News
Disney Fanatic is here to deliver the latest in Disney news from The Walt Disney Company and beyond.
-
Jan- 2026 -5 January
Fans Outraged as Rumors Swirl That Disneyland’s “Roast Queen” Has Been Fired
The battle for the soul of Fantasyland has taken a dark turn. For months, Disney fans have been riding a rollercoaster of rumors regarding the fate of the Evil Queen at Disneyland. While the “fairest of them all” seemed to have survived a “seasonal” scare in late 2025, a shocking new development suggests that her time in the Anaheim park may have come to a permanent, and fa
Read More » -
5 January
Disney Announces Indefinite January Shutdown for Rise of the Resistance
There’s a difference between a ride being unavailable and a ride being gone. Right now, Rise of the Resistance sits uncomfortably between those two ideas. Disney has confirmed that the attraction will close starting January 20, 2026, and what’s unsettling guests isn’t just the closure—it’s the absence of any hint about when it might return. No timeline. No seasonal estimate. Just an open-ended pau
Read More » -
5 January
Disney Finalizes Streaming Deal for the ‘Back to the Future’ Franchise
Disney has finalized a major streaming agreement that brings the entire Back to the Future (1985) trilogy to Disney+—but despite some early confusion among fans, the studio has not acquired ownership of the franchise. Disney holds streaming rights only, with no control over the property’s future, creative decisions, or long-term direction. That distinction is critical. While Disney+ now serves as
Read More » -
5 January
Disneyland Paris Abandons Guests, Shuts Down Entire Shuttle System During Snowstorm
Disneyland Paris implemented an emergency suspension of all hotel shuttle services this evening following hazardous winter weather conditions affecting the greater Paris region. The resort distributed notifications through its mobile application alerting guests that transportation to both Disney-operated hotels and partner properties had been discontinued due to dangerous road conditions. The mess
Read More » -
5 January
Walt Disney World Adjusts 2026 Pricing After Summer Crowds Start to Shrink
There was a time when summer crowds at Walt Disney World were unavoidable. Guests planned around them, complained about them, and accepted them as part of the deal. If you wanted to visit when school was out, you braced yourself. That expectation no longer holds. In recent summers, guests have noticed something unexpected: space. Not empty parks, but breathing room. Wait times that fluctuate inste
Read More » -
5 January
Tomorrowland May Look Very Different Soon After New Disney Permit Filing
Change rarely arrives all at once at Walt Disney World. Instead, it tends to surface quietly—through construction walls, extended closures, and, sometimes, a single permit that hints at something bigger. That may be exactly what’s happening now in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom. A newly filed permit by Walt Disney Imagineering suggests a visible transformation could be coming to Buzz Lightyear’s Sp
Read More » -
5 January
Universal Orlando Confirms Removal of 3 Beloved Park Icons
The holiday season at Universal Orlando Resort has officially wrapped—and with it came a noticeable shift that many guests felt immediately. January 4 marked the final night of Universal’s holiday celebrations. The Macy’s Holiday Parade made its last run through Universal Studios Florida, Santa Claus delivered his final waves of the season, and guests lingered just a little longer, aware they were
Read More » -
5 January
Dollywood Officially Closed, Effective January 5, 2026
Dolly Parton's beloved Smoky Mountain theme park shut its gates Sunday, wrapping up a milestone 40th anniversary season. Dollywood said goodbye to guests on January 4, 2026, marking the start of its annual off-season closure, which will last until spring. 40th Season Ends After Weekend Finale Dollywood's final operating day for 2025-2026 was Sunday, January 4, concluding the Smoky Mountain Christm
Read More » -
5 January
Magic Kingdom Makes Unannounced Change to Iconic Adventureland Location
Guests walking through Adventureland expect immersion, energy, and continuity. What they may not expect is to encounter a familiar space suddenly closed, boarded up, and absent from official park materials—with no explanation attached. That is now the case with a longtime location that has quietly vanished from guest access. The change did not arrive with an announcement or advance notice. Instead
Read More » -
5 January
Primary Firestorm: Florida Gubernatorial Candidate Accuses Disney of “Corporate Election Interference” After Being Banned From Parks
The “Disney Bubble” has officially burst for one of Florida's top political contenders. As 2026 begins, the Walt Disney World Resort finds itself at the center of a fresh controversy—one that pits corporate property rights against the fiery rhetoric of a gubernatorial candidate. James Fishback, a 30-year-old investor and Republican hopeful, was recently issued a permanent, lifetime ban
Read More »
