is Disney’s latest attempt at creating an inviting and immersive space for guests to relax and enjoy. However, Magic Kingdom’s biggest overhaul is still in the works, with the park’s Rivers of America now covered up and drained. This section of the park closed permanently this July, making way for Magic Kingdom’s new Cars-themed area, Piston Peak. Over the last few weeks, guests have seen the river’s water levels slowly drop. No, there’s nothing left but dirt and some leftover mechanical structures previously used by the Liberty Belle Riverboat. This slice of the park looks unrecognizable, as the once free-flowing waterways now run dry. Reddit user Old_Diver recently shared a photo of the area, revealing some scaffolding is now up. A dehydrated Tom Sawyer Island byu/Old_Diver_2511 inWaltDisneyWorld Related: Disney Guests Warned, Another Impact to Park Access Incoming “This makes me sad.,” said one user

It’s the end of the world, well, as we know it. Credit: Inside the Magic Related: Disney Guests Warned, Another Impact to Park Access Incoming A lots is changing inside Walt Disney World, with the resort’s four theme parks all undergoing extensive transformations, overhauls, and redesigns. Magic Kingdom’s iconic Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed for its extensive refurbishment back in January. The classic coaster is set to receive new show elements and other goodies before it reopens next year. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is also changing in significant ways, specifically with the park’s former Muppets Courtyard area. This section of the park closed permanently this summer to make way for Monstropolis, a new Monsters Inc.-themed land. However, Disney’s Animal Kingdom also has a lot going on, with DinoLand U.S.A. inching closer and closer to total extinction. Disney World Closes The Boneyard at Animal Kingdom Credit: Disney Related: New ‘Jurassic Park’ Sequel Partly Set During 1993 Film, Teaser Suggests Guests said their final goodbyes to The Boneyard at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Sunday, September 1. The interactive playground area had been a popular spot for children for many years, featuring dinosaur-sized areas to explore and enjoy. The Boneyard was located on the other side of DinoLand U.S.A. and, despite simply being a playground, was heavily detailed and immersive, something that shouldn’t surprise Disney park fans. Disney is moving quickly on the project, erasing mentions of The Boneyard from park maps and other signage. The main entrance

This week, Disney+ will be transformed as a billion-dollar success finally finds its way onto the streaming platform. Credit: ABC The 2002 animated feature Lilo & Stitch, directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, first introduced audiences to Lilo, a young Hawaiian girl, and Stitch, the alien experiment she adopts as her dog. Together, they explore the meaning of family through the Hawaiian idea of “ʻohana.” The film’s heartfelt approach, hand-drawn artistry, and soundtrack filled with Elvis Presley music made it an instant success, leading to sequels and a television series. More than two decades later, Disney reintroduced the tale with a live-action/CG hybrid. Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) directed the reimagining, with newcomer Maia Kealoha as Lilo. Zach Galifianakis, Billy Magnussen, and Courtney B. Vance also joined the cast, while Chris Sanders returned as the voice of Stitch. The project, originally developed for Disney+, shifted to theaters following the billion-dollar success of Moana 2 (2024), which had undergone a similar streaming-to-theatrical transition. Credit: Disney Audiences have welcomed Stitch back to the big screen. The film has earned $1.033 billion worldwide, passing Warner Bros.’ A Minecraft Movie (2025), which brought in $957.7 million (both figures per Box Office Mojo). With Stitch’s popularity continuing across Disney’s parks, merchandise, and media, a sequel was announced in late June. Lilo & Stitch‘s Live-Action Success Saw Spike in Animated Classic Streaming platforms also saw renewed interest in the franchise. During the week of June 2–8,

The Walt Disney World Resort will not be the same next week as one park closes indefinitely in Florida. Credit: gardener41, Flickr From the thrills of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT to the timeless appeal of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom (which is changing forever very soon!), and from Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror to Pandora–The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there is no shortage of experiences. Still, closures, construction, and evolving offerings have created a year of transition resort-wide. That transformation includes major refurbishments: Frontierland is preparing for a new chapter at Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom’s former DinoLand U.S.A. is under reimagining, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios has more closures ahead to make way for Monstropolis. Even long-time favorites such as It’s Tough to Be a Bug! have exited permanently, making 2025 a year of both farewells and fresh beginnings. Credit: David Aughinbaugh II, Flickr Beyond the four parks, water park operations have also added to this season’s challenges. Since the pandemic, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon have operated on a rotating schedule, with only one available to guests at a time. Blizzard Beach was open at the start of the year, while Typhoon Lagoon eventually returned on May 1, 2025. That reopening came just after Blizzard Beach celebrated its 30th anniversary in April, and closed indefinitely at the end of the month. The water parks have always been a standout part of the Disney World vacation experience, allowing

A new change at the parks that guests need to be aware of. Credit: Joel (coconutwireless), Flickr Just like its bigger counterpart on the East Coast, the West Coast’s Disneyland Resort is bracing for big change over the next decade. From the DisneylandForward expansion project to the doubling of Avengers Campus and the launch of the Avatar franchise in the California theme park, Walt Disney’s first theme park–which just so happens to be celebrating 70 years this year–is on the brink of entering a new era. While many are already looking ahead, it’s worth keeping one eye on the here and now. Operations at both parks have continued to change as The Walt Disney Company manages its expansion projects. Another cause of change is seasonal and hard-ticketed experiences like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney World and Disneyland, respectively, and events like the runDisney races that happen year-round. Credit: Disney But the arrival of the Halloween Half Marathon Weekend 2025 at Disneyland Resort will usher in an urgent access change. Disneyland Resort guests will see a temporary shake-up in Early Entry this weekend, with runDisney’s Halloween Half Marathon festivities prompting a switch in the usual schedule. On Friday, September 5, Early Entry will shift to Disneyland Park, while on Saturday, September 6, the extra half-hour perk will instead be offered at Disney California Adventure. Once the event wraps, the schedule will revert to its familiar pattern. Normally, hotel guests can count on Disneyland