Southern California had one wild, unruly change in weather this week as a storm system passed through the region. And that meant that on Friday, guests at the ever-so-famous Disneyland found themselves jumping off rides and suddenly walking in flooded streets after a quick and heavy downpour overwhelmed the theme park’s drainage systems. And, yes, there’s tons of video proof.

It was as if Tiana’s Bayou Adventure overtook much of the park on October 23. Whether they wanted to or not, Disney goers were all on an impromptu water ride! Take a look at this video showing a very flooded Frontierland:

Can you imagine? The park had all the usual elements like strollers, crowds and views of water, but this time, everyone found themselves getting soggy as the land right next to Rivers of America got super flooded. The video above shows one Cast Member trying to improve the situation by unclogging a drain as guests trudge through it.

A ton of guests chimed in on the viral Instagram post by sharing their own experiences at Disneyland that night. Here are some of the comments:

• “IT WAS WILD!! i wasnt prepared for it to rain at all! 😂” - @boogieparks
• “I WAS THERE! i was in line for Peter Pan and there was lightning and thunder and rain.. good thing i was under the roof” - @notpiinky_
• “My weather app said no rain for 6 hours. 45 minutes later it said heavy rain in 18 min. Then it said “flash flood warning”! Totally out of no where ☔️☔️⛈️” - @luna_rios2148
• “The second downpour was nuts! The thunder was loud and the lightning was bright, and then the rain just dumped on us!!!” - @missyko22
• “Mind you it was about 1/2 hour of a heavy downpour that did this 😬” - @monicaalvarez
• “5 minute rides when it rains. People leave. Missed out 😂” - @rafaelnovoastudio
• “More like FLOODTIER LAND!!” - @mike_mortuary

According to many first-hand accounts, plenty of people had no idea the rain and thunder would hit so hard, and they were completely surprised by it. A flood advisory was issued by the National Weather Service around 6:35 p.m. PT that night and ended up being extended until 9:30 p.m PT.

Frontierland wasn’t the only part of Disneyland that flooded either. Guests also took photos and videos of pools of standing water around the highly popular Galaxy’s Edge and such as well. Here’s another video showing the situation in Fantasyland:

Let's be real. Rain at a theme park is definitely not uncommon, as many avid fans have likely experienced that at one point. However, being at a park during such a downpour is truly a specific kind of experience.

To that point, a flash flood at Disneyland is pretty rare, but it has happened before every now and again. Remember back in 2023 when the theme park had its first tropical storm warning ever? It’s a shame when something like this happens, especially when Disney prices are going up all the time, but Friday night was certainly an anomaly for Southern California. But, there’s nothing anyone can really do about unexpected weather (unless someone grab's Mickey's sorcerer hat and is able to revamp the weather somehow

Based on these videos, it'd be easy to mistake these attendees for guests of Florida’s Walt Disney World, since the region is more famous for their sudden and unexpected storms. But, thankfully Disneyland has already bounced back to its sunny self with a high of 81 degrees Fahrenheit expected this weekend, and not much rain to report.

When it comes to Disney theme parks, one thing that is always certain is the fact that prices will go up. The addition of new attractions, increasing costs, and high demand all make that inevitable. If you’re planning a trip to see Mickey Mouse and his pals in the near future, you know that it’s going to cost a sizable chunk of money. We all basically set our watches by Disney World and Disneyland raising prices in early October every year, for the beginning of the company’s fiscal year. The thing that caught my attention is that now, even the cheapest ticket costs four times the debut price once you recalculate for inflation.

According to AllEars.Net, when the Magic Kingdom at Disney World opened in 1971, an adult ticket cost just $3.50, or what would equal about $29 today. Obviously, the hugely popular Disney theme parks would never leave their ticket prices below $30 today. That’s just not a reasonable expectation. But the $119 price tag for the cheapest ticket (which is actually for Disney’s Animal Kingdom) is four times that amount. Yes, you read that correctly. I’m still shaken to my core about that fact as well.

Disney Prices Are Inevitably Going to Increase, But Four Times The Price Of Opening Day Just Hits Different

Beyond Animal Kingdom’s lowest price of $119, EPCOT’s lowest is $129, while Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are $139, going up to the highest one-day, one-park total of $229. If you’re going to be spending several days at Walt Disney World, you can’t help but think about the cost, and its sobering knowing the stat of it being four times the price of opening day. It’s something that most of us have to take into consideration.

In comparison to that incredibly low $3.50 adult ticket price that’s hard to even fathom now, the federal minimum wage in 1971 was $1.60, so times were very different. Yes, theme park admission is undeniably pricey now and Disney World hotels can get very expensive, but Disney World frequently offers discount promotions on hotel stays, and there are also often ticket discount offers to help combat the increased prices. So it might help potential visitors to do research and see what’s available if they're planning to visit Disney theme parks anytime soon.

Disney Parks Are Still A Popular Destination, Even With The Rising Cost

I still think that a trip to Disney World or Disneyland is absolutely worth it, and I’m not going to lie and pretend any differently. As someone who doesn’t frequent sporting events and who only goes to a handful of live entertainment offerings a year, I budget for theme park trips. Whether it’s visiting the Country Bears at Magic Kingdom in Orlando (who left Disneyland in 2001), or taking a new photo with the same character to mark the passing of time, the Disney parks provide an emotional nostalgia fix that works for me. While I’m never going to get over the fact that ticket prices have jumped four times over the original price in the last 50 years, it will be interesting to see where they’re at in another 50 years.

Galaxy's Edge has become a real highlight of my recent trips to Disneyland. Rise of the Resistance is one of my favorite rides these days, and I love how the land is constantly evolving based on the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows that come out. However, next time I go, I need to hang around the Stormtroopers after seeing one hilarious video.

The lesson learned is don’t blow a kiss to a Stormtrooper unless you want to feel their wrath. Check out what happened when one guest did just that in the video below:

This is too good. As the video shows, one Star Wars fan decided to send over a kiss in the direction of one of the Stormtroopers. And without a beat, he “caught” it, threw it up in the air, and shot it with his blaster rifle. Talk about being shot down. I love how all the comments on Instagram say pretty much the same thing, too:

• “I bet he missed that shot!”
• “It's okay. He missed it anyway”
• “Don’t worry. He can’t hit any target. Your kiss is still floating out there.”
• “Don't worry their aim is always bad 😂”
• “We all know He totally missed …. 😂”

Yeah… Stormtroopers don’t have the best reputation when it comes to their aim, but it’s certainly been to the benefit of the heroes who’ve come into contact with them over the years. Anyway, this has to be the rudest Stormtrooper in Disneyland, but what a funny moment it made for its guests.

I've seen another video of a guest blowing a kiss a Stormtrooper’s way, but that time the character caught it and threw it on the floor to step on it. Now that I know the Stormtroopers are so brutal, I kind of want to experience their savage ways next time I'm in the parks...just to see how they react with my own eyes.

Historically, other “rude” Disneyland characters I’ve met have been Cruella de Vil, The Evil Queen, Maleficent and Captain Hook. These days, the Stormtroopers are giving these classic Disney villains a run for their money with videos like this.

I wonder what Hayden Christensen’s experience was when he took his daughter on their annual Disney trip. I know the actor behind General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) recently shared that he rode Ride of Resistance, and he was saluted by them.

Little character interactions like this really make Disneyland come alive. It’s so much fun to see the Star Wars universe in a physical space. Generally speaking, it's also especially great to enjoy all the villainy at Disney Parks with the Oogie Boogie Bash currently happening at Disney California Adventure, where the likes of Dr. Facilier, Hades, Yzma, Agatha Harkness and more are roaming around the Halloween party throughout spooky season. I need more guest moments like this to show up on my feed, because it’s too fun.

Another day, another guest misbehaving on a Disney theme park ride. In what seems to be a growing problem that really started to become a concern when a 13-year-old boy plunged down the 50-foot waterfall after getting off his moving vehicle on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland. This time, apparently, a guest unbuckled herself and climbed out of a moving raft on Grizzly River Run at Disney California Adventure, shutting down the ride and resulting in getting herself removed via a "walk of shame." They even took the drastic step of draining the river and keeping the ride closed for safety reasons for at least a couple of hours after the incident occurred.

After all of this happened, TikTok user @adriannarodriguez24 posted multiple clips about the incident, having since deleted the lengthier video where she and her family explained what happened. According to The Disney Scoop, what started off as a normal family adventure, boarding the Grizzly River Run water raft ride, then turned into her mother panicking, taking off her seatbelt and climbing out of the raft.

I get that fear and anxiety are real, and that you can panic unexpectedly, but all of this really needs to stop. Don’t be that guy who took a swim in Living with the Land or the one who dove into the Gran Fiesta Tour at EPCOT. The thing that makes me most uncomfortable about this specific Grizzly River Run situation is that the TikTok poster seemed to be laughing and viewing it all like a bit of a joke, which it really is not.

In one of the remaining videos about the incident on TikTok, the group is seen surrounded by security Cast Members, who tell Adrianna that her mom will be removed from the park. It seems as though the rest of her family was allowed to stay and also return to the park the next day. People have been banned from Disneyland and barred from ever returning to Walt Disney World for less than this, so it’s surprising that we haven’t heard that this woman was trespassed or permanently banned. In a TikTok clip, you can hear them tell the family the following:

All I can say about this incident is that I hope this woman and her family learned their lesson and won’t do anything like this again. She really should consider herself incredibly lucky if she got off with just a removal for the day and maybe a warning. She also needs to consider her own safety. I just worry that won’t be the case when it seems like her family isn’t taking this as seriously as they should.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure now carries signs and a spoken warning that standing up will get your whole party removed from the park. Maybe we’ll see the same added to Grizzly River Run next. And they may have to open the upcoming Coco ride and the water ride in Avatar Land with those warnings already in place from day one. It’s a safety situation for you and everyone around you, so please take that into consideration before you get on a ride at a theme park.

A-List celebrities are just like us; they walk their dogs, are obsessed with getting Dunkin’, and they even like to visit the Disneyland Resort and ride all the thrill rides, like the Incredicoaster. Just ask Charlize Theron, who visited Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Park this week to celebrate spooky season, something she's done before.

In a post on Instagram, Theron shared a carousel of photos of her enjoying the Anaheim theme parks with friends and family. While there are several great photos in the post, the best has to be the shot of the Academy Award-winning actress doing what I'd like to call a Flynn Ryder smoulder impression. Take a look at the second-to-last photo:

Of course, the Mad Max: Fury Road actress would take on Disney’s California Adventure Park coaster and, as Gen Z says, “mog” the in-ride camera. After all, it’s nothing compared to a trip through a post-apocalyptic desert wasteland. What makes the photo truly incredible is that it seems like Theron’s two daughters joined their mom in showing just how fabulous someone can look despite taking a trip on the adrenaline-inducing coaster.

As a Disneyland Magic Key holder, I desperately need them to share their secrets with me because anytime I step off the Incredicoaster, I look like I’ve lost a battle with a large animal.

However, it can be easy to get an iconic in-ride photo if you know where the camera is. Since Theron clearly loves going to the parks, she’s definitely done her research, considering the coaster photo wasn’t the only iconic ride pic the actress shared with her 8.3 million Instagram followers.

If you scroll to the end of her carousel, you’ll be treated to a photo of her celebrating on the Tron Lightcycle Run in Disney World. This time, the actress opts for a more enthusiastic approach in lieu of testing out her next red carpet face, but it’s equally as amazing.

While Theron seems to visit the parks every Halloween season, based on her IG, she’s not yet a regular at DCA’s Oogie Boogie Bash. It’s a shame. I, for one, would love to see her dressed up as her favorite Disney character and attending the after-hours event. It would definitely cement her status as a “Disney adult” alongside celebrity Disney superfans like Rebel Wilson, John Stamos, and Neil Patrick Harris. Better yet, maybe one day soon we’ll see the versatile actress on the big screen in a Walt Disney Studios film. I could totally see her playing Hera in a upcoming live-action remake of Hercules.

For now, I’ll be riding Incredicoaster over and over, trying to get my own iconic photo.

School is back in session over at Abbott Elementary as the Emmy-winning ABC comedy series has returned to the 2026 TV schedule. Now in its sixth season, the series is set to hit some major milestones, including airing its 100th episode and participating in the ABC show tradition of filming an episode at a Disney theme park.

Word spread fast on social media about the special episode after some lucky Disneyland guests spotted the cast of Abbott Elementary filming at the Anaheim theme park in early October. While it’s unclear when the episode will air, some speculate it could serve as the latest mid-season finale, which is scheduled to air in December. As a major fan of both the show and Disneyland, I can’t wait to see what the writers come up with for the iconic episode, but I do have some theories!

The Abbott Elementary Step Team Is Going To Perform

There has to be a reason for Abbott Elementary to be trekking all the way from Philly to Anaheim, and having Janine’s (Quinta Brunson) step team be the reason makes the most sense. It also seems evident that the team will play a major role in the episode. That's because some fans witnessed the actors from the step team performing on Main Street alongside Mickey Mouse in his Disney on the Yard outfit and shared photos on Reddit.

Based on the information presented, it would seem logical that the team would be visiting Disneyland as part of the Disney Imagination Campus program. And that's a real-life initiative that allows schools to visit the theme park for academic purposes instead of just standard field trip. This would be a great way to showcase the step team, which hasn’t had much screen time since the first season of the show, while also allowing the Disney-owned ABC to promote the program.

Gregory Will Become A Full-Fledged Disney Adult

When I think of the character that would be most against visiting the iconic theme park, it’s teacher-turned-assistant principal Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams). Let’s face it, Gregory doesn’t like crowds; he’s particular about just about everything, and he likes to stick to routine. Disneyland is the antithesis of all of these things.

However, we also know that Gregory had a strict childhood and probably has never visited Disneyland (or may any theme park) before. With this in mind, I can see him going from skeptic to full-fledged Disney adult over the course of the episode. It would be hilarious to see him shed his professional teacher wardrobe for a pair of Mickey ears while racing to Space Mountain because they're going to miss their Lightning Lane time if they don’t hurry; that is, assuming he paid for the multi-pass service (which is not always worth it).

A Major Development Will Occur In Regards Gregory And Janine's Engagement

We’re only one episode into Season 6, but Gregory’s plan to propose to Janine has already been mentioned after being teased in the Season 5 finale. (That development came a few episodes after the couple's big split.) Now, I’m not sure that Gregory will propose to Janine at Disneyland, considering she’s never mentioned being a major fan of the park, and I don’t see her being a fan of a public proposal.

However, I can see the trip being a major milestone in Gregory and Janine's relationship that pushes them both to realize that they’re ready to take the next step. Maybe Janine will see a happy family enjoying the park and mention that she wants that with Gregory, prompting him to realize he needs to ask her sooner rather than later.

I could also see Gregory and Janine getting engaged in a prior episode but not telling their co-workers yet. Maybe, while watching fireworks surrounded by everyone, Janine tells Gregory that they should tell everyone their good news.

The possibilities are endless, both with the highly anticipated proposal and the sure-to-be iconic Disneyland episode filled with hijinks. I mean, Ava already thinks she’s a Queen, so I can totally see her fighting with a Disney Princess at some point. And, with Jacob’s (Chris Perfetti) love of history, I could see him spouting Disney facts left and right, while Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) enjoys a giant turkey leg.

One thing that’s for sure is that the episode has the potential to be a memorable installment for the series, which will join the ranks of iconic sitcom episodes like Modern Family and The Goldbergs, which have both filmed episodes at the forever-changing Disneyland resort.

There’s no word on when Abbott Elementary's Disneyland episode will air, but the Season 6 premiere is available to stream with a Hulu subscription now.

Disneyland pin traders have gone through a lot of changes this year, and that doesn’t seem like it’s stopping anytime soon. The latest change comes in the form of vending machines! Yep, it looks like the House of Mouse is capitalizing on the vending machine craze made popular by Pokémon cards and is introducing pins to the game. As an avid pin trader myself, I’m definitely intrigued and will be visiting them on my next trip to Disneyland.

While there’s been no official announcement from Disneyland regarding the new way to purchase pins, eagle-eyed guests spotted the vending machines on October 1st. As of right now, there are several machines spread out across Disney’s California Adventure Park and Disney’s Downtown Disney District. Just like the theme park’s iconic trash cans, the machines are themed to the areas they reside in. For example, over on Pixar Pier, Toy Story fans will find Buzz and Woody-styled vending machines.

As a dedicated pin trader, I was fascinated when the news first broke about the vending machines, but now that they’ve been out for almost a week, I’m starting to see pros and cons of these new additions to the park.

Pro: It's An Effective Way To Shop For Pins

It’s always fun when the Disney parks get a new mystery set of pins, and the concept of buying them from a vending machine definitely adds a new layer to the hunt.

Up to this point, pin traders have gotten handy with pin bags, feeling around to see if they can decipher the shape of the pins before committing to purchasing a pack. The machines prohibit that since you can’t feel the pins before purchasing, and they’re encased in a biodegradable capsule when they’re dispensed.

The new machines will also help curb disappointed purchasers from trying to return their opened pins, since there’s no cast member to speak to regarding the purchase.

Con: The Price Is A Bit Steep

As for pricing, the new pins retail at $18, which is a bit high, considering patrons can currently purchase a 2-pin mystery box for about $22.00; at least until the next round of price increases hits. However, a key detail about the price is that Disneyland Magic Key Holders don’t get a discount at the machines. It's fair to say Magic Key Holders are some of the most devoted pin traders, largely because they get anywhere from 10 to 20% off merchandise, including pins.

I can’t help but wonder if this is Disney’s newest way to circumnavigate that discount, since they know pin collectors won’t want to miss out on a new collection.

Pro: The Collection Features Some Exciting Characters

The inaugural collection features 15 unique pins, featuring fan-favorite Disney characters emerging from plastic balls. While the set does feature some of the usual popular characters like Winnie the Pooh and Simba, it also boasts some rare characters like villain sidekicks, including The Little Mermaid’s Flotsam and Jetsam.

Also, the set even features a pin representing the Platypus from Small World, which, honestly, might mark the first piece of Disney merch ever devoted to the character. I can imagine theme park die-hards would want to get their hands on that particular collectible.

Con: Will These Machines Be The Newest Spots For Pin Trading Restrictions?

Earlier this year, Disneyland unveiled stricter rules for pin traders, restricting them from congregating in large groups to conduct trades. Current rules allow for guest-to-guest trading as long as they’re not obstructing walkways or taking over chairs, tables or benches.

With the arrival of the vending machines and the known history that pin traders love to complete full sets, it seems like these new areas are going to become a new spot for traders to congregate to hopefully trade for the pins they’re missing without having to keep spending $18.

Although I think dedicated spaces for pin trading are a great idea, especially with a large set such as the one being sold in the machines. I do worry that Disneyland management didn’t think something out. Unfortunately, it’ll theoretically be the cast members assigned to crowd control who are going to get the short end of the stick when they’re forced to make guests disparage if they do take over the spots and engage in bad behavior that could go viral.

Still, overall, I’m glad to see Disneyland once again investing in its pin-trading community. It’s a mostly welcome edition, especially as the park prepares for some major changes to Tomorrowland and some other rumored beloved attractions like the Matterhorn.

Jennifer Lawrence spent years without a public social media account, and I respected the commitment. If I were famous enough that millions of strangers had opinions about the way I walked down a sidewalk, I might throw my phone into a lake. Then Lawrence finally joined Instagram earlier this month, and I started wondering what kind of content we would actually get from her. Well, we have our answer: JLaw eating a corn dog at Disneyland Paris while somebody films her, and it's peak content.

The Hunger Games star took some time off her busy 2026 movie schedule to share a seven-slide carousel from her recent trip to Paris, mixing some very glamorous Fashion Week photos with considerably less glamorous Disney shenanigans. The final slide, shared on Lawrence’s Instagram account, catches her mid-corn dog before she notices the camera and starts laughing. As you can see in the post below, the whole thing lasts only a few seconds and is hilariously relatable.

The No Hard Feelings actress only joined Instagram on Sept. 9 after avoiding a public account for most of her career. She wound up with the handle @jlaw because, hilariously, @jenniferlawrence was already taken. Her first Reel came with one very clear warning: if anyone was mean to her, she would quit immediately.

She later clarified the stakes on her Instagram Stories by asking people to remember that aggressive comments can hurt "the baby." Followed by: "It's me. I'm the baby." So far, everybody appears to be behaving, which is fortunate because Lawrence has quickly figured out the exact kind of celebrity Instagram I enjoy. Odd, but wonderfully less glamorous than most celebrity accounts.

Her Paris photo dump starts with Lawrence attending Dior's Spring/Summer 2027 show in a pale blue dress. There are more polished fashion shots, a goofy pose during what appears to be an art museum visit and then, suddenly, Disneyland Paris ride photos.

Lawrence rode a few iconic park attractions such as Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and the latter apparently made quite an impression. Her caption includes the extremely specific thank-you: "Thank you Tower of Terror for… everything."

Then comes the corn dog, and honestly, it's perfect sequencing.

Maybe I am easy to please, but there is something deeply funny about an Oscar winner dropping a video of herself destroying a theme park corn dog after some Fashion Week glamour shots.

Amy Schumer jumped in the comments to agree. The comedian commented, "Corn dogs by @dior," while Kylie Jenner went with the considerably sweeter, "ur so cute !!!!!!!!" You know, they're both correct.

It also feels remarkably on-brand for Lawrence. Long before she had an Instagram account, part of her appeal was how easily an awards-season interview could turn into a story about falling, eating something she probably shouldn't have eaten before wearing couture, or eating grilled cheese between nude scenes. This is, after all, the woman who once served Robert Pattinson food from the trash.

The Disneyland Paris visit also came at a pretty good time. The resort has been having a busy year, including World of Frozen’s new Olaf and now kicking off the Halloween festivities on Sept. 26, bringing seasonal decorations, villains and some appropriately spooky attractions back to the parks.

Lawrence joined Instagram, warning that one mean comment might send her running from the app forever. Three weeks later, she is posting Dior gowns, theme park ride photos and herself getting caught mid-bite with a corn dog. Please, everybody, continue being nice. We cannot afford to lose this account now.

These days, being a fan of Disneyland means adapting to a lot of changes. From recent price increases to 800 food and drink items to figuring out how to use the Lightning Lane add-on should one opt in for it. This past week some fans have been wrapping their heads around a much bigger potential change: the demolishment of the Matterhorn Bobsleds. It’s a big rumor that’s been going around, and an imagineering executive has responded to why it probably won’t happen. Let’s talk about it.

The Matterhorn Rumor That’s Been Running Around

During D23’s Disney Experiences Showcase last month, it was announced that Disneyland’s Tomorrowland would be getting a “reimagining”. We don’t yet know the extent of this, but it’s been called a “transformation” that will “honor the legacy of the original land” with “new attractions, more open spaces and new places for you to dream about the future.”

With that in mind, there’s a lot of questions about what will be torn down in Disneyland to make room for this imagining. Last week, WDW News Today shared a rumor that the Matterhorn Bobsleds could be torn down and rebuilt somewhere else in Disneyland to make room for these changes. They credited a post from @sometimescastles on Instagram who claimed “an inside source” shared they are “actively talking about” tearing down the original Disneyland ride.

How One Imagineering Executive Shut Them Down

Since the rumor is gaining traction in the theme park community, Walt Disney former Imagineering Executive Creative Director Jim Shull took to X to comment on it. In his words:

Look, the Walt Disney Company is rich, but spending $800 million just to clear out some room for Tomorrowland is likely much too excessive to consider. Shull is retired from imagineering, but his update about how “unlikely” it is should still give some peace of mind for purists for the 147-foot ride that’s been standing in Disneyland since 1959.

Perhaps if this rumor is somehow true, they should call this person who made their own Matterhorn ride in their backyard? Matterhorn has certainly earned the reputation of being one of Disneyland attractions that’s showing its age, but it sounds like there’s literally millions upon millions of reasons to keep it up and running where it is.

While it sounds like the Matterhorn Bobsleds are here to stay, we do expect there could be some dramatic changes to Tomorrowland for this reimagining. Some other attractions that could ultimately be at risk of closing could be the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Autopia, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters or Star Tours. (I personally can’t imagine them touching fan-favorite Space Mountain, but who knows!)

For the time being, we have very little information about Tomorrowland’s upcoming upgrade and when changes are going to happen. But, it seems like it’s in very early development.

When you’re a theme park fan, it’s always fun to hear from a Disney Imagineer because it feels like we’re getting a peak behind a secret curtain. Recently, Jim Shull, a retired Walt Disney Imagineer after a 33-year career, shared some thoughts about Toy Story Land’s latest addition. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is adding new magic to Alien Swirling Saucers starting on Friday, September 25^th, where they’ll be introducing Lilypad from Toy Story 5.

The frog-shaped smart tablet is on a mission to connect friends and she’s using her tech to bring toys together for an all-new soundtrack to the appropriately titled Alien Swirling Saucers: Lilypad’s Jams. This new music line-up will include reimagined Toy Story classics and brand-new songs written just for the attraction, remixed and mashed up by DJ Lilypad. But that’s where the Imagineer who’s worked on projects at Disney World, Disneyland Paris, and Shanghai Disneyland has some issues and pointed out that size does, indeed, matter.

For more than eight years, Toy Story Land has operated around the idea that when you step inside, you thereby shrink to the size of a toy inside Andy’s backyard. The oversized toys and various other objects throughout work to establish the scale as they transport you into Andy’s world. That guided and shaped what could and could not be put inside the land, until now.

The first issue that Toy Story Land designer Jim Shull has with the addition of Lilypad is that, at least in the artist concept image, the scale feels wrong. He says that he started with Andy’s shoe print and scaled every toy to that, which means that a Lilypad built to scale should be much larger. It’s hard to know whether that was taken into consideration or not when designing this new overlay, but I’ll definitely be on the lookout for any further explanation for how and why the sizing doesn’t seem to match.

The other issue that Shull has with all of this is that Lilypad actually belongs to Bonnie, and was purchased by her parents to help her socialize with other children who prefer electronic devices over traditional toys. As such, she should be in Bonnie’s own backyard and not Andy’s, as they’re a generation apart and each have their own space.

This may seem like a small, nitpicky thing, and in the grander scheme of theme park expansion, it kind of is. But it might play into the larger issue of self-imposed theme park constraints, which Disney has been trying to undo with its changes to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the planet of Batuu. Plus, if the whole point of the park is pure immersion, then why opt for any inaccuracies that could potentially pull park-goers out of the illusion.

This is just a tiny addition among a sea of D23 2026 announcements about Walt Disney World's upcoming lands for Villains, Monsters Inc., Tropical Americas and Piston Peak. But it does pose interesting questions about how strictly theme parks should be following the rules they set up for themselves. General park goers are largely just excited to see their favorite characters and ride the rides in any given land, and Toy Story remains one of Disney’s most popular franchises, with no clear end in sight. We'll know soon enough if the complaints get louder or if fans are just happy to embrace the changes.

Find Toy Story 5 streaming via Disney+ subscription starting on September 23.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is truly spectacular. It’s one of the coolest rides at any theme park, and it hasn’t gotten any less cool since it first opened at Disney World in 2019 and Disneyland in 2020. Whether you’re a diehard Star Wars fan, casual film watcher, or have never actually seen any of the franchise, it’s so impressive and so immersive from start to finish that you’ll be all-in, no matter what.

All of that considered, it must be absolutely mind-blowing to experience that ride when you were in the films and are actually part of the ride yourself. A lot of actors get to record new dialogue for theme park attractions based on properties they were a part of, but Domhnall Gleeson even has an animatronic of his General Hux likeness inside the ride. During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the star of The Paper revealed that, while he didn’t actually attend the opening of Rise of the Resistance, he did have a pretty incredible experience with the attraction.

Now, I will say that with all the times I’ve faced the First Order and joined the other Resistance recruits on that Star Wars attraction, I’ve never experienced people playing Stormtroopers inside of it (although they do walk around in the ever-evolving Galaxy’s Edge). But I wouldn’t be surprised if they sprinkled a little extra Disney magic onto Domhnall Gleeson’s experience to ensure that he has such an incredible story to share. You can check out the Fallon clip here:

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been on Rise of the Resistance since it opened, but there’s still something so special about it every time I ride it. Trackless rides give a sense of unpredictability while also providing a smooth ride. It’s ideal for those of us who are prone to motion sickness but still love the thrills that a theme park offers. It’s also endlessly re-ridable because you never quite know what you’re going to get, depending on where you sit and which vehicle you are in.

In case you’re not familiar with the Harry Potter star’s role in the Star Wars franchise, General Hux is the worst. He’s a true believer who’s up to no good and who’s even willing to be a traitor and sell out Kylo Ren, just to see him fail. Hux ultimately dies in the films without ever redeeming himself.

With the world of Batuu, the planet guests visit when going to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, shining the spotlight brighter on Darth Vader now instead of Kylo Ren, it’s likely we may never see a General Hux character walking around and interacting with guests. However the character does live on within the Disney World and Disneyland ride, where park attendees, Star Wars fans, and Domhnall Gleeson can create memorable experiences in the years to come.

I’ve been going to California’s Disney Parks my whole life, and I’m discovering new things about them all the time. To prove that point, I’ve been to Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure a ton of times since it opened back in 2021, but I’m just learning about an adorable Ant-Man detail there.

An eagle-eyed fan just pointed out that Ant-Man actually has a “secret pretzel stash” between Pym Test Kitchen and the Guardians of the Galaxy ride. Take a look:

I can’t believe I never noticed this before, but I totally see how I could have overlooked it, too. What's fashioned to look like a weathered, heavy-duty switch of some sort isn't what it seems. There’s a little door with a lock on it, and inside there’s a bunch of hidden Disneyland pretzels. Next to the door is a sign that once said “NOTICE: Authorized Personnel Only”, but “Authorized Personnel” has been scratched out and new text has been added so it reads “NOTICE: Scott L. Only!”

It’s little details like this that make me love Disneyland so much! If I were a kid during a trip to Disney and I saw this, I would have been thinking about how Ant-Man was sneaking around with his pretzel stash my whole way home while hugging whatever Disney plushie I took with me that day. I bet it's been there all along, and I just didn't spot it. That's the magic of Disney though.

And Disney fans, before we know it, there are about to be a lot more details to uncover in Avengers Campus when its expansion opens up. There are two more rides currently in the works. One is called Stark Flight Lab, which will feature “new tech” that takes guests on a ride that goes from a track-based ride to an aerial experience. The other upcoming ride is called Avengers Infinity Defense, which will blend physical set environments with 3D screens.

During D23’s Disney Experiences presentation, there were also some exciting updates on Avengers Campus at Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland. Hong Kong’s Tomorrowland is getting a Marvel Studios-themed upgrade, and Shanghai will have an exciting Spider-Man coaster.

Outside of Disney’s California Adventure, Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man is set to be in the upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday. Marvel boss Kevin Feige has teased that Scott Lang will be one of the “elder statesmen” of the Avengers, who helps deal with the newer recruits to the superhero team as they fight off Doctor Doom.

Anyways, I’m just so happy Ant-Man has become such a fixture of the MCU, and that bleeds into Disney Parks. Paul Rudd’s superhero has crept up on me and become one of the fan-favorite characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and things like this DCA detail remind me of this.

Dwayne Johnson has spent enough time inside the Disney machine to voice a demigod, star in Jungle Cruise and bring Moana into live action, most of which are available to stream with a Disney+ subscription. Now he can add "Disney Legend" to his résumé. Naturally, his daughters had one important question about what exactly that means for them, and he had a response that theme parkgoers will love after landing the Disney award.

Johnson was officially named a Disney Legend during the Aug. 16 ceremony at D23 in Anaheim, joining a 2026 class that included Anne Hathaway, Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Jonas Brothers and others. Disney calls the designation its highest honor but, when he spoke with People after receiving it, he offered a much more practical interpretation he gave his daughters, Jasmine, 10, and Tiana, 8. The Mummy Returns veteran said:

As far as I can tell, lifetime park admission is not actually part of the Disney Legends deal, so Jasmine and Tiana may want to hold Dad to that promise rather than Mickey Mouse. Still, I respect where his mind went. If I earned Disney’s highest honor and had two kids asking what was in it for them, “We never have to pay to get into Disneyland again” would be a pretty strong answer.

Disney's theme parks remain treasured locations for fans of the House of Mouse and understandably so, given how they keep expanding. For instance, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World will soon include a Cars-themed area known as Piston Peak as well as the highly anticipated Villains Land And even Disney's Animal Kingdom is getting a new Indiana Jones ride, with Harrison Ford even signed on to serve as the character's likeness. So the Johnson girls would have a lot to enjoy down the road.

The Rock's daughters have already had a particularly Disney-heavy year. Both briefly appeared in the live-action Moana, which opened July 10. The movie may not have won over critics or audiences, which its star has pushed back on, but getting to pop up in a movie alongside their dad is still the kind of thing that will probably stick with them. They also previously made small appearances in Moana 2. Johnson, meanwhile, is set to return as Maui in the upcoming Moana 3. So, free tickets or not, I suspect the parks will remain a regular part of the family orbit.

Later in his interview, the Jumanji star got more serious when discussing what the Disney Legend designation actually means to him. For the actor, the honor seems closely tied to the experiences Disney creates for families. He continued:

That connection goes back decades for Johnson. During his acceptance speech, he remembered taking his oldest daughter, Simone, to Disneyland when she was 5. The WWE star-turned-Hollywood staple said he was still figuring out fatherhood at the time, but watching her close her eyes and make a wish during breakfast with the Disney princesses stuck with him. Simone turned 25 two days before the ceremony, and he even led the D23 crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to her.

Honestly, there's something fitting about Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson receiving the award after Moana became such a big piece of his career. Maui has now carried him through animation, sequels, a live-action remake and another movie still to come. Whether any of that actually gets his daughters through the Disneyland turnstiles for free is another matter.

The Smashing Machine star, meanwhile, has several other movies in the works, including the long-awaited Jumanji sequel. Open World is set to arrive on the 2026 movie schedule on Christmas Day, with The Rock reuniting with Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan.

Walt Disney has been serving up holiday magic for as long as I can remember. There is nothing quite like visiting one of their many theme parks during the holiday season, not only to check out new attractions, but to sample the holiday fare. One thing Disney has a (turkey)leg up over other theme parks is their holiday food offerings. They keep getting better every year and stand apart from the crowd. Case in point: This Halloween.

I’ve eaten holiday food at plenty of theme parks over the years, and there is often a trade-off. The food might be really well-themed, cute to look at, or have a fun concept, but sometimes the actual flavor can feel like an afterthought. At Disney, however, that is not the case. It has all of those attributes, and it usually tastes great, too. There is just a little more Disney magic in their dining options that I cannot quite put my finger on. Perhaps it’s just more sugar.

These Are Some Of The Can’t-Miss Eats This Spooky Season

This year alone, there are several new items you can try this spooky season. I attended the opening day of Halloween Time at Disneyland and sampled some of the limited-time seasonal offerings.

One of the standouts that I had to stop myself from buying twice while I was there is the Pumpkin Pie Mickey Shake, a pumpkin pie and vanilla milkshake with whipped topping and golden creme-filled cookies.

I had a chance to speak with one of the Disney chefs behind these creations and asked her if there was only one new drink guests should try. She did not skip a beat:

She did not steer me wrong. The cookies make some adorable Mickey ears, and if you like pumpkin, it’s a MUST. But the best part is that this isn't just a cute Halloween-themed drink. It actually delivers on the pumpkin pie flavor, which is exactly what I want from a seasonal theme park treat.

But dessert is not the only thing Disneyland is serving up this Halloween. The savory offerings are just as creative, and Disney isn't relying on theming alone to make its holiday food stand out. I also chatted with her about some of the savory offerings that will take your taste buds for a ride. She told me about the BBQ Pork Muenster Grilled Cheese:

I ordered it and can confirm it is adorable. It also comes with jalapeño slaw and potato bites. Pro tip: Put the slaw on the sandwich. It gives it a nice spicy, acidic crunch.

There is no shortage of themed treats at Disney right now, whether you want some seriously hot villainous wings, an Oktoberfest cheese-filled dog, a carne asada spicy Oogie Boogie burrito, some seasonal popcorn in the Hatbox Ghost popcorn bucket, or any number of other offerings. You won't miss out on either the theming or the flavor.

Normally, I go to theme parks for the rides and the holiday atmosphere, and food is just something I have while I’m there. But after eating holiday food at many theme parks, I can say that Disneyland is in a league of its own. The food is fun, creative, and incredibly themed, but it also actually tastes good, and that makes all the difference. Make sure to get your tickets and try these items before they're gone.

Also, get a pickle. It’s not new or on theme, but it is always delicious and hydrating because it might be 90 degrees when you are there.

The inclusion of James Cameron’s world of Avatar at Disneyland California Adventure was announced back in 2023, but what’s going on with it now? Well, The Walt Disney Company inundated fans with a ton of announcements during Anaheim’s D23 Expo last weekend. But the latest on DCA’s Avatar expansion has me starting to think it’s never going to happen. Let’s talk about it.

The Latest On Disneyland California Adventure’s Avatar Attraction

While I was in attendance at D23, I, like many fans, made a trip to the convention’s Imagineering Pavilion. There, I saw tons of models for the expansion of Avengers Campus and various upcoming Walt Disney World attractions like Tropical Americas, Piston Peak, Monsters, Inc Land and Villains Land. Among them was also one for Avatar and its planned boat ride. Check it out:

Now, we’ve known since last year that Disney had planned to close down California Adventure’s Monsters, Inc ride and replace it with this Avatar land. And yet, the dark ride has since been saved from closure until sometime next year.

Given the model’s appearance at D23, I had expected we’d get an update on when they planned to break ground on the new land, but then it was only briefly mentioned during Saturday’s D23 Disney Experiences Showcase. As a cherry on top, we learned that the House of Mouse has decided it will delay the Avatar attraction in order to upgrade Disneyland’s Tomorrowland first.

The President of Disneyland Resort, Jill Estorino, also said something interesting that has me skeptical about the arrival of Avatar. She said that since DCA has recently been getting new upgrades like the Avengers Campus expansion and the upcoming Coco ride lately, “it’s really standing on its own”. As she added, via MickeyVisit:

Here’s the thing: upgrading Tomorrowland is a huge undertaking, and the announcement was made at D23 as they had just decided to do it. So if Avatar is next in line after Tomorrowland, it feels like they are shelving the Avatar attraction rather than actively working on it anymore.

Will There Be Demand For Avatar Years From Now?

Fans have been asking for an update to Tomorrowland for a long time, but to deliver on the promise of both honoring the traditional land and making it anew, it’s going to take years! It has me wondering if The Walt Disney Company is even sold on adding Avatar to DCA in the first place. Earlier this year, there were some rumors that Disney was possibly changing their mind and making that area into a land for Zootopia, instead.

It certainly helps the case for that property given its sequel made $1.87 billion worldwide last year and Avatar: Fire And Ash performed a bit under expectations at 1.49 billion globally. If Disney was confident in Avatar land, and the concept has certainly already been thought of, what’s stopping them from just making the land while they figure out Tomorrowland? It all smells fishy to me, and after what I learned at D23, I’m personally unconvinced I’ll ever see this land come to life at DCA.

We’re about to get a whole lot of Fortnite at Disney and Universal theme parks, and I love the different vibes that will be experienced at each. Universal Studios already announced a scare zone inspired by the game’s signature Halloween event, Fortnitemares, is coming to Halloween Horror Nights in 2026 in both Orlando and Hollywood. Now, Disney is getting in on the action in a big Star Wars-y way.

Fortnite Is Coming To Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Among the long list of theme park announcements made at D23, it was revealed the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attractions in Orlando and Anaheim are getting a newly-created Fortnite adventure called Smuggler’s Gambit. Disney execs explained their approach to creating a first-of-its-kind experience that connects the ride in the physical world at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort to Hondo Ohnaka in the digital world.

As riders complete missions, they will unlock exclusive rewards, leveling up the immersive experience. You can start in the queue, the cockpit, or in the game itself, tracking your adventure along the way, with the most unpredictable pirate captain in the Galaxy. Check out a preview of how it will all work below.

I am admittedly not someone who is well-versed in Fortnite and all it has to offer, but this addition to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is a welcome perk amidst a series of recent changes that feel like its realigning the direction of the world of Batuu after hearing some of the fan complaints. It’s a beautifully impressive land that didn’t initially deliver on all of its early promises, so it’s nice to hear that it’s getting some attention. In a recent article at The Hollywood Reporter, President of Epic Games Adam Sussman explained it this way:

Now we go from sci-fi spacefare to something a bit creepier over at Universal.

A Fortnitemares Scare Zone Is Going To Be A Big Draw at HHN

While we wait to see how Disney and Fortnite will expand their relationship in the future, we can experience the more twisted and sinister side of Fortnitemares as characters step out of the digital world and into a Universal Resort HHN scare zone. While we wait to see how Disney and Fortnite will expand their relationship in the future, we can experience the more twisted and sinister side of Fortnitemares as characters step out of the digital world and into a Universal Resort HHN scare zone. From the promise of a bloodiest house of the year to roaming Art the Clown and Nikki from Obsession, the Horror Nights line-up on both coasts has a lot to choose from.

After the huge popularity of the Five Nights at Freddy’s haunted house at Horror Nights 2025, it’s not surprising that the event would want to continue to draw in that demographic of older kids and young adults, and this new scare zone could do just that. Beyond knowing it will include the Battle Bus, the Fortnitemares presence at HHN is still thin on details, but the promise of “new horrors” combined with such a popular property has me excited.

Whether it’s a Star Wars themed adventure and gaming experience, or spooky scares that become real-life nightmares in a scare zone, I actually love how these theme park announcements show the range of what Fortnite can offer. It also feels like future possibilities could be endless, and I know I’ll be there for it all.

Disney and nostalgia go hand in hand for me. I remember going to Disneyland as a little kid, standing at the bottom of Splash Mountain, staring up at its massive drop and thinking it was the biggest fall any human could ever go down. I'm far from alone in having emotional memories tied to Disney parks, which is why every time Imagineers start tinkering with those core memories, I viscerally feel the tightrope they're walking between honoring what people love and creating something new.

Disney is no stranger to change. Splash Mountain became Tiana's Bayou Adventure. Pirates of the Caribbean added a new projection-mapped pirate with a... let's call it questionable approval rating. Recently, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Walt Disney World also got a full Muppet-ified makeover.

When I had the chance to talk with Imagineer David Brescia, who worked on the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster update, I had to ask how he balances fans' resistance to change with evolving a beloved attraction. He told me he and the team know they have to be "careful."

From my perspective, they nailed it. The heart of the original ride is still beating underneath Animal's drums. The queue is packed with Easter eggs paying homage to Aerosmith alongside a metric ton of Muppet deep cuts.

That balancing act isn't unique to just one attraction, though. I also spoke with one of the Imagineers behind the new Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run adventure featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu. She said:

If they'd taken away the jump to hyperspace, I would've rioted myself. Thankfully, they didn't. That iconic moment is still there, and now you don't have to be a pilot to have a blast on the ride.

Change is inevitable, especially if you've been around Disney Parks long enough. Even attractions that once felt untouchable, like Carousel of Progress, are getting updates. But as that very catchy song reminds us, "There's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day." Disney has always been about looking ahead while remembering where it came from... though I really hope they don't change the song.

Price increases have become a norm across the board in recent years. Groceries are up. Gas is up. Property taxes are up. At Disneyland, the parks aren’t immune to rising costs, either. Ticket prices went up last year. During the spring, prices quietly started hiking on everything from food to Disneyland hotels, and the changes don’t seem to be slowing down a few months later.

Cocktails Are The Latest Category To (Mostly) See Increases

There have been a slew of headlines about Gen Z drinking less, and Disneyland prices could be a good indicator of why. A slew of new menu costs recently rolled out at the southern California resort, and it was mostly bad news. 53% of mixed drinks saw a similar increase with the new menu prices. Here's what we know.

Mickey Visit did some big work comparing cocktail prices at a slew of resorts at Disneyland during a recent visit. They found the median price of drinks had increased to $21 dollars a pop, up from $20. Some drinks are more and some are less, but in general prices are going up across the board.

There were a few drinks that did actually go down in cost with the new menu. If you enjoy the Aperol Spritz at Wine County Trattoria, it seems the parks actually found the cost to be a little too high, and it’s been marked down from $22 to $21 dollars on the new menu. Drink costs went down for the red and white sangria, as well, but that’s basically it when it comes to good news.

In fact, the number of drinks that are now over $20 dollars increased by 53% in this swift round of changes. Contemplating that is not for the faint of heart.

Meanwhile, just a hop and a skip down the street at Carthay Circle, one of the lounge’s yummiest cocktails (and probably my favorite drink), the Double Pear Martini, will run you a whopping $24 dollars. It wasn't that long ago this drink was only $22.50, and that sucker used to cost around $16 or $17 before all the recent prices hikes. I remember thinking it was a bit pricey at the time. My, how things have changed.

We actually did a deep dive into about 800 items changing prices just a couple of weeks ago. We looked into everything from chopped salads (though I’m guessing those are less popular these days, thanks Cyclospora) to Dole Whip increasing. Individually, a dollar or two here or there on food items may not seem like a lot, but if you tease out the fact this is not the first or second time drink and food prices have upticked in recent years. Then, you throw in meals, snacks and other food fun to accommodate a whole day, the money in my wallet is certainly not stretching as far as it used to, and that has to be factored in for every trip into the parks.

Disney’s always looking to make changes, and some of these are good things. New attractions like a Coco-themed boat ride at California Adventure and Stark Flight Labs are heading to the parks. There’s a long list of new and innovative snacks to try out this summer.

Honestly, these changes don’t mean I’ll be skipping the Double Pear Martini every time I go to Carthay Circle, but I definitely see it as more of an indulgence than a fun dinner accoutrement at this point. That’s true of signing on for after hours events, purchasing new Minnie Ears and so much more in this brave new world, as well.

I’m sure everyone has wanted to take a swim during working hours. But for one Disneyland cast member, this was taken quite literally when he jumped into Rivers of America. I just hope it was his last day on the job, because it's a truly wild situation that's quickly gone viral.

According to the video, this wasn’t a first time visitor to the park, but actually a cast member working there. You can even see his white unfirom pants. Though it is currently unknown his reasoning for jumping in, or why he chose to toss his work items (reportedly threw in his keys and walkie talkie) ahead of doing so. But by the looks of it, he doesn’t seem to have any regrets. Check out the moment below:

The man simply goes for a shirtless swim and then returns to land. However, this isn’t the first time a Disneyland cast member went the extra mile to make a point. A cast member once performed a one man show after audio during the Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway stopped working. While most employees are in it for the long haul, it doesn’t seem to be the case for this unidentified cast member. Not knowing why he jumped in seems to have caused a stir online as people have taken to the comments to theorize about his motivations.

Some believe he’s just that committed to quitting, while others suggest heat sickness is a factor. User Plane_jelly has a simple summary, stating, “basically said I quit, deal with it.” Meanwhile, thenatalieholtmacdonald blames the heat: “Maybe he was just freaking hot.”

But it could be as simple as a last day tradition. Laceylanham14 says, “a lot of times when people are quitting, they do pranks or shenanigans on their last day.” This idea seems to be supported by several alleged former Disney parks workers, such as kipp_hart who says, “It used to be a last day tradition to jump off the Mark Twain into the river.” Though the3obafett, claims to be in the background of the video, and provides a first-person account:

On the other side of the theories are those who feel he will be facing disciplinary action (if this isn’t his way of quitting). The_vchavez states, “[He is] most likely going to be placed on a leave of absence and then terminated.” Regardless, Disney has yet to make any statements about the incident, though a report claims they are looking into it.

No promises you'll catch any Disneyland cast members doing anything viral, but for those looking to take a trip should be aware of inevitable price increases at the park. The average increase is around 8 percent. Though there is some good news for families. Disney is offering a way to make vacations cheaper with the Kids' Summer Ticket. It is also important to note that the reservation system for the park is not going away. This should be taken into account when planning your vacation.

Chances are you won't be seeing a certain cast member there. And I recommend not taking a swim in Rivers of America.

Have you ever noticed how often Walt Disney used to point with two fingers? If you look at enough archival photos from his lifetime, you’ll notice him gesturing this way a lot. Personally, I've wondered why that was a go-to pose of his. Now, because Tom Hanks played him in Saving Mr. Banks, he actually learned the reason why Disney did this and shared the story behind it.

While Hanks was playing Mr. Disney in the 2012 movie about the making of Mary Poppins, he learned the secret behind the pose. In his words:

Whoa! I don’t know about you, but I thought Disney just pointed that way. But the secret is Walt Disney was a heavy smoker and never gave up the addiction. So, the studio ended up hiding his habit by airbrushing his cigarettes from photos later on. Reportedly, Disney didn’t want to set the example for children. As Hanks also revealed in a throwback interview on The Ellen Show:

Disney died at the age of 65 in 1966 due to lung cancer. He was diagnosed just weeks before his death when doctors discovered a tumor in his left lung, per OncoDaily. He had surgery to remove the tumor, but the disease had already advanced too far, and he died on December 15, 1966. Nowadays, the outlook for patients with lung cancer is much better than it was at the time.

Interestingly enough, cast members also point with two fingers at Disney Parks. In some cultures, it's actually offensive to point with a single finger, and from a distance it's easier to see two fingers rather than one. But now I have to wonder if it was in part inspired by Walt Disney’s smoking addiction.

When Hanks played Walt Disney for Saving Mr. Banks, he thought it was important to portray him accurately, which included bringing attention to his heavy smoking. As he shared:

If you haven’t seen it already, in Saving Mr. Banks, you can see how Hanks implemented what he learned about Disney. You can check out Tom Hanks’ performance as Walt Disney right now with a Disney+ subscription, along with numerous documentaries featuring the man himself. Hanks is also the star of the most successful Disney movie of the year so far, reprising the role of Woody in Toy Story 5. It’s now playing in theaters.

Between the advent of Genie+ and later Lightning Lane Multi-Pass in Disney World and Disneyland’s parks, there’s been a lot of added cost and inconvenience that’s rubbed parkgoers the wrong way. While we know an incredible number of parkgoers will shell out for the more premium experience, it comes with downsides. That includes things like the aforementioned prices, but also a much more complex planning structure as a whole, and the planner having to be on their phones and having to keep their phones charged through the whole day. Don’t even get me started on what happens when the app crashes.

If you go to Disney parks regularly or have been over the past several years, you should know exactly what I am talking about, here. There’s still plenty of magic to go around, but this is one wrinkle that people love to talk about. In fact, a recent article over at the Wall Street Journal went through this basic rigmarole, explaining that the person who is tied to their phone now has a “very different day” at Disney than the rest of their party. In short, it’s a lot of doomscrolling for them, but buried in this article was a tidbit that caught my attention.

Apparently, back in February Disney Experiences Chair Thomas Mazloum was asked about how Lightning Lane was going at a press event for Disneyland. Apparently, this is something those at Disney have been keeping a close eye on, as he reported:

The rest of the article mostly dives into familiar territory, like how it's better to think of Lightning Lane as “a game” (and rightfully so) and other ways you can manage your day at the parks. Yet it was this note from the Experiences Chair that really stood out to me. For a long time, it’s seemed like Lightning Lane, the app, and all of these technological complexities Disney World and Disneyland have added would be a headache forever. It at least now seems as if those working for the parks want to “simplify” the process more meaningfully. Whether or not that’s lip service remains to be seen.

After a post-pandemic boom, price increases have allegedly led to fewer crowds in 2026. Though it’s worth noting the parks have been making more money even with less volume, fewer lines have anecdotally felt like fewer people even using Lightning Lane which means more fluidity within the queue experience in the parks. We’ve run down whether Lightning Lane Multi-Pass is worth the money before, and it’s not as simple as just a yes or a no.

Beyond the pros and cons of the app and cost itself, it’s difficult to compare experiences at Disneyland and Disney World when the app is different in both parks and when Disneyland caters to a larger audience of locals. It’s also worth noting the Wall Street Journal was at Disney World when it wrote about the Lighting Lane Multi-Pass experience. So, mileage varies for sure.

Still, I often long for the days when I didn’t need to pull out my phone in the parks to order food or check the app. I think we’re fully past that time in our lives, but I do believe that if we can get to a future where the process is simple even for newbies at Disney World and Disneyland, it will be a much-appreciated change.

The cost to visit Disneyland and/or Disney California Adventure has consistently become more expensive every year. While I’ve come to expect ticket prices to go up every year, I didn’t think about the possibility of hundreds of food items getting an increase, too! Nevertheless, here we are, and we're going to discuss some of the cost increases along with several of the park offerings that will now be pricier.

It's been reported that 800 food items across both the Disney Parks in Southern California are now seeing price hikes. Mickey Visit did the math, and the average price increase among all these items is around 8 percent, or $0.62 per item. I compiled a list of some of the popular items from Theme Park IQ’s database that are now more pricey than before. You can get a sense of the situation here:

I don’t know about you but, if I’m going to Disneyland, I’m getting a three-pack of beignets, a churro and a Dole Whip for sure. And now, that will cost me over $21 rather than before, when it would have cost me under $20. Now, the House of Mouse isn’t completely robbing us with these latest changes per item, and they can easily blame inflation. However, big families will certainly be feeling their pockets lighter than before when the day at the park ends.

The confections that suffered the biggest price increases are the Chopped Salad at Jolly Holiday, the Creamy Marinara Primavera at Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, and the Count Down Chicken Fusilli at Alien Pizza Planet. Each of them went from a price of $13.49 to $14.79. Quite a few of the fancy coffee beverages also cost much more than they did. I know I'm personally thankful that the famous Dole Whip only went up $0.20.

This update comes following Disneyland’s annual ticket price increase occurring last in October 2025. We’ve become accustomed to this happening every October for a few years now, with 2024’s increase marking the depressing milestone of the most expensive Disney ticket being over $200. Should there be another increase this October (as we expect to see again), it’s kind of a double whammy of extra expense for theme park goers.

Disney’s prices have been the subject of criticism in recent years, with former CEO Michael Eisner even commenting on it. Additionally, Home To Go named the two Disney Parks in California the least affordable theme parks in the United States in 2026. Universal Studios Hollywood’s prices also ranked low, but the difference between the park’s prices are still sizable.

It would appear Disney Parks certainly won’t be advertising these price changes of their own accord. Hopefully, though this word of caution can help any potential visitors budget accordingly for an upcoming trip to the "Happiest Place on Earth."

As far as early jobs on the resume go, a job at Disneyland sounds like it’d be a pretty sweet one. Unless you're Will Ferrell, in which case you only last for a day. I just learned Will Ferrell once got hired to work at the Happiest Place on Earth, but he backed out of it pretty quickly. Hijinks definitely were involved.

Before Will Ferrell found his big break as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, the comedian and actor grew up in Orange County, California. One of his first jobs was technically at Disneyland, but the gig didn’t last very long. He recently revealed all this to Amy Poehler, including what lured him away.

It’s true. Not every job title at Disneyland is as exciting as the place itself. While Josh Gad might get a celebrity pass to work rides, Mr. Ferrell was not the comedian we know today at that time. He genuinely seems unenthusiastic about ticket taking, and waiting, and I do get it. That’s not even inside the park!

Since he’d just been offered another job at a surf shop in Newport Beach his friend was managing, he decided to suddenly quit. Here’s where the story really gets good, and definitely highlights the environment Ferrell grew up in that led him to be so funny.

Will Ferrell oozes confidence these days, but his anecdote on Good Hang With Amy Poehler shows that he didn’t always have nerves of steel. What a way to quit Disneyland!

One can’t help but giggle at the story. Imagine being the person that was on the other side of the line (perhaps reading this), and realizing it was THE Will Ferrell! How funny.

Will Ferrell might have quit Disneyland before he even started, but fellow SNL alum Steve Martin definitely didn’t. The comedy icon worked at Disneyland at the age of 10 after biking over to the theme park and asking for work there. Someone allowed him to sell guidebooks there, and Martin continued to work for the Mouse for eight years. The actor started working at the park’s magic shop at 15, which gave him an avenue to perform before later heading to 30 Rock.

Ultimately Will Ferrell left his life in Orange County for Los Angeles to join the city’s local The Groundlings improv group. It was there where he was encouraged to try out for SNL producer Lorne Michaels. Ferrell was on the sketch show for seven years before launching a successful movie career. And to think, if he'd spent those seven years at Disneyland, he still probably wouldn't be manning The Jungle Cruise.

His latest project is a new series called The Hawk, which is dropping this week for those with a Netflix subscription.

Toy Story is a beloved franchise among fans, its cast, and Disney theme park attendees. Whether you’re riding the Toy Story ride, waving at the characters in a parade, or waiting for a personal photo opportunity, the Pixar box office sensation makes its mark in the parks. No one is immune to the magic and charm of the toys brought to life, especially with the 2026 movie release of Toy Story 5 riding a wave of success.

It’s no surprise that when the voice of Woody himself, Tom Hanks, takes his grandkids to Disneyland that he can feel just how special his involvement with the franchise is. According to Metro, chatting about what Toy Story means to people, Hanks explained even he couldn’t escape the joy. He said:

It’s hard to realize the impact you have on the masses until you’re faced with it at an undeniable moment or someone close to you gives you a nudge. One of those instances happened at Disneyland previously, when Hanks’ daughter pointed it out during Fantasmic!

Yes, Tom Hanks actually played Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks, but that’s just not the same as watching a character you’ve voiced for more than 30 years walking around in real life and interacting with others. That has to be surreal in a way that few can understand, and you can hear the genuine appreciation from Hanks in the clip.

He's not the only actor with an appreciation for the parks. Disney guy Josh Gad took over Storybook Land canal boats as a storyteller earlier this year. While the voice of Olaf in the Frozen films clearly had a grand time on his adventure, as well as when he was previously a Haunted Mansion caretaker and a Jungle Cruise skipper, it’s still not quite the same.

When you think about the best Pixar movies, or even the best films of Tom Hanks, of course Toy Story comes to mind. The franchise started with a cowboy doll named Woody becoming jealous when he met a new spaceman action figure named Buzz Lightyear that replaced him as the top toy in a boy’s bedroom. It evolved into a journey of friendship, unbreakable bonds that have now lasted through five films, and plenty of quotable lines.

Since the first film hit theaters in 1995, it has become a brand with millions of fans, endless merchandise, and lovable characters. With the success of Toy Story 5, questions have been raised about whether Toy Story 6 is possible. Only Pixar and the creative team can determine whether that will happen, but it feels like a safe bet that fans, theme park guests, and Tom Hanks will see the character continue to live on in the Disney theme parks forever.

If you’ve been to Disneyland Resort in the past couple of months, you probably noticed that one of the theme park’s best rides, Pirates of the Caribbean, has been closed for refurbishment. Well, the ride is officially back up and running in Anaheim, California, and there’s a notable change to talk about.

What's New On Disneyland's Pirates Of The Caribbean Ride

Pirates of the Caribbean is considered one of Disneyland’s most classic rides, and it has a long history of changes since it was opened back in 1967. Do you know the part of the ride where a skeleton is sitting on top of gold? Well, now it's been replaced with an audio animatronic that transforms from a flesh-and-blood pirate to a skeleton. Here’s a look at him:

The Imagineers are behind the new technology, which combines projection, animatronics and robotics all in one. As explained in a new Walt Disney Imagineering video, they felt the change to the greedy pirate would allow them to “tell his full story” after 59 years of remaining stagnant. It’s explained that it enhances his lore because the audio animatronic looks at a cursed coin and becomes transformed by it before he drops the coin and the curse lifts. He’s “stuck in this loop” for eternity due to his greed. Here it is in action:

The audio animatronic technology recently came to Disneyland through a figure of Walt Disney that was added for the 70th anniversary celebration and has been popping up across Disney Parks around the world, including through a free-walking Olaf in Hong Kong and Paris.

What Fans Are Saying About It

Pirates of the Caribbean is an especially sacred ride to Disney fans because it was the last one Walt Disney was directly part of before his death in 1966 (prior to its opening). Over the years, there’s been some notable changes, like a female pirate being added and Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow also being included after the success of the movie franchise based on the ride. Here are some first reactions to the latest addition, per Instagram:

• “Not everything needs to be updated with current tech. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should…There’s a nostalgia and beauty to the simplicity of original Disney animatronics, leave them alone!!” - @alicia.nestasia
• “This takes a GREAT and iconic scene and unfortunately makes it now look fake. The old way whilst not moving looks completely, COMPLETELY real. This triggers criticism and disbelief because it looks so fake...it's a fun idea but it pulls you right out of the awe of the scene. One of Pirates most iconic scenes at that. Yeah, it's a nope from me.” - @robertjkral
• “I know there are so many truly talented people that worked on this, so repectfully: no thank you 🙂‍↔️” - @hallandoatesmeal
• “can’t believe this is why it was closed on my birthday, i-” - @ericahnelson
• “Cool tech, but use on different ride please. Pirates is perfect just the way it is.” - @caseykas

To be clear, these comments come from people who likely haven’t been on the ride itself, but the response to the update is overwhelmingly negative. As I suspected, fans have a certain protectiveness over the classic attraction, and are a bit pessimistic about the changes, even though it's also pretty cool to see the scene come alive.

By my estimation, I think we’re in a shock stage of change (I feel it myself), and I think time will certainly tell if people embrace this audio animatronic over time or not. You can go check out the fresh addition to Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland now.

There are plenty of stories about celebrities getting special treatment at theme parks, from private tours to skipping hour-long lines. However, if the internet’s favorite Adam Sandler Disneyland story is true, then the Happy Gilmore 2 star handles things differently. Over the years, he has built a reputation as one of Hollywood’s nicest celebrities, the kind of movie star fans spot playing pickup basketball, eating at chain restaurants or taking pictures with strangers. Apparently, that regular-guy energy extends to family trips to the Happiest Place on Earth, where he acted like a dad in the best way possible.

A a story regarding Sandler has circulated among Disney fans for years, and it was recently posted on the House of the Mouse Instagram account in time for Father's Day. Apparently, Sandler frequently visits the parks with his family but refuses to use his celebrity status to jump ahead of everyone else. He also seems to impart that same principle to his kids. One especially funny anecdote claims the actor once rode Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion with a stranger because his wife and children ended up in a different Doom Buggy. The caption reads:

That visual alone feels like something straight out of one of Adam Sandler’s best comedy films. I also love the notion of the celebrity parent ensuring that his kids follow suit. Even better, fans keep sharing their own encounters with the actor, and they all seem to point in the same direction. One commenter, @jennifer8ad33, recalled:

Again, this is the Saturday Night Live veteran performer we’re talking about. Somehow, the idea of Billy Madison patiently waiting for a corn dog feels entirely believable. And that was not the only fan encounter shared. Another commenter, @minervanerva64, wrote:

Similar responses kept coming. Another fan added:

Part of what makes stories like these resonate is that the Big Daddy star has never hidden how important family is to him. His wife, Jackie, and daughters Sadie and Sunny have become frequent collaborators, appearing in many of his movies over the years. Most recently, both daughters starred in You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah and had major roles in Happy Gilmore 2, continuing a tradition that has quietly become one of the sweetest parts of Sandler’s career.

While plenty of celebrity parents might take advantage of every perk available, there is something refreshingly normal about teaching your kids that waiting in line applies to everyone, especially at Disneyland. Maybe it's because the Hubie Halloween funny man himself still seems genuinely excited by everyday things. The man who can headline blockbusters, most of which are available with a Netflix subscription, still looks happiest in basketball shorts, oversized T-shirts and sneakers that have clearly seen better days.

That regular-guy energy has become part of his charm. Of course, none of this should really surprise longtime fans. The comedian-turned-movie producer’s movies often revolve around family, loyalty and ordinary people trying to do right by each other. Whether he's playing a hockey player, a jeweler, a lizard or a golfer, that warmth tends to shine through.

So, on Father's Day, here's to Adam Sandler. Not just for making generations laugh, but for apparently being the kind of dad who tells his kids, "Nope. We wait like everybody else." Honestly, that's pretty cool.

As of this writing, Sandler doesn't seem to have any acting gigs lined up for the 2026 movie schedule. However, right now, fans can celebrate Father's Day by chilling with their own dads and revisiting some of the Sandman's most beloved flicks.

While I’d expect actors who worked with Walt Disney like Dick Van Dyke, Julie Andrews, Kurt Russell and Dean Jones to have great stories with the iconic businessman and film producer, I just learned that Kevin Costner had the chance to meet him, too. It’s a wild story that’s crazier because it happened before the Oscar winner had any Hollywood experience or credits to his name.

Back when Kevin Costner was 5 years old, it was the early days of big theme parks. The actor was born just a few months before the opening day of Disneyland, which was on July 17, 1955. According to the actor, he and his mother got to go to Disneyland around 1960 thanks to a man who knocked on their door and gave them tickets because he couldn’t go anymore with his wife. Here’s what happened once they were at the Happiest Place on Earth:

Kevin Costner is talking about riding the Disneyland Railroad, which was one of the opening day attractions that are still there. At the time, it was called the Grand Canyon Diorama and was much smaller than the attraction is now. As he recalled during an interview with JT Foxx, he loved the ride so much that he kept asking to go on it over and over. Along the way, he jetted past some yellow tape and ran right into someone. As he continued:

Can you even imagine? Nowadays, the closest you can get to meeting Walt Disney is through an animatronic attraction called Walt Disney: A Magical Life, but back in 1960 when Costner went, the man himself was strolling around the park, and it seemed quite normal to catch a glimpse of him. While we’d certainly believe Kevin Costner could have met Walt Disney in general because he’s such a famous actor now, this story is all the more awesome because it happened to him long before he made a name for himself.

Kevin Costner was telling the incredible story to point out how Disneyland wasn’t always a surefire success, despite Walt Disney being thought of as a visionary today. When he reflects on his brief literal run-in with Walt Disney, he realizes that it was at a time when Disney was "unbelievably doubted”. He thinks that Walt was perhaps using Costner’s genuine enthusiasm for the ride to underline, perhaps to the lawyers and accountants he was with, that Disneyland had a bright future. And obviously, he was on to something.

These days it feels like you can’t go anywhere without seeing Walt Disney’s name. There are always more upcoming Disney movies on the way, and more attractions coming to Walt Disney World and the other Disney Parks around the globe. I love that this legends meeting legends moment happened, because Costner's own Hollywood fame happened 20 years after the death of Walt Disney.

There’s no shortage of Star Wars content in the galaxy right now. From Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, which just premiered on the 2026 movie schedule, to Star Wars: Starfighter, which stars Ryan Gosling and is slated for release in May 2027, the franchise is everywhere. Now, Disney Parks has joined the excitement with a brand-new mission on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, which debuted yesterday at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, featuring none other than Mando and Grogu.

I had the chance to experience the new adventure this week, and while stepping into the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon never gets old, I was surprised to discover my favorite role is no longer the Pilot. Starting now, I’d gladly fight for the chance to be the Engineer.

CinemaBlend was invited to Walt Disney World this week to preview the upcoming offerings for Cool Kids' Summer, beginning May 26. That includes the updated Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster starring the Muppets, a limited-time new flight called Soarin’ Across America, a Bluey and Bingo dance party at Animal Kingdom, and, of course, the new adventure on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

The Engineer Role Has Been Updated

When I was waiting in line and got assigned the role of Engineer, I have to admit, I was initially disappointed. For starters, you’re seated in the back of the cockpit, meaning you’re the furthest from the screen. But more importantly, in the original mission on Smugglers Run — which has been in place since Galaxy’s Edge first opened — the role never felt especially important. Outside of collecting cargo for Hondo Ohnaka or patching up the Falcon when it took damage, it often felt like you were just along for the ride.

And clearly, I’m not the only one who has felt that way over the years. The Engineer role has had a bit of a reputation among guests, so when I got the chance to chat with a Disney Imagineer Morgan McDowell about the updated mission, I was curious how much guest feedback actually played into the changes. Turns out: quite a bit, as she explained:

I can confidently say the feedback was heard, because the second the mission started, I immediately felt like I had somehow lucked out by getting the Engineer.

Why I Loved Being The Engineer

What shocked me most was just how much more there is to do now. Engineers still repair the ship and collect cargo, but they also now help determine where the mission actually goes. One of the Engineers is randomly selected to choose between Tatooine, Endor, or Coruscant, and wherever they pick becomes a huge part of the adventure that follows. So instead of feeling like you’re just pressing buttons in the background, the Engineer now plays a major role in shaping the mission.

And that’s not even the best addition. Engineers now also get their own dedicated “Grogu button,” which calls Grogu onto the screen during the mission. Honestly, that alone might make it the superior role.

To Disney’s credit, all three positions feel more dynamic now, with additional elements added, but the Engineer is definitely front and center, as McDowell also pointed out:

The Engineer easily became the highlight for me. Apparently, I enjoy being in control and responsible for babysitting Grogu. If you’re heading to Disneyland or Walt Disney World for Cool Kids’ Summer — running May 26 through September 8 — make sure to check out the new Smugglers Run mission for yourself. Just maybe don’t bring snacks aboard the Falcon, because Grogu absolutely will try to steal them, and definitely don’t blow any kisses at stormtroopers.

While it may feel like the COVID-19 pandemic was another lifetime ago, a lot has changed since it happened, including regarding what it’s like to visit Disneyland Resort. As you may recall, the California theme park was closed to the public for over a year and some things just haven’t been the same since it reopened in April 2021. But a new policy is about to go into effect next month that will harken back to its pre-COVID era, and I’m absolutely on board.

What’s Coming Back To Disneyland

Ever since Disneyland Park and Disneyland California Adventure reopened after its long closure, gone have been the days of a spontaneous Disney trip. Its reservation system has meant guests have to plan when they are going ahead of time, and currently when you choose a Park Hopper ticket, you have to pick which park we want to start at. And once you’re there, you cannot leave your chosen park until after 11 a.m. But starting June 9, guests can “park hop” as they please as long as their chosen park isn’t at capacity.

Now, when it comes to Walt Disney World, they ended their own version of the Park Hopper rule back in 2023. But at that time, Disneyland Park only cracked down more on the reservation system. For guests who like to jump from one park to another, this is great news, perhaps the only problem that could arise is if one of the parks reaches capacity while someone is park hopping.

Why I’m So Happy About It

I’ve been going to Disneyland and Disneyland California Adventure throughout my life, and I remember the old park hopping days. And obviously I've have experienced the new order of things. When I went recently, I noticed that the policy definitely incentivized me to stay in one park for the first half of the day before moving to the other side of the park, but I definitely miss getting to move to one or the other at my leisure.

As someone who loves the food at Disneyland California Adventure, and prefers the variety and sheer volume of rides Disneyland Park has, I think returning to this rule is a great idea. Particularly before 11 a.m. is a great time to run to your favorite rides at a time when they are less crowded than later in the day. Plus, for those who are just going for a day, I think it will allow guests to maximize their time at both parks. Oh, and you definitely get more steps in this way as well!

Since Disneyland reopened after its huge closure, it’s been hard to keep up with all the changes, so this is a really nice treat for longtime guests of the California park like myself.

Disneyland Resort recently rolled out a new way guests will enter the parks, and it's giving me those Tomorrowland vibes. Yes, I'm talking facial recognition. It’s a piece of tech that other theme parks have previously implemented, including the likes of Epic Universe testing it out just last month. Yet, a common grievance is starting to come up among parents.

The Big Complaint About Disneyland's Facial Recognition System That's Cropping Up Among Parents

Now Disneyland resort’s facial recognition system is in full swing, one recent Disneyland guest started a conversation on Reddit about how they noticed it’s led to fewer cast members per gate. I'm talking like two per entry lane. The thread led to a number of parents sharing their experience with the facial recognition system. As one wrote:

As someone who went to Disneyland just last week and has experienced the system myself, I didn’t find it to be very fussy. However, I’m also not the parent of a (possibly cranky) toddler. Tired parents are bringing up good points about how the new system can be tough on some kids. As another person said about their experience:

Disneyland Resort’s facial recognition system allows the park to take a picture of each guest when they enter the park which then employs biometric technology to convert those images into unique numerical values that are used to find a match. While it sounds simple enough in theory, settling down kids to take a picture has proven to be a chore for some guests. As another parent shared:

Of course we’re just talking about the complaints, here. There are surely a lot of families who’ve had a seamless process, but it’s an aspect of the changes certainly worth thinking about.

Don't Fret: How Disneyland Guests Can Override Facial Recognition Fears And Gripes

For those who are totally over (or just plain-old spooked) by the idea of the House of Mouse having a picture of you in their facial recognition system, there are some work-arounds. According to The Walt Disney Company:

So, if you don’t want to be part of the facial recognition system, there are lanes available without this system in place. This allows guests to decide for themselves what the best fit is for their family. Plus, it’s not like your picture will be stored in the system forever. After 30 days, the system will apparently delete the photo information it’s acquired.

That said, time will tell whether the non-facial recognition lines will be longer or shorter in the notoriously-busy theme parks. The good news is Disneyland has rolled out a ton of new features in the past (such as the reservation system) that haven’t worked perfectly at first, but the kinks were worked out over time.

As Disneyland Resort looks forward to an upcoming expansion in Disney’s California Adventure and the Tony Stark ride boasting “new tech”, I'm guessing even busier parks are on the horizon. Hopefully, all this facial recognition brouhaha will be solved in the meantime.

It’s a small world out there for theme park fans, many of whom don’t just ride at Disney World or Universal Orlando. Parks fans will travel far and wide for new rides, from amusingly-themed gravy boat coasters to new water attractions and plenty more. So, it’s not that easy to fool a theme park fan. Which is why I was a little surprised by a new video was touting “insane new Disney ride tech” for its new Tony Stark ride.

If you’re up on the attractions at Disneyland, you may already know that Avengers Campus is getting Stark Flight Lab, a brand new ride for fans of Iron Man and all upcoming MCU movies. I already love it 3000, but like the other Universal fans out there, I’m maybe not as enthusiastic about posts touting “new tech.”

OK, the video does look cool, and to be fair, it’s possible the “new tech” is supposed to be selling the fact that it’s new tech for Disney specifically. (Though some fans have compared it to the now-defunct Sum of all Thrills at Epcot.) Perhaps the video even meant to indicate that Tony Stark always has the latest technology in his labs. However, that’s not really how it read to parks fans, and given we know the robotic arms being used in the labs are Kuka arms like many other rides have similarly added in the past. Some of these fans did not let the comment slide.

Honestly, the snark is palpable here:

• This is Brand New Tech if you’re at Universal Studios and it’s 2010.
• So… it looks like like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Monsters Unchained at Universal?
• Welcome to the “Avengers themed Harry Potter ride with complementary 3D screen eye damage”
• Nice to see them taking ideas from Universal who has lately really been having incredible rides.

These types of robotic arms are famous at Universal Orlando in the Islands of Adventure Hogwarts Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. It’s also famously one of the more puke-inducing rides in the park, but Universal really perfected the technology with Epic Universe’s great attraction Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.

However, they’ve been used in other theme parks, too, and others were very quick to point this out.

• lol. New tech. Legoland had this ride 25 years ago.
• Soooo…. Sum of all Thrills from Epcot? Knights Tournament from Legoland in 2005? Forbidden Journey and Monsters Unchained at Universal?

Stark Flight Lab is going to be a little different in that it will start on a track and then shift upwards thanks to the aforementioned robotic arms. It will also mark the return of Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, which is very cool. There is a ton of excitement for the upcoming Disney attraction, but theme park fans are going to troll all those who call the tech brand new.

Inflation has entered pretty much every corridor of our lives at this point, including vacation fun. There’s been a lot of talk about the increased cost of taking a family to a theme park over the last five years. Like everything else, inflation has impacted vacation prices, and the Happiest Place on Earth is not immune from price increases, particularly when the parks get busy. With dynamic pricing, some days costs have gotten significantly worse just when it comes to entry, but this summer there’s a $99 reason to give Walt Disney World a whirl.

$99 Dollars Is A Super Cheap Disney World (Or Disneyland) Day

Sure, there are other extra costs when you stay at Walt Disney World, but there are going to be some days this summer where Disney World and Disneyland are rolling out cheaper tickets for families. Right now, the base price day in the parks costs $119, and that's not even factoring in Park Hopper or Park Hopper+ costs. Do you and your family want to visit over a holiday season?

Well, in that case, prepare to shell out far more, with one-day tickets sometimes costing as much as $209 dollars. If you are a family of four or more, those costs add up really fast. This summer, some dates will be cheaper in the hot months of August and September, per usual, but there's also a 4-park deal Walt Disney World is rolling out that will give families access to one of the parks per day for four days. The cost works out to $99 per day, and you can read more on Disney's site.

Summer used to be a prime time for families to visit Walt Disney World, but it's getting increasingly warm and sticky, and to top it all off, hurricane season blows through Florida between June and November. This might be Disney's way of getting more people into the parks during this window, but honestly, it's not a problem to me. A deal can be made for selfish reasons by a company, and still be a good deal for the families involved.

One thing is clear: the Disney Parks on both coasts are certainly pushing the summer experience in 2026.

Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum said in a statement (via USA Today) the company wants to make the summer really “count” this year. That means new experiences and more options for families to head to both Disney World and Disneyland.

When I first moved to Los Angeles well over a decade ago, my husband and I could nab Disney parks tickets for under a hundred bucks. Things have changed drastically in terms of prices since then, and I'm not just talking about the entry fee. I'm talking about things I took for granted: like the loss of the Fast Pass in favor of Lightning Lane, the loss of the Magical Express at Disney World and so much more. Some things have changed for the better though, and there's no doubt the ride experiences and the food options in most of the parks have gotten better and better.

So, if you haven't turned out in a while, there's 99 reasons to go back this year.

Most theme parkgoers recognize there are some major differences between Disneyland and Disney World. The former has two parks and fits its best attractions in a tight space in Orange County, CA. The latter has four sprawling parks spread across 40+ square miles and with its own road system. They each have their charms, but they aren’t the same thing. So, I recognize that Disneyland and California Adventure would have more attractions per park than their Florida counterparts. And yet, I did not fully realize the insane differences between some of the parks.

A recent post created by the Disney Lemons popped up while I was perusing Instagram the other day, and it totally blew my mind out of nowhere. Here’s the breakdown of rides at each of the Disney parks built in the United States:

• Disneyland: 35
• Magic Kingdom: 26
• California Adventure: 19
• Epcot: 11
• Hollywood Studios: 9
• Animal Kingdom: Noted as 6 (*Let's talk this number out)

Listen, I knew Animal Kingdom was on the lower end of ride experiences when it came to Disney theme parks but the difference between it and Disneyland is truly shocking. Yes, it’s been exacerbated by recent changes in the parks, but still, there are 29 more rides in Disneyland than Animal Kingdom, and 29 is still a number larger than the park with the second most attractions (Magic Kingdom).

While there are some heavy hitters at Animal Kingdom between Expedition Everest and World of Pandora stuff, AK is going through some changes recently. The entirety of Dinoland, U.S.A. was shut down. While I was fine with Primeval Whirl going the way of the dinosaur (pun very much intended), it was a much sadder day when Dinosaur shut down, and that honestly cuts the number of “rides” even lower.

Right now Animal Kingdom has: Avatar Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids, Na’vi River Journey and if you count, Kilimanjaro Safaris and the Rafiki's Planet Watch Train, that's six rides. If you aren’t counting the latter two as "rides," there are only four rides currently open in the park, plus a slew of shows, experiences, walking trails and more.

I’m just saying, the difference between the value of what you get at Disneyland or even California Adventure trumps the parks, at least individually, at Disney World. What you get at World though includes many permutations of park hopping, world class restaurants, fun transportation including boats and the Skyliner, and great hotels at many different price points.

The good news? A Tropical Americas section of the parks is allegedly going in where the dinosaurs used to roam. AK will also be taking a note from Disneyland and putting an Indiana Jones ride in where Dinosaur was, which makes all the sense in the world since both rides were similar to begin with. It's also worth noting an Encanto ride is going into the area. All the construction has been great, but it's been a concern on many theme park fans' minds for a while.

Change is afoot, and I’m excited to see the Florida parks expand a bit in the coming years. I do think I should leave you on one final note. The post mentions that between the two parks in California, there are more rides in total than all four parks in Florida combined! (Though Disney World still has some of the best attractions.) I’d never thought about it, but when you put it that way it does give you fodder for thought.

Normally, April is my favorite time of the year. The weather is nice, my roses start budding, and April 25th is the perfect day, obviously. This year, though, there’s been a lot of rain and personal upheaval, and April has not been doing it for me. That is, until Walt Disney World dropped an amazing video of Josh Gad acting as a greeter at Disneyland.

Honestly, what’s not to love about wholesome content like this? From the early morning dawn light splayed on the guests, to Josh Gad’s hot take train jabs, this video has it all: Surprise, humor, and most of all, a little magic. Take a look.

This wouldn’t be the first time Josh Gad has taken over someone’s job at a Disney theme park. This time, he thought he would be becoming a storyeller on the relaxing Storybook Land Canal Boats ride (a middlingly-ranked Disneyland attraction). Instead, a cast member assigns him as a “barker,” which is certainly a lesser-ranking job and he jokingly seems unamused about.

Early in the full video, when Gad does get recognized, I’m obsessed with his first impulse, which is comedy. When a fan asks if “that’s Josh Gad,” he turns around and hollers, “Where?” I've interviewed the actor before, and he really is a larger-than-life personality, so I can't imagine running into him unexpectedly in a theme park setting. I'm sure it was amazing.

Eventually, he does steal the mic and crack jokes about Pinocchio whale endoscopies and having more fun than the guests on the “train.” You can see more from his unexpected day in the parks, below.

Josh Gad was also supposed to be on hand for a World of Frozen event at Disneyland Paris earlier this month, but had to bail on the event due to a family health issue that took him back home. It is nice to see he did make it to one of the parks this month, even if he missed the “intense” malfunction of the Olaf animatronic over in Europe. The good news is his mom was rushed to the ER in time, and in his last update he mentioned she’s slowly gotten better. Since then, he’s been able to get back to “work.” Which, in this case means amusing his fans with funny Disney commentary, and heading to Japan. It's not a bad gig, being an actor.

Gad’s a longtime Disney guy, and he has work outside Frozen for Disney right now too. In fact, he recently did voiceover work for the DisneyNature Orangutan doc, which is set to be available to those with a Disney+ subscription on Earth day. You can see more of what's heading to streaming with our 2026 TV schedule.

Reboots, revivals, and spinoffs seem to be the norm these days, both in film and television. In Disney’s case, it always feels like a reboot is being plotted, and it’s not just with their films. There have been a handful of Disney Channel shows getting the reboot treatment; however, Kim Possible is not one of them. Now, following a night at Disneyland that highlighted the animated show, its star, Christy Carlson Romano, has called out an executive who said a reboot of the series was irrelevant, even though the 2000s show still holds up as an adult.

Disney Channel Nite returned to Disneyland, and Millennials and Zillennials got together to celebrate the golden era of the children’s network. They dressed up in costumes pertaining to fan-favorite characters, ate themed meals, and danced and sang along to all the classics. Some Disney stars even made the trek out to the event, including Romano, who surrounded herself with plenty of people dressed like her titular teen heroine. At the same time, she proved one exec completely wrong, as she shared on Instagram:

Kim Possible did actually get a reboot, albeit a live-action DCOM in 2019 that was not like the original. But if Phineas and Ferb can make a comeback years after it ended, why not KP? As someone who grew up on Kim Possible, I would love nothing more than for the show to come back with Romano, Will Friedle, and others reprising their roles. If Disney Channel Nite proves anything, it’s that fans clearly still love the series. They know that, Romano knows that, if only Disney knew that.

Romano’s post also sounds like she might have, at one point, tried to get a Kim Possible reboot off the ground, hence the executive’s response. Clearly, that executive was wrong, considering how many people dressed up like Kim at Disney Channel Nite, and that’s probably not even everyone. Kim Possible ended in 2007 after four seasons and a Disney Channel Original Movie. To this day, it remains a favorite and is one of the best animated TV shows of all time. Who wouldn’t want to see a girl who can be a cheerleader and a high school student and someone who can save the world all at the same time?

Kim Possible is definitely among the Disney Channel shows that need to be revived, whether it’s a new season or a new movie. I just don't want a live-action remake like in 2019. It needs to get the Phineas and Ferb treatment. Same cast, same creators, same animation, just a new season. That formula certainly seems to work. Disney just needs some convincing.

Whether a reboot will ever actually happen for Kim Possible remains to be seen, but it’s obviously still relevant, so perhaps the executive will change their mind. Stranger things have happened. Fans will just have to settle for watching the original series with a Disney+ subscription for now.

Ever since it opened, Galaxy's Edge has been a very popular destination at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. In recent years, Galaxy's Edge has been going through some changes, namely dropping the original timeline in order to bring classic characters from George Lucas' original trilogy (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription) into the fold. Case in point: we just got our first look at Han Solo in the parks, and fans are definitely not being shy about sharing their opinions about the beloved character's appearance.

Back in March of 2025, we got our first look at Luke Skywalker at Galaxy's Edge, to the delight of longtime fans. Folks have been waiting to see classic Leia Organa and Han Solo join the fun, and the latter will be arriving later this month. And fans are already having a strong reaction to everyone's favorite scruffy-looking nerf herder.

See Han Solo's Debut At Galaxy's Edge

Han Solo will debut at Disneyland on April 29th, and I have to assume that folks will be clamoring to get a photo with the smuggler turned Rebel leader. Obviously, Harrison Ford is synonymous with this role, so whatever theme park actors play him are going to have some big shoes to fill. You can see what he'll look like roaming around Batuu below:

And just like that, the fan favorite Star Wars hero has been brought back to life in the Galaxy's Edge. While the land's original timeline was set after Han's death in The Force Awakens, that's no longer the case. And fans are making their voices known about seeing this first look at Solo.

What Theme Park Fans Are Saying About Disneyland's Han

Star Wars fans are known for being super passionate, as are theme park enthusiasts. So it should come as no surprise that the responses and comments section in these Han Solo posts are blowing up. There's a ton of discourse happening over on Twitter, with one popular response criticizing his appearance. It reads:

I feel this. The tweet is a reference to the cast members playing Peter Quill/ Star-Lord in Disneyland's Avengers campus. While some Marvel characters wear outrageous costumes, Star-Lord looks more like a regular guy. And that's a criticism that's already being directed at Han Solo's look in The Galaxy's Edge. To be fair, this actor doesn't look all that much like Harrison Ford.

While some folks wish that Han has a stronger resemblance to the beloved actor, others are still caught up in the way the character's inclusion further breaks the timeline of the Star Wars land. As one person tweeted:

Obviously this change to the timeline happened long before Han Solo was introduced to Galaxy's Edge, but it's clearly irking certain corners of the fandom. Meanwhile another fan took the opposite stance, posting:

Honestly, the more classic Star Wars characters the better. While Darth Vader used to be in the parks before Galaxy's Edge opened, eventually Kylo Ren replaced him as the primary antagonist of the theme park. And since Han and Chewie will be able to interact in the parks, why not bring in more OGs?

Another critical response of this Han Solo sneak peek was all about his costume. More specifically, the hair unit used to bring the character to life. As someone tweeted out:

Meanwhile, another fan thinks they've seen the actor shown in the Han Solo video before. Specifically playing another character in the theme parks. As they posted:

Theme park superfans attend the parks time and time again, so it's not uncommon for them to clock actors who are playing multiple roles. Hopefully the Han actor being recognized for possibly playing Gaston previously doesn't end up negatively affecting him. The actress who previously played the Evil Queen at Disneyland was reportedly fired due to so many fans recognizing her and helping her go viral online.

Han Solo will debut at Disneyland on April 29th. Star Wars will return to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu, which hits theaters May 22nd as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to wait and see what classic characters show up at Batuu next.

When it comes to thrilling and fun theme park rides, Disney is still the company to beat. In just the last few years, Disney World has seen everything from the groundbreaking Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance to the thrilling Tron: Lightcycle Run. Whatever sort of rides you are looking for, Disney World has some of the best, but there’s one particular type of ride I’m afraid we’ll never see again.

Expedition Everest celebrates its 20th anniversary this week, and the roller coaster is one of my favorite rides in the resort. It’s also likely going to make history because, at this point, it seems all but certain that it will be the last Disney World ride to open not inspired by a Disney franchise.

Expedition Everest Was Walt Disney World’s Last Non-IP Attraction

When Walt Disney first opened Disneyland, the theme park had plenty of rides inspired by the studio’s film output. Fantasyland had multiple dark rides that took guests through the stories from the films. Dumbo alone had two rides in the form of the classic spinner attraction and the Casey Jr. Circus Train.

However, many of the most popular rides at Disneyland in years to come would have no attachment to films. Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, and Space Mountain were all original concepts with their own stories to tell.

Expedition Everest was already something of an anomaly due to its lack of franchise association when the coaster was built. It has a story that sees guests visiting the Mimalayan Escapes travel company to ride a train through the iconic mountain range. Unfortunately, an interaction with a massive Yeti causes things to go awry.

It’s a great roller coaster with the largest audio-animatronic ever built, even if it’s never worked quite right.

In the years since Everest opened, however, Disney has made a hard pivot toward IP rides, and even seemingly shown contempt for anything that didn’t have a franchise attached to it. In a conversation with Barons back in 2019, then Disney CEO Bob Iger touted all the IP-themed creations coming from Disney and said…

This not-so-veiled shot at Expedition Everest is all one needs to see to know how Disney felt about non-IP rides. Certainly, Bob Iger had no plans to ever build anything like it again.

Franchises Can Still Start With Theme Park Rides

In the years since, we have seen not only rides but entire theme park lands built around a single IP. Lands like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and World of Frozen are the rule, not the exception. Of all the upcoming Disney World attractions, we're set to see entire lands themed around Cars, Monsters Inc., and Disney Villains

Clearly, we’re never going to get a non-IP attraction when the land the attractions are in has such a theme, but even in places like Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s upcoming Tropical Americas land, which isn’t specifically themed to a franchise, the rides we’re getting are based around Indiana Jones and Encanto.

It’s frustrating because there’s no reason that an original theme park ride can’t also become part of a franchise. Disney’s most successful live-action franchise, not called Marvel or Star Wars, was born from Pirates of the Caribbean. Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise have become films as well (to varying degrees of success).

That certainly wasn’t the intention when the rides were built, but why couldn’t it be? While the practice now is to launch a film franchise and then build the theme park ride to go with it, there’s no reason things couldn’t go the other way. Design an incredible theme park ride with a compelling story and fun characters, then expand on it with a movie or a Disney+ series.

There’s always the possibility the media side of the franchise wouldn’t take off, of course, but there’s a reasonably easy way to overcome that. If the ride you make is good enough, nobody will care. Nobody avoids the Haunted Mansion because the movies flopped at the box office. If the ride you make is great, people will ride it and love it, and that love might even help the movie be successful where it otherwise might not.

Disney has a new CEO and a new head of Disney Experiences, so maybe under the new regime, truly original theme park attractions aren’t entirely impossible. I would love to see Walt Disney Imagineering given the freedom that would come with not being forced to tie an attraction to a franchise. Unfortunately, I think that era is over, and it ended with Expedition Everest.

The future of Disneyland Resort is going to be big. A massive expansion, called DisneylandForward, is currently in the early stages and will radically transform the entire resort destination. However, a new report claims that one of the most significant parts of that expansion may now end up not happening at all.

Could Disneyland Cancel The Planned Avatar Land?

It’s been several years since then-CEO Bob Iger announced a planned “Avatar Experience” at Disneyland. We now know that the plan is for an Avatar-themed land at Disney California Adventure park, which would replace the current Hollywood Land. However, The Wrap now suggests those plans may be getting rethought.

Even before the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash, James Cameron was managing expectations regarding the planned two additional movies. He suggested that even if the movie made a lot of money, it might not make enough and that the final two films could be significantly delayed, or possibly not happen at all.

The questionable future of Avatar as a film franchise may, The Wrap suggests, mean that the planned Avatar theme park land is also being reconsidered. If fans aren’t as excited about the films as they once were, they may not be that excited about the theme park land either.

There is reason to believe there’s some truth to this. Originally, Disneyland announced that Monsters Inc: Mike & Sully To The Rescue, the major attraction in Hollywood Land, would close in early 2026 as the first step in constructing the new land. That closure has now been delayed into early 2027.

I attended a business update at Disneyland Resort a couple of months ago with then-Disneyland President, now Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum. It was there that we were first told that Monsters Inc. wouldn’t be closing as scheduled. At the time, it was suggested this was done as part of a greater effort for Disneyland to appeal to families by having more attractions for young kids, and that the delay wouldn’t slow any future construction plans.

It’s certainly possible that the delay was actually due to the fact that construction was put on hold because Disney Parks was rethinking things. No information about the Avatar land was provided, and maybe that's because things were changing. It all fits.

One Suggested Alternative To Avatar Would Be Much Better

I love Avatar as much as anybody, probably more than most, and I was certainly excited for the potential Avatar attractions coming to Disneyland. The prevailing theory was that the water ride teased in concept art would use the same ride base as the incredibly popular Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Shanghai Disneyland. That said, I’ve never been a big fan of transforming part of Disney California Adventure into Pandora, because the alien world simply doesn’t match any of the other lands found in my favorite Disney theme park.

Of course, if Avatar doesn’t come to DCA, what could? Former Disney Imagineer Jim Shull spoke to The Wrap and suggested a fairly obvious alternative: Disney’s other property that came out at the end of 2025, but did much better at the global box office. Zootopia. Shull said:

Honestly? I don’t hate this. The Zootopia land at Shanghai Disneyland is incredibly popular, and it has its own E-ticket attraction, which, while not as revolutionary as the Shanghai Pirates attraction, still would be a lot of fun.

The other benefit is that Zootopia would mean transforming the current land into an area that would still be primarily a cityscape, which, since the area borders DCA’s Buena Vista Street, would be a far better transition than Avatar.

It should be reiterated that the idea of replacing Avatar with Zootopia is just one former Imagineer’s theory, though the story does cite a person "familiar with the plans at Disneyland," indicating that operations teams are interested in a Zootopia idea as well. That said, the theory comes from somebody with experience and education in the ways of theme park design. If this is one Imagineer's opinion, it's likely that of others as well.

With D23 set to take place this August, it’s a safe bet that whatever the future is for this theme park land, and the Avatar movie franchise, it will be discussed more then. I'll be there, and I'll be very curious to see where this is all going.

Usually when I see somebody’s video from Disneyland on social media, my prevailing emotion is one of jealousy. Because if I’m not at Disneyland on any given day, I wish I were. However, the most recent viral video from the happiest place on earth has generated an entirely new emotion in me, burning fury.

Last night a guest at Disneyland was capturing video of the excellent Paint the Night parade, when they caught a guest who apparently decided he needed an extra special photo op, and jumped into the parade route to get a photo while he sat on the parade float of Mack from Cars. Check it out.

This is why we can’t have nice things.

This video absolutely infuriates me. I can abide some amount of guests having fun in the parks that might bend the rules slightly, but this is obviously one of those things that we all know we shouldn’t be doing. What’s more, these sorts of actions have the potential to cause real problems. There was no way to know the float could even handle this sort of activity, and damage to the float would have, at the very least, ended the parade for the night... or possibly longer.

Disneyland Guests Behaving Badly Cause A Lot Of Problems For The Park

I recently attended a business update at Disneyland Resort where one of the interesting pieces of information was that, in any given year, somewhere between 10-15% of unsheduled attraction closures are due to the behavior of guests.

The parade completely stops after the guest jumps on the float, and we see a Cast Member walk over. After a few moments, the float begins to move again. As somebody who especially loves the Paint the Night parade, I really hate to see this happen to it. If something happened that forced the parade to be cancelled, even temporarily, that would be heartbreaking.

The good news is that this transgression did not go unpunished. The post has a comment from somebody else who was apparently in the crowd, who says Disneyland security dealt with the individual shortly after their special photo. They probably thought that the parade crowd and the darkness worked to their advantage, but the fact is that hiding from Disneyland is nearly impossible.

While what happened is unknown, I feel confident that being banned from Disneyland was in his future. People have received lifetime bans for doing stuff in the parks that is arguably less egregious than this. The only question would be whether the ban was temporary or permanent.

From Cast members getting doxxed by fans to angry guests swearing up a storm to people getting into fistfights in ToonTown, there’s seemingly no limit to the guests behaving badly at Disney Parks. If the only people who had their day ruined by these actions were the people themselves, that would be one thing, but these sorts of actions impact the people around them. Can we all just…not?

In March of 2005, Bob Iger began his (first) tenure as the CEO of The Walt Disney Company. He wouldn’t wait long to leave his mark on the House of Mouse, as less than 12 months later, it would be announced that Disney was acquiring Pixar. It would be the first of several major acquisitions for Disney under Iger, including Marvel Entertainment, Lucasfilm, and ultimately, 20th Century Fox.

Today, 20 years after Bob Iger acquired Pixar, a new CEO is taking over The Walt Disney Company. Josh D’Amaro, as Bob Iger did in the weeks before stepping down, has indicated that Disney isn't contemplating any major mergers on par with the recent Warner Bros./Paramount deal. That said, I will be shocked if there isn’t a smaller, but no less important to Disney, acquisition on the horizon.

Disney Is Going To Own Bluey Soon, Right?

I’m thinking about Ludo Studio, the Australian studio behind Bluey, the animated family show that is one of the most popular IPs in the world right now. Bluey is big business for Disney, which is why I fully expect Disney to own the Bluey business eventually.

There’s no way to undersell how big the little blue dog is right now. Bluey has been the most popular series on any streaming platform for the last couple of years. More Bluey has been streamed than anything else, which, considering episodes are only a few minutes long, is even more of an accomplishment. Disneyland just opened the first Bluey attraction in one of its parks, and the line for it ran halfway across the park. Bluey is becoming such a big part of Disney; a lot of people probably don’t realize Disney doesn’t own it.

What Works For Disney, Becomes Disney

Star Wars, Pixar, Avatar, and even the Muppets all appeared in Disney Parks before Disney actually owned them, but ultimately all of them came under the Disney umbrella. Paying licensing fees rather than having to actually manage a brand can be preferable in some cases, but Disney, even before Bob Iger, saw things differently, preferring to have control over everything.

And there is some evidence that Bluey is already becoming part of Disney in everything but name. In addition to being added to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World this year, there have apparently been talks about doing crossovers between Bluey and The Simpsons. Disney Jr. even released an animated short recently that had Bluey and her family dancing with Mickey and the gang.

This sort of Disney "synergy" isn't usually spent on licensees. Disney is very protective of even its own properties. We didn't get the first "official" Disney and Pixar crossover until 2021. Mickey Mouse doesn't dance with just any old cartoon.

If Bluey were merely successful, simply profitable, that would be one thing, but Bluey is arguably the most valuable brand Disney has at the current moment. The fact that the company doesn’t own it means that it can potentially lose it. That would be bad for Disney.

At the same time, simply buying Bluey isn’t enough. You need the creative minds that made Bluey successful if you want to have confidence that it will remain successful. This is why if you want Bluey, you need to buy all of Ludo Studio.

It certainly wouldn’t be a deal on the scale of the ones Bob Iger did, but it would allow Josh D’Amaro to make a mark and to improve Disney’s portfolio, without spending nearly as much money as it cost to buy Fox. It also means not having to share what is likely to be an incredible box office when the Bluey movie comes out next year.

And if this is going to happen at all, there's no reason to wait. I think, like Captain America, Luke Skywalker, and Kermit the Frog before her, Bluey is going to be a Disney property one day, and that day will probably be soon.

The opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was such a big deal that Bob Iger once joked that Disney wouldn’t ever need to promote it; just announce it was open, and the people would come. For the most part, he hasn’t been wrong, as the land is still incredibly popular, if only for the fact that Rise of the Resistance is one of the best theme park rides ever created.

And yet, not everybody loves the Star Wars land that we got. While many fans hoped that the theme park land would let guests visit popular Star Wars locations from the past, the decision was instead made to create a new Star Wars planet to set the land, and that decision came directly from the top of both Disney and Lucasfilm.

Bob Iger And Kathleen Kennedy Killed The Original Plans For Galaxy’s Edge

In an interview with WDW Radio, which has recently resurfaced, former Walt Disney World VP Dan Cockerell discussed the fact that originally, Walt Disney Imagineering had the idea to build a version of Star Wars desert planet Tatooine, and were reasonably far into design of the land when they got a call telling them to change direction. According to Cockerell…

Tatooine wouldn’t just be killed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but also at Disneyland, as near identical versions of the land were built on each Disney coast. The world that was Tatooine became Batuu, a planet that is in the galaxy’s outer rim. The land was also set in the middle of the Sequel Trilogy, with only the characters from those films available to meet with guests.

The Idea Had Promise, But It’s Been Proved A Failure

On paper, the reasoning behind the decision to go with an original location makes a lot of sense. The future of Star Wars was bright at that point, and the expectation was that we’d be getting lots of Star Wars movies from Disney every year after the Sequel Trilogy was completed. However, that didn’t happen. The franchise stalled, and while many loved Rey, Finn and the rest, they, like Star Wars more broadly, haven’t been embraced by younger audiences the way the original characters were in their generation.

Over time, we’ve seen Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge slowly ignore its timeline, bringing in Boba Fett, the Mandalorian and other characters from the era between Original and Sequel trilogies. Next month, Disneyland will officially abandon the Sequel era timeline and bring in several original trilogy characters, including Luke, Han Solo, and Leia.

This, combined with the fact that modern Star Wars series on Disney+, like The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, routinely return to Tatooine as a nostalgia play, would seem to make clear that trying to move the theme park away from that was the wrong call.

Still, Kathleen Kennedy wasn’t wrong. When The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives this summer, Disney will have made as many Star Wars movies as George Lucas ever did. When Star Wars: Starfighter comes out next year, we will have crossed the pivot point, where most Star Wars movies have been made by Disney. There is still likely more Star Wars in front of us than behind us, so Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will likely continue to change as it does.

Last week, we saw a major shakeup in the entertainment industry as Josh D’Amaro took his place as the CEO of The Walt Disney Company. And since D’Amaro’s previous job had been as head of the Disney Experiences division, which handles the Disney Parks, we saw a game of musical chairs as people all through the division got promotions to fill D’Amaro’s old job, and all the jobs below it that were open as a result.

This means the landscape of executives at Disney parks are very different now than they were a week ago, and while I’m not really expecting this change in leadership to have massive repercussions, the Disney Parks are very much in a “It’s not broken, don’t fix it” place right now, if I could make one request, there is one thing I’d love to see the new regime never do again.

Please Don’t Open Unfinished Lands At Disneyland Anymore

While most of the highlights of Bob Iger’s tenure as CEO of Disney surround the movie studios he acquired, he did more than his share for Disney Parks as well. While he only saw one new park open during his time there, Shanghai Disneyland, we saw many of the existing parks undergo radical transformations, including major overhauls of both Disney California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris, which is about to change its name to go along with the redesign, becoming Disney Adventure Park.

The addition that Bob Iger will likely be the most attached to, however, was the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. A whole land dedicated to one of the biggest franchises in the world was one of the biggest moments in theme park history.

Today, I think Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is pretty great, but what it is today isn’t nearly what it was the day it opened, because Galaxy’s Edge opened with only one of its two major attractions, and the one that is by far the lesser of the two. Rise of the Resistance would go on to be, in my opinion, the best ride at Disneyland, but the decision to open the land without it made it far less amazing at the beginning.

We’re Still Waiting For Avengers Campus Phase Two

If this had been a one-time situation, I’d let it go, but then two years later, we had the same thing happen when Avengers Campus opened up. In that case, we were told from a much earlier point that the land would only open with the planned Spider-Man ride, and that an anticipated Avengers Quinjet attraction would be part of a future “phase two.”

And here we are, five years later, and “phase two” has been completely redesigned at least once, and is only now even under construction. There’s a lot that I love about Avengers Campus, but it has always felt half done. It’s going to be at least another year before the current construction is done, and it’s a safe bet that the two attractions being built will open separately, so it could be even longer before all work is complete.

Avengers Campus is a prime example of why opening half-finished lands shouldn't happen. Sometimes you run into problems that result in delays that you didn't expect. Then those delays cause additional delays, and then you find yourself with a major theme park land that's spent half a decade not finished. You can avoid this problem by just doing it right the first time and finishing the job.

With Walt Disney World currently undergoing major construction on three different lands at three different parks, I really hope the people in charge don’t do to the Cars-inspired Piston Peak or the Monsters Inc. land at Disney's Hollywood Studios what they did with Galaxy’s Edge and Avengers Campus. Please wait until these lands are ready before debuting them to the public.

If you have kids, then the popularity of Bluey on Disney+ does not need to be explained. And even if you don’t have kids, you’re probably aware that the Australian animated series about the Heeler family has been the most-watched streaming series on any platform for the last few years. If anybody thought the popularity of Bluey was in any way slowing down, you can forget it.

Yesterday was the opening of Bluey’s Best Day Ever, a new show being held at Disneyland’s Fantasyland Theater. While one certainly would have expected the first day of the new show to be well attended, I didn’t expect anything quite like the crowds the park saw. As my friend and colleague Mr. Daps showed on Twitter, the line stretched literally halfway across the park.

This episode of Bluey is called: The longest line I’ve seen at Disneyland in a long time.

For anybody who has never been to Disneyland and doesn’t know the geography of the park, the Fantasyland Theater is at the far end of Fantasyland, next to the entrance of Mickey’s Toontown, which is at the far north end of the park. Sleeping Beauty Castle is pretty close to the middle of the park, so this line is very nearly running all the way from one end of Disneyland to its center.

Bluey’s Best Day Ever was meant to run continuously, with guests able to enter and exit at their leisure, and stage performances happening on a regular schedule. However, according to some in the park yesterday, that plan had to be scrapped because the excessive crowds simply didn’t allow it. Instead, it was run on a regular show schedule with guests entering, watching the show, and then exiting for the next group.

Disneyland has been making a concerted effort to appeal to families with young children in 2026, and the addition of Bluey’s Best Day Ever has been just one element in that. It appears to be working, as it wasn’t just kids at the show, although there were likely a few parents without kids too…

To be fair, it’s not entirely crazy that there would be more parents than children at a show like this. If two parents are at Disneyland with one child, they will always up the ratio of parents to kids, and when extended families visit together, you may end up with more adults than children. That said, there’s no denying that Bluey is as attractive a show for adults as it is for kids. Children may love Bluey and Bingo, but Bandit and Chilli are absolute parenting goals.

It will be interesting to see if this reaction was an opening day blip or if crowds remain like this for a while. If it does, we could see the show institute a virtual queue to keep the line from getting like this again. I know my next Disneyland trip with my kids will certainly include Bluey’s Best Day Ever. Hopefully, it won't also include the longest line ever.

While Disneyland may have been the passion project of one slightly obsessive guy with a dream, it took dozens of like-minded creative people and hundreds of workers to make that dream a reality. While the vast majority of those people were men, this was 1955 after all, a not insignificant number of them were women, and just in time for Women’s History Month, a new tour has been added at Disneyland that celebrates these incredible ladies.

The New Women Who Make The Magic Guided Tour Celebrates The Women Who Made Disneyland

I’ve written about several of the wonderful women who not only helped make Disneyland the place it is today, but who helped make it happen at all. From Disney Legends like Harriett Burns and Mary Blair, to women who should be Disney Legends, like Ruth Shellhorn, many notable women are set to be given the spotlight in this new tour.

Shellhorn was a landscape architect who was brought onto the Disneyland project only months before it was scheduled to open. She developed the pedestrian traffic plan for the entire park and helped Main Street U.S.A. and the four adjacent lands connect, allowing them to each be separate locations, while still feeling like part of the same park.

Harriett Burns is the first lady of Walt Disney Imagineering, as the first woman hired to work for the fledgling organization. She’s credited with designing the first models of Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Matterhorn Bobsleds, and several other key Disneyland attractions.

The tour will also celebrate two generations of female Imagineers with Leota Toombs and Kim Irvine. Toombs worked on several of the attractions that were part of Disney’s contribution to the 1964-65 World’s Fair, before they were moved to Disneyland. She’s also the face of the fortune teller in the crystal ball in the Haunted Mansion, named Madame Leota in her honor. Her daughter, Kim Irvine, would go on to work for Imagineering as well and become the face of Madame Leota during Haunted Mansion Holiday.

Mary Blair’s contributions to Disneyland are two-fold. She worked for many years at Walt Disney Animation, creating the look of many of the films that would go on to be represented in the park. Later, she would return to Disney to help design It’s a Small World, one of the most popular theme park attractions ever made.

Disneyland Tours Are A Great Way To See The Classic Park In A Fresh Way

Guided Tours are often overlooked as offerings at Disneyland, but for the guest who has seen and done it all before, they offer a new way to look at the park, and frequently offer access to locations that aren’t usually available to guests.

While I’m sure this tour began in March specifically to coincide with Women’s History Month, I hope it isn’t a limited-time offering. These women are worthy of long-term recognition

The Women Who Make the Magic Guided Tour is available for a $110 per person (Disneyland tickets and reservations are also required).

Walt Disney Imagineering has never ceases to amaze, but today we’re seeing the technical achievements in Disney Parks reach new levels. The newest groundbreaking creation from WDI is a free-roaming robot of Frozen’s Olaf the snowman. He looks just like the character from the film, and it turns out that’s not the only thing he has in common with his animated predecessor.

I recently got a chance to see the new Olaf robot up close and speak with two members of the team behind its creation, Kyle Laughlin and Mortiz Bächer. They revealed that one of the challenges of making Olaf work, somewhat fittingly for the character, was heat. Laughlin explained…

Without getting too deep in the mechanical weeds, the issue was that Olaf’s physical model involves a very large head attached to a very small neck. Since these proportions were fixed, otherwise the robot wouldn’t look like Olaf, it limited the components that could be used in the neck to small ones, which resulted in Olaf overheating and breaking down.

The solution was to use simulation, previously only used to model the mechanical systems of the robot, to model the thermal dynamics. Now, much like Olaf in Frozen 2, who has the benefit of permafrost, the robot is able to manage its own temperature and always stay cool. Mortiz Bächer said…

This is a massive technical achievement in humanoid robotics, but that’s not all it is. The fact that the Olaf robot is able to do this has real-world benefits to fans visiting theme parks, like Disneyland Paris, where the robot Olaf will make his official debut with the opening of World of Frozen later this month. Because Olaf is able to keep from “melting,” there should be less need for the robot to be pulled due to technical problems. Laughlin explained...

While those of us who can’t make a trip to Disneyland Paris or Disneyland Hong Kong may not get a chance to see Olaf up close anytime soon, it’s clear there are long-term plans not only for Olaf, but for the future of robotics in Disney Parks. The fact that these technical hurdles have been overcome means that when that day comes, there’s a better chance that the robots won’t fail because the Orlando or Anaheim sun got too hot.

Josh Gad is a true Disney Legend. He achieved that status two years ago at D23, but even outside of the award, he’s been a mainstay for the studio, appearing in everything from Frozen to Disney+ documentaries to Marvel Studios’ Wonder Man. He’s also seen often in Disney Parks as he's part of a YouTube series where he takes on Cast member jobs. Unfortunately, his most recent appearance at a Disney park had to be cancelled as his mother is apparently quite ill.

Gad recently posted to Instagram that he had only just arrived in Paris in order to see the new World of Frozen that is part of the newly redesigned Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris, when he had to turn around and head home to deal with a medical emergency. He wrote in part…

This is certainly going to be heartbreaking to Josh Gad’s many fans, and I certainly hope everything turns out ok. Nobody wants to learn about a close family member having what is clearly a serious medical problem, especially when you’re thousands of miles away.

Of course, family comes first, and Josh Gad is asking all his followers to keep his family in their thoughts right now. Whatever is going on is clearly serious. He added at the end of his post…

The new World of Frozen is set to open at Disney Adventure World on March 29, so Gad was clearly on hand to get an early peek at the new land. It likely would have been filmed as part of the park’s new promotion. This is Disney Parks' second Frozen-themed land, the first opened at Hong Kong Disneyland in 2023. It includes a version of the first Frozen ride that you’ll find at Disney World’s Epcot, but also has other attractions, including a family coaster.

The land will also spotlight one of the newest innovations from Walt Disney Imagineering, a free-roaming Olaf audio-animatronic that I can only imagine would have been something Josh Gad was looking forward to seeing.

I will certainly be keeping Josh Gad and his mother in my thoughts. I hope everything turns out ok for everybody, and the worst thing that comes of this is a postponed Disneyland experience.

If there’s one thing that you know you’re going to do at Disneyland, it’s wait in lines. There are lines for food, there are lines for photo ops, and of course, there are lines for the rides. Nobody likes waiting in the ride lines, to the point that people are willing to pay money to skip the lines, and many are willing to spend a lot of money to skip the lines. However, some people apparently attempt to take advantage of some of the ways that exist to make lines shorter, and that needs to stop.

Too Many People Don’t Understand How The Single Rider Line Works

An Instagram post shows off the fact that Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run sometimes shifts its Single Rider line to a Double Rider line, allowing two people to use the line together, and remain in the same party. This is honestly great, but it doesn’t change the primary issue with the Single Rider Line on this particular attraction. As one commenter pointed out…

I have called the Single Rider Line on this attraction and even called it the Engineer’s Line, because if you use the Single (or Double) rider line, you are almost guaranteed the role of Engineer rather than Pilot or Gunner, because it's usually the least desirable position.

It seems clear that some people don’t actually understand that the Single Rider Line is used to fill in open spaces with other parties. It is a secondary option. The main line, which, by the time it reaches this point holds everybody from both the standard Stand By line and the Lightning Lane line, will always be the primary focus of the attendants. If you use the shorter line, you are accepting the greater possibility that you will end up in less-than-desirable seats. This is just how it works.

If you want more control over your placement on any attraction, use the standard line. Even then, it may not always be possible to accommodate every request, but Cast Members will always do their best, within reason.

Things May Change On Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run Soon

In just over two months, Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run will be undergoing a major change. The story of the attraction will change, alongside a major shift in the timeline for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge as a whole. The ride will add The Mandalorian and Grogu, as well as give guests options for where their adventure takes them.

While there’s a lot we still don’t know about how the attraction will change for guests, one item we’re aware of is that those in the Engineer role will be responsible in some way for keeping an eye on Grogu. This may make that particular role more desirable, because who doesn't love Baby Yoda? This might open up roles like Pilot for more people who haven’t had a chance to do it.

Spending a day at Disneyland Resort means you’ll usually be exposed to all kinds of amazing smells of things like nearby popcorn, churros, ice cream and such – and a group of cast members who reportedly see a very low turnover . However, on Tuesday, an “unknown odor” resulted in multiple cast members getting sent to the hospital at California’s original Disneyland theme park in Anaheim.

As KTLA has reported, this odor “was detected” at the backstage area of the Star Tours attraction in Tomorrowland. Around 12:30 p.m., the Anaheim Police Department arrived to the scene, and seven cast members were taken to local hospitals after experiencing dizziness and shortness of breath for evaluation. Other cast members were also treated at the resort by paramedics, but had milder symptoms and were released rather than taken offsite.

Based on what’s known about the incident thus far, the temporarily threatening smell was caused by building materials being used by a contractor that produced the odor. As a precaution, guests were promptly cleared from the immediate area, and there have been no reports from affected guests, per Anaheim police’s Sgt. Mark Sutter. Star Tours is currently back up and running (per the Disneyland App) at the time of this article’s publication.

We have no other information about this recent incident. At this time, there are no known big construction projects that we know are happening at this section of the Disneyland Resort. You can check out footage of the authorities responding to what happened from earlier today in the post below:

There are several changes coming soon to its sister park, Disneyland California Adventure, however, particularly through an expansion of Avengers Campus. The expansion will add two new attractions to the land, including an Iron Man ride called Stark Flight Lab and another one called Avengers Infinity Defense, which are expected to come out in 2027. Additionally, there’s going to be a Coco attraction, which is expected to open in either 2027 or 2028. The park's Monster’s Inc. ride in DCA was originally planned to be torn down in 2026, but was recently saved from closure.

In an earlier report on Tuesday as well, it was claimed that the next head of Disney Experiences was found following a new Disney CEO recently being named last month. While there always seems to be news happening around Disneyland Resort, from what we know about what happened near Star Tours on Tuesday, it was a mild incident that was quickly attended to and cleared up. Hopefully the cast members who were affected get a positive bill of health, and all will resume as normal at "The Happiest Place on Earth" that continues to celebrate its 70th anniversary until August.