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 -23 July
Disneyland Guest Intentionally Pees on the Haunted Mansion, Soils Ride Vehicle
A former Disneyland Park cast member recently shared a story about a broken-down Haunted Mansion, a desperate guest, a miscommunication over the PA system, and an outcome that nobody involved will ever forget. How It All Went Wrong Ashley Lindsay, a former Disneyland Resort cast member who now performs stand-up comedy, shared the story on Instagram as a clip from one of her shows. It begins during
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23 July
Two Haunted Mansions Going Dark as Disney Confirms Closures
Two versions of Disney’s Haunted Mansion will soon go dark. The attraction remains one of Disney’s most recognizable rides, sending guests through a supernatural estate filled with Doom Buggies, Madame Leota, the Ghost Host and 999 “happy haunts.” Several versions operate around the world, but only two regularly receive a full seasonal transformation inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas. Tok
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23 July
On July 23, Disney Springs Got a New Look
One of Disney Springs' most recognizable storefronts is starting to look dramatically different. The changes becoming visible above the construction walls this week signal that the Ghirardelli renovation is moving into a more substantial phase. The Iconic Sign at Disney Springs Is Gone WDWNT reported on July 23 that the illuminated Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop sign had been removed f
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23 July
Disney Just Changed Rope Drop for Millions of Theme Park Guests, Effective Immediately
What started as a reported procedural shift at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park over a week ago has now been confirmed as a permanent change. The update affects how every Walt Disney World Resort guest, staying on-property or not, experiences the park before it officially opens each morning. What Rope Drop Is For the uninitiated, rope drop is the daily ritual of arriving at a Disney theme park e
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23 July
Sleeping Beauty Castle To Disappear From Disneyland by August 9
The countdown is on for one of Disneyland Resort's most photographed anniversary installations. Based on how quickly the disassembly has moved this week, the Sleeping Beauty Castle sculpture may be fully gone well before the Disneyland70 celebration officially closes on August 9. From Landmark to Construction Site On July 23, WDWNT reported that the colorful Sleeping Beauty Castle sculpture, which
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23 July
Streaming Shakeup: Universal ‘Surrenders’ More Major Franchises to Disney+
The rivalry between Disney and Universal usually plays out at the box office and inside their theme parks. This August, however, several familiar franchises are crossing that divide in an unexpected place. A new group of blockbuster movies with major Universal connections is headed to Hulu in August 2026, placing them inside Disney+ for eligible subscribers. The additions include franchises repres
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23 July
Confirmed: Disney Shutting Down Classic Haunted Mansion, Effective August 8
The clock is officially ticking for Disneyland fans who prefer Haunted Mansion without its famous seasonal guests. Disneyland Park has set August 8, 2026, as the beginning of Haunted Mansion’s temporary closure, which means the classic attraction will welcome its final guests of the summer on Friday, August 7. Disney will then have less than two weeks to transform the mansion before reopening it A
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23 July
Confirmed: Disney World Alters Tower of Terror Facade as Major Refurbishment Expands
The Hollywood Tower Hotel has spent more than three decades looking deliberately abandoned. This summer, though, guests walking down Sunset Boulevard are seeing a very different addition to its aging facade. Scaffolding continues to spread across The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney's Hollywood Studios as an ongoing refurbishment expands around the attraction. What began with work closer to
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23 July
REPORT: Disney World No Longer Wants the “Average” Family
The biggest change at Walt Disney World might not be a new attraction, demolished building, or upcoming expansion. It may be the type of customer Disney wants walking through the gates. For generations, Disney World positioned itself as the ultimate American family vacation. It could certainly be expensive, especially for families traveling long distances, but middle-class visitors could save mone
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23 July
Disney Addresses Backlash Over Major Changes to Walt Disney’s Legacy
Disney is preparing to make some of the biggest changes ever to an attraction with direct ties to Walt Disney, and not every fan is immediately comfortable with the idea. Carousel of Progress has remained a rare connection to Walt's own era of theme park development. While the attraction has changed considerably since its debut, its basic concept has survived for decades. Now, Disney is preparing
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