Hi there! Welcome to our weekly roundup of the most interesting theme park news around Universal Orlando, the Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland Resort, other theme parks and more.
- If you're planning a theme park trip in 2025, listen up! We've got many exciting hoppenings to look forward to next year, and we learned some new details from Disney and Universal this week. First up, Disneyland Resort revealed its full special events lineup — for all the details, hop over to our Disneyland events guide. From Lunar New Year to Holiday Time, there isn't a single month without something special going on at the parks. Disneyland After Dark events and fan-favorite festivals return, plus I hear someone is celebrating a milestone birthday ...
- That's right! Disneyland Resort is celebrating its 70th Anniversary in 2025, and it's only fitting that Disney shared these new details on Walt's birthday. Kicking off May 16, 2025, the big birthday party continues through summer 2026. Disneyland will see the return of Wondrous Journeys fireworks, Paint the Night nighttime parade, Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration parade and a brand-new World of Color show. "Walt Disney – A Magical Life," which features the first Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney, will also debut at the Main Street Opera House theater at Disneyland Park. Learn all the party details in our 70th Celebration guide, and don't froget to RSVP!
- Let's hop over to some Walt Disney World updates now! Disney narrowed down some opening timelines for the reimagined Test Track (late summer 2025), Spaceship Earth lounge (late spring) and Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge (late 2025). We learned the full names of the new Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After show and Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away nighttime parade. And maybe the best news of all? There's still plenty of time to say goodbye to DINOSAUR, which will remain open through 2025 before its extinction. Don't miss everything else that's coming to Disney World in 2025 and the far future.
- Universal Studios Hollywood rolled out the red carpet for its star event lineup in 2025. Fan-favorite Halloween Horror Nights will return on select nights from Sept. 4 to Nov. 2, 2025. Plus, Universal is introducing Universal Fan Fest Nights in the spring and a new summer event that will be announced soon.
- We spent part of our Thanksgiving weekend at the movies to see "Moana 2." Needless to say, Lily is obsessed and won't stop singing "What Could Be Better Than This?" all around the pond. If you can't get enough like Lily, be sure to seek out the limited-time "Moana 2" experiences at Disney Parks. Moana is meeting her new outfit at Hollywood Land in Disney California Adventure Park (Disneyland Resort) and by her attraction, Journey of Water, at EPCOT (Walt Disney World Resort). You can learn to draw characters such as Moana, Maui, Heihei, Pua and Kotu at the Animation Experience in Disney California Adventure and Animal Kingdom. Plus, there are some themed snacks and foods at both resorts. Can I get a Chee Hoo?
- Say aloha to Wailulu Bar & Grill, the casual walk-up pool bar and grill at the brand-new Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Opening Dec. 17, 2024, the menu celebrates Polynesian flavors with dishes including Sweet Potato Hummus with Breadfruit Tostones and Spiced Ham Musubi. The beverage menu also features classic ingredients such as hibiscus flowers, sake, yuzu, pandan, oolong tea, coffee and passionfruit.
- Foolish mortals may now step into the grounds of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland Park. The expanded queue has so many hidden details including statues of ravens, Master Gracey's favorite garden spot and the garden of Madame Leota filled with eccentric and mystical trinkets. Haunted Mansion no longer uses the virtual queue, and is available on Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Premier Pass. Coming later this winter, Madame Leota's Somewhere Beyond gift shop will materialize with Haunted Mansion and "Nightmare Before Christmas"-themed merchandise.
- Kilimanjaro Safaris welcomes a new pride of lion siblings, Mshango, Zahara and Neema, to Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. You'll be able to spot them on kopjes rocks out on the savanna on your next safari ride.
That's a wrap on the latest theme park news.
Hoppy planning!
