News
Disney Fanatic is here to deliver the latest in Disney news from The Walt Disney Company and beyond.
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May- 2026 -18 May
Harry Potter TV Reboot Recasts Lead Role Shortly After Reveal
As Season 1 of HBO's Harry Potter series wraps production, the show has its first recasting to navigate. Gracie Cochrane, the young actress who portrays Ginny Weasley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, will not return for Season 2. Cochrane and her family announced the news in a statement that was matched by a response from HBO. Both statements were measured and warm, suggesting a depart
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18 May
‘Star Wars’ Icon With Deep Disney Parks Legacy Has Passed Away
Tom Kane has died. He was 64 years old. His representative Zach McGinnis confirmed the news to TMZ. Kane passed away Monday at a hospital in Kansas City, surrounded by his family. He had suffered a serious stroke in late 2020, and his death came from complications related to that event. For most Walt Disney World guests, his name will not be immediately familiar. His voice will be. Kane became the
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18 May
Disney Quietly Replaces Original ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Elements
After months behind closed doors, one of the most intimate theaters at EPCOT has reopened. Walt Disney World Resort guests stepping inside the Palais du Cinema in the France World Showcase Pavilion for a performance of the Beauty and the Beast Sing-A-Long or Impressions de France are finding a noticeably upgraded experience. What Changed Inside the Theater The Palais du Cinema closed for a schedul
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18 May
Universal Orlando Finally Expands One of Epic Universe’s Most Unexpected Fan Favorites
Epic Universe has some of the most advanced rides Universal Orlando has ever built, but somehow one of the park’s biggest fan-favorite additions is a giant blue chocolate bear. And now guests are finally going to be able to meet him. Universal Orlando has confirmed that Captain Cacao will officially begin appearing in Celestial Park starting May 22, giving Epic Universe fans a brand-new character
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18 May
Animal Kingdom Nighttime Incident Near Pandora Ends With Criminal Charge
A late-night attempt to board one final Disney attraction reportedly ended with a guest being arrested at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. According to WDWNT, a Canadian tourist was taken into custody after allegedly shoulder-checking a Disney Cast Member during a confrontation near Pandora – The World of Avatar after park closing. The incident reportedly took place on March 20 just after Animal Kingdom c
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18 May
The Big Lie About Magic Kingdom’s Villains Land: Why the Redesign Rumors Are Totally False
Ever since Disney dropped the curtain on Villains Land at the D23 Ultimate Fan Event, it has been the most highly anticipated theme park expansion on the planet. Promising a dark, twisted realm built on an unprecedented scale “beyond Big Thunder Mountain,” it represents the absolute crown jewel of Walt Disney World's future. Credit: Rick, Disney Fanatic But when you mix extreme fan hyp
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18 May
EPCOT Confirms Major Rope Drop Operations Change, Beginning in Late May
EPCOT mornings are about to look very different. For years, the park’s rope drop strategy has felt mostly predictable. Guests entering from the front of the park usually made quick decisions between Frozen Ever After, Test Track, or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind priorities, while International Gateway guests often rushed directly toward Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Now, though, Disney is
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18 May
Disney Alters Expedition Everest Queue at Animal Kingdom as Summer Crowds Rise
A lot of Disney World guests head straight for Expedition Everest expecting one thing from the single rider line: speed. For years, the attraction became famous among frequent visitors because the single rider queue often moved dramatically faster than standby. Even when the posted wait climbed well over an hour, solo guests could sometimes get on the coaster in minutes. That experience is now cha
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18 May
Universal’s $1 Billion ‘Harry Potter’ Experience Suddenly Ceases Normal Operations
Universal Orlando built Epic Universe around one major promise: bigger technology, larger immersion, and attractions unlike anything guests had ever seen before. No ride represents that goal more than Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, the massive Wizarding World attraction that quickly became the centerpiece of the entire park. Now, however, fans are beginning to see one of the biggest
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18 May
Hollywood Studios Now Turning Away Passholders Ahead of New Muppets Experience
Disney fans are getting a very early warning about just how popular the new Muppets coaster may become at Walt Disney World. Before Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets officially opens on May 26, Disney is allowing Annual Passholders to experience special preview dates at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. But almost immediately after the previews were announced, park reservations started disapp
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