Disney Parks News: Castle Painting, New Lands, Food Updates & Cruise Line Specials

Cinderella Castle Repainting Underway

• 🎨 Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom has begun its transformation, reverting from pink to a color scheme of grays, silvers, and blues, similar to its original look.
• 🏗️ The moat will be drained to facilitate equipment access for the painting process, a technique also used in 2020.
• ⏳ While cranes will be removed by noon daily for photos, the castle will be in a transitional state, with completion expected sometime this year.

Major Park Expansions and Renovations

• 🏞️ Disney World is actively developing three new lands: Tropical Americas (Pueblo Espironza), Cars Land, and Villains Land.
• 🗺️ Planning documents reveal the locations of these lands, with Villains Land potentially housing a large roller coaster and another unannounced attraction.
• ☕ The Garden View Lounge at the Grand Floridian is set to reopen on March 19th after renovations, featuring new furniture, carpeting, and stained glass windows, with afternoon tea service priced at $79 per adult and $49 per child.

Disney California Adventure 25th Anniversary

• ✨ Disney California Adventure is celebrating its 25th anniversary with new and returning favorites from February 6th to July 1st.
• 📸 Mickey and Minnie will sport new outfits, and special celebratory food, including the cake shake at Schmoozies, will be available.
• 🐻 A new character, Humphrey the Bear, will debut at Storytellers Cafe for dining reservations made on or after February 6th.
• 💡 A new Pixar Palaround popcorn bucket that lights up and has moving parts is launching, alongside special merchandise and snacks in Downtown Disney.

Dining Updates and New Treats

• 🍔 Harambe Market in Animal Kingdom will reopen on March 1st with a new menu, including a bacon cheeseburger, cheeseburger, chicken tenders, Savannah salad, and a tandoori chicken wrap.
• 🍪 A new Kuba cookie with chocolate cream, potato chips, M&M's, and dulce de leche will be available, along with a Harambe Sunrise cocktail.
• 🧀 Hollywood Studios' Backlot Express has removed its popular $1 plastic cheese cup, though it remains available at Woody's Lunchbox and other locations.
• 🍰 The Cake Bake Shop Bakery on Disney's Boardwalk is offering a $17 slice of blueberry crumble pie, noted for its quality but high price point.
• 🥐 A new pistachio croissant with pistachio frosting and crumbles, filled with honey butter, is available at Tamu Tamu Refreshments and Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery in Animal Kingdom, primarily during breakfast hours.
• 🍫 The seven layer bar at Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery features a graham cracker crust with coconut, pecans, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips, topped with condensed milk and sea salt.

Disney Cruise Line and Promotions

• 🚢 The Disney Adventure cruise ship, originally set to sail in January, will now debut its maiden voyage on March 20th from Singapore.
• 🦁 A new fireworks spectacular, The Lion King Celebration in the Sky, will debut exclusively on the Disney Adventure, featuring music from the film performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and narration by Shah Rukh Khan.
• 💸 Select sailings on the Disney Dream and Disney Wish between April and July 2026 are eligible for a 20% discount on voyage fare and a $250 onboard credit, with booking required by March 29th.

Park Operations and Closures

• 🥶 Disney World is experiencing unusually cold temperatures, with forecasts in the 20s, requiring guests to pack warm weather gear.
• ❄️ Frozen Ever After in Epcot is temporarily closed for animatronic updates and will reopen in February.
• 🚠 The Disney Skyliner has resumed operation as of February 1st after a closure.
• 🦖 Dinosaur and Dino Land USA in Animal Kingdom will officially close after operating hours on Sunday, January 31st.

Merchandise and Events

• 🎨 A new popcorn bucket designed by Jared Maruyama, featuring characters in his unique art style, is available at Epcot for the International Festival of the Arts.
• 📚 The author of "Disney Adults" will be at Unlikely Story in Plainville, MA, on March 28th for a book signing.
• 🥨 Wetzel's Pretzels in Disney Springs now offers mozzarella sticks with a baked pretzel dough exterior, served with marinara sauce for an additional charge.
• 🍪 Cathy's Cookies has opened in Downtown Disney, offering chocolate chip cookies by the sleeve or in buckets, as well as cookie dough.