News
Disney Fanatic is here to deliver the latest in Disney news from The Walt Disney Company and beyond.
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May- 2026 -18 May
Disneyland Updates Main Street Area Originally Designed by Walt Disney
A construction project that has been part of the Disneyland Park landscape since last November appears to finally be entering its final stretch. Here's the latest update regarding the ongoing refurbishment on Disneyland Paris Resort's version of Main Street, U.S.A. The Town Square Gazebo Is Almost Finished Photos shared by X (formerly known as Twitter) user @DLPReport on May 18 offer the clearest
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18 May
Disney Closes off Sleeping Beauty Castle Theme Park Icon
The construction footprint around Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Paris Resort just got significantly larger, and the visual impact on one of the most photographed spots in any Disney park is now impossible to ignore. More Walls Go Up on May 18 What began in early May as a refurbishment of the bridge to Sleeping Beauty Castle has expanded this week with the addition of new, undecorated plywoo
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18 May
The Mandalorian Unmasked: Inside the Backlash Over Disney’s Staged Pedro Pascal Disneyland Stunt
Nothing drives social media engagement quite like the illusion of pure spontaneity. For Star Wars fans and theme park enthusiasts, the ultimate viral moment is an unscripted celebrity sighting—a magical, real-world encounter where a Hollywood superstar interacts directly with everyday guests inside the parks. Credit: Disney So, when official Star Wars social media channels dropped a heartwarming v
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18 May
Investigation Reveals Cause of Blaze at EPCOT on Monday
A vehicle fire that startled Walt Disney World Resort guests in an EPCOT parking lot on Monday morning has been explained by the couple whose car burned. Fire Reported Before 9:00 a.m. The first indication that something was wrong at EPCOT came at 8:49 a.m. on Monday, May 18, when scanner monitoring account @WDWActiveCrime logged a fire response on X (formerly known as Twitter): 🔥 Fire Alert ̵
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18 May
Harry Potter TV Reboot Recasts Lead Role Shortly After Reveal
As Season 1 of HBO's Harry Potter series wraps production, the show has its first recasting to navigate. Gracie Cochrane, the young actress who portrays Ginny Weasley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, will not return for Season 2. Cochrane and her family announced the news in a statement that was matched by a response from HBO. Both statements were measured and warm, suggesting a depart
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18 May
‘Star Wars’ Icon With Deep Disney Parks Legacy Has Passed Away
Tom Kane has died. He was 64 years old. His representative Zach McGinnis confirmed the news to TMZ. Kane passed away Monday at a hospital in Kansas City, surrounded by his family. He had suffered a serious stroke in late 2020, and his death came from complications related to that event. For most Walt Disney World guests, his name will not be immediately familiar. His voice will be. Kane became the
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18 May
Disney Quietly Replaces Original ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Elements
After months behind closed doors, one of the most intimate theaters at EPCOT has reopened. Walt Disney World Resort guests stepping inside the Palais du Cinema in the France World Showcase Pavilion for a performance of the Beauty and the Beast Sing-A-Long or Impressions de France are finding a noticeably upgraded experience. What Changed Inside the Theater The Palais du Cinema closed for a schedul
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18 May
Universal Orlando Finally Expands One of Epic Universe’s Most Unexpected Fan Favorites
Epic Universe has some of the most advanced rides Universal Orlando has ever built, but somehow one of the park’s biggest fan-favorite additions is a giant blue chocolate bear. And now guests are finally going to be able to meet him. Universal Orlando has confirmed that Captain Cacao will officially begin appearing in Celestial Park starting May 22, giving Epic Universe fans a brand-new character
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18 May
Animal Kingdom Nighttime Incident Near Pandora Ends With Criminal Charge
A late-night attempt to board one final Disney attraction reportedly ended with a guest being arrested at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. According to WDWNT, a Canadian tourist was taken into custody after allegedly shoulder-checking a Disney Cast Member during a confrontation near Pandora – The World of Avatar after park closing. The incident reportedly took place on March 20 just after Animal Kingdom c
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18 May
The Big Lie About Magic Kingdom’s Villains Land: Why the Redesign Rumors Are Totally False
Ever since Disney dropped the curtain on Villains Land at the D23 Ultimate Fan Event, it has been the most highly anticipated theme park expansion on the planet. Promising a dark, twisted realm built on an unprecedented scale “beyond Big Thunder Mountain,” it represents the absolute crown jewel of Walt Disney World's future. Credit: Rick, Disney Fanatic But when you mix extreme fan hyp
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