Travelers will soon have a direct connection between Orlando and Tokyo for the very first time.
Orlando International Airport announced this week it will operate four roundtrip charter flights between Orlando and Tokyo from Feb. 23 to March 10 next year as a test run, marking the first-ever passenger service connecting Tokyo’s Narita International Airport and Orlando International Airport.
The roundtrip flights are scheduled for Feb. 23, Feb. 28, March 5 and March 10 in 2026.
The services comes from Japanese airline Zipair, which offers budget-friendly flights, primarily from Tokyo to North America and Asia, using a model with a low base far and amenities that cost extra. It features two cabin classes, including standard economy and a premium “Zip Full-Flat” business class. .
Along with the new flights comes the inevitable promotions offered by Disney Destinations International, aiming to connect travelers to each of the two cities’ theme park locations.
Guests who travel on one of the charter flights and visit Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando can experience a Disney character greeting at the resort and a viewing of Epcot’s night show “Luminous: The Symphony of Us” with dessert.
Tickets are set to go on sale for the new route in December 2025.
Officials say the new flights could pave the way for future service between the two major cities, according to MCO’s press release.
Fall marks the start of the holiday season at theme parks, and with it come seasonal food and drink offerings tied to their Halloween events.
Every Halloween, theme parks offer tasty tricks and treats for grown-ups, from slasher-themed Five Nights at Freddy’s slices at Halloween Horror Nights to haunted rum-based cocktails inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean. As a theme park insider, there has been so much I’ve enjoyed on my own trips throughout this Halloween season at Disneyland, Knott’s Scary Farm, and Halloween Horror Nights, even after trying some of them at food reveals and media events at Universal Studios Resorts, Disney Parks, and Six Flags.
So far 2025 is a really good year for tasty, sometimes terrifying eats. Read on for the best spooky season foodie finds of Halloween 2025 around your favorite theme parks!
Five Nights at Freddy’s Cupcake – Halloween Horror Nights Orlando
Chica’s cupcake companion from the Five Nights at Freddy’s universe gets a tasty variant at Halloween Horror Nights Orlando. It tops the version at HHN Hollywood, as the East Coast dessert comes filled with delicious cannoli filling at the core and a raspberry dollop within the pink cream top. The tasty flavor combo makes you feel like it would be the kind of fun menu item at a real Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza you’d expect for a birthday surprise—along with the animatronic band coming to life.
Five Nights at Freddy’s “Why Not Have Both Pizza & Pasta” – Halloween Horror Nights Orlando
While Horror Nights Hollywood opted to just put an ordinary personal-size pizza in a Freddy Fazbear box, the food team in Orlando got a bit more creative. At first, I thought there was no way pasta on pizza would work, but after screaming through a few houses and needing a carb refuel, it really hit the spot. The cheese holding the thin spaghetti along with meatballs is a dementedly delicious delight on a slice. From a FNAF fan standpoint, I can also see Afton putting this on the menu to slow down any potential victims, so it’s grim yet satisfying.
Terrifier “Starry Night Spritz” Cocktail – Halloween Horror Nights Orlando
The Terrifier “Starry Night Spritz” at Horror Nights Orlando’s Clown Cafe is a tart gin-based drink that evokes the works of Art the Clown and is way better than, say, the West Coast’s charcoal black concoction that looks like him. The blood-red cranberry and bubbly prosecco really make it easy and refreshing to drink in between houses, plus I loved the Clown Cafe photo ops where the drink is available. Pro-tip: you might run into Santa Art here.
Terrifier “Sunflower Glasses” Cookie – Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood
This cookie is a playful callback to Art the Clown living his best life before taking a life at a costume shop in Terrifier 2. The sunflower shape is held by a fruity mousse that is tart like Art! It tastes great and is not the kind of sculpted treat that you’d toss after taking an Instagram snap and a single bite. The lemon flavor provides a great balance for a cookie that’s not overly sweet and is tasty as a snack on its own.
Jason Universe “Camp Creamy Gouda Fondue” – Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood
The snacks at Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood are absolutely redeemed by this inspired snack straight out of Camp Crystal Lake. The Jason Universe booth’s best-kept secret is a sourdough bowl filled with warm gouda dip that’s infused with Angry Orchard apple cider. It works so well and comes with a side of sliced apples that are a crisp dipping addition (alongside the demolishable bread)—and so you can tell yourself you’re being somewhat healthy. If this was my last meal before getting got by Jason, it would be so worthwhile. I want to go back to Horror Nights Hollywood just for more of this before the season is over; it’s that good.
“Ursula’s Enchanted Waffles” – Disney’s California Adventure
The best hidden gems at the Disneyland resort right now are the seasonal themed waffles at Schmoozies, the milkshake window at Disney California Adventure. The walk-up quick service stop is one of the few places you can order the classic Mickey-shaped waffles past breakfast. If you’re an all-day breakfast fan, you’ll be excited to know it’s been theming the waffles to the parks’ seasonal events. For the 70th Anniversary, it had a birthday cake and sprinkles flavor, for example. For Halloween, though, the theming went all out in a very special way with Ursula’s Enchanted Waffles. Inspired by the Disney villain, the flavor profiles evoke the sea witch’s colors of purple through an ube custard filling and black with a dark chocolate waffle exterior. It’s my favorite waffle yet, with a perfect balance of sweet and dark! I would sign my voice away to her to keep this on the menu.
The Galactic Grill’s iconic dessert parfait returns to Tomorrowland at Disneyland. It’s layers of silky smooth and sinfully rich chocolate on chocolate that I can’t get enough of. I promise it’s not overkill; the pudding on the red velvet with chocolate cake and Oreo crumbles differentiates the kinds of chocolates you get all the way down for a tasty variety. It’s not too on the dark side, thankfully, and it’s still the best of all the Star Wars parfaits it has done.
Indiana Jones and Halloween Drinks at Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar – Walt Disney World
The Disney Springs watering hole inspired by Indiana Jones’ trusty pilot is pouring out spooky spirits this season at Jock Lindsay’s “Halloween Bar.” Three of the offerings hit the mark, evoking the mystical and deadly energy of our daring archeology professor’s side hustle adventures. As pictured above from right to left, if the “Scarab Beetle Essence” is a sweet, colorful, pineapple- and rum-forward poison, then I’d say the color-changing, ginger- and gin-strong “Cauldron Cooler” is the perfect antidote. The variety of flavors really works here, as they exotically capture flavors you’d expect to find travelling the world with Indiana Jones. However, it’s the “Spike Trap” that comically nods to the traps from the Lucasfilm franchise, complete with a spiked ghostie marshmallow, while the drink itself wins as a sweet, fizzy, and misty cocktail that tastes like inhaling boozy vanilla Halloween fog.
Pirates of the Caribbean Drinks at Beak and Barrel – Walt Disney World
This is actually an all-year-round location, but Beak and Barrel, the Magic Kingdom’s Pirates of the Caribbean immersive bar, opened its doors just in time for Halloween in a moment of serendipity. The experience really feels like you’re living the pirate’s life, complete with its space feeling like ship quarters; one booth is styled like the jail cell from the ride, there’s a parrot mascot animatronic, and there are activations of certain effects such as shipwrecking storms hitting the decks (in that imagineering projections and sound effects way, like on the ride). However, the drinks easily make this such a treasure to escape to. In particular, I love the nod to the iconic attraction and movie franchise’s skull with the sweet blackberry-leaning “Plunderer’s Punch,” a Kraken Black Rum-based libation that’s served in a pirate skull mug. My personal favorite is the “Salty Seas mARRRgarita,” which has ube-infused blanco tequila and is, of course, salty like the sea.
Pastrami Pizza – Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest
Pizza slices that have no right being this good because they’re food mashup abominations abound! At Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest, which did not have the Conjuring Universe drinks I was hoping for, I still quite enjoyed the monster pastrami pizza. Truly, pastrami baked into mozzarella with pickles on pizza drizzled with mustard is cursed, but I dug it.
“The Enchanted Elixir” and “Pickle Hitchin’”- Knott’s Scary Farm
Knott’s Scary Farm’s “The Enchanted Elixir” is another gin-based, color-changing drink I loved that tastes like a spellbinding spirit the Green Witch brewed herself. While you had the option to potion bottle it up and carry it with you, I much preferred it iced in the cup, which featured Knott’s Scary Farm’s legendary icon, because it brought out the fresh notes of citrus—but you do miss out on the color-changing effects. At least the cup lights up! You can get it at the medicine wagon next to the Boogeyman bar at Scary Farm, which also has the best under-the-radar drink of the season, “Pickle Hitchin’.” Picture it (because taking a good snap of it was nearly impossible in the dark hole in the wall shack): half a theme park pickle snack but hollowed out to be filled with whiskey and pickle juice—it’s a drink and a snack that’s filling and will take the edge off screaming your face off all night.
Disney said on Wednesday that the entertainment giant is raising admission prices for its theme parks, effective immediately.
Some types of entry to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, and to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, will cost more, the company told CBS News. On some of the most popular days of the year to visit the two parks, a single-day ticket will cost roughly $199, currently the most expensive pass.
The price hikes come amid growing demand to visit Disney’s park on certain days, like New Year’s Eve. For the week of Thanksgiving, from Nov. 24 to Nov. 29 the cost of entry to Disneyland will rise from $199 to $224, according to Disney’s website. Prices will rise by the same amount for the holiday period between Dec. 20 and Jan. 3.
At Disneyland Resort, pass prices are also increasing. It offers seven different ticket tiers, five of which are increasing by 3% or less, Disney told CBS News. The lowest-priced ticket will remain unchanged at $104.
Disney’s Inspire and Believe Magic Key Passes — its highest-tier passes — will increase in price by $150 and $100, respectively. The Inspire Key now costs $1,899, and the Believe Key costs $1,474. The Enchant and Imagine passes will not rise in price, the company said.
At Walt Disney World, the lowest- and highest-priced tickets on sale through October of 2026 remain unchanged.
“Disney Parks offer a full day of experiences each day, with ticket, hotel and dining options designed to suit a wide range of needs and budgets for all who visit. Our commitment to creating magical experiences for everyone remains at the heart of what we do — and that will never change,” Disney officials said in a statement.
Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.
Credit: via Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment/Facebook
Gino, a 44-year-old western lowland gorilla and one of the very first residents of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, has died.
“For nearly 30 years, Gino touched countless lives at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with his playful spirit, gentle humor, and steady presence as a devoted father and troop leader,” Disney shared in a statement on social media.
Gino arrived at the park when it opened in 1998 and quickly became a fixture along the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. Weighing more than 400 pounds, he was known for his commanding presence, often standing tall and beating his chest in dramatic displays.
As the troop’s elder and father of 14 offspring, some of whom still live at the park, Gino played a vital role in both his family and in conservation efforts. He participated in a Disney-developed care program that allowed animals to assist with their own medical treatment, helping advance global practices in gorilla care without the need for sedation.
Though he would have celebrated his 45th birthday this December, Gino’s impact extends far beyond his years.
“Gino’s story will live on in the future of his species and in the hearts of all who knew and loved him,” Disney’s statement continued. “Thank you, Gino. You will always be part of our family.”
Gather around for a magical showcase of untold treasures with a sprinkle of pixie dust–that’s right, we’re going to Disney World where we’ve compiled a gallery of mirror mesmerizers, spellbinding stunners, and breathtaking belles who brought main princess energy to the famed theme parks.
Source: Walt Disney World
One bright-eyed belle in particular was lovable actress Storm Reid who recently returned to her happy place for good vibes with friends and family while dining and delighting at some of the resort’s most mouth-watering culinary spots.
When she wasn’t enjoying savory and sweet treats like the classic Dole Whip, the A Wrinkle In Time star raced to the future on TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise at Magic Kingdom, vibed out on Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and rocked and rolled on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT.
Source: Walt Disney World
After her latest visit, she listed some of her favorite dining spots, including Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ at Disney Springs (chicken) and Roundup Rodeo BBQ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (BBQ) but it was Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs (sushi and ribs) that won her heart.
Source: Walt Disney World
“Morimoto (at Disney Springs) is my favorite. I’m a big sushi lover. Big Japanese food lover.
The spare ribs are probably the best. Not probably. I know (they) are the best spare ribs I’ve ever had because they’re crispy on the outside and the sauce was so good and then it was so tender, like, fall off the bone. You don’t even have to do anything. I really enjoyed that. I want some more. My mouth is watering.”
Attracting over 160,000 guests a day, Walt Disney World Resort reigns as the prime theme park destination, especially for friend groups who turned themed baddiecations into a viral trend on social media.
If you’re not at Disney repping your favorite character with your favorite people, are you really doing Disney right?
Which character would you rep at the parks? If you planned a friendcation, what would be on the itinerary? Tell us down below and enjoy our gallery of dreamy divas, spellbinding stunners who brought main princess energy to Disney Parks on the flip.
Disney will pay $10 million to settle allegations by the Federal Trade Commission that the entertainment company facilitated the “unlawful collection” of children’s personal data.
In a complaint filed on Tuesday, the FTC said that Disney Worldwide Services and Disney Entertainment Operations — two entities that offer technical support and media content — violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule, known as COPPA, by failing to properly label some videos uploaded to YouTube as “made for kids.” The mislabeling also exposed children to “age-inappropriate YouTube features,” the FTC said in a statement.
“Our order penalizes Disney’s abuse of parents’ trust, and, through a mandated video-review program, makes room for the future of protecting kids online — age assurance technology,” FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson said in a statement.
Signed into law in 1998, COPPA requires commercial website operators to disclose to parents of children under 13 that they are collecting personal data and obtain the parents’ prior consent.
The videos in question included content from Disney movies including “Coco,” “Frozen” and “Toy Story” and as well as music from “The Incredibles.”
A spokesperson for Disney told CBS News that the settlement does not involved Disney-owned and operated digital platforms and that it is limited to some of the content on the company’s YouTube platform.
“Disney has a long tradition of embracing the highest standards of compliance with children’s privacy laws, and we remain committed to investing in the tools needed to continue being a leader in this space,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
YouTube requires videos to be labeled as “made for kids” if children are the video’s primary audience or if the content reflects “an intent to target children,” according to the Alphabet-owned platform. YouTube also says on its website that failure to properly label videos could lead to “legal consequences under COPPA and other laws.”
YouTube began requiring video uploaders to add the “made for kids” label after it reached a similar settlement in 2019 with the FTC over COPPA violations.
Disney’s agreement with the FTC also calls for the company to create a program to review whether videos posted to YouTube should be designated as made for children the agency said.
Mary Cunningham is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. Before joining the business and finance vertical, she worked at “60 Minutes,” CBSNews.com and CBS News 24/7 as part of the CBS News Associate Program.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A seven-year-old girl battling leukemia got her biggest wish granted. Seven-year-old Allie loves Disney princesses and twirling around in sparkly dresses. She dreamed of going on a magical adventure to Disney World – and thanks to Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast Louisiana and partner company NOV, her fairytale trip came true!
Make-A-Wish and NOV surprised Allie with a Disney-themed send-off party at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, complete with balloons, tiaras and an enchanted castle backdrop. Her family says she didn’t have a second thought when asked what her greatest wish would be.
“I think without hesitation, she said Disney World,” said Victoria Woods, Allie’s mom. “We’re excited to see Allie laugh and be full of life. Some of the things you see during cancer treatment are really difficult. This really takes the sting out.”
Allie’s magical send-off was part of the Summer of Wishes campaign – a season dedicated to granting life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
“Being part of a special moment like this with her family is indescribable,” said Shelly Millwee, President & CEO of Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast Louisiana. “We have the backdrop of the amazing Disney princesses, which is what she is in love with.”
“It means a lot to everyone, everyone who’s here, when you see a child realize that their dream is going to come true, that really makes a difference when you see that face light up, said David Reid, CTO/CMO of NOV.
ABC13 caught up with Allie and her family for her magical wish celebration in the video above!
Something wicked is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios next summer.
An all-new live show featuring dozens of Disney Villains will take the stage at the Sunset Showcase venue, which currently houses Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy. Disney Live Entertainment’s creators have crafted a new show exploring the realm of the Magic Mirror and its dastardly inhabitants.
Breaking through the Magic Mirrors will be Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, Maleficent and many more new and classic Disney Villains. Artist renderings tease appearances by Hades, Jafar, the Queen of Hearts, Scar and Ursula.
Before the show can materialize, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy will take its last laps on Oct. 7. The interactive show opened on March 31, 2019, with a story that takes place after the events of Cars 3.
It’s been a long time coming for Disney World to embrace its darker side and showcase its beloved Villains beyond character meet and greets. This new show is the first big step, followed by an entire Villains-themed land announced for Magic Kingdom.
The Disney Villains land was the much-anticipated reveal for the Beyond Big Thunder Mountain project, announced at this year’s D23 parks showcase. Part of Magic Kingdom’s largest expansion ever, Villains land will include two major attractions, dining, shopping and immersive theming to all of our favorite evildoers.
And while Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy will close next month, a whole Cars-themed land will open at Magic Kingdom. Construction on that area of the park begins next year.
The organization providing approximately 99% of school choice scholarships in Florida has released its guide for what families can and cannot purchase with state-funded vouchers when homeschooling their children.
Step Up For Students has released its 2024-2025 purchasing guide for recipients of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, Personalized Education Program, or Family Empowerment Scholarship, all forms of state education assistance. As in the past, authorized purchases include paddle boards, televisions, and theme park admission for Florida parks such as Disney World, Sea World, Universal, and Legoland.
The list is largely unchanged since an earlier version prompted discussion during this year’s legislative session about whether the program needed guardrails. A bill introduced by Rep. Josie Tomkow, a Republican from Central Florida, would have limited eligible items to materials linked to basic areas like language arts, math, science, and social studies — and kept out items not to be directly tied to education.
The Legislature did not approve those changes. The guide as published allows the purchases listed above as well as physical education items like swim goggles, skateboards, musical instruments, and dress-up clothing.
“When the Florida Legislature proposed restrictions on [education savings account] spending in the 2024 session, many families contacted their lawmakers or testified at committee hearings opposing the changes, arguing they would limit their ability to provide arts and other enrichment opportunities to their children,” said Scott Kent, communications director for Step Up, in an email. “Lawmakers listened, and the proposals failed to pass.”
“Families provided Step Up with numerous examples of how theme parks contribute to their students’ customized learning plans, such as a homeschool family incorporates all the different history and culture lessons available at Disney World, including art and music festivals,” Kent said. “Parents point to how the parks tie directly into curriculum: If they’re doing zoology, they go to Animal Kingdom; if they’re doing marine biology they go to Sea World, etc.”
Families can be reimbursed for home school supplies such as curricula, tables, chairs, and whiteboards as well as for televisions up to 55 inches, projectors and screens, picnic tables, fees for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, woodworking supplies, in-home internet service, Nintendo Wii equipment, Legos, board games, ping pong tables, printer ink, and stuffed animals.
The program does not reimburse families for laptops, cellphones, gaming systems other than Wii equipment (unless they’re movement-based), printers, sports event tickets, and other items, according to the guide.
Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Diane Rado for questions: [email protected]. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.
Marriage goals Ciara and Russell Wilson took a break from their busy schedules to make magical moments with their adorable kiddos while celebrating Win’s 4th birthday at Walt Disney World Resort.
Source: Olga Thompson
Source: Olga Thompson
The family funday marked Win’s first time at Magic Kingdom Park where the steadily growing Wilsons met up with Mickey before enjoying beloved attractions including the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Currently running through hits on Missy Elliott‘s ‘Out Of This World’ Tour, Ciara caused a commotion with a video thirst trap flaunting her post-baby bawwwdy during a recent show.
The “Goodies” singer stunned in a curve-caressing Usama Ishtay dress that stole the show at thee premier Oscar weekend bash in Hollywood.
Prior to that moment, CiCi shook up the SAG Awards with a swoon-worthy serve that whipped social media into a thirsty tizzy.
Fans couldn’t get enough of CiCi Thee Stallion who had hubby Russy openly thirsting over her in a viral video clip.
Back in April, Ciara was candid about her weight loss journey and revealed her goal of losing 70 pounds of post-baby weight ahead of the tour.
“Trying to lose 70lbs post baby, prepare for a show and tour while breastfeeding, and running my businesses…Shout out to all my mammas out there gettin in, I see you! ToughSh$t. #MambaMentalityð” she wrote on Instagram.
Either way, she looks GOODT and recently celebrated her last day of breastfeeding just two days before the tour began.
Are you planning on getting your automatic, supersonic, hypnotic, funky fresh fix at a Missy tour stop near you? Tell us down below!
Boyz II Men want you to ‘Eat to the Beat’ with them at Epcot
The full lineup for this year’s Eat to the Beat concert series has finally been unveiled, with a mix of new and nostalgic acts across genre providing a sonic accompaniment to the International Food & Wine Festival at Epcot.
From late August through early mid-November, a rotating procession of acts from the 1980s through to the present day — including new-to-the-fest acts like Yellowcard, the Wanted and David Archuleta — will entertain attendees at the theme park’s popular International Food & Wine Festival.
The full lineup for Eat to the Beat is …
Aug. 30-31: The Fray Sept. 1-2: Sugar Ray Sept. 6-7: Hoobastank Sept. 8-9: Yellowcard Sept. 13-14: Tiffany Sept. 15-16: MercyMe Sept. 20-21: Sheila E. Sept. 22-23: The Wanted Sept. 27: Luis Figueroa Sept. 28-29: Mau Y Ricky Sept. 30: Jesse & Joy Oct. 4-5: Aloe Blacc Oct. 6-7: Joey Fatone & Friends Oct. 11-12: We The Kings Oct. 13-14: Switchfoot Oct. 18-19: David Archuleta Oct. 20-21: Billy Ocean Oct. 25-28: Hanson Nov. 1-2: Haley Reinhart Nov. 3-4: Boyz II Men Nov. 8-9: Magic! Nov. 10-11: Parmalee Nov. 15-16: Smash Mouth Nov. 17-18: 98 Degrees
Eat to the Beat concerts happen at the America Gardens Theatre stage at Epcot, and admission is included with a ticket into the park on a first-come, first-served basis. However, Epcot is also offering up dining packages with guaranteed seating to these concerts.
Big, long overdue changes are coming to Disney World’s skip-the-line pass program Genie Plus. It’s a move being heralded by fans as the return of the parks’ FastPass program — sort of.
Starting July 24, Genie Plus will be rebranded to Lightning Lane Multi Pass, with individual line-skipping passes dubbed Lightning Lane Single Pass. The Multi Pass is still a paid program but with a few major changes that Disney hopes will make planning a park vacation a little easier.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass
You can select up to three ride passes in a theme park ahead of your visit when you buy the Multi Pass. You can also choose from available ride times.
After you use a pass in the park, you can select another ride pass in the My Disney Experience app.
You can book passes for multiple vacation days at the same time. Like Genie Plus, the Multi Pass purchase will include free downloads of PhotoPass photos and videos.
Lightning Lane Single Pass
These passes will work basically the same as they do now, but you’ll be able to plan and purchase them in advance.
How far in advance can you book Lightning Lane passes?
Disney resort hotel guests can book their passes up to seven days in advance for their entire stay (up to 14 days). Annual passholders and other guests can book their passes up to three days in advance.
How do I book Lightning Lane passes?
You can buy Multi Pass, Single Pass or both in the My Disney Experience app. Disney said the app is being updated to feature fewer steps and quicker options like buying a Multi Pass and a Single Pass in one go.
“Lightning Lane passes will blend features from our current services and the previously offered FastPass+ service, giving guests the choice to plan ahead and removing the assle of planning during their vacation,” Disney shared in an announcement.
What about the free Genie service?
The free trip-planning Genie service will still be around — for now — in the My Disney Experience app.
The move to ditch Genie Plus and mix the better parts of Fast Pass with the Lightning Lane system is a bold but welcomed one for many Disney parks fans. Since Genie Plus was rolled out in 2021, veteran park hoppers and vacationers alike have maligned the program as overwhelming and confusing and another part of the nickel-and-diming Disney has been doing since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the current Genie Plus system, guests might spend hours or days poring over online guides and explainer videos trying to understand when and how to buy line-skipping passes. Right now, you have to wait until midnight the day of your visit to buy Genie Plus and you don’t know how much it will be until you open the app, thanks to demand- and park-based pricing.
That means a Genie Plus purchase can be as low as $15 per person or as high as $39 per person during busier seasons.
Of course, not all rides are included in Genie Plus. Instead, anyone who wants to skip the line at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance or the new Tron Lightcycle/Run has to buy an individual Lightning Lane pass.
“We enjoy hearing from guests about all the things they love, as well as how we can make their experience even better the next time,” Disney said. “At Walt Disney World, guests have told us they would prefer to have the option to do more of their planning before their theme park day.”
New changes to Disney’s Disability Accessibility Service are now in effect.The program allows guests with a developmental disability who are unable to wait in long lines to book a return time for attractions.You must book a virtual appointment within 30 days ahead of your visit to sign up.You’ll meet with a cast member to determine eligibility.If you’re approved, you’ll then be able to register.As part of the changes, there will not be an in-person option at guest relations.Disney says anyone caught giving false information to qualify will face a lifetime ban from the parks. Related: Disney making changes to Disability Access Service program
New changes to Disney’s Disability Accessibility Service are now in effect.
The program allows guests with a developmental disability who are unable to wait in long lines to book a return time for attractions.
You must book a virtual appointment within 30 days ahead of your visit to sign up.
You’ll meet with a cast member to determine eligibility.
If you’re approved, you’ll then be able to register.
As part of the changes, there will not be an in-person option at guest relations.
Disney says anyone caught giving false information to qualify will face a lifetime ban from the parks.
A new high-tech drone show will take over the skies above Disney Springs this summer.
“Disney Dreams That Soar presented by AT&T” debuts on May 24 and runs just under 10 minutes twice nightly through Sept. 2.
Using 800 drones, the show will feature beloved Disney characters from across the decades of Disney storytelling. Show director Tony Giordano said all of the characters “have had a dream of flying.”
“Not just the idea that they can fly, but the idea of taking their lives to the next level,” he said in a Disney Parks post. “We put a lot of thought in making sure that no matter how old you are, or how much of a fan you are, you’re going to see a character that you love.”
In a sneak peek video showing a Disney Dreams That Soar rehearsal, we got to see Peter Pan, Dumbo, Star Wars’ Grogu and the Death Star, and Baymax from Big Hero 6 — near twice the height of Spaceship Earth.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Disney show without Disney music. The new drone show will have iconic classics as well as a new original song “that will inspire you to follow your heart, take a leap of faith, and reach for the stars.”
Disney Parks helpfully shared the best place to see the show at the Springs. They advise viewers try along the waterway between the Cirque du Soleil Theatre and Aerophile: The World Leader in Balloon Flight in the complex’s West Side.
Since it’s an outdoor summer show, the drones may be canceled or rescheduled because of weather. Show times are not yet listed on the Disney Springs calendar, but a Facebook event listing notes the debut shows starting at 9 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.
After reaching a settlement last month in a related state-court case, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts on Friday asked a federal appeals court for a delay in a legal battle against Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
Disney went to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor in January dismissed a lawsuit alleging that the state unconstitutionally retaliated against the company because of its opposition to a controversial education law.
But in the filing Friday, Disney asked for a 60-day extension in submitting an opening brief to “facilitate” negotiations. It said such negotiations were contemplated in a settlement that Disney reached last month with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District in a state-court case in Orange County.
The lawsuits were rooted in a decision last year by DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature to replace the former Reedy Creek Improvement District with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
The decades-old Reedy Creek district was closely aligned with Disney, while DeSantis appoints the new district’s board. The district provides many local-government services in an area that includes Disney properties.
In the federal lawsuit, Disney has alleged retaliation because it opposed a 2022 law that restricted instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. The settlement in the Orange County case included issues related to development agreements that Disney reached with the Reedy Creek Improvement District board before the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board took over.
The filing Friday said Disney’s opening brief is due April 17 at the Atlanta-based appeals court. Disney is seeking to push back the deadline to June 17.
Disney World is so close to opening Tiana’s Bayou Adventure that fans can already hear snippets of “Dig a Little Deeper” as Imagineers test the new musical water ride.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is set to open over the summer at Magic Kingdom. With some construction walls coming down and signs announcing to guests that crewed ride testing is underway, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this attraction open around the unofficial start of summer at the end of May.
But while we await an official opening date, fans have been excitedly sharing photos and videos from the park.
Recent videos of ride testing show attraction creators sporting safety vests and ponchos as they plunge the ride’s 50-foot grand finale drop. One of the recent riders was Charita Carter, Imagineer and executive creative producer of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Throughout construction, Disney Parks Blog has shared big and small details that bring the attraction to life and set it apart from its Splash Mountain roots. That includes murals, metalwork and the audio-animatronic figure of Princess Tiana guests will meet on the ride.
Recently, Disney introduced the first cast of new characters created for the ride’s story. These new “critter musicians” become some of the stars of Tiana’s celebratory party.
The bayou band comprises Byhalia the beaver, Gritty the rabbit, Beau the opossum, Apollo the raccoon, Rufus the turtle and Timoléon the otter. Together they crank out a Zydeco musical rendition of “Gonna Take You There” from The Princess and the Frog.
Of course, a new Disney attraction means new merch, and plushies of Beau, Apollo and Rufus will be available when the attraction opens.
Set after the events of the 2009 animated film, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure brings back Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, jazz-loving alligator Louis and other characters for a music-filled ride through the bayou as they prepare to host a raucous Mardi Gras party.
Billed as a celebration of 1920s New Orleans, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure features recognizable characters and new ones created just for the ride. All that and new music from Grammy award-winning artists PJ Morton and Terence Blanchard, who played Louis the alligator’s trumpet parts in the film.
The ride was announced in 2020 as a replacement for Splash Mountain, which was open from 1992 to 2023 at Disney World.
A MAJOR milestone for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World, as Walt Disney Imagineering project team members are test riding the attraction for the first time! pic.twitter.com/O17Hz3Duk6
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District have reached a legal settlement that includes nullifying controversial development agreements that the entertainment giant entered with the former Reedy Creek Improvement District.
The settlement was announced Wednesday and approved by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board, which was created last year by the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District replaced the decades-old Reedy Creek district, which had close ties to Disney.
The deal ends an Orange County circuit-court lawsuit that came amid a feud between DeSantis and Disney over the company’s opposition to a 2022 state law that restricted instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. Disney filed a separate federal lawsuit and appealed after a U.S. district judge in January dismissed that case. The appeal remains pending.
Walt Disney World Resort President Jeff Vahle said in a prepared statement the company was “pleased to put an end to all litigation pending in state court.”
“This agreement opens a new chapter of constructive engagement with the new leadership of the district and serves the interests of all parties by enabling significant continued investment and the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs and economic opportunity in the state,” Vahle said.
A copy of the settlement was not immediately available.
The district provides government services for a swath of Central Florida that includes Disney properties. Disney reached development agreements with the outgoing Reedy Creek board shortly before the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board took over.
In the lawsuit, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District sought a ruling that the development agreements were “null and void.”
DeSantis, appearing Wednesday at the Orange County State Attorney’s Office for a bill-signing event, said his actions on changing Reedy Creek and the education issue “have been vindicated.”
“Going forward, we’re going to continue to govern with the best interests of the state of Florida,” DeSantis said. “So, I’m glad that they were able to do that settlement on those eleventh-hour (development) covenants and restrictions.”
The state in the 1960s created the Reedy Creek district. But in pushing to revamp the district, DeSantis said “allowing a corporation to control its own government is bad policy.”
Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board member Charbel Barakat said Wednesday the district is “eager to work with Disney and all other businesses to make the country’s tourism destination famous for a second reason, which is good government.”
The settlement also came as the district board on Wednesday appointed Stephanie Kopelousos to the $400,000-a-year position as district administrator. Kopelousos was recommended by DeSantis and had worked for him as legislative and intergovernmental affairs director.
Paul Huck, an attorney for the district, outlined the settlement to the board and also said Disney agreed to withdraw public-records requests tied to the litigation. Among other things, Huck said Disney agreed to work with the district to review a 2020 comprehensive plan for the region.
In the separate federal lawsuit, Disney alleged state officials unconstitutionally retaliated against the company over its opposition to the education law. The company’s appeal is pending at the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Allies of Gov. Ron DeSantis and Disney reached a settlement agreement Wednesday in a state court fight over how Walt Disney World is developed in the future following the takeover of the theme park resort’s government by the Florida governor.
In a meeting, the members of the board of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District approved the settlement agreement, ending almost two years of litigation that was sparked by DeSantis’ takeover of the district from Disney supporters following the company’s opposition to Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law.
The 2022 law bans classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades and was championed by the Republican governor, who used Disney as a punching bag in speeches until he suspended his presidential campaign this year.
The district provides municipal services such as firefighting, planning and mosquito control, among other things, and was controlled by Disney supporters for most of its five decades.
Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort, said in a statement Wednesday that the company was pleased a settlement had been reached.
“This agreement opens a new chapter of constructive engagement with the new leadership of the district and serves the interests of all parties by enabling significant continued investment and the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs and economic opportunity in the state,” Vahle said.
As punishment for Disney’s opposition to the law, DeSantis took over the governing district through legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature and appointed a new board of supervisors. Disney sued DeSantis and his appointees, claiming the company’s free speech rights were violated for speaking out against the legislation. A federal judge dismissed that lawsuit in January.
Before control of the district changed hands from Disney allies to DeSantis appointees early last year, the Disney supporters on its board signed agreements with Disney shifting control over design and construction at Disney World to the company. The new DeSantis appointees claimed the “eleventh-hour deals” neutered their powers and the district sued the company in state court in Orlando to have the contracts voided.
Disney filed counterclaims that included asking the state court to declare the agreements valid and enforceable.
Under the terms of Wednesday’s settlement agreement, Disney lets stand a determination by the board of DeSantis appointees that the comprehensive plan approved by the Disney supporters before the takeover is null and void. Disney also agrees that a development agreement and restrictive covenants passed before the takeover are also not valid, according to the settlement terms.
Instead, a comprehensive plan from 2020 will be used with the new board able to make changes to it, and the agreement suggests Disney and the new board will negotiate a new development agreement in the near future.
The newest resident of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s has made her debut at the park.
After a long journey, African elephant calf Corra made her first appearance Thursday with her family at the park’s Kilimanjaro Safaris exhibit at just two months old.
Baby Corra, weighing in at 312 pounds, was born to mother Nadirah, also born at Disney in 2005. Corra’s birth marks the first second-generation elephant birth in the park’s history.
It’s a family affair at the Kilimanjaro Safaris, where Corra joins not only her mother, but her aunts, grandmother and her father, Mac.
Corra’s birth was a nearly two-year-long process that started with the animal care team’s decision that Nadirah was ready for motherhood, according to the official Disney Parks Blog. Nadirah’s successful pregnancy and birth were made possible through Disney’s work with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan.
Through that collaboration, Disney is looking to further its efforts in conservation. Disney expects its African elephant community to expand even further with two more babies anticipated for 2025.
A Louisiana kindergartener turned a school bus safety rule into a game last month, leading to cheers from his classmates and now, people all around the world.
The 5-year-old boy, Xavier, lives in Carencro, about 60 miles west of Baton Rouge. Because he’s so young, when Xavier gets off the bus, his driver can’t pull off until he’s home safely.
One day, bus driver Chad Desormeaux heard the boy say he was the fastest kid alive, and then he ran home as the other kids cheered him on. His classmates yelled “Go Xavier,” looking on and screaming in excitement as he ran to his house about three doors down.
Desormeaux thought it was adorable, and he soon found out it’s an everyday occurrence. He decided to record one day and after getting permission from parents. He posted the video on TikTok on Dec. 1.
In one video, the bus driver asks the 5-year-old “You ready, Xavier?” before asking for a thumb’s up and opening the door so the student could take off.
“We sit there and we watch him run home that way to make sure he makes it into a driveway,” he told USA TODAY. “The faster he runs, the faster we can take off. It became a game.”
The video the bus driver uploaded has nearly 6 million views. Xavier told USA TODAY Tuesday afternoon that he feels great.
“I’ve been practicing,” he said, adding that he often runs by himself.
Desormeaux is no longer driving the school bus since he was recently elected to the school board. He previously worked as a substitute bus driver because there was a shortage of drivers in the area and did it for over a year.
Boy’s mother says attention has been a blessing
Xavier’s mother, Tiffany Saine, said her son has always been into racing and would often run in the family’s driveway when he was younger.
He loves running and playing Sonic and other video games, she said.
He has been riding the bus for about a year and racing from the bus to his house is an everyday thing. His family didn’t realize the video would blow up the way it did on social media, she said. Even the mayor of Carencro wants to meet the 5-year-old soon.
“We are blessed,” Saine said. “I feel excited and blessed for him to get acknowledged.”
Bus driver and 5-year-old take Disney World trip together
Desormeaux, Xavier’s bus driver, said he didn’t post the video for money or anything like that. He thought it was adorable and wanted to share.
Once the video went viral, an organization called Star Athletics reached out to him to invite the 5-year-old on a trip to Disney World.
Star Athletics is owned by Olympic Medalist Dennis Mitchell and his wife, coach Damu Cherry-Mitchell. The pair work with athletes such as Sha’Carri Richardson.
Louisiana 5-year-old Xavier with track superstar Sha’Carri Richardson in Florida.
The group contacted Desormeaux and invited Xavier to Orlando, where they got to meet Richardson and go to Disney World and other parks. It was 5-year-old Xavier’s first time flying and going to Disney World.
They also went to an Orlando Magic basketball game. While in Orlando, people who spotted the 5-year-old at Disney World asked to take photos with him.
“It was so much fun,” the boy’s mother said. “We went to Disney World. I mean, they just showed us so much love.”
Former Louisiana bus driver Chad Desormeaux and Xavier. The 5-year-old rode Desormeaux’s bus and went viral after the bus driver uploaded an adorable TikTok video of the boy running from the bus to his house.
Desormeaux said Xavier is a gifted child and the two have grown to be pretty close.
Desormeaux has four kids of his own. He also has a few kids living with him who came home with his son from college. He has a full house of young people with his son, four football players, his daughter and her best friend.
“It’s all for good reason,” he said. “All the boys are 18. “Most of them are going to get scholarships in football, including my son … It’s just to get them through graduation.”
One of the young men staying with him wants to be a firefighter, so the family is helping him reach his goal.
Top left to right: Joe Black, Mallory Looney, Chad Desormeaux, Austin Dyson (player), Omarion Savoy (hoodie), Brenna Desormeaux, Shelby Cloteaux (glasses). Bottom left to right: Kameron Cyprien and Savanna Desormeaux.
Bus driver who filmed viral video has sights set on mayoral run
Desormeaux joined the school board after talking to his wife about wanting to do more in their community. When he found out a school board member was leaving soon, he decided he’d go for it.
He was elected last year and started this January. Later on, he plans to run for mayor.
“We currently have a mayor who is very, very good,” he said, but when she’s done he plans to run.
Louisiana 5-year-old Xavier, who proclaimed himself the fastest kid alive He went viral after his bus driver posted a video of him sprinting from the bus to his house.
For now, he plans to serve a few terms on the school board.
He’s glad to have met Xavier and said the more he gets to know him, the more he is amazed by him.
“He might be the fastest kid right now but I think he could be president one day,” he said.
