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.
- With the holiday season quickly approaching, Disneyland Resort hotels are hosting special holiday dining experiences you won't want to miss! Introducing Holiday Tea at Hearthstone Lounge, you'll be able to join Santa Claus himself and Mrs. Claus for premium loose-leaf teas and treats on select days from Dec. 3 to Dec. 24. Bookings open Oct. 31, 2024, for this new experience. As previously announced, Mickey's Holiday Pajama Party Breakfast and Brunch will take place at Storytellers Cafe from Nov. 1 to Jan. 1, 2025, and Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays returns from Nov. 19 to Jan. 2, 2025. Reservations for these two experiences are now open.
- It's hoppening! Everybody stay calm! We had the most "epic" tickets go on sale this week. No, literally. Universal launched the first phase of Epic Universe tickets on Oct. 22, 2024, and you can snag big savings on Epic Universe tickets through your favorite frogs! Universal Orlando's fourth park opens May 22, 2025. These tickets work a little differently than other theme park tickets during the initial opening period, so hop over to our Universal Epic Universe tickets guide for all the deets.
- Reservations for the Universal Helios Grand Hotel also opened this week. This new hotel at Universal Orlando opens May 22, 2024, the same day as Epic Universe. This Mediterranean-inspired resort offers theme park views and a dedicated entrance into Epic Universe (with early theme park admission). Head to our Helios Grand Hotel page to book your room!
- We got a sneak peek of the new "Moana"-inspired splash pad at the new Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Fun fact: the life-size figurine of Moana is positioned as if she's heading straight toward the water of Seven Seas Lagoon.
- If you are heading to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, you might want to wear your stretchy pants. You'll know what I'm talking about after taking a look at the Foodie Guide. Want more money for party treats? Save up to $10 per ticket on your Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party tickets!
- One of the Frog Family's favorite festivals returns in early 2025! Get your paintbrushes poised as we now have Festival of the Arts dates for 2025. The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts runs Jan. 17 to Feb. 24, 2025!
- SeaWorld Orlando announced a new thrilling special event to ring in the holiday season — Coasters After Dark: Christmas Edition. This festive nighttime event takes place on select nights from November through December, starting Nov. 8, 2024. Coasters and Christmas lights with limited capacity? Yes, please!
- Disney Cruise Line celebrated the final construction milestone for the Disney Treasure this week. The new ship, set to sail on its maiden voyage in December, was delivered over Disney Cruise Line in the Netherlands, which marks the transfer of ownership and thus the Disney Treasure is officially part of the Disney Cruise Line fleet!
- At Disneyland, we took our first trip down the bayou this week for the first day of Magic Key holder previews for Tiana's Bayou Adventure on Oct. 21. The ride operates with a virtual queue during previews and will continue to do so once it opens to everyone Nov. 15, 2024. Learn more about how to secure your spot in our virtual queues post and more about the ride in our Tiana's Bayou Adventure post. Let's just say it opened with a big splash, but we frogs can handle a little water.
- The Disneyland Kids Special Offer ticket is back and on sale now! You can take the tadpoles to Disneyland for as little as $47 per day from Jan. 7 through March 20, 2025. Get your Kids Special Offer tickets through Undercover Tourist to save up to $258 per ticket! Be sure to reserve your dates early. Adults can take advantage of Adults at Child Prices tickets too (for a limited time)! Find out more tips on how to save on Disneyland tickets. In other Disneyland ticket news, Magic Key passes will be back on sale, starting Nov. 6, 2024!
- The Broken Spell Lounge opened at Disneyland Hotel on Oct. 21. It has a "Sleeping Beauty" theme. The lounge opens daily from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. for burgers, wings, sandwiches, pizzas, themed drinks and more. It's open to all guests, so feel free to hop in on your next visit. It's the newest in many great Disneyland Resort hotel dining options.
- We got a look at the runDisney race medal designs this week for the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend in January. Hop over to our full guide to runDisney races at Disneyland. Additionally, runDisney showed off race merch for Disney World's Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, and it's toadally cute!
- Universal Studios Hollywood teased a little more about the upcoming Fan Fest nights in spring 2025. Travel back in time to 1955 to explore Hill Valley. You can step inside the actual Courthouse Square and meet the characters from "Back to the Future." Learn more about this and other Fan Fest hoppenings (including dates) in our Universal Fan Fest Nights post.
- Time to charge up your MagicBand+ before a Disney World visit. They just got a little more fun in shows, interacting with lighting and vibration effects during Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue ... and Beyond! The effects come soon to Turtle Talk with Crush. Get in on the fun with our guide to MagicBand+ at Disney World.
- Peppa Pig Theme Park in Dallas-Fort Worth opens March 1, 2025. Tickets go on sale live to the public Nov. 19, 2024! Oink, oink! Our toddler Lily can't wait to visit! Learn more about the new Peppa Pig Theme Park in our blog.
That's a wrap on the latest theme park news.
Hoppy planning!
