Disney World Magic Kingdom plays Fantasy in the Sky at 6:30pm and 11:50pm on both December 30 and 31, an hour earlier than last year's 7:30pm first show. EPCOT counts down at 11:54pm, Hollywood Studios at 11:57pm, and Animal Kingdom sits the night out.
Universal Orlando Earl the Squirrel, the character inspired by a light-chewing squirrel in the Universal Studios Florida Christmas tree, will fly in the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 26, with dancers and a dancing acorn in tow, then join Universal's own holiday parade after Thanksgiving.
Disney World ABC's holiday schedule puts The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular on Monday, November 30 from 8 to 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, and the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade on Friday, December 25 at 10 a.m. Eastern. Both feature Walt Disney World and Disneyland, and no hosts or performers have been named yet.
Universal Orlando The walls around Luke Combs' Category 10 have grown until they close off CityWalk's main walkway to the Islands of Adventure entrance. Guests now walk between the Universal Legacy Store and Bigfire to Antojitos, come back down between Bigfire and Margaritaville, where two temporary ramps provide wheelchair and stroller access, and reach the bridge at Lone Palm Airport.
Universal Orlando The 2025 TEA Global Experience Index ranks Epic Universe No. 13 in North America with about 4 million visits after its May 22 opening, while Universal Studios Florida fell 2.1% to 9.3 million and Islands of Adventure fell 2.6% to 9.2 million.
Disney World The 2025 TEA Global Experience Index puts Magic Kingdom at No. 1 worldwide with 17.8 million visits, all four Disney World theme parks down 0.2%, and Blizzard Beach up 50.5% to 1.35 million after a summer open alongside Typhoon Lagoon.
SeaWorld Orlando The 2025 TEA Global Experience Index puts SeaWorld Orlando at 4,335,000 visits (down 0.3%), just ahead of Knott's Berry Farm, while Aquatica Orlando ranked No. 3 among North American water parks and Discovery Cove rose 9.2% to 403,000.
Universal Orlando Reservations are open for The Grinch & Friends Character Breakfast at Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous, November 14 through January 3. Adults now pay $64.99 and kids $38.99, both $6 more than last year, for one plated entree and one non-alcoholic drink.
Disney World Disney has pushed the outdoor Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace at the Polynesian from late October to mid-December, blaming the same Great Ceremonial House work. It closed April 18, so by mid-December it will have been dark for about eight months. The indoor Grog Grotto stays open.
Disney World Disney's 2026 holiday foodie guide puts the Open Face Turkey Smash back at The Polite Pig from November 11 through January 11, a two month run for the Thanksgiving sandwich. In 2023 it arrived November 15 and was gone by December 11. One guest says a chef told them November 1, which would be earlier still.
SeaWorld Orlando SeaWorld Orlando's ride schedule page now lists Infinity Falls and Abby's Flower Tower as closing Monday, November 2 for annual maintenance, with no reopening date given. The 400-foot Sky Tower is listed as temporarily closed right now. With Journey to Atlantis already closed Monday through Thursday, November Monday through Thursday visits get noticeably drier, at least at first.
Universal Orlando New bioreconstruct aerials published by WDW News Today show concrete being cast for foundation pilings behind Monsters Unchained, and the photographer says the regular spacing of the pilings now shows the outline of a future show building. Nothing has risen above ground yet, and Universal still has not said what the ride is.
Disney World Cast members at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort started switching to new costumes on Sunday, and WDW News Today reports that every new look is a button-up shirt with khaki pants, with no skirt option. Front desk and BouTiki cast members could previously wear skirts. Neither outlet reported a reason for the change.
SeaWorld Orlando Six Flags CEO John Reilly said the company will put seat belts on Goliath and other coasters that use a similar restraint, and a spokesperson later named three rides in all. SeaWorld's Mako, a B&M hyper coaster that reopened October 20, has not had any changes announced, and the AP's story does not include a reply from SeaWorld to its question about seat belts.
Disney World Disney World stretched hours for November 8 to 14: Magic Kingdom opens at 8am on three Christmas party days, stays open to 11pm on November 10 and 11, and runs 8am-11pm on November 14. Animal Kingdom closes later on four days, and Hollywood Studios opens at 8:30am on the 14th.
Disney World Disney's 2026 holiday foodie guide lists 11 items at Santa's Holiday Grove, 10 of them new, from November 13 through January 3. Five other Animal Kingdom dining spots start a week earlier on November 6, Hollywood Studios starts November 7 and most of Magic Kingdom starts November 8. No prices are listed yet.
Legoland Florida The LEGOLAND Express booking page now sells seats from the DoubleTree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Orlando, with an 8:15 a.m. pickup, alongside ICON Park. Bookable dates run from October 30 into the holidays and end January 3, 2027, though Legoland's own shuttle page still lists only ICON Park.
Universal Orlando Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, but you can buy Avengers: Doomsday merchandise at Universal. Photos published by Attractions Magazine show Doctor Doom shirts, an electronic mask and a Nerf blaster at the Marvel Alterniverse Store in Islands of Adventure on October 21. The magazine points to Universal's 1994 Marvel theme park deal.
Disney World The upper front of the Hollywood Tower Hotel at Disney's Hollywood Studios is out from behind its scaffolding, and the repainted lightning scar that was peeking through gaps a week earlier now shows clearly in purple, blue and indigo above the hotel sign. Scaffolding still covers the sides, rear and lower front, and Tower of Terror is still running.
Universal Orlando Crews tearing down The Lost Continent at Universal Islands of Adventure have now reached Mythos Restaurant itself. Video posted October 25 and filmed across the lagoon shows a big piece of the themed rock on the back of the restaurant removed, a yellow turbidity barrier in the water at its base, and the guest path behind Mythos completely walled off. Mythos remains open and is still slated to close in 2027.
Disney World WDW News Today reported Sunday evening that Randy Morris, the original ragtime pianist at what is now Casey's Corner on Main Street, U.S.A., died on October 25, 2026. He played for Magic Kingdom's opening-day crowds in 1971 and came back 50 years later to play the same song, "Maple Leaf Rag," at the same spot.
SeaWorld Orlando Aquatica's February press release said its Illuminate lantern festival would return in 2026 with expanded displays. As of October 25 the event page still says to check back for dates, and Aquatica's events page lists only 2027 events. Last year it was announced October 16 and opened November 8.
Disney World WDWMagic reports the Singing Spirits Pool Bar at Disney's All-Star Music Resort closes for refurbishment November 2 and is expected to stay closed into early 2027, with a temporary pool bar nearby. WDW News Today says November 11. We found no closure notice on Disney's website.
SeaWorld Orlando First responders nationwide can claim one free ticket to SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay through ID.me, but registration closes October 31 and the visit must happen by December 31. Adventure Island, part of last year's offer, is not on this year's list.
Disney World Part of the main lobby at Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside is closed for refurbishment. Check-in still works from the far end of the room, the lobby restrooms are closed (use the ones at River Roost), and the guest mailbox is now inside Fulton's General Store.
Universal Orlando Aerial photographer bioreconstruct posted video of the track switch serving Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift's 170-foot spike shifting between its two positions on October 24, paired with separately recorded audio of the air hiss as it locks. New aerials also show the brake run, the station and new paving on the CityWalk waterfront path.
Disney World With November 25, November 27 and December 18 now gone, 13 of the 25 party nights are sold out and no Thanksgiving week night is left. Twelve nights remain, from $194 on November 15 and 19 up to $229 on December 17.
SeaWorld Orlando SeaWorld Orlando has posted the food and drink menu for its 2026 Christmas Celebration, with new Lotus Biscoff and S'mores beignets, a three cheese ravioli, Ropa Vieja Festiva, Holiday Wings and seven new drinks. Prices and sampler lanyards are not listed yet.
Disney World Disney has named Jordan Fisher as the Candlelight Processional narrator for November 27 and 28, the two opening nights that had read To Be Announced since Auli'i Cravalho came off the list on October 6. Every night from November 27 to December 30 now has a narrator.
SeaWorld Orlando SeaWorld Orlando's November Pass Member perks include a free one-time Quick Queue from November 1 to 9, a free sea lion, stingray or shark feeding, $10 in SeaWorld Bucks and 30% off the Sharks Up-Close Tour and the Trainer for a Day Experience. There is no free guest ticket on the SeaWorld list so far, while Aquatica's November list is just one perk, and it is one.
