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 -3 March
‘Stranger Things’ Prequel Confirmed for Netflix, Lead Actors Confirmed
Last month, it was reported that Netflix has filmed the award-winning stage production Stranger Things: The First Shadow for release on the platform. The story explores Henry Creel’s origins decades before the events of the flagship series. The play, which originated in London’s West End and later transferred to Broadway, takes place in 1959 and follows a young Henry navigating high school life in
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3 March
Disney Has Already Changed ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu,’ Removed Key Scenes
When The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters on May 22, 2026, it won’t simply be another chapter in Star Wars canon, it will be the franchise’s first big-screen outing since Star Wars: Episode IX—The Rise of Skywalker closed out the Skywalker Saga in 2019. In the years since, Lucasfilm has focused almost exclusively on Disney+ series. Now, the studio is testing whether characters who built their f
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3 March
EPCOT Loses Another Way to Experience Cultures at Disney World
The Trading Post Refreshments bar in EPCOT's Canada Pavilion closed permanently on February 27, 2026. This adds to the growing concerns among fans about the loss of EPCOT cultural offerings at Walt Disney World. The bar was a quick-service spot for Canadian draft beers, regional wines, and famous ice wine without needing a reservation at the expensive Le Cellier steakhouse. With the closure, while
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3 March
Lawsuit Update Comes To Light in Disney Springs Doctor Death Case
A tragic case that captured national headlines and deeply impacted the theme park community has officially come to a close. The wrongful death lawsuit tied to a fatal allergic reaction at Walt Disney World Resort has been voluntarily dismissed, according to new court filings. In October 2023, Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan, a 42-year-old physician affiliated with NYU Langone in New York City, traveled to
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3 March
Lucasfilm Confirms New ‘Star Wars’ Horror Coming This Year
Lucasfilm is expanding the Star Wars universe into the realm of horror with a new middle-grade novel set to debut in late 2026. The untitled book, written by Star Wars: Padawan author Kiersten White, is scheduled for publication on September 1, 2026, and marks one of the franchise’s first major moves into a sustained horror-themed narrative. According to publisher listings and announcements, the n
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2 March
Disney Quietly Cuts Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Options Overnight
Something subtle changed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and many guests didn’t notice it until they opened the My Disney Experience app to plan their day. Without a formal announcement, Walt Disney World has reduced the number of top-tier Lightning Lane attractions available at the park. The adjustment wasn’t caused by a policy shift or a redesign of the system — it happened because one of the par
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2 March
46-Year-Old Disney World Ride Shows off New Look
Part of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad's entrance emerged from behind construction walls at Magic Kingdom Park, revealing fresh pavement and an expanded walkway as the Frontierland roller coaster nears its spring reopening after more than a year closed. WDWNT documented the changes, posting a photo on Facebook showing new pavement with signs prohibiting stroller parking in the reopened area. The pu
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2 March
Disney’s Elite Themed Bar Suddenly Shuts Its Doors in Anaheim
If you have a Disneyland trip coming up and Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar was on your evening plans, check your dates. The interior of the Disneyland Hotel's most iconic lounge has been closed for refurbishment since March 2, 2026, and it will remain that way through sometime this spring. No specific reopening date has been confirmed. Trader Sam's opened at the Disneyland Hotel in 2011 as a them
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2 March
Muppets Attraction Experience Now Showing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets merchandise arrived at Disney's Hollywood Studios within hours of the Aerosmith version's March 1 closure, marking the characters' physical return to the park months before the rethemed attraction opens. Two pressed-penny machines dispensing eight Muppets designs appeared in the courtyard near the closed roller coaster, giving Walt Disney World Re
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2 March
More Than a Makeover: The New Cinderella Castle Permit and the Magic Kingdom’s Industrial Revolution
In the world of theme park fandom, a construction permit is often the closest thing we have to a crystal ball. While the Walt Disney Company is masterfully tight-lipped about its internal timelines, the paper trail left in Orange County public records tells a story of relentless progress. As of March 2, 2026, a newly filed permit for Cinderella Castle has confirmed what many frequent guests have s
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