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Disney Quietly Retires the Cinderella Castle "Let the Magic Begin" Welcome Show at Magic Kingdom: Audio-Only Opening Stays, Even After the Castle Repaint Wraps

Disney Quietly Retires the Cinderella Castle "Let the Magic Begin" Welcome Show at Magic Kingdom: Audio-Only Opening Stays, Even After the Castle Repaint Wraps

Magic Kingdom's "Let the Magic Begin" Cinderella Castle Forecourt show appears to be permanently retired. The webpage and showtimes have been quietly removed from disneyworld.disney.go.com, the audio-only fanfare that started as a January 28 castle-repaint workaround is staying, and Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire returns to its full morning lineup Sunday May 10. The 2017-vintage stage show with Mickey and friends on the Castle Forecourt Stage was the park's opening ritual for nine years.

May 8, 2026 News
Re(d)tro Coconut Club Opens Tonight at Universal CityWalk: 80s and 90s Throwback Overlay at the Red Coconut Club, Select Nights Through July 18

Re(d)tro Coconut Club Opens Tonight at Universal CityWalk: 80s and 90s Throwback Overlay at the Red Coconut Club, Select Nights Through July 18

The Red Coconut Club at Universal CityWalk gets a Re(d)tro Nights overlay starting Friday May 8, 2026 at 6 p.m. The 80s and 90s themed transformation runs on select nights through July 18, with throwback DJ sets, arcade games, and specialty drinks. Free to enter (CityWalk doesn't require a park ticket). Slots between the Cursed Coconut Mardi Gras overlay and the Dead Coconut Club Halloween Horror Nights run.

May 8, 2026 News
Level99 Locks In a Summer 2026 Opening at Disney Springs West Side: 45,000 Square Feet, 63 Mini-Games, and a Two-Story Neon Bar (Plus 150 Jobs Are Hiring Now)

Level99 Locks In a Summer 2026 Opening at Disney Springs West Side: 45,000 Square Feet, 63 Mini-Games, and a Two-Story Neon Bar (Plus 150 Jobs Are Hiring Now)

Level99 confirmed a summer 2026 opening at Disney Springs West Side this morning, with hiring open for 150 entertainment, food, and beverage roles. At more than 45,000 square feet, it will be Level99's fourth and largest location, with 63 mini-games and challenges (vs. roughly 50 at the existing three). Disney Parks Blog cross-posted the news as part of a broader Disney Springs summer roundup that also confirms Six Ravens, a new Gideon's Bakehouse hand-pie concept, at The Landing.

May 7, 2026 News
Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida Debuts a Limited-Time "Pig Family Travel Adventure" Event Memorial Day Weekend, Built Around Baby Evie's First Big Trip

Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida Debuts a Limited-Time "Pig Family Travel Adventure" Event Memorial Day Weekend, Built Around Baby Evie's First Big Trip

Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida (part of Legoland Florida Resort) is launching "Pig Family Travel Adventure," a limited-time passport-and-stamp event running select dates May 23 through June 28. Five themed activity zones (Australia, China, France, South Pole, USA), a park-wide packing scavenger hunt, a special-edition Pop Badge collectible at Mr. Fox's Shop, and an Amazon-sponsored pop-up June 20-21. Included with general admission. Tickets start at $34.

May 7, 2026 News
SeaWorld Orlando Reveals Its Electric Ocean Summer 2026 Lineup: New Drone Show, Three All-New Nighttime Animal Presentations, a Cirque Spectacular, and a DJ Dance Party All Land June 12

SeaWorld Orlando Reveals Its Electric Ocean Summer 2026 Lineup: New Drone Show, Three All-New Nighttime Animal Presentations, a Cirque Spectacular, and a DJ Dance Party All Land June 12

SeaWorld Orlando dropped its full Electric Ocean summer 2026 lineup this morning, kicking off June 12 with three all-new nighttime animal presentations (Shamu Celebration: Light Up The Night, Sea Lions Tonite, Dolphins: Touch the Sky), a hundreds-of-drones spectacle set to a track called "Feeling Electric," a new cirque show called Hydro Surge in the Nautilus Theater, a Bayside Stadium DJ dance party called Club SeaGlow, and the return of the Ignite fireworks finale. Included with park admission, no upcharge.

May 7, 2026 News
Universal Orlando Will Dismantle Lost Continent at Islands of Adventure: Mythos Closes in 2027, Thunder Falls Terrace Becomes a Signature Restaurant, and Joey Fatone is Bringing Hot Dogs to CityWalk

Universal Orlando Will Dismantle Lost Continent at Islands of Adventure: Mythos Closes in 2027, Thunder Falls Terrace Becomes a Signature Restaurant, and Joey Fatone is Bringing Hot Dogs to CityWalk

Universal Orlando dropped a sweeping closures and reimaginings announcement this morning. Lost Continent at Islands of Adventure will be dismantled in phases. Mythos Restaurant, the 1999 opening-day fan favorite, closes in 2027. Thunder Falls Terrace closes summer 2026, transforms into a new full-service signature restaurant for IOA, and reopens in 2027. Hot Dog Hall of Fame at CityWalk closes in July 2026 and is replaced by Fat One's Hot Dogs & Italian Ice, the concept from *NSYNC's Joey Fatone and his manager Joe Mulvihill.

May 7, 2026 News
Pteranodon Flyers' Reopening at Islands of Adventure Just Slipped Another Week to May 22, Leaving Jurassic Park With Two Simultaneous Attraction Closures

Pteranodon Flyers' Reopening at Islands of Adventure Just Slipped Another Week to May 22, Leaving Jurassic Park With Two Simultaneous Attraction Closures

Pteranodon Flyers, the suspended kiddie ride that has flown over Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure since 1999, just had its reopening pushed back another week to Friday, May 22, 2026. Universal has not issued an official explanation, but guest chatter points to brake-system work. The delay overlaps with the Jurassic Park River Adventure closure (down through November 19), leaving Jurassic Park land operating with two simultaneous attraction closures heading into Memorial Day weekend.

May 6, 2026 News
Josh D'Amaro's First Earnings Call as Disney CEO Lands a Fiscal Q2 Parks Record, with Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Shanghai Flagged as 2026 Capital Investment Priorities

Josh D'Amaro's First Earnings Call as Disney CEO Lands a Fiscal Q2 Parks Record, with Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Shanghai Flagged as 2026 Capital Investment Priorities

Disney reported Q2 FY26 earnings this morning, the first as CEO for Josh D'Amaro. The Experiences segment (parks and cruises) posted a fiscal Q2 record at $9.49 billion in revenue and $2.62 billion in operating income, total revenue hit $25.17 billion (up 7 percent), and Disney shares jumped on the report. Per TheWrap, 2026 capital expenditure is concentrated on the new cruise ship plus expansions at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Shanghai Disney Resort.

May 6, 2026 News
Antojitos Throws a Cinco de Mayo Block Party at CityWalk Today: Five Specialty Dishes, Three Aguas Frescas, a Voodoo Margarita Doughnut, and a 4 p.m. Live Entertainment Takeover

Antojitos Throws a Cinco de Mayo Block Party at CityWalk Today: Five Specialty Dishes, Three Aguas Frescas, a Voodoo Margarita Doughnut, and a 4 p.m. Live Entertainment Takeover

Universal CityWalk's Antojitos hosts its 2026 Cinco de Mayo event today (Tuesday May 5) from noon to close. The menu adds Street Elote, three taco builds, a Loaded Baked Potato in two protein options, Guacamole and Chips, and Mexicali Popsicles, plus three aguas frescas. Voodoo Doughnut next door drops a one-day-only Margarita Doughnut. Live entertainment (DJ, dancers, stilt walkers) starts at 4 p.m. CityWalk is free to enter, no park ticket needed.

May 5, 2026 News
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2026 Tickets Go On Sale to Resort Guests Today: Prices Run $119 to $229, with Only Three Nights Under $130

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2026 Tickets Go On Sale to Resort Guests Today: Prices Run $119 to $229, with Only Three Nights Under $130

Resort hotels, Swan and Dolphin, Swan Reserve, and Shades of Green guests can buy Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2026 tickets starting today (Tuesday May 5). Prices run $119 to $229 per ticket plus tax across 38 party nights from August 7 through October 31, with only three sub-$130 dates. Annual Passholders and eligible Disney Vacation Club Members save $10 on tickets for nights between August 7 and October 2. General public on-sale opens May 12.

May 5, 2026 News
Universal's Horror Make-Up Show Heads Into Its Final Week After Nearly 36 Years, with Annual Passholder Reserved Seating Opening Today

Universal's Horror Make-Up Show Heads Into Its Final Week After Nearly 36 Years, with Annual Passholder Reserved Seating Opening Today

Universal's Horror Make-Up Show, an opening-day attraction at Universal Studios Florida since June 1990, plays its final pre-reimagining performance Tuesday, May 12. Annual Passholder reserved seating opens today (May 4) and runs through May 10. Universal calls the closure a "reimagining" with classic and modern horror properties, and the show returns later in 2026.

May 4, 2026 News
Free SeaWorld Day for Veterans, with a Hard May 10 Deadline: How U.S. Veterans Get In Free for Military Appreciation Month (Plus Active-Duty Year-Round Benefit)

Free SeaWorld Day for Veterans, with a Hard May 10 Deadline: How U.S. Veterans Get In Free for Military Appreciation Month (Plus Active-Duty Year-Round Benefit)

SeaWorld Orlando is offering U.S. military veterans a free single-day ticket plus up to three free guest tickets for Military Appreciation Month, with up to six additional tickets at 50 percent off. Registration through Waves of Honor closes Sunday, May 10, with park visits required by June 30. Active-duty service members, activated reservists, and National Guard members continue to receive their separate year-round complimentary admission benefit.

May 3, 2026 News
Volcano Bay Nights Opens: 14 After-Hours Pool Parties Through August 21, $99 a Head with Parking and a Moonlit Krakatau

Volcano Bay Nights Opens: 14 After-Hours Pool Parties Through August 21, $99 a Head with Parking and a Moonlit Krakatau

Universal Orlando lights up Volcano Bay after dark tonight for the 2026 run of Volcano Bay Nights, the resort's after-hours water park party. Tickets are $99 plus tax per person (parking included), the event opens at 7 p.m. with 4 p.m. early water-park entry, and the schedule covers 14 nights through August 21 with passholder discounts and DreamWorks character meet-and-greets.

May 3, 2026 News
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Is Back at Magic Kingdom: 2,000 Bats, a 38-Inch Height Bar, and Lightning Lane Sold Out by 9:11 a.m.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Is Back at Magic Kingdom: 2,000 Bats, a 38-Inch Height Bar, and Lightning Lane Sold Out by 9:11 a.m.

After roughly 16 months down, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened to Magic Kingdom guests Sunday, May 3, with a brand-new track, a redesigned Rainbow Caverns scene packed with more than 2,000 bats, a freshly revealed mother lode of gold, and a 38-inch height requirement that finally lets a new generation of small riders aboard the wildest ride in the wilderness.

May 3, 2026 News
The Muppets Take Hollywood Studios: The L.I.M.O. Launches May 26 with a 5-Track Setlist, Scooter's First-Ever Audio-Animatronic, Plus Cast, AP, and DVC Previews Confirmed Before Opening

The Muppets Take Hollywood Studios: The L.I.M.O. Launches May 26 with a 5-Track Setlist, Scooter's First-Ever Audio-Animatronic, Plus Cast, AP, and DVC Previews Confirmed Before Opening

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets opens at Disney's Hollywood Studios on Tuesday May 26, with a five-track Electric Mayhem setlist (Jennifer Hudson, Questlove, Def Leppard, Kelly Clarkson all guest), the first-ever Audio-Animatronics Scooter, with Cast Member, Annual Passholder, and Disney Vacation Club previews confirmed before opening.

May 2, 2026 News
EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival 2026: Dates Locked at Aug 27 to Nov 21, with Bushberry Shrimp, Galactic Dumplings, and a Boozy Cherry Torte on the Debut List

EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival 2026: Dates Locked at Aug 27 to Nov 21, with Bushberry Shrimp, Galactic Dumplings, and a Boozy Cherry Torte on the Debut List

Disney officially set EPCOT Food and Wine 2026 for August 27 to November 21 (87 days), included with park admission. Three debut dishes confirmed: Street Corn-style Chicken Dumplings at Gyozas of the Galaxy, Grilled Bushberry-spiced Shrimp at Australia, and Kirschwasser Torte at The Alps. Eat to the Beat, Emile's Fromage Montage, and Remy's Hide and Squeak all return.

April 29, 2026 News