Walt Disney World Weekly News: Muppets Coaster Opening Date, Big Thunder Returns, and Wilderness Lodge Boats Down (Week of April 13, 2026)

Walt Disney World had one of its biggest news weeks of the spring. Two major Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom reopenings locked in firm dates, the Wilderness Lodge boats went down for a multi-month dock rebuild, the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is humming through its midseason, and the Disney Destiny pulled back the curtain on how a Wish-class ship actually runs. Here's your quick-scan rundown for the week of April 13, 2026.

1. Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets opening date confirmed: May 26, 2026

Disney locked in the date this week: Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets officially opens at Disney's Hollywood Studios on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 — the day after Memorial Day. The reimagined coaster swaps Aerosmith for Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem and replaces the limo-to-a-concert story with a zany Muppets-led road trip.

Key details confirmed this week:

• New narrative. Guests now check in at G-Force Records and board the L.I.M.O. (Lengthy Immediate Motion Object) for a high-speed ride across a reimagined Hollywood.
• New animatronics, including a new Scooter figure, plus refreshed show scenes throughout the ride.
• First song revealed: the Electric Mayhem's "Song 2" is confirmed on the setlist; Disney said the full song list is coming soon.
• Previews for cast members, eligible DVC members, and Annual Passholders are expected ahead of the May 26 general opening, though Disney hasn't yet released dates or booking instructions.

Sources: Disney Parks Blog, Inside the Magic, WDW News Today, Blog Mickey.

2. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens May 3 after a 16-month rebuild

After closing in January 2025 for a top-to-bottom refurbishment, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom will reopen on Sunday, May 3, 2026 — roughly a week after Rock 'n' Roller Coaster's preview window begins at Hollywood Studios.

What's actually new on "the wildest ride in the wilderness":

• Completely replaced track and brand-new ride vehicles.
• Refreshed Audio-Animatronics and new gold-themed props throughout the mine scenes.
• A reimagined Rainbow Caverns opening scene, plus restored effects that had been offline for years.
• New height requirement: 38" — down from 40", opening the ride up to more kids.
• The attraction has already reappeared on the Lightning Lane booking list in My Disney Experience.

Sources: WDW News Today, Blog Mickey, Inside the Magic, Disney Parks Blog.

3. Wilderness Lodge boats go dark through May 1 for dock rebuild

Starting Monday, April 13, 2026, the boat docks at Disney's Wilderness Lodge closed for refurbishment. Boat transportation is suspended entirely from April 13 through May 1, with broader dock construction continuing in the background through late July 2026.

What's affected:

• Boat service between Wilderness Lodge and Magic Kingdom, Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, and Disney's Contemporary Resort is offline during the window.
• Bus transportation will cover the Magic Kingdom route in place of the boat.
• Boat service is expected to return May 2, though dock construction will continue through late July.

The dock work is part of a broader Wilderness Lodge refurbishment effort — including exterior repainting and updates to the main lodge and Copper Creek Cabins & Villas — that's scheduled to continue through late 2026.

Sources: Inside the Magic, Blog Mickey, WDWMAGIC.

4. EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival hits its midseason stride

The 2026 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival (March 4 – June 1) is now past the halfway point, with 20+ outdoor kitchens, 60+ character topiaries, and the Garden Rocks Concert Series all running at full capacity across the park.

Midseason menu note:

• As of April 6, the Farmer's Feast booth swapped its "Early Bloom" menu for a new "Springtime" lineup that will carry the outdoor kitchen through the rest of the festival.
• Returning guest favorites this year include Frushi at Hanami and Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade at Pineapple Promenade.
• New-for-2026 bites include the Sha Cha Beef Bao Bun at Lan Yuan and the Blackened Shrimp Po' Boy at Magnolia Terrace.
• Festival-themed Disney Gift Card wristlets — shaped like watering cans and featuring Spike the Bee or Orange Bird — are in merchandise locations around the park.

Heads-up: Easter week (April 5 – 12) is historically one of the festival's peak crowd periods, and the back half of April remains busy thanks to spring break travel.

Sources: Disney Parks Blog, WDW News Today, Inside the Magic.

5. Disney Destiny goes behind-the-scenes: first-ever engine room tour

On April 13, 2026, Disney Parks Blog published the first-ever public tour of a Disney Cruise Line ship's engineering spaces, led by Chief Engineer Johan Blokstra aboard the Disney Destiny — the fourth Wish-class ship and the newest in the fleet.

Highlights from the tour:

• Five engines power the Destiny, managed dynamically — Disney rarely runs all five at once.
• The fleet is transitioning to liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other lower-emission fuels, with the Destiny among the LNG-capable ships.
• Engine waste heat is recaptured and converted into air-conditioning for the ship.
• Onboard wastewater is treated to near-drinking-water quality before any discharge, and up to 400 tons of materials are recycled annually on each ship across the Disney Cruise Line fleet.

Source: Disney Parks Blog, WDW News Today.

Quick hits

• Big Thunder on Lightning Lane — Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has already returned to the Lightning Lane booking list in My Disney Experience ahead of the May 3 reopening. (WDW News Today)
• Pop Century kiddie pool closure — Disney's Pop Century Resort's kiddie pool deck closed April 13 for routine maintenance, reopening late April. (Inside the Magic)
• All-Star Movies rooms get a refresh — A full room refurbishment runs from May 2026 through January 2027; guests should expect phased closures by building. (Blog Mickey)
• DinoLand U.S.A. is gone — Animal Kingdom's DinoLand has closed permanently, with the land already under construction for the new Tropical Americas expansion. (Inside the Magic)
• Disney Cruise Line Alaska sale — 25% off select 7-night Alaskan sailings on the Disney Wonder and Disney Magic, departing Vancouver in June and July. (WDW News Today)

Image & reporting credits

This roundup summarizes and links to original reporting by the outlets credited above. Photos appearing in this article are credited to their original publishers — Disney Parks Blog, WDW News Today, Inside the Magic, Blog Mickey, WDWMAGIC — and Walt Disney World Resort. Click through to each source story for the original reporting and additional photography.

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