Outside the Disney Bubble
Disney Fanatic shares news and experiences that unfold outside of the Disney bubble, including news of Disney’s competitors and beyond.
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Jul- 2026 -16 July
Universal Quietly Changes One of Seuss Landing’s Most Iconic Locations After 27 Years
Some of the biggest changes at theme parks aren't always new rides or billion-dollar expansions. Sometimes they're much simpler. Universal Orlando has quietly updated one of the longest-running dining locations inside Islands of Adventure by adding funnel cakes to the menu at Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous. Universal had added funnel cakes to the Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous menu. @Univers
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16 July
Disney World and Universal Make Major Changes That Hit Orlando Locals the Hardest
The biggest theme parks in Central Florida are always changing. New rides open, restaurants debut, and seasonal events evolve every year. But sometimes the biggest changes aren't attractions at all—they're policies that quietly reshape how guests experience the parks. That's exactly what's happening this summer. Disney World and Universal Orlando have each introduced changes that are likely to hav
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16 July
Universal Just Moved Up a Controversial Ride’s Final Day, and the Fan Theories Have Already Begun
Every theme park has that one attraction fans love to debate. Sometimes it's because the ride is aging. Sometimes it's because nostalgia keeps it alive. And sometimes, an attraction becomes famous for an entirely different reason—it becomes the ride people simply can't stop talking about, even if it's for all the wrong reasons. For years, that conversation has surrounded one experience at Universa
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16 July
Before a Single Guest Can Ride, Universal’s Biggest New Coaster Is Already Facing an Unexpected Backlash
For theme park fans, anticipation usually sounds like construction walls coming down, ride vehicles testing on the track, and the excitement of wondering what opening day will bring. But just outside Universal Studios Hollywood, a different soundtrack is already capturing people's attention—and not everyone is celebrating it. Long before guests have the chance to experience Universal's newest thri
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16 July
Congress Just Made a Move That Could Steal an Hour of Disney Magic Every Night
The biggest threat to your Disney park night isn't crowds, weather, or ticket prices. It's a bill working its way through Washington right now. The U.S. House just passed a proposal to make daylight saving time permanent, with bipartisan support, and shipped it to the Senate. If it survives there and becomes law, America stops changing the clocks forever. No more spring forward. No more fall back.
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15 July
SeaWorld Steps in as 30 Whales Face Unthinkable Final Outcome
SeaWorld is once again at the center of a fight over captive whales. United Parks & Resorts operates SeaWorld locations in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio. For more than a decade, however, the brand has been tied to an escalating debate over whether whales and other marine mammals should remain in entertainment facilities. Much of that criticism intensified after the documentary Blackfish (2013
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15 July
Tornado Reportedly Sweeps Over Six Flags Fiesta Texas as Fans Await Word on the Park’s Condition
For theme park fans, few places symbolize carefree adventure quite like Six Flags Fiesta Texas. It's where roller coaster screams replace everyday worries, where families gather before the gates open, and where summer memories are made one ride at a time. But this morning, the atmosphere surrounding the San Antonio park couldn't have felt more different. Instead of excitement over opening day oper
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15 July
Universal Is Quietly Erasing a 35-Year-Old Park Icon, and Fans Are Already Feeling Nostalgic
For millions of guests, the vacation doesn't truly begin when they step onto a ride or hear the first scream echo from a roller coaster. It begins with a familiar sight that has welcomed families, friends, and first-time visitors for decades—a landmark so recognizable that many don't even realize how deeply it's woven into their memories until it starts to disappear. Some of the most meaningful ch
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15 July
Universal Pulls Popular Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass Ahead of 2026 Event
Halloween Horror Nights fans preparing for this year's event will need to rethink their ticket strategy after Universal Orlando confirmed the removal of one of its most popular premium products. The resort has officially discontinued every Fear with Express Pass offering before Halloween Horror Nights 35 begins, eliminating the bundled multi-night tickets that combined repeated admission with Expr
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15 July
Stranger Things Is Taking Over Halloween Horror Nights 35, Officially
The Upside Down is staging a takeover, and Universal Orlando Resort Halloween Horror Nights is holding the door open. On July 15, Universal announced Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins, a brand new show joining Halloween Horror Nights 35. Stack that on top of the already-confirmed Stranger Things 5 haunted house, and one franchise now owns two marquee slots at the biggest Horror Nights of the deca
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