Category: InsideTheMagic

Hong Kong Disneyland is about to usher in a new era – and it’s closing a classic attraction to make it happen. First opened in 2005, Hong Kong Disneyland hasn’t had the easiest ride. Initially criticized for its small size, it has expanded significantly over the years, adding lands like Mystic Point, Grizzly Gulch, and World of Frozen. The park has embraced local culture while introducing global attractions, evolving into a unique destination that blends classic Disney charm with distinct Asian storytelling and design. Credit: Hong Kong Disneyland Like a lot of Disney parks, Marvel has played a big role in this transformation. Tucked into a corner of Tomorrowland once occupied by Autopia and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Hong Kong Disneyland’s Stark Expo area is currently home to the Iron Man Experience and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! The area also holds regular Marvel events, with its latest wrapping up earlier this month. It will soon welcome another addition – but not without some challenges along the way. Hong Kong Disneyland Shuttering Its Railroad Hong Kong Disneyland’s upcoming expansion for Stark Expo will see it add a Spider-Man attraction. This will take the slot previously reserved for a now-cancelled Avengers Quinjet attraction. To make this happen, Hong Kong Disneyland is officially closing the Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad — one of the park’s strongest ties to the classic Disney castle park experience. Credit: Disney The attraction will close indefinitely on June 11, 2025. This

Make sure you follow these rules next time you’re at “The Most Magical Place on Earth.” Credit: Disney When visiting Walt Disney World, many thoughts enter guests’ minds. From exciting and thrilling rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance to classic attractions like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean and the famous Cinderella Castle, Walt Disney World is filled to the brim with iconic characters, rides, and magical moments. To most people, a trip to Disney is the perfect vacation for the whole family, featuring incredible rides, delicious food, and an all-around incredible atmosphere. However, when visiting any of the Disney parks or resorts, it is crucial to understand and follow the rules. Guests can check all of the rules and regulations on the official Walt Disney World website. Below are the main rules and expectations guests are required to follow. It’s important to note that these rules regulate the Walt Disney World Resort. While specifically for the theme park in Orlando, Florida, most, if not all, of these rules also apply to Disneyland in Southern California. Prohibited Items Starting with items guests are not allowed to bring into the parks, there’s a fairly long list: Firearms, ammunition, knives, or weapons of any kind Self-defense or restraining devices Marijuana or any illegal substances Objects or toys that could look like firearms or weapons Fireworks or other explosive or flammable devices Alcoholic beverages

Let’s explore one of the most fascinating fun facts about Disneyland. Credit: Disney Related: Entire New ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy Set After ‘Rise of Skywalker’ in Development at Disney There are tons of secrets to explore during a Disneyland vacation, as the entire resort is filled to the absolute brim with hidden details and a fun, enchanting atmosphere. Guests are encouraged to make the most of their Disneyland day, enjoying the various rides and attractions featured at the resort as they please. Guests are given (mostly) free rein to take in an incredible atmosphere and theming inside both Disney California Adventure and the original Disneyland Park. Standing above it all is Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds, which features a well-kept secret that 99% of guests will never even see. Credit: Invisible Theme Park Related: More Upcharges: Disney Adds New $22 Paywall for Parade Disney’s Secret Basketball Court It may come as a surprise to learn that at the very top of Matterhorn Bobsleds lies a hidden basketball hoop and a small court. The miniature court rests in an attic-like space at the top of the interior of the man-made mountain, which was originally intended as a break area for cast members working in the attraction. Certain cast members would even climb the Matterhorn itself for a brief period of time. These climbers also used this break room, with someone having the inspired idea of turning part of the space into a bite-sized basketball court where employees could

A new era of the House of Mouse is drawing near–but who will take the reins of the almost five-decade-old Star Wars franchise? Credit: Lucasfilm Lucasfilm is on the verge of a major transition. As news earlier this year that longtime president Kathleen Kennedy is expected to step down later in 2025, the future of the Star Wars galaxy is once again at a crossroads. While speculation surrounding her departure has swirled for some time, especially amid mixed reception to recent franchise efforts, the conversation now turns to the critical question: Who will be handed the keys to one of Hollywood’s most iconic storytelling engines? Kennedy, handpicked by George Lucas himself, has led Lucasfilm since Disney acquired the company in 2012. But with her anticipated departure, attention shifts to who will step up as the next studio head—and whether that person will be someone already steeped in the galaxy far, far away. Credit: Lucasfilm When Disney spent over $4.05 billion on Lucasfilm in 2012, it was one of the company’s most ambitious acquisitions. That investment began to pay off in 2015 with the release of Star Wars: Episode VII–The Force Awakens, the long-awaited continuation of the Skywalker saga. The J.J. Abrams-directed film was a box office powerhouse, pulling in over a billion dollars during its theatrical run. Fans welcomed the return of beloved legacy characters like Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), alongside new leads such as

As Disney propels forward with its major redevelopment of its first-ever theme park in Central Florida, it marks a sad reality speeding towards us. Has this erasure sunk in for you yet? Credit: Inside the Magic Big changes are racing toward Magic Kingdom, as Disney Experiences has officially unveiled a bold reimagining of Frontierland—one that brings the spirit of Cars into the heart of Walt Disney World. Set against the backdrop of a reimagined frontier, the upcoming land will introduce Piston Peak National Park, inspired by the Cars universe. Guests will soon be able to explore this richly themed area, which includes a visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, forest trails, and more—each designed with authentic “Parkitecture,” a style developed by the National Park Service to blend seamlessly with natural surroundings. Imagineers are using this architectural approach to ensure the new buildings feel as though they’ve always belonged among the towering trees and rugged peaks. Credit: Disney The expansion will also feature two brand-new attractions: one high-speed journey through mountainous terrain and a second family-friendly ride geared for all ages. This will mark the first dedicated Cars-themed land at Walt Disney World Resort. Disney Parks Blog confirms that towering mountains and erupting geysers will help immerse guests in the wild terrain of the rally’s twisting trails, while a carefully placed tree line will provide natural borders between the new development and neighboring areas like Liberty Square and Frontierland’s Grizzly Hall. However, the road ahead comes with

Hundreds of guests were notified of the closure at Walt Disney World Resort, prompting speculation around what caused the widespread cancellations. Credit: Inside the Magic An Ever-Changing Environment Many Walt Disney World Resort fans were blindsided this week when the Mouse House dropped official updated plans for the “largest expansion” in Magic Kingdom history. The arrival of Piston Peak National Park, a location from the Cars and Planes franchise, at Disney World’s flagship theme park comes at the cost of classic attractions like Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America, which close July 7. The element of evolution has never been more notable than in recent years. Maybe prompted by Universal’s Epic Universe theme park debut or by growing guest demands, Disney World is enacting change in every one of its four theme parks. Credit: Disney While it is easy to get distracted by what is coming to Disney World over the next decade–because that is likely how long some of these projects will take (if they happen at all)–the show must go on. From riding popular attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT and Avatar Flight of Passage in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, or strolling down Sunset Boulevard in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and experiencing character dining in the Magic Kingdom resort area, there is plenty of things to do while construction and closures get underway. In an interesting–and last-minute–turn of events, though, one iconic Disney World resort location was abruptly

Daniel Craig is James Bond no more. James Bond is undergoing another reinvention. Following Daniel Craig’s five-film outing (Casino Royale – No Time to Die), which spanned 15 years, the character also known by the designation “007” will return to theaters but with a different actor taking up the mantle. Amazon MGM Studios is now overseeing all future James Bond installments, having acquired the franchise from the Broccoli dynasty after long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson of EON Productions announced they were stepping down. However, there’s no timescale for the next 007 film. Still, that hasn’t stopped fans from weighing in on who should take over from Daniel Craig, with British actors Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Bullet Train) and Idris Elba (Hobbs & Shaw) among the bookmakers’ favorites. Credit: MGM/EON Productions But now, a new actor has officially stepped into the role in another format. “007 First Light” is an upcoming action-adventure video game developed and published by IO Interactive under license from Amazon MGM Studios, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Eon Productions. It centers on a James Bond origin story similar to Casino Royale (2006), which first saw Daniel Craig portray the iconic MI6 superspy. Credit: MGM/EON Productions Related: Daniel Craig Could Return as James Bond in New Project The new title marks the secret agent’s long-awaited return to the gaming world since “007 Legends” (2012), which was a critical and commercial failure. Bond has enjoyed plenty of success in gaming, though, with

Millions of people visit Walt Disney World Resort every year, and many of those visitors are families with young children. Disney knows that parents need a place to feed their babies or a quiet space for some much-needed rest. Because of this, Baby Care Centers can be found in the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney’s Baby Care Centers provide a number of services, including quiet rooms with rocking chairs, changing rooms, restrooms, kitchens where they can heat bottles, and feeding rooms with plenty of seating and televisions. Credit: Disney Related: What You Need to Know About Baby Care Centers at Disney Parks While the Baby Care Centers can be lifesavers for families with babies and toddlers, one guest felt that Disney and its cast members do not do enough to make sure that breastfeeding moms feel comfortable while using the facilities. Reddit user ForsakenPianist9310 shared that she recently vacationed at Walt Disney World Resort for her birthday. The OP (Original Poster) is a new mom and needed to pump while she was in the park. She went into the Baby Care Center and said that a cast member led her into a room that was meant for mothers who were breastfeeding or pumping. Unfortunately, the experience was not what she was hoping for. Credit: Disney Related: Tips for Bringing a Baby to a Disney Theme Park The OP said she felt very uncomfortable when she saw an entire family

Disney has realized that pledging $17 billion to expand its theme parks and bring billions in revenue and thousands of jobs to Central Florida will buy you quite a few friends. After spending years at each other’s throats, the Walt Disney World Resort and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District have found common ground and, with that, will pledge millions to help Disney expand its parks. Credit: DeSantis/CFTOD/Disney, edited by Inside the Magic Disney has already begun massive expansion projects at Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom and will soon start a large project at Hollywood Studios. However, behind each of those projects, Disney needs the Board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to support the infrastructure of those projects. At its last meeting, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District approved $175 million in bonds to pay for expanded electrical system upgrades and wastewater and drinking water systems for Disney World’s new expansion projects. While Disney World is the District’s largest taxpayer, it still needs its help for these infrastructure projects. At the meeting, District Administrator Stephanie Kopelousos told the Board that the District would be “very busy over the next few years.” Given the scope of Disney World’s projects, she may be underselling it. Credit: Disney To give you an idea of just how much infrastructure Disney World needs in the coming years, we have to look back at what the District has spent recently to keep the behind-the-scenes parts of the District humming.

The Star Wars universe is set to expand once again with Star Wars: Starfighter, helmed by Shawn Levy, the acclaimed director of Deadpool 3 and Free Guy. The film is slated for a May 28, 2027, release and promises to be a unique addition to the Star Wars canon. In a recent announcement, it was revealed that horror star Mia Goth will join the cast alongside Ryan Gosling in what Levy describes as a “standalone” adventure, untethered to the Skywalker saga or other pre-existing narratives. Levy tantalizingly hinted, “This is a standalone. It’s not a prequel, not a sequel. It’s a new adventure. It’s set in a period of time that we haven’t seen explored yet.” This raises questions about where Starfighter might fit within the expansive Star Wars timeline. Credit: Lucasfilm The Expanding Star Wars Timeline Star Wars has explored various eras across its films and TV series: The Prequels (Episodes I-III): These films delve into the Republic’s golden age and its tragic downfall, charting the rise of Emperor Palpatine and the transformation of Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader. The Original Trilogy (Episodes IV-VI): This classic saga focuses on the Rebel Alliance’s fight against the Galactic Empire, culminating in the redemption of Darth Vader and the destruction of the Emperor. The Sequels (Episodes VII-IX): Set decades after the original trilogy, these films explore the resurgenceof the Dark Side through the First Order and the journey of Rey, a new hero who discovers