Walt Disney World has pulled back the curtain on Beyond Big Thunder, revealing a totally different concept that includes two all-new Cars rides in an expanded area of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. This post shares details, concept art, and everything we know about the plan–plus comprehensive commentary including whether we think these are potentially good […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom is more expensive than ever before, with tickets costing up to $229 each and selling out annually. We’re here to help you decide whether Walt Disney World’s fall seasonal event is “worth it” for you–plus commentary on whether MNSSHP offers sufficient value for money to us. […] The post Is the 2025 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Worth It? appeared first on Disney Tourist Blog.| Disney Tourist Blog
This lists the must-eat items from the 2025 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival booths at Walt Disney World. Here we cover the top dishes & desserts at the Global Marketplaces throughout World Showcase and Future World (especially the latter) that are truly “worth it,” with everything you need to try at the fall foodie event. […] The post Best Dishes & Desserts at 2025 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival appeared first on Disney Tourist Blog.| Disney Tourist Blog
Walt Disney World is going to reimagine the defunct Star Wars Hotel near Hollywood Studios, and it’s not as “sexy” of a project as fans would’ve liked. This covers details of the conversion of the hotel in space to office space, which puts to rest years of rumors, speculation, and wishful thinking about the future […] The post Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Reimagined into Imagineering Office Space appeared first on Disney Tourist Blog.| Disney Tourist Blog
As Walt Disney World fans plan farewell trips for attractions & areas that are closing in Animal Kingdom, readers are asking about closure dates for DINOSAUR and the rest of Dinoland that hasn’t already gone extinct. This explains when the rides, restaurants, shops, and entertainment in this land will permanently close, along with other operational […] The post Dinoland & DINOSAUR Closing Dates, Plus Other Big Changes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! appeared first on Disney Tourist Blog.| Disney Tourist Blog
Walt Disney World has brought back the “secret” lounge for the 2025 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival! This spot is a great guest hideaway for escaping the heat and crowds, relaxing & recharging with free drinks as well as activities and VIP concert seating. This post takes a look inside and how to access the […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is once again returning this summer and fall to Magic Kingdom, and Walt Disney World has already announced changes. This post covers what’s new & different for the 2025 MNSSHP, with our assessment as to the good and bad of various additions. The first thing you need to know […]| Disney Tourist Blog
There are over one dozen different PhotoPass Magic Shots in Magic Kingdom at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and regular hours for all Walt Disney World guests. This lists locations, shares our results (good, bad & ugly), tips & tricks for avoiding lines, and other advice. (Updated August 15, 2025.) This post is coming […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Our 1-night itinerary for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party offers a step-by-step plan-of-attack for minimizing time waiting in lines for character meet & greets, watching the fireworks, Boo to You Parade & Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, and avoiding crowds. For those who are unfamiliar with it, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) is […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Party Season is now underway for 2024 at Walt Disney World, with Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party now through the end of October and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party almost immediately thereafter until December 20, 2024! This covers growing crowds during Magic Kingdom, why this is happening (and will only get worse), and how […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Wondering about the least-crowded or most-crowded nights to attend the 2025 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? This covers the best & worst dates to buy tickets for Magic Kingdom’s special event, so you can plan your vacation around avoiding these crowds. (Updated August 2, 2025.) Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party occurs in Magic […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Our ultimate guide to the 2025 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival provides event dates & details, tips & info, booth lineup, snack & dessert reviews, entertainment details, things to do for kids, and everything else you need to know about Walt Disney World’s foodie event. (Updated August 17, 2025.) Let’s start with the basics. This […]| Disney Tourist Blog
We are experts on Disney Halloween costumes. Wait, you’ve seen our past costumes? Okay, you know “expert” isn’t the right word, then. We’ve had some fun with our costumes and despite not being especially crafty, some people seem to like some of our costumes…for some reason (presumably the same reason anyone likes this blog: they […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Fall is right around the corner and, with that, Magic Kingdom enters a new phase for the remainder of 2024. Halloween and Christmas seasons bring with them a roller coaster of crowds, with dramatic differences in wait times and attendance in choosing the best vs. worst days to do MK. This explains why, with lists […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom serves a special menu for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. This Walt Disney World dining review features food photos, menu picks, and advice for eating inside Beast’s Castle during MNSSHP. (Updated August 17, 2025.) We consider this Beauty and the Beast themed restaurant to be one of […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Walt Disney World has announced that a new Villains stage show is coming to Hollywood Studios in Summer 2025. This post shares the announcement and official details, plus our commentary about the upcoming addition and the fate of what it’s replacing. (Updated January 18, 2025.) Let’s start with the announcement from Walt Disney World. Deep […]| Disney Tourist Blog
At the D23 Expo, Disney revealed that a new land (or areas?) is under development for beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. The expansion would feature Coco, Encanto, and Villains (you read that correctly). This post will share all of the details, concept art, and everything we know about the possible […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Disney Lorcana is the new trading card game by Ravensburger. The only problem is that it’s almost impossible to find, with decks selling out instantly and releases being plagued with other problems. That’s the bad news. The good news is that you can preorder three new starter decks for release this month and join a […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Universal Orlando Resort has shared a deep look into ‘Dark Universe’ the new classic monsters land at Epic Universe, their third theme park in Florida that opens in Summer 2025. This shares concept art & info about rides, restaurants, retail and everything else in the upcoming area. (Updated October 29, 2024.) An expansion of 750 […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Walt Disney World’s 2023 is the year of cleaning up Chapek’s costly catastrophes. We’re not even halfway through, and arguably the biggest announcements and changes have all been about “undoing” damage done by Umbrella Bob during his reign of terror. Okay, that is slight hyperbole. Not every single decision that’s now being corrected was made […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Disney World News & Vacation Planning Tips| Disney Tourist Blog
Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage is a dark ride at Tokyo DisneySea located in the Arabian Coast port-of-call. The attraction is a long boat ride, best described to Disney fans who haven’t experienced it as a cross between Pirates of the Caribbean and ‘it’s a small world.’ This post is mostly a “ride-through” of the attraction via […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Magic Kingdom is going to get crazy from August through December. The next several months are a roller coaster of crowd levels, with huge swings in choosing the best vs. worst days to do MK during the Halloween and Christmas seasons. This explains why, with lists of the least & most crowded dates for the […]| Disney Tourist Blog
One week after closing, the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, Liberty Square Riverboat, and Walt Disney World Railroad’s Frontierland Station, work is underway and construction walls are up at Magic Kingdom. There are a a few new notable changes worth sharing as Imagineering gears up to start on Piston Peak and Villains Land, and […]| Disney Tourist Blog
After President Donald Trump announced expansive tariffs on the United States’ largest trading partners, CEO Bob Iger warned of the negative impact on the country and Disney’s businesses as a result. This covers what the CEO said, plus our preliminary thoughts on the ramifications for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, etc. During a […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is Magic Kingdom’s holiday special event in November & December 2025 at Walt Disney World. This info guide offers tips, strategy, photos, dates & ticket prices, and our review of whether it’s worth the money based upon attending MVMCP annually for 15 years. (Updated June 27, 2025.) In terms of […]| Disney Tourist Blog
The Walt Disney Company has seen its reputation fall further, with a drop to only “fair” for the first time ever on the influential Axios Harris Poll for 2025. This post takes a look at what changed, how Disney performed relative to the competition, along with our commentary about what this does–and does not–mean. It’s […]| Disney Tourist Blog
How about some pleasantly surprising Magic Kingdom news? The Walt Disney World Railroad will NOT close during construction of Piston Peak National Park, the Cars miniland! This shares dates & details of the modified route, plus quick commentary about why this is so surprising in the first place. In terms of basic background, the whole […]| Disney Tourist Blog
We have refined this strategy guide based on our experiences of attending the party every year for the past decade-plus, and has been updated following our experience at recent Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties. The tips here are pretty consistent from year to year and we’ve honed our strategy over several years, so don’t […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Walt Disney World has announced big expansion plans for Magic Kingdom, officially confirming Villains Land is being built! This post shares details, concept art, and everything we know about the plan–plus comprehensive commentary about why this is happening and whether we think these are potentially good or bad additions for the park. (Updated November 9, […]| Disney Tourist Blog
There’s a ton on the horizon in the next 5 years at Walt Disney World with new lands and attractions themed to Villains, Cars, Monsters, Indiana Jones, Encanto & more. There are also reimagined rides, new entertainment, dining, and more. This shares construction and opening timelines for all of the major projects coming to Magic […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Walt Disney World is rumored to soon start construction on Villains Land, the Magic Kingdom expansion ‘beyond Big Thunder’ that will replace a portion of the Rivers of America. This details the development about the project, sheds new light on what the ‘dark kingdom’ land will entail, along with what still stands in the way […]| Disney Tourist Blog
If you sign up for our email newsletter, you will be notified when your free copy of the eBook is available for download. You’ll also receive a link to download Vacation Kingdom at Christmas (the aforementioned Walt Disney World Christmas eBook) immediately upon confirming your subscription. This free eBook is titled Money Saving Tips for […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Nothing at Walt Disney Word is “just a ride.” Backstories exist for every attraction, land, restaurant, and hotel. They provide framework and context for the Imagineered details, and a good backstory can add another layer to the visual storytelling. In this post, I’ll list my favorite backstories at Walt Disney World. (Updated December 30, 2023.) […]| Disney Tourist Blog
This guide to Lightning Lane MultiPass and Single Pass at Walt Disney World offers answers to frequently asked questions, info & tips for using the paid FastPass+ and Genie replacement. It covers strategy for line-skipping, off-site vs. on-site ride reservation booking windows, tiers for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and much more! (Updated January 27, […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Planning for Walt Disney World or Disneyland can be overwhelming. Our free newsletter gives you tips & tricks, discount details, park strategy, and the latest news to make it easy. Each issue contains important info on crowds, dining, hotels, hot deals, and more! Sign up here: Get Our FREE Newsletter! Name: Email: If you need […]| Disney Tourist Blog
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours is an on-site perk for Walt Disney World guests staying at a Deluxe Resorts, DVC Villas, and select other hotels this year and in 2025. This strategy guide covers everything you need to know: eligibility, ride rosters, how it works, and tips for best using the extra time. (Updated November […]| Disney Tourist Blog
This Walt Disney World ride refurbishment calendar lists the closure schedule for 2024 and 2025 at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios & Animal Kingdom. Attractions close for routine maintenance, safety upgrades, improvements, and reimaginings. (Updated| Disney Tourist Blog
These free Walt Disney World crowd calendars rate dates so you can choose best weeks to go & avoid the worst, skipping long lines and high wait times. We cover seasonal events, weather, park hours,| Disney Tourist Blog
Looking for the best and worst days of the week to visit each park at Walt Disney World? This strategy guide covers Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, offering info about when the| Disney Tourist Blog
Our guide to September 2024 at Walt Disney World offers a free crowd calendar, when to visit, red flag dates to avoid, new attraction openings & closures, plus Halloween events & early fall weather. We| Disney Tourist Blog
Our Walt Disney World itineraries offer step-by-step strategy for single & multi-day visits to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Plus, plans for touring Universal Studios Florida, Disneyland, Tokyo, Paris, and Hong Kong| Disney Tourist Blog
Planning a trip to Disneyland and trying to determine the best month to visit in 2024? We analyze crowds, weather, seasonal events, park hours, and other factors to rank every month of the year for| Disney Tourist Blog
Our guide to September 2024 at Disneyland offers a free crowd calendar, when to visit, weather to avoid, new attraction openings & closures, plus Halloween & fall events. We also cover info & tips for| Disney Tourist Blog
Our 2024 Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure planning guide offers park & ride strategy. It features tips & tricks to help you save money & time, avoid crowds, and have the best vacation| Disney Tourist Blog
Looking for the best discounts for Walt Disney World? This post offers money-saving details & dates on special offers for the general public, Disney+ subscribers, Annual Passholders, Visa cardholders, and Florida residents. It covers deals| Disney Tourist Blog
Universal Orlando is offering a “free” Dining Card of up to $1,000 for stays from the Christmas 2024 season through Spring Break 2025. This post shares discount details, the pros & cons of this meal| Disney Tourist Blog
Reviewing Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a fool’s errand. Most Walt Disney World fans already have their minds made up one way or the other and are entrenched in their opinions. Some seem to get quite| Disney Tourist Blog
Haunted Mansion is under construction to expand with a new immersive outdoor queue and retail store at Disneyland. This post shares virtual queue details, concept art of the gardens and gift shop, and our commentary| Disney Tourist Blog
Our guide to Halloween Time 2024 at Disneyland, California Adventure & Downtown Disney features tips & tricks for the event, throughout September and October. Info includes Oogie Boogie Bash, decorations, food, Haunted Mansion Holiday, and| Disney Tourist Blog
This Disney California Adventure and Disneyland ride refurbishment calendar for now through 2025 lists temporary attraction closures so you know what won't be open before planning your vacation. Additionally, info about reimagining projects underway to| Disney Tourist Blog
Our Disneyland Resort restaurant reviews offer opinions and food photos from the best & worst dining at California Adventure, Disneyland, Downtown Disney, and hotels. Each review contains a detailed description of atmosphere and theme, plus| Disney Tourist Blog
Our Disneyland vacation planning guide covers what's new & next this year and in 2025, when to visit to avoid crowds, best restaurants, hotels in Anaheim, money-saving ticket tips, Halloween & Christmas in the parks,| Disney Tourist Blog
Looking for a great hotel near Disneyland and California Adventure? This ranks & reviews the best & worst hotels in Anaheim, including pros & cons, room photos, and a numerical score based on walking distance,| Disney Tourist Blog
This guide to Disneyland & Disney California Adventure tickets explains how to buy discounted park admission, with money-saving tips & recommended sellers of park admission and where not to buy to avoid scams. We cover| Disney Tourist Blog
Walt Disney World has announced the closing date for Test Track at EPCOT, which will go down for a lengthy refurbishment to reimagine the thrill ride into its third version. This post shares all of| Disney Tourist Blog
Walt Disney World has announced that the Cars attractions coming to Magic Kingdom will replace the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island, fully eliminating the waterway. This post shares details, concept art, and everything| Disney Tourist Blog
Ride refurbishments are now confirmed for a few of Magic Kingdom's most popular attractions, starting later this summer and lasting through 2025. Here's everything we know about these Walt Disney World ride closures, along with| Disney Tourist Blog
CommuniCore Hall and Plaza are the new multi-purpose spaces for guests to relax, to anchor EPCOT Festivals, and everything in between. World Celebration is the new neighborhood in the former Future World that focuses on experiences| Disney Tourist Blog
This guide covers what to pack for Walt Disney World, with a checkable packing list of essentials, smart stuff to bring in your backpack for park days, and 50+ unique products and clever gadgets that'll| Disney Tourist Blog
Our ride guides review & rate every attraction at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, plus Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Shanghai. These cover must-dos, what you can skip, along with strategy and recommendations about which| Disney Tourist Blog
Our Walt Disney World vacation planning guide offers advice for 2024 & 2025 on how to avoid crowds, save money & time, with info on Lightning Lanes, best rides, restaurant reviews, and itineraries for Magic| Disney Tourist Blog
Our Walt Disney World dining guide and restaurant reviews help you book the best ADRs, choose where to eat and where to avoid, find underrated restaurants, steer clear of overrated/overhyped food, and more. These resources| Disney Tourist Blog
Considering staying at a Walt Disney World hotel, but unsure which resort is right for you? Our Disney hotel reviews share strengths and weaknesses of each hotel, give our opinion as to whether they are worth the money, and offer an idea of what type of guests (families, honeymooners, commando tourists, etc.) will like or dislike each hotel.| Disney Tourist Blog
Our guide to discount Disney World tickets offers money-saving info, pros & cons of Park Hoppers, tips for the best deals on tickets for now through October 2025 at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios &| Disney Tourist Blog
Walt Disney World announced that Zootopia: Better Zoogether will open in 2025 at Animal Kingdom. This post shares details, opening timeframe, poster art, and everything we know about the upcoming attraction--plus commentary about why this| Disney Tourist Blog
Our 2024-2025 Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea vacation planning guide offers info for the two Disney parks, resort hotels, and 'downtown' district in Japan. We have tips & tricks, where to stay, how long to visit,| Disney Tourist Blog
