DISNEY NEWS ROUNDUP: DinoLand Closing Info; Monsters Coaster & Cars Ride Details; Flower & Garden Festival; New Millennium Falcon Adventure; Blizzard Beach 30th; Resort Refurbs & More
After a few quiet weeks, we got a lot of news and activity at Walt Disney World in the last several days. The 2025 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival kicked off, and we were there on opening day to check it out! Disney clarified closing dates for DinoLand, USA, we learned about the 30th-anniversary celebrations at Blizzard Beach Water Park and learned when Typhoon Lagoon will reopen. Finally, at The Future of World-Building at Disney panel at SXSW, Disney shared new exciting updates about new ride vehicles for the Cars attraction coming to Magic Kingdom, shared ride tech for the new coaster coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and shared the opening date for new missions for Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Check out these news stories and more below.
1 – Disney Releases More Details on DinoLand Closings at Animal Kingdom
With the first round of closures already happening earlier this year, Disney recently gave an update about when the rest of DinoLand, USA, will close. Disney clarified how long Restaurantosaurus, The Boneyard, and Dino-Bites snacks will remain open and restated when Dinosaur would close. Learn more at the link below.
Click here to learn more about the closing dates for DinoLand, USA, at Animal Kingdom.
2 – Disney Shares New Details on Monsters, Inc. Coaster Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
First announced at last year’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Imagineers are hard at work bringing the world of Pixar Animation Studios’ Monsters, Inc. to life — and that includes its monster inhabitants, James P. Sullivan, Mike Wazowski, and more. While getting to walk through the streets of Monstropolis is exciting enough, the land will include a signature attraction where guests embark on a thrilling roller coaster ride through the Monsters, Inc. door vault. At The Future of World-Building at Disney panel at SXSW, Disney shared more details about the technology used for the new attraction. Learn more at the link below.
Click here to learn more about the new Monsters, Inc. coaster coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
3 – Disney Shares Details on New Ride Vehicles for Cars Attraction Coming to Magic Kingdom
First announced at last year’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, a brand-new Cars-themed area is speeding into Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Here, the Cars crew leaves Radiator Springs behind and heads off into the frontier to put their wheels to the test. At The Future of World-Building at Disney panel at SXSW, Disney shared that they’re in the process of creating a new type of ride vehicle for this experience. Learn more at the link below.
Click here to learn about the new ride vehicles for the Cars attraction coming to Magic Kingdom.
4 – 2025 Flower and Garden Festival at EPCOT Now Open
Spring is here, and EPCOT is blooming to life with vibrant floral color, lush gardens, and over 60 topiaries of favorite Disney characters at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, which runs now through June 2, 2025. This year marks the festival’s 30th anniversary. Learn more about this year’s festival offerings at the links below.
Click here for the 11 Things You Don’t Want to Miss at the 2025 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival.
Click here for the Menus for the 20205 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival.
5 – Disney Shares More Details and Opening Date for New Mando and Grogu’s Mission Coming to Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
First announced at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, a new adventure featuring Mando, the titular Mandalorian from The Mandalorian, is coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. And yes, Grogu’s coming along for the ride, too. At The Future of World-Building at Disney panel at SXSW, Disney shared more details about the new mission and its opening date! Learn more at the link below!
6 – Disney Announces 30th Anniversary Celebrations for Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon Reopening Date
Walt Disney World is kicking off its “chilliest’’ celebration as Blizzard Beach Water Park celebrates its 30th anniversary in April with a variety of limited-time guest experiences and festive entertainment. We’ve also got the reopening date of Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. We were really hoping that Disney would return to having both water parks open during the summer, but we learned this week that is not the plan once again. Learn about the 30th anniversary celebrations, Blizzard Beach’s closing date, and Typhoon Lagoon’s reopening date at the link below.
7 – Disney Resorts Update: All-Star and Pop Century Resort Refurbishments
Disney’s Value Resorts—All-Star Movies, Music, Sports, and Pop Century—have always been beloved for their bold theming, playful energy, and immersive storytelling. And now, thanks to a few recent refreshes, these fan-favorite resorts have even more magic woven into every moment. Learn about the refurbishments below.
Click here to learn about the resort refurbishments at All-Star and Pop Century Resorts.
8 – Baby Bakso Delights Wilderness Explorers at Animal Kingdom
Just this week, Disney·Pixar’s Up characters – Dug, Russell, and Carl – took an adventure to explore the wonders of nature, including a fun and uplifting encounter with Bakso, the adorable Sumatran tiger cub, and his mom, Sohni. While the trio was out, they ran into a Wilderness Explorer and a Maharajah Jungle Trek educator, who were doing some exploring of their own to earn their tiger badge. Learn more about this fun encounter below.
Click here to learn about Baby Bakso and the Wilderness Explorers at Animal Kingdom.
9 – St. Patrick Day Events Around and Near Walt Disney World
St. Patrick’s Day Events
This year, Promenade at Sunset Walk will host a vibrant three-day weekend St. Patrick’s Day Street Party celebration from Saturday, March 15 to Monday, March 17, featuring live bands, DJs, and street performers. Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite green attire to celebrate with delicious food and beverage specials, including Rock & Brews’ signature Fish & Chips, green beer and Clover shots, plus epic performances, like a special St. Patrick’s Day Edition of Dockside Dueling Pianos at The Wharf. Additional activities include car shows, artisan craft markets, two performance stages with endless Irish-themed fun and Lucky Leprechauns. For more information, please visit the link here.
Green Treats & St. Patrick’s Day Specials
Looking for tasty green treats? Indulge in Chicken Guy!’s Triple Double Mint shake — hand-spun mint chocolate soft serve mixed with crushed Oreo crushed Oreo® cookies, chocolate mints, chocolate syrup and topped with fresh whipped cream. The Triple Double Mint shake is available at Chicken Guy! locations in Disney Springs and Winter Park for $6.99.
El Jefe’s Taco Cantina at Promenade at Sunset Walk
Join the spirited St. Patrick’s Day celebration at El Jefe Tequilas Taco Cantina on March 17. Savor green margaritas, green beer, Guinness, and an array of St. Patrick’s Day cocktails, including Irish car bombs, Irish breakfast shots, and Proper 12 Whiskey & Jameson concoctions. Enjoy live music by bands and DJs alongside lively street performances, ensuring a festive atmosphere all day long. See details HERE.
What’s New and Happening Now at Walt Disney World Resort
Now – June 2 – EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival
Click here for the 11 Things You Don’t Want to Miss at the 2025 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival.
Click here for the Menus for the 20205 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival.
Now Open! – Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Click here for our review and what you need to know about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Click here for details on a new, unique PhotoPass ops for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom.
Coming to Walt Disney World
15 Changes Coming to Walt Disney World in 2025 and Beyond
2025 – Reimagined ‘The Little Mermaid’ Live Show Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Click here for more on the upcoming Little Mermaid show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
D23 Horizons Projects Announced for Walt Disney World
Click here to learn more about the Villains’ land coming to Magic Kingdom.
Click here to learn more about the Monsters, Inc. land coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Click here to learn more about the Cars expansion in Frontierland in Magic Kingdom!
Click here to learn more about Tropical Americas Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Click here to learn more about the new nighttime parade coming to Magic Kingdom.
Click here to learn more about the lounges coming to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT!
Click here to learn more about Test Track reopening in 2025.
New & Coming Soon to Disney Cruise Line
Now Open – Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point – DCL’s Newest Private Island
Click here for an overview of Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and what you need to know.
Click here for the menus for Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Disney Treasure – Now Sailing
Click here for an overview of the Disney Treasure.
Click here for Dining on the Disney Treasure – What You Need to Know.
Upper Deck Fun on the Disney Treasure – What You Need to Know.
Visit the links below to view our Instagram Story during our Preview Cruise to get a look at the Disney Treasure:
Itineraries in 2025-2026
Click here to learn about Disney Cruise Lines’ summer 2025 itineraries.
Click here for details on Fall 2025 and Spring 2025 itineraries; now booking!
Click here to learn more about the 2026 summer itineraries with Disney Cruise Line.
Disney Destiny – Sailing November 2025
Click here for “Everything New Coming to the Disney Destiny Sailing in 2025.”
Click here for an overview of what you can expect on the Disney Destiny.
Click here for all the details on the upcoming Disney Destiny, sailing in 2025.
Click here for “Discover the Disney Destiny Day 1 – Your Own Heroes Journey.”
Click here for “Discover the Disney Destiny Day 2 – Villains.”
Disney Adventure, Sailing from Singapore
Click here for the grand reveal of the Disney Adventure, sailing in 2025!
Click here for details about the Disney Adventure, sailing from Singapore in 2025.
D23 Horizons Announcements
For a no obligation, FREE Quote on a Disney vacation package, please contact our travel partner Magical Vacation Planner at 407-442-0227 (407-442-0215 for Spanish). You can also request a FREE quote online by Clicking HERE.