News
Disney Fanatic is here to deliver the latest in Disney news from The Walt Disney Company and beyond.
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Sep- 2026 -19 September
Disney+ Quietly Forces Ads Into Every Subscription Tier
Disney+ is making the meaning of “ad-free” increasingly complicated. When Disney+ launched in November 2019, the service had no advertising at all. That changed in December 2022, when Disney introduced a cheaper advertising-supported plan in the United States, splitting the platform between subscribers willing to watch commercials and those paying more to avoid them. That divide remains central to
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19 September
‘Harry Potter’ Fans Lose Original Hogwarts Castle in Major Universal Orlando Change
Harry Potter fans have noticed something very different about Hogwarts. For more than 16 years, Hogwarts Castle has dominated the skyline of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure. The land officially opened on June 18, 2010, helping transform Universal Orlando Resort into a major destination for Harry Potter fans. The castle is more than scenery. It hous
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19 September
‘Hedwig’s Theme’ Axed: ‘Harry Potter’ Reboot Will Abandon Franchise’s Most Iconic Music
Hogwarts is about to sound very different. HBO is preparing to send audiences back to the Wizarding World with a new television adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s seven Harry Potter novels. The eight-episode first season, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, will debut at Christmas 2026. Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, and Arabella Stanton lead the series as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermi
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19 September
HBO Cancels ‘Harry Potter’ Season 2 Release for 2027, Admits That It’s Still “Trying”
We're still three months away from the premiere of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but fans are already concerned about Season 2 – and according to HBO boss Casey Bloys, we may have longer to wait than thought. HBO first started filling out its Harry Potter cast in spring 2025. John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, and Nick Frost were announced for Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonaga
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19 September
Broken Lights and Frozen Stars: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Hits Rock Bottom Weeks Before Scheduled Shutdown
When Disney announced that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom would temporarily close for a scheduled refurbishment starting November 2, theme park fans breathed a sigh of relief. Ever since taking over the iconic Splash Mountain footprint in Frontierland, the new attraction has faced persistent technical hurdles, unexpected downtime, and frequent show-quality critiques. A planned maintenanc
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19 September
REPORT: Universal Plotting Secret New ‘Harry Potter’ Land Ahead of Reboot
Universal seems to be working on yet another version of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Universal opened its first Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure in 2010, bringing Hogsmeade and Hogwarts Castle to Florida. Diagon Alley followed at Universal Studios Florida in 2014, while versions of Hogsmeade later opened in Japan, Hollywood, and Beijing. Epic Universe switched things
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19 September
Universal Removes Single Rider: Adds Free Express Pass Instead
Skull Island: Reign of Kong has changed the way solo guests can bypass its standby line at Universal Islands of Adventure. The attraction’s dedicated single rider queue is reportedly no longer available, with Team Members instead issuing some solo guests a complimentary printed Single Attraction Pass that routes them through the Skull Island Express queue. Universal Express is normally a paid add-
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19 September
Everything Hitting Disney+ and Hulu Next Month
Three ABC dramas come back the same day. Five Die Hard movies land on October 1. And somewhere in there, a boycotted teen witch show hits both platforms at once. Some context. Look, October is the one month where Disney+ and Hulu completely abandon their lanes. Rest of the year the split is clean as anything. Disney+ takes family, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar. Hulu takes FX, adult drama, and the back
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19 September
The Death of a Culture War: Inside Disney’s $25,000 Political Surrender in Tallahassee
For years, the political conflict between Walt Disney World and Florida state leadership dominated national headlines. From heated courtroom battles to retaliatory state legislation, the historic partnership between the entertainment giant and the Sunshine State seemed irrevocably broken. Left: Celebration, Florida, and Disney's Pride Celebration. Credit: Eric, Flickr, and Disney Yet in corporate
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19 September
Disney+ Halloween 2026: 13 Best Movies You Must Stream Right Now
Halloween may still be weeks away, but Disney+ subscribers can already start putting together a spooky-season movie marathon. Disney has built up decades of Halloween entertainment, giving families plenty to choose from in 2026. The options range from witches and monsters to haunted mansions, vampires, talking dogs, and even the Headless Horseman. Some of these movies have become annual traditions
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