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 -12 May
Reboot Based on Michael Crichton’s Sci-Fi Classic in Development
Long before audiences watched dinosaurs break out of containment in Jurassic Park (1993), Michael Crichton, who wrote the 1990 novel on which the film is based, had already explored the idea of ill-fated theme park resorts built for human entertainment. That earlier vision arrived in the form of Westworld (1973), a sci-fi thriller film written and directed by Crichton that imagined a fantasy resor
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12 May
Disney Has Confirmed the New Faces of 2026, Including Its Disney Princess
Disney is preparing to launch another major live-action remake, but this time the stakes feel considerably higher. Following the fallout surrounding Snow White earlier this year, the studio is now turning its attention toward Moana, the reimagining of its 2016 animated hit that is currently slated for release on July 10, 2026. With production moving through post-production and marketing beginning
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12 May
82-Year-Old Original Trilogy ‘Star Wars’ Actor Has Died
Another performer from the original Star Wars trilogy has passed away. Michael Pennington, the actor who played Moff Jerjerrod in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983), has died at 82 years old. The British stage and screen actor built a career that stretched across decades, though science fiction audiences continue to associate him with the Imperial leadership featured in the closing
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11 May
Secret New ‘Star Wars’ Experience Revealed for Disneyland California
A surprise Star Wars installation has quietly appeared at Disneyland Resort, and it's already turning heads. Let's take a look at this intergalactic addition to the LEGO Store in the Downtown Disney District. Chewbacca Lands at the LEGO Store in the Downtown Disney District Laughing Place broke the news on May 11, reporting that a brand-new Star Wars LEGO sculpture had been installed in one of the
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11 May
Hondo’s New Script: Why Disney Just Quietly Scrubbed the Resistance from Smugglers Run
If you’ve spent any time in the “Chess Room” of the Millennium Falcon recently, you know the drill: Hondo Ohnaka needs your help to steal Coaxium for the Resistance. It’s been the mission briefing since the land opened in 2019. But if you visited Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge this morning, May 11, 2026, you likely noticed that Hondo’s business model just got a lot more… vague. Credit:
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11 May
Disney Executive Behind Major Theme Park Changes Retires After 36 Years
The Walt Disney World Resort president who shepherded the Florida vacation destination through one of its most transformative periods is heading for the exit. Three Dozen Years, One Announcement After speaking with his team on Monday, Jeff Vahle took to LinkedIn to share the news with the wider world. His post read: “Today, I shared with our team that after 36 years with Disney, I'll be reti
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11 May
On May 11, Disney World Quietly Revealed Something New at Hollywood Studios
No fanfare, no announcement…just a brand-new piece of Disney history showing up overnight at Disney's Hollywood Studios. A Detail That Appeared Without Warning On May 11, BlogMickey reported that a recreation of the iconic Pluto's Corner road sign had been installed at Disney's Hollywood Studios, bringing a faithful replica of one of the most recognizable landmarks from Walt Disney Studios'
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11 May
Disney Guest Abandons Bus Wait, Takes Scooter Down Busy Walt Disney World Road
Transportation debates are basically part of the Walt Disney World experience at this point. Some guests swear Disney buses are perfectly fine. Others will do almost anything to avoid them entirely after a long day inside the parks. And after a recent TikTok started circulating online, people are now joking that one guest may have found the boldest solution yet. Instead of waiting around for Disne
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11 May
Gone Too Far: EPCOT Guests Damage Ride During “Circus” Trampling
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has become one of the biggest attractions Walt Disney World has opened in years. Even now, long after its debut at EPCOT, the coaster still pulls massive wait times, crowded Lightning Lane return windows, and packed queue spaces from park open until close. For many guests, riding Cosmic Rewind is the top priority during an EPCOT visit. But lately, the convers
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11 May
Disney World Cast Members No Longer Wearing Themed Costumes
A quiet wardrobe shift at Magic Kingdom Park has given a small group of Walt Disney World Resort employees something most cast members don't have: the freedom to choose what they wear to work. What Changed For Disney Cast Members At Uptown Jewelers As of May 11, cast members working at Uptown Jewelers, the Pandora retail location on Main Street, U.S.A., are no longer required to wear the turn-of-t
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