Category: InsideTheMagic

A special event is quite popular at Disney World, with several more dates now sold out completely. Credit: Marada, Flickr Related: EPCOT’s All-New Test Track Attraction Is Coming Together Whether guests plan on traveling to “The Most Magical Place on Earth” for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or a random week in June, there’s hardly ever a bad time to visit the Walt Disney World Resort. Disney ensures there are always exciting new things and experiences for guests to enjoy, with the parks all receiving significant upgrades in recent years. However, due to the sheer number of things to see and do in Walt Disney World, it can be almost impossible to fit it all into one vacation. As such, Disney offers special After Hours events that let guests stay in the parks long after they normally close. Demand continues to be strong for these events, with two more dates now selling out in March. More Magic Kingdom After Hours Events Sold Out Credit: Disney Related: All Live-Action Batman Actors Ranked From Worst To Best Two more dates have sold out for Magic Kingdom’s After Hours events, with March 17 and March 24 reaching capacity. These are hardly the only dates completely booked, but they are just the latest to reach their booking limits. After Hours allows guests with a valid ticket to enter Magic Kingdom as early as 7 p.m., with the park remaining open until 1 a.m. After-hours tickets for Magic

A viral social media post has set the Disney community ablaze, warning that the massive expansion at Magic Kingdom’s Rivers of America could lead to severe consequences for Walt Disney World. Credit: Lee (myfrozenlife), Flickr Is Disney World on the Brink? Viral Post Sparks Concern Over Magic Kingdom’s Future The post, written by a former Disney employee with nearly 20 years of experience, details a grim scenario where a declining Disney Parks experience could force operational cutbacks, park closures, and even a potential sale of the parks to a third party. While these claims are speculative, they have sparked significant discussion among Disney fans and industry experts alike. What’s going to happen IF the Rivers of America dry up? Not exactly what you might think… After the events of 9/11, WDW created a set of “Contingency Plans” in the event of severe economic impact. We’ve already seen the first steps of this process play out several times in the past 25 years. Things always begin with closing the Port Orleans Resort, followed by shuttering wings and entire buildings at other resorts in the Deluxe and Moderate levels (Value is the last to go because those are the most profitable rooms on the property). In 2026, a now mostly dry Magic Kingdom—with skyrocketing prices, even less to do, unbearably hot and artificially crowded, combined with Disney’s already declining attendance will suffer

Batman is the gift that keeps on giving, and ever since Tim Burton’s 1989 film, the only notable hiatus for the Caped Crusader was the eight-year gap between the franchise-killer Batman & Robin (1997) and Christopher Nolan’s reboot Batman Begins (2005). Since Adam West’s 1966 theatrical outing, we’ve had 14 live-action movies featuring the character, which have collectively seen Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, and Robert Pattinson portray Bruce Wayne/Batman. Although you might be surprised to learn that there were two live-action actors who donned the cape and cowl even before the late Adam West did in the ’60s: Lewis Wilson and Robert Lowery. However, we’re only including every Batman from the Adam West-era onwards. So, here are all seven live-action Batman actors ranked from worst to best. 7. Robert Pattinson — The Batman Credit: DC / Warner Bros. Matt Reeves delivers his long-awaited take on the Dark Knight in The Batman (2022), a rain-drenched film noir that’s easily the most bleak entry so far. But how does Twilight (2008) star Robert Pattinson fare in his first time answering the iconic Bat-Signal? Well, Pattinson is essentially a mirror image of the tone of the film — both in and out of the costume. He’s more than competent here, but sadly, there’s little distinction between his dual identities, while the playboy billionaire façade is oddly absent. On a more positive note, he’s a lot more realistic than Christian Bale’s version. But

Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (2019) is easily the most hated movie in the franchise, which is saying a lot when you consider just how controversial Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (2017) was when it was released in theaters. While that film remains equally hated, the final chapter in the sequel trilogy became the final nail in the coffin for fans, largely down to some truly baffling storytelling decisions. But will we learn to appreciate the film over time? Maybe even all three? Well, it’s not impossible. After all, who could have predicted that George Lucas’ prequel trilogy — which was panned by fans and critics alike for so many years — would suddenly garner newfound appreciation? Although we think the animated series The Clone Wars probably helped. Though it might be blasphemous to say so, there are a number of things The Rise of Skywalker gets right. But, unfortunately, there are even more things that leave viewers scratching their heads or rolling their eyes in second-hand embarrassment. So, here are the seven dumbest moments in The Rise of Skywalker. 7. Hux Being Revealed as a Spy Credit: Lucasfilm One of the most baffling decisions in The Last Jedi was to make General Armitage Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) a comical character. It’s an attempt that’s obvious from his very first scene, in which he has some hilarious back-and-forth dialogue with Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac).

As Marvel fans anticipate updates on the fourth Spider-Man film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a new controversy put the web-slinger back in the spotlight—but not for reasons anyone expected. Credit: Marvel Studios Since first suiting up in Captain America: Civil War (2016), Tom Holland’s Peter Parker has become a cornerstone of the MCU. His standalone trilogy—Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)—blended high school drama with superhero spectacle, culminating in a multiversal showdown that brought together Holland, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield. With nearly $2 billion in global box office earnings, No Way Home became one of the highest-grossing films of all time. However, since its release, the MCU has faced box office struggles, with Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) marking a recent return to form. Directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, the film followed Pixar’s Inside Out 2 (2024) in crossing the billion-dollar mark, with Moana 2 (2024) hitting the milestone in early 2025. Marvel failed to pick up Deadpool’s momentum, though, with February’s release of Captain America: Brave New World (2025) hitting just $371 million worldwide. Credit: Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios Despite the overwhelming success of No Way Home, progress on Spider-Man 4 has been slow. Tom Holland previously confirmed that development was stalled due to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike. However, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige reassured fans in mid-2024 that the project was moving forward. Holland later announced

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is undergoing its biggest transformation since opening in 1998, with major changes coming to its infrastructure and attractions. After 27 years, the park is embracing a new era of storytelling, including the addition of a Zootopia show and the much-anticipated Tropical Americas expansion. Now, a newly filed permit suggests even bigger changes are on the horizon—ones that could impact one of the park’s most iconic features. Credit: Brittany DiCologero, Inside the Magic The Future of Animal Kingdom: Tropical Americas and Zootopia For years, Animal Kingdom has been a unique park focused on nature and conservation, but Disney has now confirmed plans to introduce more intellectual properties into the park. The most significant change involves the upcoming Tropical Americas land, replacing DinoLand U.S.A. This new land is set to feature attractions based on Encanto and Indiana Jones, bringing fresh excitement to the park while maintaining its core theme of adventure. In addition to the new land, It’s Tough to Be a Bug!—one of Animal Kingdom’s opening-day attractions—is closing to make way for a Zootopia show inside the Tree of Life. The replacement, Zootopia: Better Zoogether, will bring the vibrant world of the animated film to life, featuring characters like Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. The show will incorporate different biomes seen in Zootopia and will introduce a brand-new song performed by Ginnifer Goodwin, the voice of Judy Hopps. A Major Change for the

We have an update on the ongoing reimagining of Chevrolet Test Track in EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort. Let’s take a look! At D23 Expo 2024, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro announced that an all-new Test Track was one of many projects on its way to Walt Disney World Resort. Walt Disney Imagineers have been working with General Motors, the owner of Chevrolet and the new official attraction sponsor, to develop a thrilling update to the 25-year-old World Discovery attraction. This is hardly Test Track’s first update. In 2012, Walt Disney World Resort premiered a “2.0” version of the original attraction, which was also originally sponsored by General Motors. While the “1.0” version invited guests on an immersive journey into the world of automobile testing, Test Track 2.0 allowed guests to design their own “sim car” and test it live on a “sim track.” Screens throughout the attraction ranked guests’ designs after each thrilling “test. Credit: Disney Walt Disney World Resort has provided sparse details about the Test Track Presented by General Motors storyline. However, the ride vehicles and attraction interior are expected to debut all-new looks when it reopens in “late summer 2025.” Earlier this month, Walt Disney Imagineering gave Disney Parks fans a sneak peek at the Test Track reimagining with this Instagram video celebrating Women in Construction Week. A Walt Disney Imagineer invited guests along as she visited the construction site:  

Walt Disney World is undergoing some major transformations, and one of the biggest changes is happening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. If you’re planning a trip in 2025, there’s a significant closure to be aware of—It’s Tough to Be a Bug is taking its final bow. But that’s not the only update coming to the park. Credit: Ed Aguila, Inside the Magic Saying Goodbye to It’s Tough to Be a Bug For over two decades, It’s Tough to Be a Bug has been a staple of Animal Kingdom, offering guests a 4D experience filled with animatronics, air and water effects, and some unexpected jump scares. However, the attraction is officially closing on March 17, 2025. Credit: Disney The show, based on A Bug’s Life (1998), has been known to delight some guests while terrifying others—especially those who aren’t fond of spiders suddenly dropping from the ceiling! Now, it’s making way for a brand-new experience. A New Zootopia Experience is Coming Replacing It’s Tough to Be a Bug is Zootopia: Better Zoogether, a new 4D show featuring Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and other favorite characters from the movie Zootopia (2016). Disney has teased that the show will take guests through different biomes seen in the film, though full details are still under wraps. Credit: Disney While It’s Tough to Be a Bug will be missed

Disney World guests recently noticed some unexpected issues with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, one of EPCOT’s most popular attractions. With the removal of the Virtual Queue system, visitors can now either wait in the standby line or purchase an Individual Lightning Lane pass. While this change may seem like a win for parkgoers, the ride’s recent closures have raised concerns about its reliability. Credit: Disney Previously, guests had to wake up early to secure a spot in the Virtual Queue, with only two distribution times per day—one at 7 AM and another at 1 PM. Now, without that added pressure, visitors might assume they have more flexibility. However, unexpected closures could still throw a wrench into their plans. On March 9th, 2025, Cosmic Rewind shut down twice during the day. The first closure occurred in the early afternoon, but the ride reopened later, albeit with significantly increased wait times. The second closure, however, happened right before park closing, leaving some guests disappointed as they were unable to experience the attraction. Credit: Disney Disney fans who prefer to wait until the evening to avoid crowds often hop in line right before the park closes. This strategy usually works well, as wait times tend to drop later in the day. However, with Cosmic Rewind experiencing an evening closure, those who opted to wait until the last minute were left without a ride. For those wanting to guarantee a spot on this

This year, visitors to Walt Disney World Resort’s iconic Magic Kingdom Park might have noticed some major changes in The Emporium. This iconic Main Street, U.S.A., merchandise location has been a hot spot for souvenir shopping for decades and is constantly packed with guests from the moment the Disney park opens until hours after it closes. However, recent construction has made the shopping experience more complicated. In January, Inside the Magic reported that construction walls had taken over 20-25% of The Emporium, extending from the Youth and Plush section to the area near Casey’s Corner. Some merchandise displays were removed to make way for more foot traffic as a popular pathway out of the store into the Quick Service dining location was temporarily cut off. Disney cast members used tape on the ground to create makeshift checkout lines and signs throughout the store, encouraging guests to use Mobile Checkout on the My Disney Experience app for a quicker experience. Credit: Disney On March 4, Walt Disney World Resort officially unveiled some of the changes to The Emporium at Magic Kingdom Park. Construction walls came down, revealing a lighter-colored floor and the removal of a rarely-used register near Casey’s Corner. The renovation removed some merchandise displays, allowing more foot traffic through the congested merchandise location. Guests can once again take the Casey’s Corner exit out of the Emporium, which lets guests access areas like Adventureland, Frontierland, and Liberty Square without walking down a crowded Main Street, U.S.A. But