News
Disney Fanatic is here to deliver the latest in Disney news from The Walt Disney Company and beyond.
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Mar- 2026 -12 March
Mickey’s New Algorithm: Why Disney+ Vertical Video is the First Step Toward a Generative AI Empire
For decades, the “Disney experience” was a one-way street. You sat in a darkened theater or on a comfortable couch, and a team of thousands of artists delivered a meticulously crafted, horizontal masterpiece into your eyeballs. But on March 12, 2026, that “passive” era of entertainment officially hit its expiration date. Credit: Disney / Mika Baumeister, Unsplash As first r
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12 March
Disney Removes Buzz Lightyear From Public View After 27 Years
Buzz Lightyear's name has temporarily gone missing from the entrance of his own attraction at Walt Disney World Resort. A New Space Ranger Spin Sign With One Thing Missing Earlier this month, Walt Disney World Resort installed a Space Mountain-style marquee sign in front of Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park. The new sign carries the same distinctive white spi
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12 March
The Most Authentic Irish Festival in America Is Coming to Disney Springs
Raglan Road at Disney Springs will host The Mighty Festival, an annual St. Patrick's Day celebration, from March 13 to 17, 2026. This festival is described as the most authentic Irish festival in America, featuring Irish talent from Ireland, five outdoor bars, St. Paddy's merchandise, Celtic face painters, Irish dancers, and traditional cuisine. The lineup includes notable bands like Strings & Thi
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12 March
Fire Breaks Out at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT on March 12
A fire was reported inside EPCOT on Thursday afternoon, drawing a law enforcement response to one of Walt Disney World Resort's most visited theme parks. Fire at EPCOT on Thursday Afternoon Scanner monitoring account @WDWActiveCrime flagged the emergency on X (formerly Twitter) at 1:23 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, relaying publicly available information from law enforcement activity in the area: 🔥
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12 March
Big Thunder Mountain Reopening Confirmed for May, Missing Spring Break Peak
The red rocks of Frontierland have been eerily quiet for over a year, but the silence finally has an expiration date. However, for thousands of families currently packing their bags for a March or April getaway, the news is a massive “gut punch.” Credit: Disney According to the latest updates, Walt Disney World has officially confirmed that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will reopen in
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12 March
Disney Just Ripped the Roof Off This Magic Kingdom Shop and It Looks Wild
Disney has removed the roof of Big Top Souvenirs at Magic Kingdom, exposing its structural framework. This change, noticeable while walking through Storybook Circus, marks the first visible work on the tent since refurbishment began after its closure in February 2026. Along with Pete's Silly Sideshow, which has also seen roof removal, Big Top Souvenirs is undergoing extensive renovations expected
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12 March
Disney World Bulldozes 27-Year-Old Theme Park Land, Covers It up With Concrete
DinoLand U.S.A. is officially extinct, and fresh concrete is already taking its place at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The End of an Era at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park The death of DinoLand U.S.A. was slow. Walt Disney World Resort dismantled the beloved roadside-carnival-themed area in phases, beginning in January 2025 with the closure of Chester & Hester's Dino-Rama, the Fossil Fun
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12 March
Disney Just Separated Baby Tiger Bakso From His Mother
Bakso, the Sumatran tiger cub born at Disney's Animal Kingdom in September 2024, is now 18 months old and independent after being separated from his mother, Sohni. Fans who've followed his journey can now see him lounging in the Maharajah Jungle Trek in the Asia section. This transition is normal for male Sumatran tigers, who typically leave their family at this age. Disney ensures animals are hea
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12 March
‘Star Wars’ Confirms Multiple Changes to ‘The Mandalorian’s Grogu Character
Few Star Wars projects in the streaming era have had the cultural impact of The Mandalorian. Since its debut on Disney+ in 2019, the series quickly moved from an experimental launch title for the platform into one of the franchise’s most influential modern stories. At the center of it all is the bond between Din Djarin, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, and Grogu—the small Force-sensitive child who immed
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12 March
Disneyland and Disney World Named Among America’s Most Dangerous Theme Parks
We talk a lot about the best churro spots at Magic Kingdom, which quick-service windows have the shortest lines, and whether the Topolino's breakfast is actually worth waking up at 6 a.m. to book. That's our lane, and we love it. But every so often, something comes across our desk that we feel genuinely obligated to pass along — even if it's not exactly a fun read. This is one of those times. A re
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