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 -24 March
Disney World Confirms Project That Will Forever Change Magic Kingdom Transportation
The South Florida Water Management District just approved Walt Disney World Resort‘s permit to expand Magic Kingdom Park's ferry infrastructure, clearing the way for construction to increase queue capacity and update boarding facilities. Disney filed the permit in early 2025, requesting updates to ferryboat infrastructure, creation of a floodplain compensation area, and expanded waiting area
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24 March
CONFIRMED: Disney Scraps Ambitious AI Plans
The Walt Disney Company has ended its controversial partnership with OpenAI, closing a brief chapter that had pointed to a more experimental future for its characters and platforms. The decision lands at a moment when AI remains a growing — and often divisive — topic across the entertainment industry. Studios have explored its potential, but audiences have been far less certain about where it belo
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24 March
A Year Later, Disney World Confirms Long-Closed Ride Is Coming Back
For months, there was almost nothing to grab onto. The ride stayed closed. The walls never seemed to move. And every time guests hoped for a real update, they were left with the same unanswered question: when is this thing actually coming back? Now, Disney World is finally giving fans something to work with. Not through a huge announcement. Not through a dramatic reveal. Instead, Disney is doing w
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24 March
Disney Quietly Shuts Down Self-Serve Food Option at EPCOT
If you’ve visited Sunshine Seasons inside EPCOT’s Land Pavilion before, you probably remember how easy it was to grab a dessert on your way out. That experience is now being completely reworked. Disney is currently testing a new grab-and-go system at the location—but in reality, it’s not really “grab-and-go” anymore. Instead, everything is shifting toward a Cast Member–served model, with hygiene d
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24 March
After Disney Announces “Landmark Partnership,” Company Lays off 1,000 Employees
Epic Games will eliminate 1,000 jobs days after new Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro highlighted the partnership as a career-defining achievement, raising questions about the $1.5 billion investment's stability. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney announced the March 24 layoffs in a digital memo to employees, citing a major downturn in Fortnite engagement in 2025 that left the company “spending significantly more t
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24 March
Universal Orlando Confirms Major Changes to Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Universal Orlando has made a significant move inside one of its most beloved lands, and while the change does not involve a new attraction or expansion, it is already having a major impact on the guest experience. Hogwarts Castle, the centerpiece of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure, is currently undergoing a large-scale exterior refurbishment. The work has in
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24 March
Mickey Mouse Replacement Coming to Disney World in May 2026
A construction permit filed Monday morning has confirmed that Walt Disney World Resort is putting the finishing touches on Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Animation Courtyard Gets a New Identity The transformation of Animation Courtyard at Disney's Hollywood Studios has been underway since last September, when Disney Junior Play and Dance! closed alongside th
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24 March
Universal Just Made a Move That Could Change Epic Universe Sooner Than Expected
If you’ve been wondering what’s next for Epic Universe, a new permit might be giving us the first real clue. Universal Orlando recently filed paperwork for a “future attraction” tied to the park, and while there hasn’t been any official announcement, the details behind that filing are already turning heads. This isn’t the kind of permit you file for routine updates. It points to something much big
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24 March
‘Star Wars’ Rewrites Jar Jar Binks Character in New 2026 Update
For years, Jar Jar Binks has been one of the most talked-about—and often criticized—characters in Star Wars. Ever since his debut in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), the Gungan has been stuck in a reputation that’s been hard to shake: comic relief that didn’t quite land the way George Lucas may have intended. But in 2026, that narrative is starting to shift in a pretty meaningful
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24 March
Disney World Capacity Crisis Leaves Families With Nowhere to Go
There’s always a point during spring break when Walt Disney World feels busy. Then there’s the point where it feels full. Right now, the parks are operating at a level that’s starting to blur that line—and for many families, the difference is becoming impossible to ignore. Because this isn’t just about crowds anymore. It’s about access. And across Walt Disney World, access is becoming harder to fi
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