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.
Weekly Roundup of Theme Park News
- In honor of the United States' Semiquincenntenial (aka 250th birthday), Soarin' is getting a limited-time journey at both Disney California Adventure Park and EPCOT in summer 2026. Patrick, Chief Flight Attendant, helped share the news of Soarin' Across America, which will feature more than a dozen of the country's iconic natural landscapes and city skylines. And of course, it won't be complete without new scents! Additionally, "Disney's Celebrate America! — A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky," the special Fourth of July fireworks show, will play across three nights, July 3-5, 2026, at Magic Kingdom Park and Disneyland (usually it's just two nights at Magic Kingdom!).
- Celebrating all forms of creativity, EPCOT International Festival of the Arts will run from Jan. 16 through Feb. 23, 2026. Returning experiences include the Disney on Broadway Concert Series, Figment's Brush with the Masters scavenger hunt and over 20 Food Studios offering art-inspired cuisine. A new Disney Lorcana trading card game will showcase artwork on the cards themselves and feature family-friendly activities. For more details about the event, hop over to our Festival of the Arts guide. Time to start practicing your art skills!
- Universal Orlando announced its annual Mardi Gras event will kick off Feb. 7 and continue daily through April 4, 2026. From energetic street performers and pop concerts to international food booths, it's a party for the whole family! The biggest highlight is the Mardi Gras parade, with its vibrant floats, lively music and, of course, an endless amount of beads to catch. Learn more about the tadpole-friendly event in our Mardi Gras guide.
- We're getting closer and closer to the glitz and glam of Disney Jollywood Nights! This week, we learned more about the VIPs attending, aka your favorite Disney pals. New characters are joining the jubilee, including Bing Bong from "Inside Out," Miguel from "Coco" and Partysaurus Rex. Plus, it will be the first time celebrating Life Day with Chewbacca in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Now that we know who's going, what will we eat? #priorities ... Disney dropped the Jollywood Nights Foodie Guide, with over 35 brand-new items and a grand total of 82 exclusive bites and bevvies.
- New bites have recently landed at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Keep an eye out for pulled pork and chicken arepas, Colombian-style hot dogs and churros at select locations. With Harambe Market now closed for refurbishment, you can still find rice bowls and wraps at Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery, which will be open for breakfast and lunch.
- Planning a Universal Orlando trip? Good news! 2026 tickets are here, and you can save some green when you get discount tickets from Undercover Tourist! Best of all, starting in the new year, Universal Epic Universe, the newest theme park, will have multi-day access with 3-Day tickets or longer. For a full breakdown of ticket options, hop here. (And if you're looking for a quick getaway before the year ends, we still have 2025 inventory too!)
- As a limited-time deal, you can save up to 35% off voyage fare on select Disney Cruise Line sailings when you select a stateroom under the Guaranteed Staterooms with Restrictions category. This means you'll select either a Verandah, Oceanview or Inside stateroom category when booking. Then Disney Cruise Line will assign your exact stateroom closer to the sailing date. If you don't have a room preference, this is a frogtastic way to score a lower rate!
That's a wrap on the latest theme park news.
Hoppy planning!
