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.

There’s been a lot of huge news that has been dropping for Universal fans in recent months. Both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood are getting a slew of fun, new content for spooky season, but the interesting piece to me is that a lot of rumors are really panning out for the anniversary year. First, people thought there might be a Sinners house at Halloween Horror Nights this year; the Oscar-winning movie is, in fact, coming to HHN in 2026. A separate rumor indicated that Fortnite might get a Scare Zone, and I can officially confirm that is true, as well.

Fortnitemares Is Coming To Halloween Horror Nights

Universal Orlando announced today that Fortnite’s popular seasonal event, aptly named Fortnitemares, is heading to Halloween Horror Nights. The seasonal gaming event unveils new ideas and characters often based on pop culture, and it runs through the entire month of October. In comparison, the HHN version of Fortnitemares will be a scare zone unleashing on August 28th at Universal Studios and September 3rd At Universal Studios Hollywood. So, fans of the spooky season spectacular can get in on the fun at the theme parks well before the event rolls out online.

Fortnite is known for its major collabs with brands and pop culture figures. (I mean, once even Kim Kardashian was involved and that included a classic reference to her lost diamond earring.) None are specifically listed on Universal’s official announcement about the new scare zone, but there is one line that has me very intrigued: “plus a few new additions.”

So, it does sound as if the theme parks have a few tricks up their sleeve when it comes to this zone.

A Fortnite-Themed Scare Zone Had Been Rumored For A While

If you’ve been around the theme park world for a while, you will know rumors sometimes come out of left field. The rumors themselves aren’t the fun part, as many don’t end up happening, but what is fun is when one does pan out. In fact, when the Fortnite rumors hit the Internet a few months back, it was exactly the type of thing that came with the qualifier “take with a grain of salt,” but it looks like the powers that be at Universal made the magic happen.

When this was rumored, some fans thought the move would mean the parks were working toward a more inclusive demographic at the late night event, as Fortnite is most popular with older kids and young adults. The event typically runs in Florida late night until 2 a.m. (hours are different in California), and it’s long been considered to be more of an adult event with scares and smells. There’s gonna be some “interesting” ones at Madlands: Caged Cannibals this year, for example.

As someone who is less into the gore factor, I do think spooky season has room for lots of different types of content, and I’m interested to see how this one pans out. It’s coming at a good time, as HHN turns 35 this year, and the theme parks really seem to be ramping up a notch.

Anyway, if this is the sort of thing that’s up your alley, merch is already available, including acrylic nails and more. And if you’d like a rundown of the recently-announced Evil Dead Burn haunted house and what else is coming in 2026, we have you covered.

This year's lineup of haunted houses for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights is shaping up to be an all-star assortment that embraces both classics like Hellraiser's Pinhead as well as bringing houses for newer iconic properties like Ryan Coogler's Sinners. The latest big-screen frightfest heading to HHN is arguably one of the most brutal, as fans can look forward to Sebastien Vaniček's Evil Dead Burn getting the theme park spotlight.

Deadites aplenty will try to get under park-goers' collective skin when the Evil Dead Burn haunted house hits Halloween Horror Nights for its 35th anniversary on August 28 at Universal Orlando Resort, and on September 3 at Universal Studios Hollywood. Tickets are available now! (Pro tip: probably don't buy anything from someone with blacked-out eyes and skin falling off of their face.)

The new house, based on the sixth theatrical release in the Evil Dead film series, will focus on the horrors that begin plaguing the Joseph, Alice, and the rest of the Price family during their funeral-set reunion of sorts. It's a perfect movie for the format, given the location, and the fun kicks off as soon as visitors walk through the front door of the secluded home.

The rest of the house will get increasingly freakier as the Deadites bring all forms of gory chaos to the walkthrough. I can't wait to see how that gag-worthy candle sequence is brought to life, much less other hyper-violent and jarring moments.

Good luck making it through to the end without yourself being added to the undead army. Will there be any easter eggs tied to Bruce Campbell? Probably not, but that doesn't mean you can't obsessively look at every detail in the hopes that one exists. Check out the video teaser below!

For those who want to take a piece of the attraction home, both parks are selling limited-time exclusives such as an Evil Dead Burn T-shirt, hat and acrylic figure that connects to other figures as part of the infernal carnival display.

This isn't the first time that this Sam Raimi-created franchise has been celebrated for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. Back in 2013, Fede Álvarez's Evil Dead made its theme park debut, followed by the splatter-tastic TV series Ash vs. Evil Dead getting honored in 2017.

All The 2026 Halloween Horror Nights Houses So Far

• Cybergoria (Orlando)
• Evil Dead Burn (Orlando and Hollywood)
• H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular! (Orlando)
• Hellraiser (Orlando and Hollywood)
• Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control (Orlando)
• MADLANDS: Caged Cannibals (Orlando)
• INVASION: Alien Abduction (Orlando)
• Sinners (Orlando and Hollywood)
• Stranger Things Season 5 (Orlando and Hollywood)

Evil Dead Burn, which won a lot of critics over despite its intensity, is currently still in theaters, where it ended its second week at the box office with around $24 million domestic. Worldwide, it's currently brought in over $50 million against its reported $20 million budget. Another sequel, Evil Dead Wrath, is already being filmed and is set for a 2028 release date. Maybe we'll see that one get its own haunted house as well.

Before any of that, though, remember that Evil Dead Burn will be making its Halloween Horror Nights debut on August 28 at Universal Orlando Resort, and on September 3 at Universal Studios Hollywood!

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.

There are two truths we hold to be self-evident: Fast & Furious: Supercharged is closing at Universal Orlando, and the new Hollywood Drift Coaster is under construction in both the California and Florida parks. It’s no surprise we’re finally getting a date for the last day Supercharged will be operable, but I was extremely surprised by the news that’s running around.

Here’s what we learned. To note, Supercharged closed as part of the Universal Hollywood studio tour back in March of 2025.

When Will Fast & Furious: Supercharged Close?

Thanks to a notice in an Annual Passholders Instagram channel, the expected closing date for Supercharged will be on August 16, 2026. We’ve known the ride was closing for a while, so why is this date notable (if accurate)? Well, that’s significantly earlier than we expected it to happen.

Of course, the new Fast & Furious coasters are coming together quickly at both the Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Florida parks. However, when Universal Orlando Resort did make the official confirmation the original Fast-themed ride would be closing, the expectation was that would happen in 2027. Now, if this new date is accurate (and we know sometimes dates aren’t), it’s being pushed up significantly. Like months in advance of when it was expected to close, and well before the busy holiday season.

Is It A Bad Thing It’s Closing Early?

To be honest with you, a lot of folks who regularly go to theme parks do not love the Supercharged ride. You’re essentially sitting on a crowded bus and going on a Fast-themed adventure. In that way, it’s kind of similar to the Skull Island: Reign of Kong ride. While it has a nice Paul Walker tribute, it’s missing the really cool storyline and the awesome animatronic Kong that ride offers. It’s never been super popular since it opened, and most of the common refrains have had to do with people wishing there was a legitimately “fast” ride in its place.

Those parkgoers are equally snarky after this announcement, with X (Twitter) threads dropping such takes as:

• I legitimately thought it had already closed. That post in the FB group surprised me. -Paul L
• Supercharged so bad they’re closing it 6 months earlier than they announced-Alicia Stella
• When I was just there I thought it was already closed. Oh my. -Ebanius
• And nothing of value was lost. -Raingoons
• Oh no, I'm devastated. -queso bandido

I assume that last one is sarcasm, as most regular theme park commenters seem to be celebrating the exit of the ride, which actually opened less than 10 years ago. The fact the parks are closing a full ride after only eight years should tell you pretty much everything you need to know about Supercharged; I probably didn’t need to even include the snarky comments above.

That said, Fast & Furious is still popular as a franchise, and Universal is busy getting Fast Forever, the final movie starring Vin Diesel and co, off the ground. It’s expected to hit the movie release schedule on March 17, 2028, and by then the Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coasters will hopefully be incurring regular and long lines.

It’s almost that time of year. The time Epcot stans love most: The International Food and Wine Festival. Starting in August, you’ll be able to sip wines, try delectable desserts, and savor as many global cuisines as you can possibly fit in one go around the world. Only this year you should be forewarned that you may have a little trouble finding a place to actually consume one of those dishes, and fans aren’t particularly happy about it.

If you’ve never been, I have to just flat out state it’s a time-honored theme park rite of passage to eat on one of those "go away" colored trash can at Epcot. I kid you not. The Food and Wine Festival is one of the great upcoming attractions at Walt Disney World, and with the promise of small plates at varying prices come droves and droves of people.

There’s already not enough shade and seating around the world during non-busy hours, so when stuff gets very crowded, parkgoers tend to get creative. For years, if you weren't eating on the flat top trash cans available in the parks, you weren’t doing Food And Wine right. Now, though, fans who have been in Epcot in recent months have noticed Disney World trying to combat the trend.

As The Lost Bros points out, “Where are we all gonna eat on the first day of Food and Wine, or any other day of the year?” The vlogger is particularly sad his beloved trash cans near the Mexico booth are gone, because he had a “standing reservation” there during previous years. Disney World hasn’t cycled out all of its iconic flat top trash cans, but the video makes it clear that a large number of the ones people typically eat on during the festival are no longer in the World Showcase.

On the one hand, I sort of get it. We know for a fact the trash cans are not the most hygienic things to eat food on. On the other hand, Disney World has been on this joke for years, and as fans are pointing out, for a long time, they leaned into that joke. In the last few weeks, they’ve even been selling candy “bins” mimicking the iconic trash cans at Disney World resort.

• It’s funny that they leaned into the garbage can hype by making their own trash can merch then they do this 👀
• I almost bought the insulated trash can cup at Disneyland last week. Like WTH
• We had one free amenity, and now it’s gone!

Having said this, a slew of other fans made the point that I think is most obvious: The reason people ate on trash cans to begin with had to do with the insane lack of tables near each of the food booths. Sure, there can be bottlenecks in certain areas of the World Showcase (perhaps due to the parks' original plan), but there are also often plenty of wide open spaces. What Epcot really needs are more stand-up tables. Give the people what they need to eat properly.

• The utter lack of tables at EPCOT festivals is absolutely mind-boggling!! And it's only getting worse. 🤯
• They could buy fancy garbage cans with solar power but NOT tables and chairs???
• And you just know they won’t be adding any extra tables.
• It would make sense if they actually added more tables.

If you really want to sit down, Epcot has some great fine dining options, but given the popularity of the International Food and Wine Festival, it would be great if the theme park could figure out a solution that put this trash can debate to rest. We'll find out soon enough. Unlike Disneyland's spring Festival, Disney World's selection will debut on August 27th at Epcot and will run through November 21.

The trade-off of visiting a beloved theme park like Universal is you’re going to have a blast, but you’re also going to spend a lot of time waiting in long lines. But the latter was certainly not the case when Ludacris paid a visit to Super Nintendo World this week. You’ve got to see the rapper stunt on us all by walking through a completely empty line for Universal’s Mario Kart ride.

Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is one of the most popular rides at Universal's Hollywood, Orlando and Osaka theme parks, with wait times typically being an hour or more. But when Ludacris stepped in line, it was a different story. Take a look:

Talk about a flex! Ludacris decided to film a little rap video in the Mario Kart queue, and it’s wild to see it so empty. This is such a fun idea for a music video, and his fans were loving it. Check out some of the comments on Instagram:

• “The first rapper to do a freestyle video in the super Mario universe 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥” - @yahsheen.yahsharala
• “Wait, could you keep filming so I could see the rest of Bowser’s castle? 😂🔥” - @renae_2009
• “My guy rented out Super Mario World just to prove his point 🔥” - @giant_loaded_pretzel
• “Still one of the best in the game. You can’t stop Ludacris! 👑” - @ihorew
• “Legend!!!” - @iamjamiefoxx

Yes, that last comment is from THE Jamie Foxx. Ludacris really impressed his fans with this super cool clip of him lip-syncing to “44 Bars” while walking through Bowser's castle. We have no idea if he fully rented the space or not, but he surely must have had to collaborate with Universal on this to make it happen. Like, where'd all the people go?

Ludacris doesn’t have a direct connection to Super Nintendo World, but both Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando have an upcoming Fast & Furious rollercoaster on the way, and he’s been in seven Fast & Furious movies in the role of Tej Parker.

The Fast & Furious coaster in California is currently done and going through testing and there’s also one coming soon to Orlando. Ludacris is expected to return to the eleventh installment of the action movie series, too. While Universal has set a release date for March 2028, Ludacris shared in May that he still hadn't seen a script for the Fast & Furious finale.

The rapper is currently in the throes of a career comeback after over a decade hiatus from making solo music. “44 Bars” is one of three recent singles Ludacris has dropped within the past year ahead of a new album expected to come out later this year. You don’t see many music videos set in an empty theme park, but it’s sure a cool way to flaunt one’s success.

Epic Universe is having an amazing summer. Just weeks after celebrating its first birthday, Universal Orlando started testing a new fireworks display. That finally broke big for crowds this week, and head honcho Michael Aiello sent a sweet message to theme park fans as the show garnered its first reactions online. Meanwhile, along with the new display, the theme park is finally figuring out late night events, which should both prove to be a cash cow for the parks and a fun change up for the fans.

Let’s break it all down.

The Sweet Message Michael Aiello Shared With Universal Orlando Fans

Senior Director Of Entertainment Creative Development Michael Aiello has long been a fixture at the Universal theme parks. He was there to comment on the grand opening of “Celestial Goodnight,” the combination light show, water show and fireworks show that is now running as the park closes each night. One thing I hadn’t really thought through about the big fireworks show was that it marks the first time the parks have had a nightly fireworks event in “decades.”

When I think about it, a lot of Universal’s other nighttime events are things like The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle, which is beautiful and fun, but is a show based around projections on the famous school for Witchcraft and Wizardry. CineSational is also popular, but uses drones instead of fireworks for its nighttime display.

Aiello also said on X (Twitter) it took a lot of work to bring this addition to Epic’s closing show.

Meanwhile, fans online could not stop posting video after video of the gorgeous display online, if you’ve been wanting a taste of what you can get if you shell out for an Epic Universe ticket.

It really does look like it caps the night off in the perfect way, doesn’t it?

Epic Universe Is Also Making Good On Later Hours

In an announcement this week, Universal Orlando also mentioned the parks will stay open later on select nights. This is good news and bad news. A lot of people really love staying in the parks as late as possible. While Epic Universe has listened to fan comments and pushed hours a bit later, the parks aren’t open late late in the same way CityWalk is.

The solution is an interesting one, so why is it both good and bad news for frequent parkgoers? On select nights, Epic Universe will be staying open later, from 9 p.m. to midnight. I know, you're still waiting on the catch, and here it is: It’s going to be a ticketed event in the way Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios or Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party at Disneyland is.

The event will be called Universal Nights and will run on October 3 and October 17. Tickets for just the event will go for $179, and it’s worth mentioning the cheapest entry ticket for a regular day at Epic Universe is only $139.99. For comparison’s sake, Halloween Horror Nights tickets start at $88.99 (though premium tickets are significantly more).

The other interesting wrinkle is if you have a nighttime pass for those select dates, you will not be able to access the parks until 7 p.m. The theme park is touting the extra two hours before the ticketed event begins as an added benefit, but if you want to go to the park during the day, you’ll need a separate ticket.

A few weeks back, Universal VPs told CinemaBlend and other outlets there was only “one rule” when it came to putting the theme park together: if it was going into the park, it had to fit the definition of Epic. Staying open late is definitely what the people have wanted as part of this, particularly in the Darkmoor and Celestial Park areas. It’s currently getting dark so late right now, fans don’t get a ton of time to see Burning Blade catch fire at night or to jump on the reopened Stardust Racers.

I’ll be interested to see if the crowds are thinner and stuff is easier to do during the special ticketed event too. If so, it may be well worth the entrance fee.

Tickets go on sale August 13th.

I was able to spend some time at Universal Orlando Resort a little over a month ago. At the time, the rollercoaster track for the Universal Studios Florida’s newest attraction, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, was just peeking over the walls when I wandered around CityWalk, giving hints at the skyline to come. Meanwhile, we’d been reporting riders already test-riding the version that was going up at Universal Studios Hollywood. It seemed the two coasters were very far apart in the Spring of 2026. That feels less true now.

I haven’t been back to the Florida parks in the last few weeks, but thanks to the beauty of social media, we now know the track is in incredible shape already. Just four days ago, reports indicated the first spike was up. It’s 170 feet and anyone walking around CityWalk can spot it just behind the famous rotating Universal Globe.

As you can see from the ThrillGeek video, the blueish track on the Florida version pops nicely with the globe in the foreground compared to the darker track in California.

Meanwhile, a second frequent parkgoer, Kirk, actually went into Universal Studios Florida and took a look at the Ghostbusters facade that’s been a topic of conversation over the last several weeks. If you aren’t constantly theme park sleuthing, the gist is that Universal was reworking the Ghostbusters building that Rip Ride Rockit used to physically go through. When the walls went up, the park started work on the facade and there was a rumor for a while the ride might be ghostbusters themed.

At this point, we know the ride is going to be the Orlando version of Hollywood Drift, and an enterprising parkgoer noted that walls have been put up in the building, meaning the new coaster won’t whip through it like the old one did. This was basically known, but it’s nice to see it confirmed, and it's especially nice to see how far along the load station has come in just a few weeks -- with a roof and everything!

So, Why Is This All So Important?

It’s very clear the coaster in Florida is coming together fast and furiously. While I wouldn’t expect anything less, initial projections from its sister theme park had the Universal Studios Hollywood coaster opening in summer 2026, and here we are in mid-2026 and it is not open yet. (This is despite a fake opening date rumor the park itself started.)

Meanwhile, Universal Orlando tore down Rip Ride Rockit, shut down Fast & Furious: Supercharged and got to work on the new coaster really quickly. Guesstimates allegedly have the Florida version of the coaster opening in 2027, but it’s coming together so quickly, I’m starting to wonder if there won’t be too much of a gap between the Hollywood and Florida versions. As a frequent parkgoer who lives much closer to the Florida parks, that would make me so, so happy.

It's also all coming together in the month Vin Diesel finally shared Fast & Furious 11 had begun filming. As it's the final film in the franchise, all of this happening around the same time is just fun timing.

This is all to say, a new coaster is good news no matter when it opens. A new coaster based on my personal favorite Fast & Furious movie is even better. A new coaster based on a favorite property with the theme park company that houses some of the world’s best tracks takes the cake. I can’t wait for these new rides to open, whenever we get the official dates.

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.

Half a million cheese cones. Five Million riders (or nearing it) on most of the marquee attractions. Families coming to the parks in IP clothing starting on Day 1. The Epic Universe team has seen a lot of milestones in its first year, and they believe it all happened because of the one rule they had in place when dreaming up the portals.

Seriously, there was one rule the Universal Orlando team stood by as the metric for determining whether an idea might move forward or not. Otherwise as Chef Jens Dahlmann mentioned to CinemaBlend and other outlets, ‘there were no restraints.” The dreamers could go as far as they dared to go.

In a Q&A, Executive VP and General Manager of Epic Universe Jeff Polk shared this one rule the entire creative team, from the chefs to the ride designers and VPs, all had when coming up with new ideas in the parks.

It sounds simple, but honestly it was anything but. Epic Universe is made up of thousands and thousands of compounded ideas that all lead to one seamless experience. Just look at Super Nintendo World as an example. You take an escalator through a portal to get into that section of the park. The world is immersive from the moment you step into it, but if you have a Universal Mario band there are even more options to go interactive and to play games leading to other secrets in that section of the park. You can have a wild DK float that’s as big as your face. You can meet Princess Peach and dance with Toad. It all looks like this:

Or, look to Dark Universe, where Ygor roams around, the well lights up at night, and werewolf footprints are “stamped” into the concrete of the forest on Curse of the Werewolf. All these things took people to dream them up.

The creatives knew when they had hits, as Ariana Morabito, VP of Entertainment for Epic Universe and some of the others involved with the park’s creation all cited the Meet-and-Greet with Toothless as a moment they really specifically felt they hit the highest bar. In fact, they were all on hand to watch Toothless roll out.

As someone who has met Toothless, the feeling of touching the dragon is pretty indescribable, and special, even for a grownup. The wonder when kids get to do it will leave an impression. It all came back to the one word though. Per Jeff Polk, “epic” was the only way to measure every single thing that came into being, and it led to over 161 patents being created just for the one theme park.

One a year later, Universal’s park is still going strong. Epic Universe has made adjustments to its schedule in the first year, staying open later to accommodate the wishes of guests, and other changes are being cemented as we speak. The parks recently started testing Universal Celestial Goodnight, a new fireworks show set to officially debut next month on July 7th. There’s rumors about new attractions heading to the Ministry of Magic and other areas of the parks. It’s only a year in, and all I see are growth opportunities ahead. I’m guessing that one rule is still in place for the creative team and will be for awhile.

Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas, is one of the biggest things happening in theme parks this year, and it is now officially open for business. The park is one-of-a-kind in that it was created for families with younger children — specifically between the ages of 3 and 9 years old. However I got the chance to preview the park ahead of time with my pre-teen, so not only can I confirm that there is plenty for kids of all ages, there’s one ride that even the grown folks shouldn’t miss.

While the rides in Universal Kids Resort’s seven themed lands are geared toward a younger crowd — and therefore are less extreme overall than your favorite rides at Epic Universe and other parks — they were designed to accommodate older kids and even parents who want to ride along with their children. So I don’t want to hear any excuses — you’ve got to check out the Bello Bay Cruise (as seen below).

The water ride is a take on your typical river rapids ride, and who doesn’t love jumping into one of those circular vessels on a hot day? However, instead of a fairly serene ride interspersed with shrieks as rapids splash riders’ laps and waterfalls threaten to douse your boat, the Bello Bay Cruise ramps up the fun in a very Minions-worthy way.

For one thing, the boat rarely stops spinning, so be warned if you tend to get dizzy easily. The narrow channel also lends itself to some pretty rough jolts that add to the screams, and you even get caught in a “whirlpool” that sends you down a small drop:

The drop isn't too exteme for younger riders, but it was fast and a little something unexpected, and overall it was more fun than I typically have on a rapids ride.

Also, the Bello Bay Cruise does everything it can to ensure you get wet. If the rapids and the waterfalls don’t get you, there are the spray stations to contend with. Those sit on the overpasses so that other parkgoers can take aim at anyone who may not look thoroughly soaked. And here’s the thing — under that hot Texas sun, you will welcome the cool relief.

There were plenty of rides that kept my 11-year-old fully entertained on our Universal Kids Resort preview, with some highlights being the Jurassic World Cretaceous Coaster and Puss in Boots’ Swings Over Del Mar. Another water option was available in the SpongeBob area of the park, with the Bobbing Barrels also allowing friends, family or random passersby to spray you as you go.

All in all, kids of any age should find plenty to like from the rides, the shows, the character meet-and-greets, splash pads and climbing areas. There’s even a Sensory Garden for when the little ones (or anyone else) get overstimulated.

Whatever activities you choose to fill your day at Universal Kids Resort, I suggest you do yourself a favor and make the Bello Bay Cruise one of them.

Universal Kids Resort is open as of Wednesday, July 1, coinciding with the release of Minions & Monsters on the 2026 movie calendar. The park is located in Frisco, Texas, which is just north of Dallas.

We’re still months away from Halloween, but it’s never too early to start preparing for spooky season, especially when Universal is steadily releasing new Halloween Horror Nights news that makes me want to take up permanent residence within the parks. (As if I didn’t already want to.) The latest update is one Hell of a major announcement, and it pains me in zero ways to say that the Hellraiser franchise is finally getting some theme park haunted house love.

Not the entire franchise, as that might get a little superfluous, but the new house also isn’t solely rooted in Clive Barker’s seminal first film. Rather, the first three films — Hellraiser, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, and Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth — will get the focus, bringing Pinhead and the Cenobites to Halloween Horror Nights' walkthrough attractions for the first time.

I cannot imagine how many times the phrase "We have such sights to show you" will be used in the final product, as well as how many times that's already been said behind the scenes at both Universal Hollywood and Universal Orlando. And yeah, I'm more than a little jealous.

And guess what? It looks like whenever that line comes up in the attraction itself, it'll be the OG Pinhead saying it.

Hellraiser's Doug Bradley Is Reprising Pinhead For HHN!

For all the iconic characters that have been showcased and portrayed at Universal parks' Halloween Horror Nights over the past 34 years, rare is it for on-screen talent to themselves become part of the scares. And Doug Bradley's contributions thankfully won't just be through the use of archival footage.

Which isn't to say he'll be in full make-up at the parks, either, but that's understandable, given he's in his early 70s. Rather, here's how Universal noted his efforts:

I hope the team behind the Hellraiser house gets Bradley to say some trucked f--ked up stuff for the audio that will play out. They can't pussyfoot around with this guy.

As far as what to expect from the house itself, visitors will gloriously get to walk through the Lament Configuration puzzle box that is just as much of a visual stand-in for the film's title as Pinhead himself. The gateway to painful pleasures leads to Frank Cotton's attic, the Channard Institute, and other memorable locations from the original trilogy, culminating in a Cenobite-filled Labyrinth. I'm pretty sure nobody's souls are actually in danger, but no promises.

Check out the teaser video for the Hellraiser house.

Fans can definitely expect to see some new branded merch coming out to celebrate this team-up. As it goes, one will be an exclusive T-shirt for the Hellraiser house, and one will be an acrylic figure that will be part of this year's Infernal Carnival collective display.

Final note: Jamie Clayton portrayed Pinhead for the 2022 remake, which obviously isn’t part of this particular haunted house, though it’d still be cool to see some kind of a nod to it.

Stay tuned for a few more major announcements for what other terrifying monsters are coming to HHN 2026. For those who can’t possibly wait until the even starts to indulge in large-scale horror festivities, definitely check out the Universal After Dark attraction in Las Vegas.

There's nothing like a good theme park, and I've had some great times from local ones to the magic of a trip to Orlando for Walt Disney World. As a New Jersey native, I recently crossed state lines for a few days at HersheyPark, my first time in that particular venue in well over a decade. I didn't know what to expect, but had an absolute blast. What's more, there were three ways that the chocolate-y destination actually beat my most recent trip to Disney. Let's break it all down.

I'm admittedly not a hardcore theme park junkie, so I went into both Hershey and Disney World with an open mind. While I could have spent my entire trip in the latter park at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, I was shocked by how chill and low-stakes HersheyPark ended up feeling. Let's break it all down.

The 3 Ways Hershey Beat Disney World (For Me)

I recently went to HersheyPark with some family, complete with a four (and a half) year old. I expected the wild crowds of Disney World, but that wasn't the case. Instead, it was an easy-breezy few days, where I was able to easily get refreshments, walk around the park, pose with characters, and even walk right onto attractions without having to wait on a line. Hershey does indeed have a Fast Track option that lets you skip the line like Disney's Lightning Lane, but it wasn't necessary when I went.

I will admit that my days at HersheyPark were in the middle of the week, so that might be a contributing factor to the lack of crowds. But even on its busiest day, I can't imagine the park being anywhere near as crazy as Rope Drop at Disney.

There's another aspect of my time at Hershey that I thought stood above my time at Disney World. Namely, you can buy alcohol and take it with you as you walk around the park. This was a lovely surprise after my last trip to Disney, as booze is only permitted in EPCOT and certain select restaurants in the other parks. I spent a few days walking around Hershey with the aforementioned four-year-old, and being able to enjoy a nice cold beer as he rode the Trailblazer ride for the eighth time was a game changer.

The third point of victory over Disney is the fact that one ticket to HersheyPark gave you full access to the park, including its water park attractions. There's no need for a park hopper or shuttles; you just needed to bring a bathing suit and enjoy the various attractions at The Boardwalk.

The entire trip felt like a much lower-stakes situation, where one could easily go on rides and get refreshments without having to program it onto an application and follow a strict schedule. So I found myself much more relaxed than at Disney World, which is a huge (expensive) undertaking. Maybe I'm comparing apples to oranges, but it felt like a whole new way to experience a Theme Park.

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.

Summer may have barely kicked off this week but, in true Hallmark fashion, Lacey Chabert is already getting us excited for the holiday season. The latest of her upcoming Hallmark movies is Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True, which was filmed on location at Walt Disney World. In anticipation for it, she took her castmates on all her favorite rides, and I have to highlight one unexpected pick.

Lacey Chabert Reveals Her Favorite Walt Disney World Rides

The cast for Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True was announced earlier this month. Chabert is leading it (obviously), with Travis Van Winkle, Disney Channel alum Christy Carlson Romano, Bryce Durfee and Taegan Burns. On Instagram, Hallmark post a video of Chabert taking the group on her top five rides, and it's too delightful:

How much fun does this look?! Here’s the list of rides they went on:

1. Dumbo Flying Elephant at Magic Kingdom
2. Seven Dwarves Mine Train at Magic Kingdom
3. Slinky Dog Dash at Disney Hollywood Studios
4. TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom
5. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney Hollywood Studios

OK, so these are some pretty solid picks, overall. Chabert clearly likes her thrill rides, and I respect that there’s a mix of classic and new Walt Disney World attractions. However, noticeably, there are some all-time great attractions missing from that lineup, and I need to get into them. But, first, let's discuss what I think is her most surprising choice.

There's One Disney Pick I Don't Get

Obviously, Lacey Chabert is totally allowed to have her own opinions on when it comes to theme park rides, but Dumbo? This is such a hot take! The only thing I can excuse is that she had a memorable experience on the ride as a kid, and is nostalgic for it, because it’s kind of meh to me.

Plus, she picked it over a ton of better classic rides like Peter Pan’s Flight, Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. For context, Chabert also chose the Dumbo ride over newer favorites like Rise of the Resistance, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Avatar: Flight of Passage.

I imagine Lacey Chabert got to spend a lot of extra time deciding on her top Walt Disney World picks while filming Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True over the holiday season last year. We learned about the Disney World movie in December, and the Queen of Hallmark wrapped on the film back in January with fireworks. (because, of course). We don’t know exactly when the movie is being released yet, but it’s definitely going to be part of the robust Christmas movie lineup. It’s going to be so magical to see a Hallmark movie at the Most Magical Place on Earth!

And, while we wait for that, Lacy Chabert has also been working on a Hallmark miniseries set in Paris, France called Paris Is Always A Good Idea, which is coming out on Hallmark+ on July 30. I'm happy she's keeping us fed with a new show as I ponder her Walt Disney World movie... and theme park ride tastes.

Universal Orlando Resort is getting ready to celebrate its 35th anniversary in a big way this spooky season by making us feel like we’re locked inside some of the best horror movies. The theme park has already announced Sinners will have its own house and we've learned we’ll be able to relive the final season of Stranger Things. I can’t wait for those scares, but now we have new word about one of the original houses, and it’s the scariest, and most unexpected house announcement yet. Also allegedly among "the bloodiest" this season.

The latest confirmed house set to be on Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights 2026 lineup is called Madlands: Caged Cannibals. Guys... cannibals!??! I'm screaming already. It's the third original house announced this year alongside Jack and Oddfellow: Chaos and Control and H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular.

CinemaBlend had the chance to speak to Lora Sauls, who is the resort’s assistant director of entertainment creative development, about the new house, and she told me a lot about how the idea came about and why they think it'll be a "home run" with people in the parks.

Typically, half of HHN's houses consist of non-IP haunts, and after Sauls described Madlands to me, I completely understand why they're particularly hyped about this one. It's a shocker in the best way. Plus, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre houses are already incredibly popular whenever they have them, and now Universal Orlando Resort the chance to put their own memorable spin on the cannibal sub-genre of horror. As Sauls explained:

When guests enter Madlands, they’ll be transported to a fictional dystopian world where a tribe of cannibals take on the traits of zoo animals when hunting their prey. And guys, we are the prey. Per Sauls, the tribe of cannibals we'll meet in Madlands have been inspired by what they imagine zoo animals to be like, but since animals have gone extinct, they are only operating on an idea. It's also apparently one of the more hardcore houses this year – which means it’s going to be one people are going to be talking about!

Sauls also said she’s really proud of this one from a production point of view, pointing out the “scenic aesthetic” of it. She encourages fans to go at a slow-but-steady pace through it, but I just know this one is really going to trigger some serious fears. I'm already stressing out about it and I'm nowhere near a theme park gate yet. Of course, I was curious about the smells in this one; the Universal Orlando Resort's assistant director teased there’s some “interesting” ones to get ready for. Hope you brought a clothespin.

If you’ve been craving (pun intended) a really scary haunted house at Universal Orlando Resorts’s Halloween Horror Nights, Madlands sounds like it will have the kind of intensity you might be searching for. The announcement comes at a perfect time in the HHN lineup in my opinion, too. I always want something to get me into my fears, and Madlands might be that house this year.

Tickets are now on sale at Universal Orlando Resort’s website with the theme park event running from August 28 until November 1.

It’s a big year for Universal theme parks, as Epic Universe celebrated its first anniversary, and now Universal Kids Resort — a park geared toward families with young children — is set to make its grand opening. Featuring seven different lands themed around kid-favorite movies like Shrek and Trolls, Universal Kids has been specifically created for ages 3 to 8, though all ages are welcome.

In fact, I was able to take my 11-year-old to visit Universal Kids Resort ahead of its July 1 opening, and not only was there plenty for her to do, she absolutely loved the experience — in spite of the intense Texas heat! Let’s take a look at 3 things she wasn’t able to stop talking about.

Staying At Universal Kids Resort Is A Treat For All Ages

Universal Kids Resort is located in Frisco, Texas, (just north of Dallas), and even though that’s in my neck of the woods, it was totally worth it to actually stay in one of the hotel’s 300 rooms. My daughter couldn’t agree more. First of all, the decor is so bright and colorful, you can’t help but get excited for what’s in store.

After checking in (and taking pictures with SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick, who greeted us in the lobby), we made our way through the rainbow tunnel, up the elevator and down the brilliantly colored hallways, and that was when things really got "fire" for my 11-year-old.

The room itself was so cute, offering a queen-size bed for parents and bunk beds for kids (suites are available that sleep up to six guests). My daughter immediately climbed the ladder to the top bunk and posed for photos in front of the colorful walls. Our room even included a view of the park, and we spent a long time looking out, identifying the different universes we could see and planning which rides we wanted to hit first the next day.

As far as the hotel amenities, they keep it simple with a cafe (with a bar), a pool (with lifeguards) and a small arcade, but for me the best part of staying at the resort was being mere steps away from the park the next day — as well as being able to easily head back to our room when we needed a break.

I spoke to Sharon Parker, director of marketing and sales for Universal Kids Resort, and she pointed out a couple of other advantages that parents might find interesting:

After experiencing the resort, I’m not sure my daughter would let us return to Universal Kids and not stay overnight.

Jurassic World Adventure Camp Had The Best Rides For My Pre-Teen

Because Universal Kids is for the younger crowd, the thrills are mild compared to other theme parks. There are no big drops and nothing goes upside down, but I was pleasantly surprised at how many rides my 11-year-old — who typically jumps on the biggest roller coasters without a second thought — wanted to go on.

For her money, Jurassic World Adventure Camp offered the best experience. The Cretaceous Coaster was her favorite ride in the whole park, offering a slightly more thrilling experience than the other kids coaster, Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express. Take a closer look at the Cretaceous Coaster below:

Elsewhere in the dino-filled land, Mr. DNA’s Double Helix Spin was a hit, and she got to burn off some energy running around the Jurassic World Lookout Towers. A couple of other ride highlights were the Swings Over Del Mar in the Puss in Boots land, Bobbing Barrels in Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom, and the Minions’ Bello Bay Cruise, which is a must-do.

Parents be warned, you will get wet on those last two, but you probably won’t mind in that Texas heat.

Kids Will Flip Over The Triple Gooberberry Sunrise (And The Chicken Strips)

There are snack and meal options all over Universal Kids, naturally, but if you’re looking for one of the wildest treats, you’ve got to hit up Goofy Goober's in the SpongeBob universe for the Triple Gooberberry Sunrise ice cream sundae.

This delicacy from The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie gave my tween the sugar rush she needed to keep going, as it is described as: "Vanilla & chocolate ice cream, strawberry Dole Whip, chocolate fudge, with crushed smore’s cookies crumble and strawberry Pop-Tarts pieces, whipped topping, banana, and a cherry on top."

To get this monstrosity in the souvenir cup, it’ll put you out $19.99, but come on mom, it’s vacation!

I loved that there were options for both adventurous little eaters and pickier ones, and even your typical snacks like soft pretzels were given the Universal treatment:

Also, if your kids are chicken tender aficionados like mine, the ones at Universal Kids Resort definitely made the grade. In fact, my 11-year-old raved about them so much, I stole a bite when she ordered them a second time, and it truly was tastier than it had any right to be.

If you go the chicken route, allow me to recommend the Jurassic World Canteen, where the Dinosaur Bites set a full scene with dino nuggets atop a mashed potato volcano, complete with barbecue sauce lava. Broccoli trees surround them, making for the perfect prehistoric meal.

Universal Kids Resort’s opening is one of the most exciting theme park events in 2026 for how it caters to the whims of young children first, but my experience proved that there’s something there for kids (and kids at heart) of all ages. Teens, tweens and adults may not be able to find the thrill rides they seek in other parks, but they might just be surprised at what fun they can have while accompanying their children or younger siblings.

Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas, opens Wednesday, July 1, coinciding with the 2026 movie release of Minions & Monsters.

The wait for The Mummy 4 continues, and while the beloved OG '90s action-adventure crew won’t be hitting the 2026 movie calendar, things do seem to be heating up behind the scenes. As fans wait for the cast to fully take shape, one beloved star has already found his way back into the franchise, just not in the way I expected. Oded Fehr apparently paid an early visit to some familiar territory thanks to Universal Orlando, and honestly, seeing Ardeth Bay back among the scarabs and curses just feels right.

Fehr recently shared a video on Instagram documenting a visit to Universal Orlando's Revenge of the Mummy attraction. The actor, who played Medjai warrior Ardeth Bay in The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, looked genuinely delighted to revisit a corner of the franchise that helped launch his career. You can check it out for yourself below.

In the video, Fehr narrated the entire trip to the park. In it, you can hear him say:

Watching Fehr checking in on the legacy he helped create is a wildly thrilling thing to see. Its especially satisfying because just a few months ago, when Fehr talked about Starfleet Academy, he told us that while he had not heard anything official regarding The Mummy 4, he absolutely wanted to come back. Fehr spoke warmly about the family atmosphere shared by the original cast, saying:

For longtime fans of the Mummy franchise, Ardeth Bay was always one of the secret ingredients that made the first two movies work so well. Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz brought the romance and adventure; John Hannah supplied the comic relief, though plenty of the rest of the cast provided some great comedic quotes. Fehr's Medjai warrior gave the franchise much of its mythology and seriousness.

Thankfully, it now appears fans won't have to worry about whether he returns. Reports surrounding The Mummy 4 have indicated that Fehr will indeed reprise the role of Ardeth Bay alongside Fraser, making his Universal Orlando stop feel almost like a premature homecoming.

Honestly, seeing him at Revenge of the Mummy reminded me just how enduring these movies have become. More than 25 years after the original film hit theaters, the franchise still has one of the most beloved theme parks.

The Mummy 4, though it will most likely be called something else, as rumor has it, the third movie will be ignored, is officially scheduled for release in theaters on October 15, 2027. Until then, fans can revisit the original trilogy by renting the films with their Amazon Prime membership.

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.

Long before its final season finally hit Netflix, Stranger Things made itself at home as a semi-regular and hugely popular attraction for Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights. Rumors that the final season would get its own haunted house popped up back in March, and the theme park giant has officially announced Eleven, Vecna, the Upside Down, and Steve's hair will be present for an all-new house during the 2026 event. (OK, so the hair wasn't strictly guaranteed.)

Stranger Things was first represented back in 2018, and most recently for Season 4's focus for the 2023 event, complete with an Eddie Munson tribute. Here's a quick rundown on the terrors that fans will experience, as well as a long-held question that I'm hoping the new atrraction can answer in some way.

What To Expect From Stranger Things' Return To Halloween Horror Nights

The newest house will bring together a variety of highlights and locations showcased throughout Season 5, in what's being dubbed an "authentic, visceral experience that places guests at the center of the ultimate battle to save Hawkins." Everyone's "favorite characters" will be involved, with Vecna, demogorgons and other threats always right behind.

More specifically, the Stranger Things haunted house will take fans into Hawkins and through the Wheeler's house, the Hawkins National Laboratory and the MAC-Z military base, while also making terrifying jaunts through the Upside Down and the Abyss. Check out the reveal video below.

For those who want to take some of the scares home, Universal will certainly be providing that option with limited-time merch honoring the show and its 2026 HHN house. The already confirmed exclusives include a T-shirt, an '80s-friendly mug, and an acryllic Stranger Things-inspired figure for the Infernal Carnival display that will bring together all of this year's attractions.

The Question I Hope Gets Answered: What Happened To Dr. Owens?

Look, I know that Halloween Horror Nights annual attractions aren't the usual place where lingering questions about TV show characters get answered in meaningful ways. But if any show is big enough to warrant that kind of treatment, it's Stranger Things. So I need there to be some kind of detail, no matter how big or small, to offer up confirmation about Dr. Owens' fate following Season 4.

Easy as it is to buy into the idea that Paul Reiser's character was killed off by the military for showing sympathy to Eleven and wanting to keep her alive rather than killing her. Or for whatever other reasons they would want to defend the theoretical act with. But like many other fans, I don't want it to only be theoretical and left unclear in the way that Eleven's fate wasn't fully dialed out. (Even if I have my own beliefs on Eleven's finale ending.)

I can totally understand why the Duffers don't want to go there with a concrete answer about such a pivotal character. But semi-pivotal characters like Owens should absolutely get some kind of resolution, which is where the HHN house comes in. I'm really hoping to see an obituary noting Dr. Owens' passing. Or even a story about him disappearing, which would at least lend more credence to the military killing him and dumping the body. Kinda gnarly subject matter, but this IS a haunted house.

If it's a postcard that Owens tried to mail Eleven from Tahiti, that works too.

Halloween Horror Nights 2026 Confirmed Houses

• Stranger Things 5
• Sinners
• The Forces of Horror Collide

Stay tuned for more updates on new Halloween Horror Nights attractions, as well as what answers I hope those houses deliver.

While Animal Kingdom might be the Walt Disney theme park with the least amount of rides to go on, it certainly makes up for that with its vast amount of animals from around the globe. But what happens if one of them gets loose? It's quite the rare occurrence for anything life-threatening to happen at the Happiest Place on Earth, but I just learned a bizarre fact about Animal Kingdom that’s associated with a potential animal emergency.

At Walt Disney theme parks, the bathrooms are specifically designed to not have exterior entrance doors. This is an intentional way to allow crowd control to run smoothly when people enter and exit the facilities without any bottleneck going on. However, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the only one of them to actually have exterior doors on all their bathrooms as a special precaution. Apparently, in the unlikely event that a dangerous animal does get loose, park employees can ask guests to hide in these bathrooms and lock the doors shut.

This is pretty wild, right? It’s actually a rather ingenious way to have an evacuation location on the premises that is otherwise functional. This fact has previously been confirmed by a Disney cast member on TikTok and just resurfaced on my feed via an Instagram post.

Not only does this knowledge absolutely have me thinking about Animal Kingdom in a totally different way, I never totally realized the other bathrooms at other Walt Disney theme parks simply don’t have doors. Animal Kingdom isn’t a zoo where all the animals are in cages. They rather have fences, moats or other structures that look natural to their environment to keep them in their section of the park. It totally makes sense though for there to be an additional precaution like this.

There’s nothing really to worry about considering I’ve never really heard about an animal causing danger to guests before at the park, but there have been instances . For example, about a year ago, a Reddit user experienced a giraffe wandering into the safari road for a few minutes during one of the Kilimanjaro Safaris. The car paused for the giraffe before it was coaxed back to his section of the park, but, this is a pretty harmless situation. And, if it happened to me, my day would probably be made, honestly.

The more potentially dangerous animals like lions have deep moats separating them from guests, and specially designed terrain that they couldn’t escape if they tried. I don't know about you, but I love that Animal Kingdom allows the animals to roam without being constrained by a cage, and the Imagineers are sort of geniuses.

There are a lot of upcoming Walt Disney World attractions on the way, and Animal Kingdom will be gaining a new land called Tropical Americas. It’s expected to open sometime next year. Now that we both learned something new about its bathrooms, I know I will be seeing Animal Kingdom with new eyes.

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.

It’s hard to believe it was five years ago today that I got to experience opening day for Universal Islands of Adventure’s brand new coaster: The Jurassic World VelociCoaster. The ride was an achievement both in theming and in technical precision, and it’s still a ride I can’t help but scream on (out of both enthusiasm and terror) every time I’m going up and over that Top Hat.

My enthusiasm hasn’t waned, but it is so very hard to believe five years have passed. The time has indeed, gone, and Universal Orlando paid its own tribute to one of the parks’ most signature rides in a post that had me a little in my feels this week. This is true even though the post itself is very funny.

It's hard to believe so much time has passed, but yes, the ride opened on June 10, 2021. By November 14th that same year, it had already seen its one millionth rider go through the queue. Its popularity extended to awards. Last year, it was named best coaster for the fourth year in a row. While Universal’s Epic Universe has now put up some great attractions competing in that category, including Stardust Racers, this is still a favorite for many, myself included.

So, let’s talk about this churro stand.

The VelociCoaster Churro Stand Joke May Be The Greatest Inside Joke A Theme Park Has Ever Concocted

We’ve spoken about the funny-but-true story behind the VelociCoaster coming together before. Honestly, I’d recommend you go through that longer-form rundown, but the gist is this:

Universal Orlando sometimes keeps projects close to the vest. For example, that’s why we don’t currently know what’s going into the soon-to-be defunct Mythos restaurant at Lost Continent, also in Islands of Adventure. In the case of the Jurassic World-themed coaster, the powers that be did not want to share the news right away. So, construction walls went up and rumors began.

The joke? It was going to be a giant churro stand. Universal’s social media is one of my favorite follows on the Internet. At the time, those involved rolled with the joke for months and months, even after it became clear the coaster tracks were going up in the Jurassic Park section of the park. It was a really funny joke at the time, and allowed for an aura of mystery to surround the ride before its announcement. The fact the parks are still joking about it five years later is truly a testament to a successful marketing campaign.

It helps the Jurassic World VelociCoaster is a high-octane ride and beloved by all the thrill seekers who give it a whirl. So happy birthday to my favorite barrel roll, and my favorite top hat, and my favorite raptors hanging out near the tracks.

While horror has taken over the box office conversation over the last couple of weeks, it’s a big summer for tentpole movies, too. Fans have excitedly been calling it the summer of Tom Holland for a while now, as blockbuster movies like Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey and Avengers: Doomsday head straight to theaters. It’s not just the Spidey actor having a big summer, though, I’d argue it’s a Spielberg summer, too.

Disclosure Day Is Coming (And Even The Cast Celebrated With Some Spielberg Classics)

Summer always features at least a few fun tentpole movies, but it’s been a long time since we’ve not only gotten a Spielberg summer movie, but one about aliens to boot. In fact, Spielberg’s last big budget adventure film was probably Ready Player One, which came out in March of 2018, and therefore wasn't even a big summer release. That means the last honest-to-goodness summer Spielberg release we probably got was Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull way back in 2008.

Meanwhile, when it comes to Spielberg’s alien movies, it’s been a while, too. Close Encounters of the Third Kind came out way back in 1977. E.T. came out a few years later in 1982. War of the Worlds was 2005, and if we’re getting a little more granular Kingdom of the Crystal Skull also technically counts.

Disclosure Day hits the 2026 movie release schedule this weekend, on June 12, and it’s a pretty big deal. Such a big deal, in fact, that his cast came out and wore iconic tentpole movie shirts when they promoted the new release a few weeks ago. The enthusiasm is palpable, particularly when it comes to all those deer, and there’s another way you can celebrate that’s not even on the big screen.

Universal Orlando Set Up Its Own Spielberg Summer Tribute. It’s Worth Checking Out

If you need more evidence it's the summer of Spielberg, Universal Studios Florida actually has a whole exhibit set up in honor of the famed director. The man has always been a huge part of the Universal theme parks. The Jaws ride was iconic. Sadly, it's gone, but the beloved ride paved the way for the 1975 classic to appear in other parts of the park, including this summer’s Mega Movie Parade. There’s an entire section of Islands of Adventure based on Jurassic Park/World, and the E.T. Adventure has remained one of the park’s classic rides. The Spielberg footprint in the parks is dino-sized.

There’s an entirely new way to celebrate, however, called Spielberg’s Summer Blockbusters. The tribute exhibit has walls covered with cool factoids, original props and costumes, plus some interactive components to really fully immerse you in the Summer of Spielberg. You can see a signed script. You can see some dino eggs. You can even take a photo of yourself and create your own Disclosure Day poster.

Plus, it's included with your Universal Studios Florida ticket price, and is a fun way to cool off and get out of the heat. Last year was a big deal because of the Jaws 50 anniversary, but I'm so excited to see Steven Spielberg back in the summer blockbuster game in 2026, and that's especially true now I know how over-the-top the first reactions have been.

Universal Studios’ resorts are among the theme parks getting some major improvements in 2026, and both the California and Florida-based parks are getting a seriously high-octane addition. It was announced earlier this year that the Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift was being constructed for both parks and would serve as a successor to Fast & Furious: Supercharged. Fans have been eagerly awaiting an opening date for the Hollywood version of the ride, and a date was just accidentally dropped, prompting an apology from Universal.

What Happened With The Fast & Furious’ Release Date Snafu?

Near the end of this past week, an apparent news release was shared to Universal Hollywood Studios’ website, and it seemed to confirm that Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift would open to the public on June 26. That announcement was later shared on X by a few users, who expressed excitement over the roller coaster’s supposed opening. Sometime after that, however, Universal itself took to Instagram to release a formal statement on the supposed leak. The company sought to clear up the situation, saying:

So fans may want to pump the brakes on their hype just a smidge in the aftermath of that update from the theme park. Regardless of when any kind of announcement was meant to go up, though, it’s unclear as to whether that June 26th release date is accurate to begin with. It’s worth mentioning, though, that back in February, it was rumored that the California iteration of Hollywood Drift could open sometime this summer, and ride testing was apparently taking place by April. Still, fans will just have to wait for further details.

How Does Hollywood Drift Compare To Supercharged, And Where Do Things Stand With The Florida-Based Version Of The Ride

Fast & Furious: Supercharged is a motion-based dark ride, and it opened at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2015 and at the Florida park in 2018. The premise of the attraction involves riders being drawn into a conflict between Dominic Toretto and his crew and Owen Shaw and his forces. Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Luke Evans, Michelle Rodriguez and Tyrese Gibson reprise their roles from the F&F films for both versions of the ride, while Ludarcis and Jordana Brewster appear in the pre-show for the one in Florida.

Ultimately, Supercharged received negative reviews, and the not-so-stellar feedback to the one at the Florida resort led to the cancellation of another version of the ride at Universal Studios Beijing. As it stands, the Hollywood Studios iteration of the attraction has been closed since March 2025, and its east coast counterpart is shutting down for good in 2027.

The first look at Hollywood Drift was released in June 2025 and, at the time, fans were treated to a digital rendering of what the ambitious coaster would look like. Another promo was released earlier this year, and it teases the drifting feature that each of the railcars will have. Check it out:

It’s easy to understand why fans are excited for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, as it looks like it’ll provide some serious thrills. While the Orlando-based ride won’t open until 2027, it’s hard to say exactly when an official opening date will be unveiled by Universal Studios Hollywood. At the very least, though, fans can take comfort in knowing that it’ll definitely open sometime this summer.

A new update on queue times may help theme park goers understand why Universal Orlando will remove the Express Pass option for Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Just one year after adding it, the time for its queue may explain why Universal decided to drop a fast pass for the Islands Of Adventure ride.

Instagram user JimTravelsDisney dropped a hot fact about the Harry Potter ride, which first debuted back in 2019. While the ride queue is filled with Easter Eggs and other interesting things to keep those waiting entertained, it's worth noting that the addition of the Express Pass has made it the longest line in the legacy parks by a wide margin. Read more below:

Back when I attended the ride launch, Universal made it known they expected Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure to have long waits. That said, I'm not sure they would've guessed that seven years later, including an Express Pass option would result in people waiting nearly two hours to ride what CinemaBlend has dubbed Florida's best roller coaster.

The decision comes with controversy, as the battle seems to be between annual pass holders who know the average wait time will drop without an Express Pass, and travelers who buy the pass because they may only visit the park once every couple of years.

With an Express Pass, parkgoers can drastically reduce their wait time and bump ahead to the final queue and only wait maybe twenty to thirty minutes or less. That's much better than over two hours, so I totally understand those with limited time and money to spare using that option. It looks like once it's gone, they'll be forced to wait alongside everyone else, but ideally not as long as two hours, with workers not needing to monitor two separate queues.

Universal Orlando's decision to remove the Express Pass option from Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure likely attempts to fix its queue problem, which often overflows into the rest of the park. Long lines definitely hamper the theme park experience, especially if it gets in the way of other attractions in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter section. I can only imagine that section of the park will only get more popular once the new series hits the 2026 TV schedule, so best to try and fix any issues now before its release.

Check out Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure, and let us know if the line improves once the Express Pass is no longer an option. As someone who was at the premiere and rode it several times, I'm glad I got it all out of my system before having to stand in a line like that!

One year ago, I was invited to attend the blue carpet for the opening of Epic Universe. I got to talk to celebs like James and Oliver Phelps and WWE superstar Cody Rhodes about what they’d be riding, but there was another fun surprise that day: The Mac and Cheese cones. The handheld food item at Epic’s How To Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk became a big hit early on, but when the creative team at Universal Orlando was conceiving the dish, they had no idea what they’d gotten into. Frankly, neither did I.

I previously did get the chance to try some of the cones. I'm personally invested in the delicious PB&J cone (that is pork, bacon and jam), but originally, the cones were only available at one small kiosk: Hooligan's Grog and Fuel. Universal chef Jens Dahlmann was on hand for a Q&A celebrating the park’s first birthday, and he revealed the Mac and Cheese cones were one of the biggest surprises to come out of the park's opening.

Oh yeah, and a gigantic number of them have sold. Here’s what he told CinemaBlend and other outlets:

Dahlmann got real about how the team obviously underestimated the desire for these Mac and Cheese cones with the fanbase. Lines got long pretty quickly, to the point the lines were queuing almost as long as some of the best attractions at Epic Universe.

The Mac and Cheese cones have gotten so big, Epic Universe even offered a special edition over the holidays. The Snoggletog Harvest Mac and Cheese Cone might have been the best yet, featuring sage chimichurri, turkey and the land’s signature lingonberry sauce. Still, it’s not the only snack that’s sold a whole heckuva lot.

The Bièraubeurre Crêpes Have Not Been A Slouch, Either

In a slideshow put together by Universal Orlando publicists, it was also mentioned that the popular Butterbeer crepes in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic have sold like hotcakes, too. In fact, in the first year, the Cae L’air de la Sirêne shop has sold 100,000 of those sweet treats. That's not as popular as the Mac and Cheese cones, but I'm still impressed with the volume.

Now we’ve gotten the rundown on some of the park’s most popular snacks, I’d be interested to hear a few more stats. How many DK crush floats have sold? And how many Yoshi’s smoothies have been gulped down? These are the things I find really fascinating about the new park opening, and I love it when the creatives behind the scenes give us a tidbit or two.

What is clear, as fellow VP’s Russ Dagan, Ariana Moribino and Jeff Polk also told us is that they are constantly putting themselves in “guests shoes” when new decisions are being made. So if the fans demand crepes and cones, they get crepes and cones:

I can’t wait to see what Year 2 has in store. But these comments about later hours and some permits for new attractions have me pumped. We'll be sure to keep you updated on the parks as we head into the summer months and then get into HHN season.

I’ve been to Universal Orlando dozens of times. I live out of state, so this means I’ve stayed at one of Loews’ fine establishments pretty much every time I’ve been at the theme parks. I’ve tried many different tiers, too, from the cute, fresh, and semi-new Endless Summer: Dockside Inn and suites all the way to the massive, relaxing, and Express Pass-oriented Portofino Bay. But I need to be honest with you, I’d never checked out the Hard Rock Hotel. I admit I honestly thought it wasn’t for me, but am happy to report that I have now gotten over myself.

If you are around the theme park space at all, the general consensus is that The Hard Rock Hotel is an amped up hotel experience. Music is pumped out near the pool by giant speakers, and the sound even reaches underwater for the guests. With this in mind, I really didn’t think the hotel would be for me, until I actually bothered visiting. I must say, this is one book you should never judge by its cover.

The A-Tier Staff: Yeah, This Hotel Has A Literal Vibe Manager

During my recent trip to the hotel, I got the chance to speak with Molly Ford, the literal Vibe Manager for Hard Rock Hotel Orlando. I obviously had to know what that meant, and mostly it means she curates and updates the experiences that make the hotel such a unique offering among the Loews portfolio. She told CinemaBlend:

I had to ask her how she got the title Vibe Manager, and she said she lucked her way into it by being stellar at her job (my words, not hers), and doing a bunch of tasks that lended to the theming before the Hard Rock powers that be bestowed it on her. She’s not the only cool staff member at the hotel, either. I encountered some bartenders and servers at The Velvet Bar who really knew their stuff and walked me through the menu. And the chefs curate menus at on property restaurants that are truly elevated compared to most theme park fare (and even hotel offerings). Think: Lobster rolls and caviar.

The Wax And Picks Program: Even The Amenities Are Cooler Than Other Hotels

Obviously, most people who think about the Hard Rock think about memorabilia first, and it’s true the hotel has a lot of rock stuff on display, including Slash’s top hat (which he apparently doesn’t rock as much in real life). There are also two additional amenities that are cool for music lovers called the Wax and Picks programs:

• Picks: The Hard Rock Hotel has a Fender program. Vibe Manager Molly keeps everything organized on an app, and if there’s a guitar you want to try, it will be delivered to your room with an amp and headphones.
• Wax: This is for people who want to unwind by listening to records. A record player will be delivered to your room, along with a box of records to choose from. It’s like a home away from home for audiophiles.

The Hard Rock also has some of the other A+ amenities the higher tier hotels at Universal Orlando offer, including the aforementioned Portofino Bay, and Loews Royal Pacific. You get the Express Pass just for staying, and the theming feels more elevated than almost any other hotel, perhaps excepting the brand new Grand Helios Hotel, which is almost an Epic Universe attraction in and of itself.

There are two full service restaurants, the aforementioned Velvet Bar, a quick service food spot and a place for food and drinks by the pool. The hotel also gives you a QR code that you can scan to hear the “the sound of your stay.” The songs at Universal ared different than every other Hard Rock Hotel. Plus, while all Universal Resorts also have a fitness center, this one has its own playlist.

The Food And Ambiance Are Great

While I’m a strong proponent of Sapphire Falls and its popular Strong Water establishment, I was obsessed with the offerings from The Kitchen, The Velvet Bar, and The Palm (the latter of which also has a swanky location I’ve been to in Las Vegas). While the steak and sauce offerings at The Kitchen were a hidden gem I hadn’t known about, there is one true foodie secret at this hotel: The Kitchen Sink.

What is it, you may ask? It’s a seven-layer cake made to share with friends. You’ve got Brownie, you’ve got peanut butter creme, you’ve got chocolate chunk cookie, you’ve got red velvet cake, then some vanilla cheesecake, an additional layer of devil's food chocolate cake, and vanilla chiffon. Wrap it up with some chocolate sauce and ice cream and you’ve got a dessert date. It’s so yummy, even people I know who work at the theme park have told me they pop over there to eat it on occasion.

I could highlight a lot of other food, but we’d be here all day. The moral of this story, though, is never judge a book by its rock star cover. This hotel’s a big softie at heart --just one easily capable of shifting from ‘90s soft rock hits to Glass Animals, Portugal. The Man, or Johnny Cash. It’s a hard balance to achieve, but that’s what you get when you have a vibe manager.

The Muppets and celebrities have always gone hand in hand, so it comes as no surprise that the updated Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster starring the Muppets is absolutely packed with celebrity cameos. I was anticipating there being a lot to unpack, but I did not count on just how many there would be. However, what was even more surprising was the staggering number of deep-cut Muppet references. Shoutout to the Imagineer who looped me in.

The Rock’n’ Roller Coaster starring the Muppets is just one of Walt Disney World’s new attractions. CinemaBlend had a chance to experience the ride firsthand during a preview of Cool Kids’ Summer, which kicked off on May 26, and I tried to spot as many Muppet references as possible while queuing up to ride the chaos-fueled coaster.

As I made my way through G-Force Records, I spotted a couple of deep-cut references myself. One of my favorites has to be a tribute to MuppetVision 3D — may it rest in peace.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Gonzo, Gags, and Deep-Cut Details

Near the old show’s entrance, there used to be a door with a sign reading “keys under mat,” where guests could lift a nearby floor mat to find a hidden key underneath. I’m happy to report that the door has made its way into the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster queue, where it now serves as the entrance to Gonzo’s Flight School. A sign explains that Gonzo is away at the concert and, once again, the “keys” are under the mat — though this time, if you look closely, you’ll spot a set of piano keys peeking out from underneath.

This is just one tiny example of the details hidden throughout the ride. So when I had the chance to speak with one of the Imagineers behind the new coaster, David Brescia, I had to ask about other hard-to-spot Muppet references. He told us:

I got a little choked up when I saw the portrait for myself the first time. Brescia also told us to be on the lookout for PizzaRizzo, and I can confirm there are several references to the fun-loving rat’s restaurant both in the queue and on the ride itself. Pizza slices and boxes are scattered throughout the sets and can even be spotted while cruising down the 101. And if you take a quick peek to your left after loading into the L.I.M.O. (Lengthy Immediate Motion Object) ride vehicle, you might spot the Squeakeasy, a rat biker bar established in 1936 — the year Jim Henson was born.

A Constantly Revolving Door of Celebrities in the Livestream

Besides the countless Muppet references — of which I barely scratched the surface — I need to talk about the “livestream” video that plays in the rotunda queue. The video features all-new material showing everyone backstage and in the audience waiting for the Electric Mayhem to show up to their own concert, which they are several hours late to.

If you stay and watch the whole thing (or are stuck in line for more than 30 minutes), you will spot a ton of celebrities throughout the stream. I was able to catch most of them, but I still had to follow up with Brescia to make sure I did not miss any. He had several names to drop:

Ken Marino goes from soundboard operator to G-Force studio executive—a pretty solid upgrade. Brescia also mentioned John Stamos and Danny Trejo, but the full list is even more impressive, including Awkwafina, Neil Patrick Harris, Questlove, Travis Barker, Joe Elliott, and Phil Collen. And for another fun Muppet reference, Walter from The Muppets and The Muppets Most Wanted also shows up ready to watch the concert.

This is only a fraction of the references you can find on the ride, and every time you go on, you are bound to discover something new. Whether you are rocking out to one of the songs on the set list, spotting a poster featuring Angus McGonagle — who appeared in a single episode of The Muppet Show — or waiting to see if John Stamos finally makes it into the VIP room, there is always a reason to ride again.

Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure is arguably considered one of the best theme parks in the U.S. However, that doesn’t mean its visitors are immune to one common element that affects many parks: long lines. In recent years, both Disney and Universal have created options that allow guests to throw money at them in order to skip lines. Now, we’ve just learned one popular ride in the Orlando park will soon no longer allow this for guests and, suffice to say, people aren't exactly pleased.

Which Islands Of Adventure Ride Will No Longer Have An Express Pass Option?

On Tuesday, Universal Studios fans started to notice on the Universal App that Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure ride no longer has the Express Pass option. Universal Orlando confirmed the update in the tweet below:

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure opened back in 2019 and went years without an Express Pass option until the feature was added to the ride a year ago. This meant that those willing to pay extra could get on Hagrid’s in less time. Another way for visitors to get an Express Pass is for them to stay at select Universal resorts.

Removing the Harry Potter-themed ride from the express list is definitely an interesting move, considering the ride's popularity. With that in mind, it was probably a given that there would be responses.

How Universal Studios Fans Are Reacting To The News

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is one of the most popular rides at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and CinemaBlend once called it the “best roller coaster in Florida.” So, what do Universal fans think of the change? A lot of people are not at all surprised because the ride’s queue changed so much since the change. Universal thinks the update will allow for an improvement in the “flow” of the line, but check out some other thoughts from Reddit:

• “What a bummer. I get that folks with APs and locals are happy about the change but as a tourist with limited time on a heavy budget this really hurts.” - @Tanazan1
• “More than a little frustrating because we're going in less than three weeks, and I booked two nights at Royal Pacific just for express pass.” - @prophecy0
• “It seems to be one that has been impacted very strongly with Express compared to other rides. So not surprised to see it taken off. It does suck for those that booked something for after July 1 that included express with the expectation of using it there.”- @vegetable-house5018
• “We went in April and stayed at Portofino specifically for the unlimited express pass. Hagrid’s is the only ride that we felt we needed it for. If it’s no longer included, spending that kind of money for a premier hotel will be really hard to justify the next time we go.” - @Pantsmithiest

It’s certainly a problem for those who’ve already booked a trip to Universal’s Islands of Adventure specifically with accommodations that will allow them to get the Express Pass. While Hagrid’s is definitely a fan favorite, there are still plenty of rides on Express Pass like Jurassic World VelociCoaster, The Incredible Hulk Coaster, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Jurassic Park River Adventure and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Of course, whether or any other rides are removed from the express program remains to be seen.

Outside of this recent change to Hagrid’s, Islands of Adventure just started its summertime celebration, which is big on Steven Spielberg favorites like new Jaws-inspired “interactive experiences,” photo ops, drinks, “bites” and exclusive merchandise. There’s also a new parade called the Universal Mega Movie Parade and a new version of CineSational. The festivities are going on until August 10.

This weekend, comedian Nate Bargatze is about to earn a career milestone when he stars in his first feature film ever with The Breadwinner. But his aspirations stretch way beyond making waves on the 2026 movie calendar because he’s also serious about opening his own theme park called Nateland. As his ambitions have become more widely known to the public recently, the internet has all sorts of reactions to the potential business venture.

A Lot Of People Are Confused About Nate Bargatze’s Nateland

Nate Bargatze has become a huge name in the comedy space in recent years, between his quotable standup shows, hosting SNL two times in a matter of two years, hosting the Emmys last year and now leading his own family-friendly comedy, The Breadwinner. Next up, the Wall Street Journal reports the 47-year-old is working on a $350-million theme park called Nateland, which will stretch across 100 acres in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.

Much like his “clean” comedy act, he’s hoping to appeal to families in a city that famously caters to the 21 and up crowd, especially at night. Bargatze is also inspired by his first job at Opryland USA, a theme park that closed back in 1997. The “still-evolving design” is divided into three sections, all based on his life, with one based on Tennessee and another on New York. Check out what commenters on Instagram have to say about the possible theme park:

• “But like….why?” - @justinemarquez
• “Tennessee has a Walt Disney & it’s Dolly Parton” - @blazer.levi
• “I was ok with it until he named it after himself…sry no.” - @drink_jadeorade
• “Plays roller coaster tycoon once…” @jennifersterger
• “Takes some real narcissism to build 'your-own-name-land' chronicling your life” - @chrisramirez4
• “Does anyone besides Nate actually want this?” - @captkathleen

So… there are a lot of commenters who don’t get the vision. And hey, it’s pretty out there. I don’t think we’ve ever seen a comedian attempt something like this. However, as the article explained, Bargatze has become such a popular comedian that he might sell more tickets for his latest Big Dumb Eyes tour than Beyoncé did for her most recent tour.

He’s Got Some Support Though

The comment section wasn’t all negative or confused reactions, though. There’s plenty of excitement as well. Take a look:

• “I bet it's going to be rad. Good for him.” - @titaniajordan
• “Yes can’t wait! Nashville needs more family friendly things to do!” - @megssbradley
• “Yesss bring back Opryland. 👏” - @cecilia_ryan
• “Honestly we need more of this energy from our celebrities” - @kjanet
• “1000% support this and know he’ll pull it off! 🎉” - @thejessicavara

Nateland is still in its early planning days, but Nate Bargatze and his business partners have already contracted with Storyland Studios, which is a California firm founded by past Disney, Universal Studios and Legoland creatives to help design the park. They have also reportedly picked the site for Nateland in Nashville’s metro area, but the location isn’t yet public. This summer, Bargatze and his team will be deep in the process of securing funds for the project.

You can see Nate Bargatze in The Breadwinner starting this Friday, May 29. If you’re buying tickets, look out for the comedian’s “Nate Rate” reduced price tickets.

There are many updated or new attractions coming to Walt Disney World. One of those attractions opened this week, just in time for summer crowds: Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets. It was hard for me to imagine a world where this ride did not have Aerosmith music playing until I experienced it firsthand, as the iconic songs, semi-screamed at riders by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, had been a staple of the park since the late ’90s. But time passes and change comes, and the Electric Mayhem took over the groovy ride this week. Let me tell you, it was not an easy feat to come together.

When it came time for Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem to become the new headliners, Disney had their work cut out for them. Deciding on the final set list became one of the biggest challenges of the reimagining, and I found out from some Imagineers that the team tested an insane number of songs before finally locking it all in.

CinemaBlend was invited to preview the new ride this past week as part of Walt Disney World's Cool Kid's Summer event, which officially kicks off on May 26th. When we had a chance to chat with one of the Imagineers behind the ride, David Brescia, I had to ask about the music and how the team landed on the final set list. He told us:

Yes, 200, and yes, by testing he means riding to them. Jumping on a coaster more than 200 times to figure out what songs fit may seem like a lot, although it is still not quite as insane as riding one more than 15,000 times. What a job.

The final set list includes some real bangers and features several major artist collaborations, as well. Finding the right balance between classic rock energy and Electric Mayhem chaos became one of the biggest priorities during development. Brescia went on to tell us:

Def Leppard is specifically featured on “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop),” one of what I feel are the standout needle drops in the lineup. Guests should note hearing the full playlist requires multiple rides, as only one song plays per experience—meaning at least five rides are needed to hear every track, and that's if you are lucky.

The heart and soul of Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster is still very much alive in this updated attraction. The Muppets bring a different energy to the ride, but it still delivers the same high-speed, music-driven chaos fans love while feeling more accessible to a wider audience. And while you’re at Hollywood Studios, don’t miss the chance to join Grogu on the new mission aboard Smugglers Run, new this Cool Kids summer, too.

Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe celebrated its first birthday this year with new merchandise (including gold power up bands at Super Nintendo World, you’re welcome) and a fun new character experience with popular plush figure Captain Cacao in the parks. It’s hard to believe the theme park has already been around for 365 days and counting, but it’s certainly never stagnant. In fact, the Epic Universe creative team has heard your feedback and responded accordingly.

If you can remember back to hundreds of days ago, one huge complaint fans had early on was that the parks were not open much during evening hours. People loudly grumbled about this online during Epic Universe’s opening month, and it wasn’t really even a hot take: A lot of people felt this way.

Well, those in charge of guest experience actually saw all of these comments, and responded by switching around hours to keep the park open later. Executive VP and General Manager of Epic Universe Jeff Polk told CinemaBlend and other outlets they heard fans loud and clear. He knows some of the best attractions like Stardust Racers are better at night, and he was speaking about listening to what the guests have had to say as they make future plans when he noted:

Originally, Epic Universe opened early at about 8 a.m. and stayed open until early evening. Now, the park opens later, at around 10 a.m. and stays open until 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. on select dates. Polk also said the park doesn’t maybe need to “be open 12-15 hours”, and that’s fine with me. Any additional late night hours make me extremely happy, though I’d personally love a future where some summer and holiday hours it opens a little later and stays open until 11 p.m.

Everyone on the team understands the experience in the parks at night is so special. They see guests hanging in Celestial Park to experience the “seven million lights” that shift the park into overdrive, and VP and Executive Director for Universal Creative Russ Dagon says they are just getting started when it comes to the nighttime spectacular.

His coworker Ariana Morabito, VP of Entertainment for Epic Universe, gave us a bit of a tease about what’s next as the parks continue shifting forward into 2027 and beyond. They’re always looking for what’s next in the “3-4 year” plan, and it sounds like Celestial Park may get an upgrade.

It makes me wonder if she’s playing into those rumors Celestial Park and its restaurants may open up to the general public down the line. Either way, hopefully by the time we get into Year 3, we’ll know more about that mysterious attraction headed behind Ministry of Magic and more. Stay tuned, because the next 12 months are going to be a rollercoaster ride (or at least some other attraction announcement).

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.

Expectations were high for Epic Universe at the Universal Orlando Resort when it opened one year ago, and thanks to all of its rides and shows, as well as deeply immersive worlds from Super Nintendo, Harry Potter and more, it not only met those expectations — it surpassed them. All of its achievements deserve to be celebrated, and they definitely were, as fans marked Epic Universe’s first anniversary by sharing their favorite memories of visiting the park over the past year.

Epic Universe opened its doors on May 22, 2025, and by taking only the best elements of theme park designs that came before it, it’s been considered revolutionary from the beginning. Fans showed their appreciation for what the Universal park has been able to accomplish, with ThrillGeek reminiscing on when “the world changed” 365 days ago. They posted:

Several people said they’ve made repeat trips to the Orlando, Florida, park over the past year, with X (Twitter) user scottler424 listing everything that made his visits special:

It doesn’t even matter if you prefer the Monsters Unchained dark coaster over Battle at the Ministry of Magic, either, because for fans like Cutoffshark, it was about being able to experience all of those immersive attractions. They wrote:

Another park-goer shared a special moment from the Dark Universe, where his kids had quite the conversation with Igor:

Even those who weren’t able to attend the one-year anniversary in person still seemed to be thinking about the memories they made — and possibly even revealing which portal was their favorite, with FalconSQN tweeting:

Another satisfied customer, kristanovva, said Epic Universe has become an important destination for her friends and family, writing:

Several fans, in fact, even said they were “lucky” to get to experience the premiere park experience, saying that what we see of the portals on social media is nothing compared to actually being submerged in these worlds. As crownkingwarrio said:

It seems the past year has been an overall good one for Epic Universe, but the theme park doesn’t seem to be resting on its laurels, with testing reportedly underway for a potential huge change. Hopefully, the park continues to build on its early success with future expansions.

Listen, it’s never too early for all you jump scare lovers to start thinking about the Halloween season. I personally have a summerween party planned, but I'm champing at the bit for this year's 35th anniversary Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando (and the sister program at Universal Studios Hollywood). The houses are already starting to come together, and the Hollywood and Orlando teams were tickled pink when they realized an actual 2026 Oscar winner was coming to HHN.

Yes, I Am Talking About Sinners.

Ryan Coogler and Michael B Jordan’s incredibly soulful (and vampiric) collaboration will be heading to Universal Studios in Orlando on August 28th. It’ll hit Universal Studios Hollywood just a few short days later on September 3rd.

Laura Sols, Assistant Director of Entertainment Creative Development, was on hand at Universal Orlando this week to talk about the exciting development that has been bringing Sinners to life in haunted house format. She told CinemaBlend and other outlets that Awards night is not usually a big deal for the HHN team, but this year it was "super" cool.

I think Jordan Peele’s critically-acclaimed Us but not Get Out previously had a haunted house, but it is still really delightful to think about Sinners getting its own experience at HHN after winning so many awards and nods. Not only do I dig the vampire theme, Sinners just has a lot going on from a theming standpoint, as well.

In particular, much of the movie is set in a juke joint (Club Juke) with guests inside and vampires outside. That dichotomy, I would think, will lend itself extremely well to a haunted house. In fact, weirdly enough, CinemaBlend's own Sarah El-Mahmoud has been advocating for a Sinners house for months, and has recalled a house from 2023 that made her feel like it could work. So, I know there have to be plenty of other people out there that have had this thought, and I'm happy it's worked out so swimmingly.

Coogler also gave the enterprise his stamp of approval, noting it’s yet another sign that Sinners has done something “incredible,” aka bring horror to the mainstream, and doing it in a memorable and tasteful way.

I’m interested to know how much input the Sinners team really had on the final product, but we do know a few things already. Club Juke will be the location of the house, and characters from the movie like Sammie, Mary, Annie, Pearline and Cornbread will all be on hand.

It’s the 35th year of Halloween Horror Nights, and it’s already a circus. Yes, I am alluding to that Jack the Clown and Doctor Oddfellow news. Stay tuned, because it'll only get spookier from here on out, both on the HHN and upcoming horror movies front.

There are lots of fun, charming, and exhilarating theme parks out there for enthusiasts and entertainment lovers alike. These parks span from coast to coast, offering rides, theming and some viral food options for families living all over America. Only one of those theme parks can win the title of America’s Best Theme Park, however, and this year it went to one very special park in my neck of the woods.

Silver Dollar City Wins America’s Best (Again)

That’s right, the adorably named Silver Dollar City theme park located in Branson, Missouri has won a poll and landed the title America’s Best Theme Park once again. If you are someone who keeps tabs on this sort of thing, you should know this isn’t the first or second time this has happened. In fact, it’s the fifth year in a row Silver Dollar City has earned the title from the yearly popular USA Today poll. (Not to be confused with other polls on the subject.)

It’s no surprise really. Silver Dollar City sees a lot of foot traffic every season. The parks are extremely clean, and sport a confident mix of high-octane roller coasters and fun, family friendly rides like the recently redone Fire in the Hole. The famous cinnamon bread there is also divine and a reason to visit by itself.

For anyone in Missouri or the surrounding states, the Ozarks are beautiful and Branson in general has a lot of family-friendly attractions. Though, for me, Silver Dollar City would be the reason to go. It’s clean, fun, perfectly themed and refreshing, and it’s no surprise at all it’s landed tops 5 years in a row now.

What Did Silver Dollar City Need To Beat To Land The Title? (Plus, One Surprise)

There are some heavy hitters on this list. Rollercoaster beast Cedar Point landed on the Top 10, as did the holiday-themed Holiday World located in the charmingly named Santa Claus, Indiana. A whopping three Pennsylvania theme parks made it this year, and one, Knoebels Amusement Park, still has free park entrance and a ticketed system, much like the original ABC-funded Disneyland. Here’s the Top 10 for the year:

1. Silver Dollar City
2. Knoebels
3. LostIsland Theme Park
4. Kennywood
5. SeaWorld Orlando
6. Kings Island
7. Busch Gardens Williamsburg
8. Holiday World
9. Cedar Point
10. Hersheypark

You’ll note the heaviest hitters, including Universal Orlando, didn’t make the list this past year. This is honestly the biggest surprise to me, as Epic Universe just opened one year ago at Universal Orlando and has been to me the crowning achievement in theme parks over the last several months. In previous years some bigger parks including LEGOLAND California, and even the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World have made the list, so this was a surprising exclusion this year, particularly given SeaWorld in Orlando made it.

All in all, though, if you are planning a road trip, this makes for a good list.

One of my favorite things about the Disney Parks is seeing all the characters walking around and fully committed. It takes me back to being a kid at Disneyland and how excited I would be to meet a character I loved and get them to sign my autograph book. Now that I’m an adult, I particularly love seeing what comes from the villains of the Disney universe. For example, something hilarious just happened at Galaxy’s Edge involving a Stormtrooper.

While one guest was at Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida, they captured what happened when someone blew a kiss in the direction of one patrolling Stormtrooper. Check out how he responded:

Whoa, that’s savage! The Stormtrooper “caught” the guest’s kiss and gestured like he threw it on the ground and stepped on it like it was a piece of half-chewed gum. The trooper did say, “Thank you for supporting the First Order,” as he walked away, but the rejection was way harsh! Check out how other Disney fans are reacting on Instagram:

• “He’s a married storm trooper…lol” - @inhaledyogagirl
• “The same thing happened to me 😭😂” - @yeahveronica
• “The eye contact while crushing the kiss is crazy 🤣🤣” - @candiedbanana
• “Omg 😂😂 That's diabolical. I love it.” @coneymoo

When you work for the Dark Side, one can expect that kind of behavior, I guess. Of course, it’s all for fun, and in the spirit of fans feeling immersed in the world of a galaxy far, far away. Plus, if a Stormtrooper was sweet to you, you’d question what was going on. Props to Walt Disney World’s incredible team of characters. As you might assume, some expected shots were also fired in the comments about Stormtroopers, too. Take a look:

• “I’m surprised he caught it” -@alenas_crafting_life
• “You notice how the trooper didn't shoot it though.. they knew they'd miss” - @rob0615

If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s Star Wars fans making fun of Stormtrooper aim, am I right? I wonder if more guests are going to be blowing kisses at these soldiers now that this went viral.

Galaxy’s Edge has been going through some changes lately, with the decision to include characters from the original trilogy, even though the land was initially crafted to be set during the sequel trilogy timeline. If you’re going anytime soon, of course, you can ride Rise of Resistance, but a new version of Smuggler’s Run tying into The Mandalorian & Grogu is also among the upcoming Disney World attractions. It's set to land at both Orlando and Anaheim’s Galaxy’s Edge on May 22.

The Mandalorian & Grogu movie is the latest of upcoming Star Wars movies as well, with its release date being on the same day as the Smuggler’s Run upgrade.

However, for now, I'll be thinking about this brutal interaction one guest had with a Stormtrooper.

Universal Studios Orlando is closing Lost Continent over in Islands of Adventure, and preparing for the addition of a "major themed area." Amidst rumors about Nintendo franchises being used and whatnot, I'm crossing my fingers that the park is getting a section dedicated to Netflix's One Piece.

The live-action adaptation of the acclaimed manga and anime series is pushing out Season 3, and it seems like Netflix is all-in with a second anime coming in 2027. As EW reports, the Mythos restaurant in 2027 and all the ancient mythology areas will close in phases. While that's sad, I think it's time for One Piece to take a permanent place in the Universal parks stateside.

Islands Of Adventure Being Rebranded As A One Piece Section Feels Like An Easy Transition

Beyond the fact that people are watching One Piece with a Netflix subscription, the long-running franchise is at its peak popularity, so this just makes sense. It's a series about adventure, with colorful characters and settings that match the vibe and fun of a theme park.

Also, they literally have a character on the crew, Sanji, who is a renowned chef. Who better to rebrand the Mythos restaurant after, and get fans to spend big bucks to eat some of the cool stuff they've seen recreated in the Netflix series?

It is worth noting that Orlando Business Journal and others have mentioned The Legend of Zelda as a replacement for the area, and even Pokémon has been brought up. It also makes sense given the success of Super Nintendo World, and if Universal is looking to spread that money out, why not space the experience between parks like they already do with the Harry Potter zones? Be that as it may, I'm still team One Piece, and think there's better odds of it happening due to another big reason.

Universal Already Works With One Piece In The United States And Abroad

No doubt, readers may know that One Piece has collaborated with Universal Studios Hollywood via the Fan Fest experience. It's back again this year with another celebration, so obviously, it's doing well enough for Universal to want to continue highlighting it.

What they may not know is that One Piece plays a pretty significant role in Universal Studios Japan. The "One Piece Summer Premier" has been an annual event in the park over there for fifteen years now, and runs for four months. This is to say, One Piece has a big working relationship with Universal Studios on an international level, so despite Nintendo's box office success, I think One Piece is getting control of this part of the park.

I won't be mad if any of the other nostalgic franchises get the rub, don't get me wrong. Seeing Pokémon animatronics and Goron mascots would be another dream of mine I've yet to realize. Right now, however, I really am into One Piece, and it's having a moment in pop culture. I want to see Luffy and friends in Universal Studios Orlando long-term, and hopefully, this is the first step to that happening.

We'll have to wait and see what becomes of the Lost Continent, as Universal Studios Orlando begins its long process of slowly redesigning this piece of the park.

Josh D'Amaro took over Disney from Bob Iger in March after Iger's second retirement from the company. Today, he'll be looking back on the company's second quarter earnings for Fiscal Year 2026 and looking forward to the rest of the year, which includes some big releases on the 2026 movie schedule like Avengers: Doomsday in December.

On the financial side, Disney reported strong earnings this morning, but here at CinemaBlend, we're more interested in what is ahead for the entertainment division and, of course, what is in store for Disney World and their other parks around the world.

There were three core themes that D'Amaro and CFO Hugh Johnston kept coming back to: storytelling, technology, and "One Disney." One Disney is the term that was talked about a lot in the call and in a letter from D'Amaro, which is, in business terms, the synergy between all of the company's divisions.

One notable exception from the call is that Jimmy Kimmel wasn't mentioned. That's not a huge surprise that Disney did not address it, but it will remain a big question for the company, with the political pressure growing.

Here's everything they talked about.

I expect Josh D'Amaro will talk about the company's two streaming platforms, Disney+ and Hulu. He laid out their success in his letter to investors on Disney's Q2 earnings report. He'll also likely get into the upcoming movies the company has on the schedule, especially The Mandalorian and Grogu, Toy Story 5, and the Moana live action movie starring Dwayne Johnson which hits theaters in July.

On the parks side, Disney has had a good year so far, but there is no doubt macroeconomic pressures could affect attendance this summer, something he'll no doubt mention as well.

It's been a good year for the House of Mouse, according to the top line of the earnings report. Revenues were up 7% for Q2 to $25.2billion, up from $23.6 billion in Q2 of 2025. That was helped along by the huge success of Avatar: Fire and Ash and Zootopia 2, both of which brought in more than a billion dollars each.

Dan Swinbrune, Executive VP of Investor Relations, is kicking off the call, explaining how the report will be different.

Josh D'Amaro has begun speaking, first thanking Bob Iger for his work as CEO. His opening statement is pretty boilerplate, talking about how Disney is unique in how to reach fans and he's moved on to the numbers for last quarter.

He's talking about how he is pleased with the revenue subscription growth both through new subscribers and advertising.

D'Amaro mentions Paradise and Love Story as great successes at Hulu and is talking about the movies now, mentioning the four big movies the company has in 2026, in addition to two movies that have already been hits, Pixar's Hoppers and last weekend's The Devil Wears Prada 2.

Past calls with Iger have usually talked about each division separately, but this new era under D'Amaro is focused more on the company as a whole and how the division will interact with each other.

Swinburne is laying out the long-term vision, that includes leaning into existing IP, but encouragingly, he has mentioned new IP they would like to develop.

The call is really focused on three things: creative IP, connecting fans through all the divisions, and building out robust technology. Those have been mentioned multiple times.

D'Amaro is now talking about streaming services and how they want to broaden the way viewers can discover new shows and movies. That's not really a surprise. As for third-party distribution, they will be selective but will continue when the fit is right.

Now they are answering a question about Disney's partnership with Epic Games, the makers of Fortnight, and how that will fit in. D'Amaro sees the partnership as "feeding" the company with younger fans especially.

On the Disney Experiences. Disney is positive on the future of attendance in parks both domestically and internationally, though there are "head winds." Domestic attendance was down, but revenue was up. They are also looking grow their cruise ship fleet up to 13 ships by 2031. That's up from the current eight.

Disney World bookings are up domestically, but they are "mindful" of fuel prices and how that could effect bookings both at parks and on cruise ships this summer.

D'Amaro is excited about the capital investments made in the last quarter, like the World of Frozen attraction at Disneyland Paris and he has teased some more projects, saying there are more things in the works worldwide at parks than at another time in the company's history.

Two questions on the content front. D'Amaro is focused on original IP and "taking creative risk" to try out new IP. He cited Hoppers as an example of this, recently.

The second content-focused question is about short-form content and user-generated content. D'Amaro says they serious about building out both of these, as they have become more important to consumers with things like vertical video in Disney+ and how its shown "promise" with engagement. I'm not sure I love this idea, but I certainly understand why Disney is leaning in.

More personalized feeds in their streaming services, like SportsCenter for You, and more interactive content are things they are also focused on in their technology.

It's no surprise that AI has come up. Obviously, Disney is saying many of the same things other companies have discussed. They are exploring it on both the content-creation side and the business side, as well as how AI can help fans plan a Disney vacation. The Experiences side of the business seems to be where AI can be implemented the most effectively, on the front-facing side.

Disney is making more than double its earnings in streaming over linear cable networks, but they are not giving up on linear TV quite yet, as they see the networks as ways to produce content that the company can spread over all its content delivery systems.

Well, that's it. D'Amaro is making his closing statement. Nothing was specifically was announced in terms of new movies, shows, or attractions, as since it was the new CEO's first call, he explained he wanted things to be broader and that's what we got.

While going to Walt Disney World on a weekday rather than a weekend is usually a safe bet for a smoother time in the parks, that was absolutely not the case at Hollywood Studios on Monday when the Star Wars fans came in droves for May the 4th. As guests went to Galaxy’s Edge on the pop culture holiday, many suggested the space was actually at capacity.

I’ve never been more inspired to skip a Disney day. Just take a look at this guest’s photo of the view:

The force is strong… perhaps too strong. Galaxy’s Edge is a spacious section of Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios, but everyone looks like they are all squished together with nowhere to move. What’s especially wild about this sight is apparently there was no special programming at Galaxy’s Edge.

Star Wars fans just all seemed to want to gather on the franchise’s holiday. One guest called it “unbearable” while sharing this video:

It’s tradition for Star Wars fans to gather at Galaxy’s Edge and raise up their lightsabers together, but it perhaps got a little too popular this year. In one conversation happening over on Facebook, an alleged cast member said that they would absolutely close off the land’s entrance to more guests should they reach capacity.

While we don’t know if that happened for sure, it certainly seems like that may have happened on Monday. Here’s another account of Star Wars Day at WDW’s Galaxy Edge:

This huge Hollywood Studios turnout comes as there’s been some criticism around some recent changes to this section of the parks lately. For one, Disney decided to abandon the land being specific to one time period in Star Wars history. Rather than it being set during the sequel trilogy, guests can now see the likes of Han Solo, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker walking around. When they made their debut last month, fans had a lot of thoughts about Han Solo specifically. Another viral moment that happened about Galaxy’s Edge is around the park’s introduction to “Pink Milk”.

Changes aside, the big showout for Star Wars Day shows that the fandom remains active and excited to spend the holiday at Hollywood Studios where it really can feel like you’re living in a Star Wars movie. It’s too bad that the new version of Smuggler’s Run inspired by The Mandalorian & Grogu doesn’t come out until May 22.

We’ve been thinking about how Disney perhaps missed an opportunity by not tying May the 4th to ticket sales for the latest of upcoming Star Wars movies since The Mandalorian & Grogu comes to theaters on May 22, but Hollywood Studios certainly got an increase in business! We’ll have to see how Star Wars fans show out for the first big-screen Star Wars movie since 2019 when it hits theaters then.

At Walt Disney World Resort, choosing between the Light Side and the Dark Side just got a little sweeter. For this year’s May the 4th celebrations, Disney has introduced a playful dessert with a hidden twist: the “Your Chosen Path” cupcake, a cookies-and-cream creation that comes with a secret lightsaber color baked inside. Available at Disney’s Hollywood Studios throughout May, the cupcake turns a classic theme park treat into a miniature personality test for Star Wars franchise fans. If you’ve ever wondered what side of the force you’re on, here’s a sweet treat to decide your fate.

In a video from the Instagram account MindofaGeek, a park visitor chats with a Disney cast member about how the cupcakes are made and what to expect. These treats come with marshmallow buttercream, chocolate candy “rocks,” and a cool white chocolate X-Wing on top. But the real surprise happens when you take that first bite and see the hidden color inside. It’s a fun reference to the Kyber crystals that power lightsabers in the Star Wars universe, as the cast member explains:

The pastry's randomness is what makes it so fun. Most guests will probably stick to familiar Jedi-versus-Sith flavors, but a few lucky ones might find some rarer options. You don’t see purple, which is famously connected to Mace Windu, or white, tied to Ahsoka Tano, very often. That makes the dessert feel more like a collectible than just a regular snack.

But don’t go walking up to your local Disney park employee expecting to get a heads up on which cupcake is which. The cast member in the video admits that even she doesn’t know what each cupcake will reveal in advance. She continued:

The uncertainty taps into the same instinct that fuels trading cards or blind-box collectibles, where the thrill comes as much from the reveal as the item itself. Only here, you eat the surprise inside.

The cupcake is just one piece of a larger May the 4th rollout across Disney parks. According to Disney Parks blog, this year’s lineup includes returning favorites like the Wookiee Cookie and new additions such as the Pink Milk beverage and themed novelty items, including lightsaber swizzle sticks and collectible drink containers. The Disney fan account @DisneyforFoodies shared a wonderful breakdown of everything you can expect to see below.

For longtime Star Wars fans, that question has always been part of the fun. Are you drawn to the discipline of the Jedi, or the raw power of the Sith? Do you fall somewhere in between? Disney’s latest tasty offering gives fans a chance to answer that question and satisfy their sweet tooth, finally.

The timing doesn’t hurt, either. May is shaping up to be a busy stretch for Star Wars fans, with new park offerings arriving just ahead of the franchise’s next theatrical release. The upcoming Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu hit the 2026 movie calendar on May 22, 2026. But if you’re already itching for a trip back to that galaxy far, far away, all the movies in order, live-action shows, and animated series are all streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

Look, if you’re a movie fan, I can pretty much guarantee you’re a Steven Spielberg fan, too. I mean, the legendary filmmaker changed the medium forever with his massive run of masterpieces, from E.T., to Jurassic Park, Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark or Schindler’s List. As the director returns to the big screen with this year's anticipated release, his new movie Disclosure Day, I love that Universal Studios Orlando has announced the many ways that energy will be represented in the park.

I Love That Universal Is Celebrating Steven Spielberg's Heavy Hitters In More Ways Than One

Universal Orlando just announced what’s going on over summertime, via a press release, and the plans are stacked with love for Spielberg… as it should be! If you go to Universal Orlando Resort in Florida from May 23 through August 10 you can experience it yourself.

Jaws has long been one of the major properties with a presence at Universal Studios Orlando, and the summer one thing you’ll notice is a number of new Jaws-inspired “interactive experiences”, photo ops, drinks and “bites.” Guests can also look out for parks-exclusive merch around Jaws that will only be available during the season.

Additionally, there’s going to be more from the Universal Mega Movie Parade which will not only celebrate Jaws (in epic fashion), but other Spielberg favorites like E.T. and Jurassic World. The parade has over a dozen floats and almost 100 performers, and will also involve Back To The Future, Ghostbusters, Minions, Sing, Trolls and Kung Fu Panda. On top of that, one of our favorite attractions CineSational is back with “A Symphonic Spectacular” complete with a big nighttime lagoon show to the tune of more Universal favorites.

New Movie Disclosure Day Is Also Getting Its Own Exhibit

Along with reminding parkgoers about the iconic films from Steven Spielberg’s past, Universal Orlando is also getting behind Disclosure Day. It’s Spielberg’s latest alien movie starring the likes of Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Colman Doming and Wyatt Russell. There’s going to be a Disclosure Day exhibit this summer which will have props and behind the scenes stories from the new movie. The exhibit will also include other props from some other Spielberg movies as well.

This is pretty special, isn’t it? Disclosure Day is the filmmakers first movie since The Fabelmans and first genre film made for the summer season in an entire decade when The BFG came out. Universal Orlando is also holding a bunch of deals and specials right now, like one where you can buy a 3-day ticket and get 2 days free, which you can check out on Universal Orlando website. And you can see Disclosure Day when it hits theaters on June 12.

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.