News
Disney Fanatic is here to deliver the latest in Disney news from The Walt Disney Company and beyond.
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Apr- 2026 -26 April
Disney World’s May 2026 Plans Shift as Projects Collide
If you’re heading to Walt Disney World in May 2026, there’s one thing you’ll want to double-check before locking in your plans: ride closures. Disney is known for rotating refurbishments throughout the year, but this particular month feels a bit more crowded than usual when it comes to attractions going offline. The biggest impact is coming from a mix of long-term projects and shorter updates all
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26 April
Disney World Guests Warned as Major Hotel Changes Hit This Summer
There’s a lot happening at Walt Disney World right now, and while most of the attention tends to go toward new attractions or park updates, the hotels are quietly going through a major transformation of their own. This summer, multiple resorts are being refreshed at the same time. It’s not just one or two projects—it’s a wide mix of room upgrades, dining closures, and construction work that spans
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26 April
A New Disney Tease Just Changed Halloween Planning at Magic Kingdom
Planning a Disney World Halloween trip used to feel like something you could ease into over time. That’s no longer the case. One small tease from Disney has completely shifted the timeline—and if you’re thinking about attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this year, your window to prepare just got a lot shorter. A Tease That Says a Lot Without Saying Much Disney didn’t drop a full announ
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26 April
From Fireworks to Fists: South Florida Boxer Facing Lifetime Ban After Alleged EPCOT Parking Lot Assault
Walt Disney World is a place where you’re encouraged to “let your heart guide you,” but for one guest leaving EPCOT recently, that journey ended in a terrifying confrontation. As the final sparkles of the nighttime spectacular faded over the World Showcase, the “Most Magical Place on Earth” gave way to a brutal scene of “real world” violence in the vast, asphalt
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26 April
Vanishing Manor: Decoding the Huge “Unannounced” Work at Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion
If you've approached the end of Liberty Square recently, you might have done a double-take. The imposing, Dutch Gothic silhouette of the Haunted Mansion—usually a masterclass in weathered brick and chilling gloom—has been almost entirely swallowed by a mountain of steel scaffolding and photo-realistic tarps. Credit: Scott Duncan, Flickr What started in early 2026 as a quiet, seemingly minor “
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26 April
Mass ‘Star Wars’ Ride Shutdowns Planned at Disney Parks Nationwide
Seven years is a long time to wait for a ride to reach its potential. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run has been operating at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios since 2019, and for most of those seven years the conversation around it has followed the same pattern. The setting is incredible. Sitting inside the cockpit of the actual Millennium Falcon is a genuine theme park moment. And then th
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26 April
Man Found Dead at Dollywood-Style Dinner Theater Linked to Dolly Parton
A man is dead following a shooting Saturday evening in the parking lot of Dolly Parton's Stampede, one of the most visited dinner show attractions in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The Pigeon Forge Police Department responded to a 911 call at approximately 7:35 PM reporting a gunshot in the venue's parking lot. Officers arrived to find two men inside a vehicle. One of the men told officers he had a hand
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26 April
Disneyland Confirms Major Ride Reopenings This Month
If it feels like Disneyland has had more rides closed than open at times this year, you’re not imagining it. Between refurbishments and temporary shutdowns, parts of the resort haven’t felt quite as full as usual. But now, things are starting to shift back in the other direction. This month marks an important turning point, with multiple attractions reopening and helping restore some balance to bo
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26 April
Disney Could Change How Rides Load Forever, Aims To Shrink Wait Times
There’s a moment on almost every Disney ride when everything pauses. Guests are seated, Cast Members walk through each row, and the ride waits just a little longer before dispatching. It’s quick—but across thousands of cycles each day, those seconds add up. Now, Disney may be looking at a way to change that process entirely. Not in a flashy, headline-grabbing way. But in a way that could quietly r
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26 April
The Power is Fading: Why the Creator of He-Man is Broke and Battling Dementia While Amazon Spends Millions on His Legacy
In the summer of 2026, the world is once again obsessed with the planet Eternia. Trailers for Amazon MGM’s live-action Masters of the Universe film are racking up tens of millions of views. With a star-studded cast led by Nicholas Galitzine and a massive production budget rumored to exceed $200 million, the film is expected to be a global blockbuster. For Mattel and Amazon, it’s a high-stakes play
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