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.
- Disney shared several new additions for the Hotels of Disneyland Resort that include new spaces and updated looks. Napa Rose will undergo a makeover with a new interior and upgraded patio space. It will close this spring and reopen in fall 2025. Two all-new Concierge lounges are in the works — High Key Club at Disneyland Hotel (summer 2025), celebrating the music and sounds of Disneyland Park from 1955, and a second club-level lounge at Disney's Grand Californian (2026), inspired by California's giant sequoias. All guest rooms in the Grand Californian will receive a refreshed design with new artwork and colors. Lastly, this summer, Pixar Place Hotel will add two signature suites, themed to "Coco" and "The Incredibles."
- Universal Orlando Resort revealed a hoppin' special events lineup for 2025, guaranteeing fun all year long. From Mardi Gras to Holidays at Universal, we love to see our favorite events return, including Halloween Horror Nights. We're also frogcited and intrigued about the brand-new Universal Volcano Bay Nights, coming this spring. And of course, we can't forget about the grand opening of Universal Epic Universe (for us theme park fans, it's a once-in-a-lifetime event to experience an entirely new theme park!).
- Disney teased us with more details and behind-the-scenes looks at upcoming entertainment at Disney World, including Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, the reimagined Little Mermaid show and Disney Starlight nighttime parade. In the Disney Villains show, Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook and Maleficent will break through the Magic Mirror glass to prove that their stories are just misunderstood. The Disney Princess float in the Disney Starlight parade pays homage to Mary Blair's original concept artwork for "Cinderella." The costuming team is hard at work creating shimmering pieces with innovative lighting techniques so that each look is "kissed by starlight."
- Disneyland Resort has released additional ticket details for Star Wars Nite, a Disneyland After Dark event that is hoppening on select nights in April and May. Inspire Key holders can snag tickets as early as Jan. 28, 2025. All other Magic Key holders can purchase tickets the following day, Jan. 29. Then, general tickets go on sale Jan. 30, directly through the Disneyland Resort website. May the Force be with you!
- There's a new store in town! Disney Wonderful World of Sweets opened in the Downtown Disney District earlier this week. At this sweet shop, you'll find Werther's Original Caramel popcorn, caramel apples, churro toffee and many more treats to satisfy your sweet tooth. Plus, meet Poppi, a new character turned popcorn bucket, available only at this location. It's just one part of Downtown Disney's ongoing transformation, which also includes the recently opened Parkside Market that houses four quick-service eateries.
- Talk about a dine and dash ... the Seven Seas Food Festival 5K Run returns April 12, 2025. Race your way through iconic spots in SeaWorld Orlando, such as Sesame Street Land, Orca Stadium, Shark Plaza and more. Tadpoles can participate in a special Kids Run, designed just for kids ages 7 and under. All 5K participants will get a finisher medal, a T-shirt and a special day-of ticket deal. The first 200 runners to sign up will receive a 5-punch Seven Seas Food & Beverage Lanyard, and the first, second and third-place male and female winners will get annual passes. For more info on the festival, hop over to our Seven Seas Food Festival guide.
- It's the beginning of a long-anticipated journey! Universal Stella Nova Resort debuted Jan. 21, 2025, as the first official hotel on Universal Epic Universe property. Our Frog Family stayed there on opening night, and we were so impressed with all of the theming details — from the porte cochère designed to suck you in like a black hole to the third-floor galaxy hallway filled with twinkling stars. It definitely felt like we were transported to another universe! The best news? You can book your own stay at Universal Stella Nova Resort through Undercover Tourist.
- Disney Cruise Line has increased its recommended gratuity rates to $16 per person, per night (previously $14.50 per person, per night). The gratuities are distributed among your dining room server, dining room assistant server, dining room head server and stateroom host. For guests in Concierge rooms and suites, the rate is $27.25 per person, per night, up from $23.50. You can learn more about how Disney Cruise Line gratuities work in our related blog post.
- Sunny days are ahead! SeaWorld Orlando invites you to its upcoming Just for Kids Weekend (Jan. 25-26, 2025) and Elmo's Birthday Celebration (Feb. 3, 2025). Included with general admission, these events offer exclusive experiences, character greetings and activities in Sesame Street Land. The fun doesn't stop there! Additionally, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will host Sesame Street Kids' Weekends from Jan. 25 to Feb. 9, 2025. Each weekend at Busch Gardens, families can enjoy a special Sesame Street pirate theme with activities that include crafts, dance parties and an all-new show.
That's a wrap on the latest theme park news.
Hoppy planning!