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.
- Even the Grinch can't resist — Universal Orlando's Holiday Celebration returns Nov. 22, 2024! Enjoy festive fun such as the Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle, Grinchmas and the spectacular Universal Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s. With festive treats and live shows, this celebration is packed with holiday cheer and runs through Dec. 31, all included with park admission. The Universal Holiday Tour and The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast are also returning for the season and are available to book now!
- Time to bust out your running shoes! runDisney shared a first look at the 2025-2026 season calendar this week, including the return of the Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon Weekend (Sept. 4-7, 2025) and Disney World's Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend (Oct. 23-26, 2025).
- Halloween Horror Nights fans, all your dreams — or should we say nightmares — are coming true! Universal Horror Unleashed, a permanent horror experience, is coming to Las Vegas in 2025. Designed for year-round scares, it will feature a rotating lineup of attractions inspired by popular horror films and original concepts. This experience will also feature live entertainment and themed food and drink offerings. And opening houses were just announced, including Universal Monsters, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Scarecrow: The Reaping and Blumhouse’s The Exorcist: Believer.
- It's alive! Universal Orlando Resort shared a jaw-dropping sneak peek at the monster animatronics that will be featured in Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. This dark ride will be located at the all-new Epic Universe theme park opening May 22, 2025! Guests will experience an experiment demonstration that goes awry as monsters such as Dracula, The Wolf Man and The Creature from the Black Lagoon are unleashed, leading to a thrilling escape. Learn more about what else you can expect from the Universal Monsters in our guide to Dark Universe at Epic Universe.
- It's snow-joke! Disney's Blizzard Beach water park is officially reopening Nov. 4, 2024! New savory and sweet menu items such as the barbecue pork sandwich, apple pie churro and praline sundae and premium peppermint shake will be available this season. Don't froget that starting in 2025, guests at Walt Disney Resort can enjoy complimentary access to one of the two Disney water parks on their check-in day! And wink, wink! You can some green by purchasing your Walt Disney World vacation package with your favorite frogs here at Undercover Tourist.
- Time to power up! The special-release Golden Power-Up Band is now available for purchase within the land and at Super Nintendo World retail shops at Universal Studios Hollywood, as of Feb. 17, 2024. It's part of the one-year anniversary celebration of the Super Nintendo World opening. Leap over to guides on how to use Super Nintendo Power-Up Bands and Super Nintendo World for the full scoop!
- "Sea-sons" greetings! SeaWorld Orlando's annual Christmas Celebration is set to return Nov. 16, 2024, and will run through Jan. 5, 2025. Guests can enjoy live performances, twinkling lights and festive decorations throughout the park. Also included with general admission is the Santa Claus meet and greet, Sesame Street Christmas Parade and the Holiday Reflections fireworks show on select nights. The best part? It's all included with regular SeaWorld Park admission. Visit our complete guide to SeaWorld Orlando's Christmas Celebration for more info.
- Likewise, SeaWorld San Diego's Christmas Celebration will kick off Nov. 15, 2024, featuring three exciting new entertainment options: A Stocking Full of Soul, the Happy Harbor Holiday show and Mrs. Claus' Christmas Parade. Families can also enjoy a special meet-and-greet with Santa's reindeer visiting from the North Pole. All holiday activities are included with general park admission. Of course, you can save money by purchasing your tickets through Undercover Tourist!
- Let's set sail! The Disney Treasure has begun her transatlantic journey from Eemshaven, Netherlands, to Port Canaveral, Florida. This 4,500-mile trip will take two weeks and includes a stop in Funchal, Portugal, before continuing its voyage. During the crossing, the crew will finalize preparations for the ship's maiden voyage on Dec. 21. Disney Treasure will then be an official part of the Disney Cruise Line fleet!
- Now you can have your cake and eat it too! The Cake Bake Shop at Disney's BoardWalk opened this week. This charming new dining spot has a bakery, bar and separate dining room. The menu includes breakfast cakes, salads, soups, sandwiches and quiche — just to list a few. Walk-ups are welcome at both the bakery and restaurant. Reservations are currently being offered through OpenTable. Dessert and cocktails are available all day. Yum!
That's a wrap on the latest theme park news.
Hoppy planning!
