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.

  • Feb- 2026 -
    6 February
    The iconic Universal Studios globe in CityWalk at Universal Orlando Resort

    Universal Orlando Guts Major Section of the Park, Ride Replacement Details Emerge

    Universal Orlando Resort has been making changes lately that feel bigger than regular theme park updates. This isn’t the typical cycle of a quick refurbishment or a temporary closure. Universal is making permanent moves that reshape what guests see the moment they enter the parks. And right now, Universal Studios Florida is the clearest example of that shift. Demolition is underway, and Universal

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  • 6 February
    the arched entrance to Universal Orlando's Epic Universe theme park

    Universal Orlando Breaks Silence After Epic Universe Capacity Takes a Hit

    Epic Universe was supposed to be Universal Orlando Resort’s ultimate power move. Universal built the park to shake up Orlando, pull massive crowds, and prove it could compete with Disney on an entirely different level. And honestly, in any case, it worked. Epic Universe looks incredible, and the opening-year hype has remained intense. But the park hasn’t been universally praised. Since opening, Ep

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  • 6 February
    The entrance to Universal Orlando Resort Volcano Bay. Universal Volcano Bay cashless policy

    Universal Orlando Is Changing How Guests Enter Volcano Bay and It Will No Longer Be With Cash

    Few places promise escape quite like the theme parks of Central Florida. From the moment guests step through the gates of Universal Orlando Resort, expectations are sky-high: seamless experiences, immersive lands, and the kind of convenience that lets visitors forget the outside world exists. For many, that magic is built on little details—how quickly you can grab food between attractions, how eas

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  • 5 February
    The iconic Universal Studios globe in CityWalk at Universal Orlando Resort

    Universal Orlando Is Moving In on EPCOT’s Festival Territory

    Universal Orlando is making it very clear that it’s no longer satisfied with being “the other option” in Orlando. Now, it’s actively challenging one of Disney’s most reliable strategies: EPCOT festival season. Disney has spent years turning EPCOT into a rotating calendar of seasonal festivals that keep crowds coming back again and again. It’s become the place for food booths, specialty drinks, lim

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  • 5 February
    A family of four walks past the Universal Studios Hollywood globe at the entrance to the Southern California theme park. Hogwarts Always Universal Studios Hollywood

    Universal’s New Fast & Furious Coaster Sparks Major Hype for 2026

    Universal Studios Hollywood has finally confirmed what fans have been waiting to hear. After months of speculation, construction watching, and nonstop online rumors, the park has officially revealed the opening window for its newest major thrill attraction. And it’s a big one. Universal announced that Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will open in summer 2026, giving guests their first real timeline

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  • 5 February
    Islands of Adventure lighthouse at Universal Orlando Resort. Universal Orlando Lost Continent demolition

    Universal Orlando Guests Grieve as a Classic Land Nears Replacement

    Universal Orlando Resort is changing again, and this time it feels different. Not because Universal is opening something new, but because guests are starting to realize something familiar is disappearing for good. There hasn’t been a dramatic announcement or a major press release spelling it all out. Instead, fans are picking up on the clues. More construction walls. Blocked-off areas. Many signs

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  • 4 February
    Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger outside the Hogwarts Express

    ‘Harry Potter’ Train Ride Coming Soon, but Not to a Universal Park Near You

    From the moment guests step through the gates of a theme park, there’s an unspoken promise: wonder will meet expectation. Whether it’s Main Street, U.S.A. shimmering in the distance or the brick-lined streets of Hogsmeade humming with anticipation, these spaces thrive on ritual. Fans don’t just visit—they return, year after year, to relive moments that feel stitched into their own lives. For wizar

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  • 4 February
    split image with Universal guests in front of spinning globe on the left and Disney adults in front of Cinderella Castle on the right

    Universal and Disney World Both Closed Down a Park: Why?

    There’s a certain promise baked into a Central Florida vacation. Sunshine. Warm afternoons. The comforting illusion that winter simply doesn’t apply once you step through the gates of a world-class theme park. For decades, families have booked trips to Disney and Universal in the colder months with one expectation in mind: escape. That’s what’s made this week feel so jarring for many guests alread

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  • 4 February
    Entrance of Epic Universe

    Epic Universe Sparks New Criticism as Several Major Attractions Shut Down for Weeks

    When Universal Orlando Resort opened Epic Universe in May 2025, the theme park world held its breath. This wasn't just another addition to the resort—Universal declared that they could build something truly transformative. Guests arrived expecting immersive lands, headline attractions, and the kind of reliability you'd expect from a brand-new park. What they've experienced instead is a park that l

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  • 4 February
    guests around Universal Orlando Resort's iconic spinning globe. Universal Orlando classic attractions closing

    Universal Orlando Making Major Super Bowl Appearance This Weekend

    Universal Orlando Resort just released its 2026 Super Bowl commercial ahead of the actual game, and if you're into theme parks at all, you need to watch this because it's genuinely heartwarming and shows exactly how much Universal has evolved with EPIC Universe now open. What the Commercial Is Actually About The ad is called “Lil Bro,” and it follows two brothers, one older and one you

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