Let’s take a look at the latest news around the Walt Disney Company, including Disney Parks, Experiences, and Entertainment.
Walt Disney World
Here’s what’s happening at the Most Magical Place on Earth.
Now Open! All the Recently Opened WDW Attractions and Experiences
On May 26, Walt Disney World opened attractions and experiences across the parks (but most in Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Here is the full rundown.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
- Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster Starring the Muppets
- FØØD by Swedish Chef
- Walt Disney Studios Courtyard (including Animation Academy experience with Olaf Draws!, Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!)
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run retheme to The Mandalorian (opened May 22)
- Soarin’ Across America
- GoofyCore (CommuniCore Hall, part of Disney’s Cool Kid Summer)
- Bluey’s Wild World (Conservation Station)
- Jessie’s Roundup at the Diamond Horseshoe
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress – Major Updates Ahead
“Now is the time. Now is the best time!”
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress will soon close for a major overhaul. Beginning July 6, this beloved attraction, which originated from the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, will close for upwards of a full year to undergo a full refresh.
Back in August 2025, Disney announced that a Walt Disney animatronic would introduce the show. Now, Disney has “progressed” through the decades, announcing a complete restructuring of all four show scenes.
Historically, the Carousel celebrates life in America through a series of four acts. The first three acts are set in distinct decades: the 1900s, 1920s, and 1940s. The final act is set in a vaguely futuristic setting.
With the newly announced refresh, the Carousel will soon celebrate new decades of life in America, including:
- Act 1 – the 1960s (summer 1969). The family gathers around to watch the historic first moon landing. Will we hear a reference to Woodstock? Only time will tell.
- Act 2 – the 1980s (Halloween 1985). For the first time ever, daughter Sarah will take center stage, sharing all-new (in the 1980s) appliances and gadgets. Uncle Orville will still be in his favorite bathtub getting “no privacy at all around this place!”
- Act 3 – The New Millennium (New Year’s Eve 1999). The internet is making a “small world” even smaller. As the family counts down to 2000, don’t be surprised to see a Y2K reference.
- Act 4 – The Possible Future. Looking into the distant future, our favorite family enjoys an out-of-this-world home, employing a helpful robot and imagining a future where “extraordinary innovation has become part of life and proves that a beautiful tomorrow is just a dream away.”
To create this new look into the future, Disney Imagineers revisited the past, taking inspiration from original concept sketches by Disney Legend (and visionary) John Hench.
Disney has not announced a reopening date, other than “2027.”
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – New Destinations and Gameplay
On May 22, a new Mandalorian-themed version of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run opened at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, to celebrate the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu in theaters.
Guests now get to fly the iconic Millennium Falcon alongside the Mandalorian’s Razor Crest, chasing bounties across the galaxy. For the first time ever on Smugglers Run, riders can now choose their own adventure, flying to Cloud City on Bespin, the city-planet of Coruscant, or the wreckage of the second Death Star in orbit above Endor.
The gameplay component of the attraction has improved as well. Riders in the engineer positions can now communicate with Grogu, adding a much-needed layer of adorable to a crew position that has historically been quite unexciting.
The pilot role has also improved, with those in the pilot seats now able to make several decisions altering the Falcon’s flight path.
The functionality of the gunner role hasn’t changed, but there is plenty more for gunners to shoot in this new mission (look out, TIE fighters).
Box Office Update: The Mandalorian and Grogu grossed $98 million domestically and $167 million worldwide over its opening weekend, just about covering the film’s production budget (not including the marketing campaign).
Entertainment News
A few notes from the big screen and television.
Hoppers – Releasing on Disney+ June 3
It’s been a minute since Pixar released a banger in theaters. But Hoppers – the studio’s best-received title in recent memory – has bucked that trend. Released to theaters on March 6, Hoppers has been noted by many as Pixar’s most critically acclaimed original film in over a decade. Audiences agree, as the film opened to over $45M domestically. It was the best opening weekend for a Pixar original since 2017’s Coco, and it eventually grossed over $371M worldwide.
Hoppers follows animal lover Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda), who uses a groundbreaking technology to “hop” her consciousness into a lifelike robotic beaver, uncovering a hidden animal world shaped by its own rules. Along her adventure, Mabel meets a charming beaver King George (Bobby Moynihan) and a memorable menagerie of local wildlife.
If you didn’t see Hoppers in theaters and you’re curious what it’s about, check out the trailer here:
Disney Parks and Experiences Sales and Promotions
Here are the newest promotions for visits to Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
Save Up to 25% on Select Stays of 4 or More Nights at a Disneyland Resort Hotel
This existing promotion rewards guests looking to enjoy a longer Disneyland vacation this summer. Guests staying in a Disneyland Resort hotel for 4 or more nights can save up to 25% on select room types, from May 22 through September 7, 2026.
Save Up to 15% on Select Shorter Stays Sunday Through Thursday Nights at a Disneyland Resort Hotel
Guests looking for a shorter Disneyland vacation this summer – this promo is for you. Guests staying in a Disneyland Resort hotel Sunday through Thursday nights can save up to 15% on select room types, from May 22 through September 7, 2026.
Walt Disney World Ticket Promo: Florida Residents Enjoy a Disney Summer 4-Day Ticket for $65 Per Day + Tax
Florida residents can choose from several multi-day options, including:
- 4-Day Ticket: $65 Per Day + Tax (Total Price: $259 + Tax)
- 3-Day Ticket: $80 Per Day + Tax (Total Price: $239 + Tax)
- 2-Day Ticket: $110 Per Day + Tax (Total Price: $219 + Tax)
Read all the details on these promotions here.
Other Disney Parks and Experiences News and Promotions:
- Disney Cruise Line: Kids Sail for 50% Off
- Walt Disney World 2027 Tickets and Packages Available, and Disney Dining Plan Updates
- Walt Disney World Deals and Free Dining for Summer and Fall 2026
- Disneyland Deals for Summer 2026
Ask me how I can help you plan for 2027.
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