Michael Travels is a seasoned Orlando theme parks expert with over three decades of hands-on experience exploring, photographing, and analyzing Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and the surrounding attractions. Through his concise, entertaining updates and bite-sized news posts, he keeps busy park enthusiasts informed on the latest developments, openings, closures, rumors, and hidden gems, delivering the essential info without the time commitment of long-form articles.
Legoland Florida Brick or Treat's event page now lists September 19, 26 and 27. The new Sunday date runs on a 10am to 7pm theme park day, an hour shorter than the event's Saturdays, with no drone show. LEGOLAND's own blog posts still say the event runs on select dates September 5 through October 31.
Universal Orlando The Orlando Fire Department says an animatronic at Universal Orlando caught fire on August 27 while its attraction was closed, and Universal staff put it out. The report does not name the ride, but the date lines up with the day Skull Island: Reign of Kong's closure began, and the ride was still closed on September 17.
Disney World A Disney patent application published September 17 describes a ride boat that tips its rear end down below the loading platform, lets a wheelchair or scooter roll onto a platform, then levels out as the platform, which can move by gravity alone, rolls into the boat. Disney has not tied it to any attraction.
SeaWorld Orlando SeaWorld Orlando has added an "ALL-NEW Magnets Miniseries" to its Howl-O-Scream page. Seven collectible magnets drop one a week from Friday, September 18 through Friday, October 30, in limited quantities, at Howl-O-Flix, Wild Arctic and Reef Treasures.
Legoland Florida PEPPA PIG Theme Park Florida's event page now lists nine Halloween party dates instead of 11, with Fridays October 9 and 16 gone. The page also now offers passholders a Peppa Pig plush from October 1 through 11 and lists two Halloween treats at Miss Rabbit's Diner.
Disney World Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT will play Earth, Wind and Fire's "September" all day on Monday, September 21. Disney is also pointing fans to a Star-Lord meet and to the Supernova Sip, a new drink sold at Connections Café and Eatery on September 21 only.
Universal Orlando New aerial photos of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Florida show shipping container theming along the launch, where WDW News Today says cars will drive under the trailer of a jackknifed truck. Steel is also rising for a new facade beside the Ghostbusters firehouse, which Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit went through but the new coaster does not, and a new sidewalk under the track by the lagoon is getting supports likely meant for a net.
Disney World Starting Friday, September 25, Alien Swirling Saucers at Disney's Hollywood Studios becomes Alien Swirling Saucers: Lilypad's Jams, with a new soundtrack hosted by the frog-shaped tablet from Toy Story 5. Expect remixed Toy Story classics, new songs like Pizza Planet Promo, and a DJ show for guests whether or not they ride.
SeaWorld Orlando SeaWorld Orlando has put its 2027 summer day camps on sale with $100 off every grade level: $395 for kindergarten through 5th grade camps (regularly $495), $445 for middle and high school camps (regularly $545) and $290 for the preschool adult and camper pair (regularly $390). Weekly sessions starting every Monday from May 31 to August 2, 2027 are already bookable.
Universal Orlando Concept art for Luke Combs' Category 10 now wraps the construction walls at Universal CityWalk Orlando, with at least two panels under a Coming to CityWalk Late 2027 banner. The pieces show at least two noticeably different versions of the three-story venue: the gold-capped design released in February and a flat-roofed look with a red-clad corner tower and a giant Luke Combs mural. Aerials show the riverfront land has been raised, with little vertical construction so far.
Disney World A Walt Disney World monorail headed to EPCOT on September 8 lost power after a lightning strike, and a passenger says riders were stuck for an hour and a half. She says the driver talked them through taking out a window, and that guest relations handed out water, $50 Disney gift cards and Lightning Lane passes once they were off the train.
Disney World The Disney Water Park Seasonal Pass is back at $89 plus tax for ages 10 and up and $83 for ages 3 to 9, the same prices as last season. The difference is the window: it is good through May 15, 2027, against May 9 for a pass that went on sale in December. With Typhoon Lagoon closed for refurbishment, Blizzard Beach is the only park it opens right now.
Universal Orlando Universal Celestial Goodnight played without fireworks at Epic Universe on Monday, September 14, and one aerial photographer says the fireworks had already been missing for weeks. Universal's X account says the fireworks portion is temporarily unavailable while it works to resolve a technical issue, and that a return date is not available yet. The fountains, lights and music still run.
Universal Orlando The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen hosts a 10th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, September 19, from 3 to 6 p.m., with a chocolate dipping station, a Chocolate Origins showcase and engraved chocolate coins. A five-dish anniversary menu plus a Cheers to 10 Years! shake runs through September 30. Universal has not posted prices.
Disney World A Guided Search BETA tab is rolling out in a limited beta to randomly selected guests in the US and Canada. Type something like "I want to stay at a resort with a nice pool" and it pulls up resorts and tickets, applies the best offer for each room type, and adds a pricing calendar and a resort map. It cannot book multiple rooms together yet.
Universal Orlando Universal Orlando named five dishes and six cocktails for Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month across three parks and CityWalk, including a return for Voodoo Doughnut's Margarita Doughnut.
SeaWorld Orlando Just One More Chapter, the romantasy-inspired scare zone at Howl-O-Scream, opened September 11 with masked, bare-chested performers in a gothic garden. Some of the first videos are gaining traction online, and the comments range from delighted to cringing to asking whether SeaWorld is still about sea life.
Universal Orlando Erica Sinclair's Pie at Halloween Horror Nights 35 originally came with a fondant speech bubble reading "I told you to eat your damn pie!!!" A social media video shows the topper has been swapped for a censored version. The $9 mini vanilla cream pie is still sold with the new topper.
Disney World Guests checking in at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground report receiving an updated rules handout with a Guest-Initiated Activities section, according to KennythePirate. It bans bartending or serving alcohol to other guests and events that impede resort operations, such as blocking roads or parking, requires written approval to sell or advertise goods or services, and lets Disney cancel guest activities without notice or refund.
Disney World WDW News Today found the twister set piece on Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway not spinning and the Daisy animatronic leaning to one side this week. In the queue, Disney has taped over peeling wallpaper seams, and at child height some of that tape has been removed.
