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 -7 May
Animal Kingdom Secret Reveals Disney’s Extreme Security Measures
The restrooms at Disney’s Animal Kingdom don’t look especially unusual at first. Like most things in the park, they’re designed to blend into the surrounding trails, restaurants, and animal exhibits. But there’s one small detail that regular guests have started noticing — and it’s tied to the park’s wildlife setting. Unlike the bathrooms at the other Walt Disney World parks, the ones at Animal Kin
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7 May
The $9.5 Billion Paradox: Why Disney is Making More Money by Pricing Out the Middle Class
For decades, the health of the Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts was measured by a simple metric: the turnstile. If the parks were packed and the wait times were astronomical, Disney was winning. But as the financial results for the second quarter of 2026 have just revealed, that old-school philosophy has been officially retired. Credit: Disney In a move that has stunned financial analysts
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6 May
Chaos at Disney World as Guest Exits Safari Truck
A routine safari ride came to a sudden stop at Disney's Animal Kingdom yesterday. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to some of Walt Disney World Resort’s most unpredictable attractions, but guests usually expect the surprises to come from the animals — not other visitors. Kilimanjaro Safaris has operated at the park since opening day in 1998. The attraction takes guests through the Harambe Wildlife
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6 May
Animation Finally Returns to Disney World’s Hollywood Studios
A historic Disney's Hollywood Studios attraction is nearly ready to welcome Walt Disney World Resort guests once again, and the construction milestone spotted this week signals that opening day is within reach. The “Animation” Sign Goes Up On May 6, guests passing the former Animation Courtyard at Disney's Hollywood Studios caught a glimpse of something new rising above the constructio
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6 May
Disney Springs Could Replace Original Town Center Tenant With Fast-Growing Apparel Brand
A major retail shift may already be underway at Disney Springs, even though Disney has not officially announced it yet. Guests walking through the Town Center section recently may have noticed one familiar storefront suddenly sitting empty. While retail changes happen fairly often at Disney Springs, this particular closure stands out because the replacement appears to already be lined up—and it co
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6 May
Disney Adds Expensive New Vacation Upgrade to 2027 Disney World Packages
A Walt Disney World vacation already takes a lot of planning, but dining might become an even bigger part of the process in 2027. Disney has officially revealed three major dining-related offers and changes for next year, and they range from discounts for kids to an entirely new premium dining plan tier. For guests already trying to figure out how much a Disney vacation will cost in 2027, these up
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6 May
Disney Confirms It Will Not Host Annual Passholder Events for the Next Year
A ripple effect from one ongoing construction project at one Disney park is now impacting Annual Passholders in a way that extends well beyond a closed restaurant. A Renovation With Consequences When Plaza Gardens Restaurant went dark in April for a refurbishment expected to run through early 2027, the focus was largely on the loss of one of Main Street, U.S.A.'s most beloved dining experiences. T
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6 May
Disney Stops Treating Epic Universe Like a Major Threat After New 2026 Update
For a while, it felt like every conversation about Walt Disney World eventually circled back to Epic Universe. Universal Orlando Resort’s massive new theme park became the center of attention across the industry before it even opened, and once guests finally stepped inside in 2025, the hype only intensified. Disney fans debated whether Universal had finally created something capable of seriously d
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6 May
Josh D’Amaro Says Disney Is Building a New Way To Plan Walt Disney World Trips
For years, planning a Walt Disney World vacation has slowly transformed into a full-time project. Families no longer just pick a hotel and show up at the parks. Now they build spreadsheets, watch strategy videos, study Lightning Lane return times, and wake up early to grab dining reservations before they disappear. That complexity has helped create an entire industry of Disney travel experts who g
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6 May
Disney World Quietly Installs Missing Hollywood Studios Landmark in Unexpected Location
A walk through Disney’s Hollywood Studios feels a bit different lately, especially near one of its most popular areas. It’s not a dramatic overhaul, but it’s enough to catch the attention of returning guests. That first step into the land has always carried a certain feeling. Now, the way guests experience that moment has changed, sparking a new kind of conversation among Disney fans. The Ongoing
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