Hi there! Welcome to our weekly roundup of the most interesting theme park news around the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood and other theme parks.
- Our favorite band is back together with some fresh country hits and fabulous new looks! Country Bear Musical Jamboree debuts July 17, 2024, at Walt Disney World Resort. Deep dive into the secret history of the former Country Bear Jamboree and find out what to expect in the all-new show. You won't "bear-lieve" it!
- Say, "Beignets!" Disney released new photo-ops related to Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World. Of course, PhotoPass will capture the moment you take the plunge into the bayou, but you can also expect a few other surprises. Disney will offer a commemorative print package for $32.95+tax. The print package will feature an 8×10 print of your attraction photo, two recipe cards, a note from Tiana and two specialty prints of Tiana and friends. You also receive a digital copy of the attraction photo in your photo gallery in the My Disney Experience app. Enjoy an all-new Magic Shot from PhotoPass photographers, as well as a new Disney PhotoPass lens. Hop over to our guide about Disney PhotoPass for more info.
- Disney's Animal Kingdom is celebrating 30 years of "The Lion King" through Sept. 6, 2024. Guests can enjoy character greetings, themed food and drinks, merchandise items and other special surprises. Learn about the Festival of the Lion King show and other must-do attractions at Animal Kingdom.
- We also got a sneak peak of “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.” The all-new theatrical production makes a splash at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this fall. According to Show Director James Silson, "We’re really blending the line between real and digital in ways we’ve never done before to completely fill the stage for these show-stopping scenes. You’re going to see these large new physical set pieces we’ve created blend seamlessly with a digital environment in a way that really fills the stage. You’ll see digital puppets transform into real ones right before your eyes. You’ll even see animated characters performing in the same space as real actors. It’s going to feel like magic!” We frogs cannot wait to be part of that world!
- Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood tickets are on sale now, and our screamin' guide to Halloween Horror Nights has all the dastardly deets. Not only that, but we have our first all-new house announcement for Hollywood. Silence your screams as you enter A Quiet Place. This post-apocalyptic world is based on Paramount Pictures' "A Quiet Place" and "A Quiet Place Part II." In this place, "if they hear you, they hunt you," so be ready for some excruciating silence. This house is the first one to feature American Sign Language. Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood returns select nights from Sept. 5 through Nov. 3, 2024.
- Great Scott! Universal Studios Hollywood announced a special "Buy a Day, Get a Second Day Free" ticket for visits this summer through Dec. 18, 2024. And the good news is that you can save even more on this deal with discount tickets as low as $103.99 for adults through Undercover Tourist! Ribbit ribbit! You still have time to catch the 60th Anniversary of the Studio Tour this summer. Then you can use your second day to experience Grinchmas this holiday season. You'll pick a date for your first visit, and blackout dates apply for the second visit.
- You can Celebrate Soulfully this June at Disneyland Resort with special entertainment, food offerings and art. Peach Mickey beignets at Mint Julep bar? Yes, please!
- While we are talking about Disneyland, more restaurants quietly joined the Disneyland dining reservation system this week. You can now reserve meals at the newest Downtown Disney restaurant locations, Paseo and Céntrico, as well as Hearthstone Lounge at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Find out all the best places to eat at the Disneyland hotels.
- Pixar Fest is well underway, but new surprises are hoppin' up! Anger from the “Inside Out” films is joining the hot summer fun at Disney California Adventure just in time for “Inside Out 2” to hit the theaters! You can meet Anger at the Pixar Pier Band Shell in Disney California Adventure as of June 14, 2024! You can meet over 20 Pixar characters at Pixar Fest, enjoy special entertainment, try Pixar-themed foods and so much more. Read all about it in our Pixar Fest Guide. You will not have a chance to get "hangry" with all these Pixar-themed menu items.
- Universal Orlando is having one hoppin' summer! Kicking off today, June 14, 2024, DreamWorks Land and new entertainment offerings officially debut. CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular features high-tech special effects, fountains and 600 drones to celebrate Universal stories from the past, present and future. Over at Islands of Adventure, watch the new castle projection show, Hogwarts Always, which takes you on a journey through a typical school year at Hogwarts. Plus, stay tuned for the Universal Mega Movie Parade, debuting July 3, 2024, and explore the brand-new Epic Universe Preview Center in Universal CityWalk.
That's a wrap on theme park news this week!
Hoppy planning!
