News
Disney Fanatic is here to deliver the latest in Disney news from The Walt Disney Company and beyond.
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Jul- 2026 -9 July
The Cheetah Girls Are Coming Back and This One Feels Different
Some announcements hit differently than others. We cover a lot of Disney news in this space. New snacks, park updates, character meet-and-greets, and seasonal collections. And we love all of it. But every once in a while, something comes across the desk that makes us stop, reread it twice, and just sit with it for a minute. This week, that something was the official greenlight of The Cheetah Girls
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9 July
Food & Wine Festival Takes Physical Shape as Surprise Addition Appears at EPCOT
The 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival won't officially open for several more weeks, but Disney isn't waiting until late August to get started. Guests visiting EPCOT are already spotting early signs that one of the park's most popular events is on the way. The changes aren't the finished product just yet, but they're enough to show that festival season is officially taking shape. If you
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9 July
Disney World Unlocks Unexpected July Bonus for Annual Passholders
Disney has given Walt Disney World Annual Passholders another welcome surprise this July. Guests who enjoy making spur-of-the-moment visits now have even more opportunities to head to the parks without worrying about one part of the planning process. The latest update expands a benefit many passholders already watch closely throughout the year. While it doesn't eliminate reservation requirements,
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9 July
The End of Free Disney Holiday Magic? Rumored Monorail Restrictions Could Ban Casual Resort Hoppers
The holiday season at Walt Disney World has always been about more than just the theme parks. For generations of locals and tourists alike, bundling up and “resort hopping” around the Magic Kingdom monorail loop has been a cherished, completely free winter tradition. The deluxe hotels transform into winter wonderlands, offering towering Christmas trees, festive music, and spectacular t
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9 July
Vanessa Bryant’s Disney Kobe Tribute Will Make Every Fan Emotional
There are moments in the Disney community that stop you in your tracks. Not because of a new ride announcement or a limited-edition treat, but because something surfaces that reminds you why this place, these characters, and this whole world we love so much actually matters. This week, Vanessa Bryant gave us one of those moments, and it did not come from inside the parks at all. On July 7, Vanessa
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9 July
New Dining Measures Now in Place at Multiple Disney World Locations
Disney is continuing to adjust how guests order food across Walt Disney World, with a new pilot program giving visitors with food allergies a faster path to assistance at select resort restaurants. According to Kenny the Pirate, participating quick-service locations at Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, and Disney's Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter have introduc
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8 July
Disney May Finally Have To Add Seatbelts After Second Child Exits Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Disney has long trusted guests to do one simple thing on its classic boat rides: stay seated until the attraction comes to a complete stop. That expectation has allowed attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean, “it's a small world,” and Tiana's Bayou Adventure to operate for decades without the restraint systems found on many thrill rides. Now, after a second child reportedly climbed
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8 July
Disney World Responds to Monsters Inc. Land Timeline With Major New Construction Permit
Disney has remained tight-lipped about exactly when guests will be able to step inside the long-awaited Monsters Inc. Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios. While many fans expect the massive expansion to debut sometime in 2028 or 2029 based on current construction progress, Disney has now responded to that growing timeline in its own way—by filing another major construction permit that keeps the pro
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8 July
Disney World Just Made One of Its Most Confusing Decisions in a While…
Walt Disney World Resort has been quietly rolling out solar-powered trash cans across EPCOT since May, but the latest installation has guests doing a double-take. A Solar-Powered Can With No Sun in Sight WDWNT reported on July 8 that a trash can matching the design of EPCOT's new solar-powered waste receptacles had been found inside the Mexico World Showcase Pavilion, tucked near merchandise kiosk
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8 July
Disney World Debuts New Toy Story 5 Character Looks at Hollywood Studios
A visit to Toy Story Land now comes with something new for Disney and Pixar fans. Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie have officially begun greeting guests in updated costumes inspired by Toy Story 5 (2026), marking the latest way Disney has connected its theme parks with one of its biggest movie franchises. Instead of giving the characters completely new wardrobes, Disney focused on adding meaningf
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