News
Disney Fanatic is here to deliver the latest in Disney news from The Walt Disney Company and beyond.
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Jan- 2026 -10 January
Every Single Change Coming to Disney World’s Most Iconic Ride
Big Thunder Mountain has been closed at Magic Kingdom for almost an entire year. And now we finally know why Disney needed that much time. Spoiler alert: they're basically rebuilding the entire thing. Not Just a Normal Disney Refurbishment Disney calls these projects “refurbishments,” implying that they're simply giving the ride a fresh coat of paint. But what they're doing to Big Thun
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10 January
Disney Introduces New Mandatory Guest Reservations for 3 Days Next Week
The entrance to a major Disney resort is built around efficiency. Trains, hotels, and walkways all funnel guests through a small number of retail and security checkpoints designed to keep crowds moving smoothly from arrival to attraction. One of those spaces is now being placed behind a reservation system at Tokyo Disney Resort, marking a temporary shift in how visitors can access one of the prope
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10 January
Disney World to Stop Working Normally Tomorrow
Here's a fun surprise for families at Disney World tomorrow: the mini golf you planned to play in the morning? Yeah, that's not happening. Winter Summerland Miniature Golf won't open until 3 p.m. on January 11. That's five hours later than the normal 10 a.m. opening. Five entire hours where this popular family activity just sits there closed while you're paying full vacation prices to be at Disney
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10 January
Disney World’s 2026 Problem: A Park-Wide Bug Infestation Guests Can’t Ignore
Disney World has built its reputation on control. Music cues line up perfectly. Pathways guide crowds smoothly. Even landscaping looks placed with purpose. Guests rarely stop to think about those details—until something disrupts them. In 2026, that disruption isn’t coming from construction or ride closures. It’s coming from something far more uncomfortable. Guests are noticing insects in places wh
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10 January
Mandatory Tourist Tax Forces Disney Guests to Pay More: Families Squeezed by Record-High Vacation Costs
For many families, the “Disney Bubble” is a place where reality—and its associated costs—takes a back seat to magic. However, that bubble is feeling a significant pinch this year. A new, mandatory tourist tax has officially taken effect, hitting travelers exactly where it hurts: their vacation fund. Credit: Disney Fanatic As of January 1, 2026, the cost of a Disney getaway at one of th
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10 January
Disney Implements New MagicBand Rules for 2026 Without Warning
If MagicBands feel more complicated than you remember, you’re not imagining things. They still tap you into Walt Disney World’s parks, unlock resort rooms, and scan Lightning Lane reservations, but the role they play in a park day has changed. In 2026, Disney has rewritten the rules for MagicBands and the park experience, affecting every guest—new or returning. This isn’t a minor tweak. It impacts
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10 January
Marvel Studios Reportedly Cancels Film Seven Years in the Making
Marvel Studios’ Blade has been stuck in development limbo for years, and the film’s removal from Disney’s release schedule suggests the studio may finally be changing course. After quietly disappearing from the 2025 calendar in 2024, the long-promised reboot now appears to be headed toward a very different MCU introduction. Blade was once positioned as a cornerstone project for Marvel’s post-Endga
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10 January
‘Star Wars’ Just Retconned Han Solo’s ‘Force Awakens’ Storyline
Lucasfilm has quietly adjusted Star Wars canon in a move that reinterprets key elements of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, marking one of the most consequential continuity updates to the sequel trilogy in recent years. The change appears in newly clarified lore rather than a formal announcement. It reframes how specific events and motivations from the 2015 film are meant to be understood, effectivel
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10 January
Wishables Join Long List of Disney Merchandise Price Hikes
Disney World has quietly increased the price on Wishables, and collectors have every right to be annoyed about it. The popular mystery plush that used to feel like a harmless impulse buy now costs $17.99 each. For context, these are five-inch-tall stuffed animals sold in blind boxes. You pay nearly eighteen dollars and cross your fingers that you get the character you actually want. Let's talk abo
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10 January
The $1 Billion Interest Rate Shock: Why Six Flags is Paying “Credit Card Rates” to Save Its 2026 Theme Park Empire
The “merger of equals” between Six Flags and Cedar Fair was supposed to create a stabilized powerhouse capable of rivaling Disney and Universal. Instead, the newly formed Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is currently navigating a financial “death drop” that has forced it into one of the riskiest borrowing moves in theme park history. Credit: Six Flags On January 7, 2026,
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