News

Disney Fanatic is here to deliver the latest in Disney news from The Walt Disney Company and beyond.

  • May- 2026 -
    12 May
    Darth Vader and Palpatine with the Death Star being constructed in the background

    82-Year-Old Original Trilogy ‘Star Wars’ Actor Has Died

    Another performer from the original Star Wars trilogy has passed away. Michael Pennington, the actor who played Moff Jerjerrod in Star Wars: Episode VI โ€“ Return of the Jedi (1983), has died at 82 years old. The British stage and screen actor built a career that stretched across decades, though science fiction audiences continue to associate him with the Imperial leadership featured in the closing

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  • 11 May
    Six people, including adults and children, walk together through a themed area with rocky spires and futuristic buildings, resembling a sci-fi or fantasy setting, likely at an amusement park, viewed from behind.

    Secret New โ€˜Star Warsโ€™ Experience Revealed for Disneyland California

    A surprise Star Wars installation has quietly appeared at Disneyland Resort, and it's already turning heads. Let's take a look at this intergalactic addition to the LEGO Store in the Downtown Disney District. Chewbacca Lands at the LEGO Store in the Downtown Disney District Laughing Place broke the news on May 11, reporting that a brand-new Star Wars LEGO sculpture had been installed in one of the

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  • 11 May
    Grogu looking shocked in 'The Mandalorian'

    Hondoโ€™s New Script: Why Disney Just Quietly Scrubbed the Resistance from Smugglers Run

    If youโ€™ve spent any time in the “Chess Room” of the Millennium Falcon recently, you know the drill: Hondo Ohnaka needs your help to steal Coaxium for the Resistance. Itโ€™s been the mission briefing since the land opened in 2019. But if you visited Star Wars: Galaxyโ€™s Edge this morning, May 11, 2026, you likely noticed that Hondoโ€™s business model just got a lot more… vague. Credit:

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  • 11 May
    Walt Disney World Sign

    Disney Executive Behind Major Theme Park Changes Retires After 36 Years

    The Walt Disney World Resort president who shepherded the Florida vacation destination through one of its most transformative periods is heading for the exit. Three Dozen Years, One Announcement After speaking with his team on Monday, Jeff Vahle took to LinkedIn to share the news with the wider world. His post read: “Today, I shared with our team that after 36 years with Disney, I'll be reti

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  • 11 May
    Buzz Lightyear meeting guests in Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios

    On May 11, Disney World Quietly Revealed Something New at Hollywood Studios

    No fanfare, no announcement…just a brand-new piece of Disney history showing up overnight at Disney's Hollywood Studios. A Detail That Appeared Without Warning On May 11, BlogMickey reported that a recreation of the iconic Pluto's Corner road sign had been installed at Disney's Hollywood Studios, bringing a faithful replica of one of the most recognizable landmarks from Walt Disney Studios'

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  • 11 May
    A crowd of people waits in line under a "Magic Kingdom Monorail" sign, while a gold-striped monorail train passes on an elevated track above the entrance. Trees and a station building are in the background.

    Disney Guest Abandons Bus Wait, Takes Scooter Down Busy Walt Disney World Road

    Transportation debates are basically part of the Walt Disney World experience at this point. Some guests swear Disney buses are perfectly fine. Others will do almost anything to avoid them entirely after a long day inside the parks. And after a recent TikTok started circulating online, people are now joking that one guest may have found the boldest solution yet. Instead of waiting around for Disne

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  • 11 May
    spaceship earth at EPCOT

    Gone Too Far: EPCOT Guests Damage Ride During โ€œCircusโ€ Trampling

    Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has become one of the biggest attractions Walt Disney World has opened in years. Even now, long after its debut at EPCOT, the coaster still pulls massive wait times, crowded Lightning Lane return windows, and packed queue spaces from park open until close. For many guests, riding Cosmic Rewind is the top priority during an EPCOT visit. But lately, the convers

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  • 11 May
    EPCOT World Showcase Cast members on a bright sunny day outside with plates of food and drinks from the Food and Wine Festival for guests at Disney World.

    Disney World Cast Members No Longer Wearing Themed Costumes

    A quiet wardrobe shift at Magic Kingdom Park has given a small group of Walt Disney World Resort employees something most cast members don't have: the freedom to choose what they wear to work. What Changed For Disney Cast Members At Uptown Jewelers As of May 11, cast members working at Uptown Jewelers, the Pandora retail location on Main Street, U.S.A., are no longer required to wear the turn-of-t

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  • 11 May
    DCA not worth price

    Avoid the Blitz: The “Teen Takeover” Dates That Could Ruin Your May 2026 Disney Trip

    Youโ€™ve saved for two years. Youโ€™ve mastered the art of the Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Youโ€™ve even broken in your walking shoes. But as you step onto Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure, you realize you missed one crucial detail on the 2026 calendar: The Teen Takeover has begun. Credit: Kelly Ryan, Flickr If youโ€™ve noticed a sudden influx of thousands of high school seniors traveling

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  • 11 May
    The Disney cruise ship, with shimmering gold details, is docked in Singapore, framed by tropical palms for a magical arrival.

    Mold, Rust, and Medical Fees: Disney Cruise Guests Reveal What Happened Onboard

    Disney Cruise Lineโ€™s newest ship was supposed to represent the companyโ€™s next big success story overseas. Instead, the Disney Adventure has spent the past several days surrounded by growing controversy after abrupt cancellations, technical problems, and now firsthand guest complaints that are quickly spreading online. The Disney Adventure only recently returned to service after a mechanical issue

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