Wanting again, 2024 was the primary yr because the pandemic that a go to to Walt Disney World felt largely prefer it did earlier than 2020. For many guests, theme park reservations turned a factor of the previous. We lastly noticed the return of all-day park-hopping, and even Disney Eating plans got here again. It additionally marked the completion of Epcot’s multiyear transformation and the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Journey at Magic Kingdom.
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Now that we flip the web page ahead to 2025, it is time to see what the brand new yr will carry to Walt Disney World.
The excellent news: There are a handful of latest rides, points of interest and experiences opening within the subsequent 12 months. And — as introduced on the Disney Experiences Showcase at 2024’s D23: The Final Disney Fan Occasion — a slew of developments are coming to the Central Florida theme park. New additions embody lands themed to “Automobiles” and Disney villains at Magic Kingdom, a “Monsters, Inc” land at Hollywood Studios and a Tropical Americas land to switch DinoLand U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom.
The less-good information: The street to all of that cool new stuff is paved with building … a number of years of it.
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So whereas we’re in a spot between years with a number of new lands and points of interest, there’ll nonetheless be loads of new issues to see and do. Listed below are 9 new issues to sit up for at Disney World in 2025.
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away
Because the Foremost Road Electrical Parade rolled out of Magic Kingdom 2016, the one method Disney World guests may see a nighttime parade was by buying a ticket to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Social gathering or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Social gathering.
In the summertime of 2025, Disney will introduce an all-new nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom known as Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away. Disney guarantees that the parade will characteristic characters from movies like “Peter Pan,” “Encanto,” “Frozen,” “Moana” and extra in “a complete new mild.”
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Based mostly on the idea artwork and the few particulars Disney has already shared, the Blue Fairy from “Pinocchio” will use the “magic of starlight” to light up the parade floats and character costumes as they journey by way of the park.
Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern
One thing tasty is washing ashore in Magic Kingdom in late 2025 when a brand new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge opens in Adventureland. The lounge can be close to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and can incorporate the characters, lore and swashbuckling merriment related to the trip.
Disney stated there could also be “various mysterious and magical surprises in retailer;” this might imply something from character appearances to interactive experiences a la Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. One “shock” it did reveal is that Peg-Leg Pete (aka Barker Chicken, an animatronic parrot who used to greet friends on the trip’s entrance) will reside within the lounge.
To date, the one point out of what Disney could also be cooking up within the galley is that there can be a “sea-worthy choice of grogs and grub.” Although not expressly said, the language implies you’ll seize an alcoholic beverage along with your meals. However, in staying true to Magic Kingdom protocol, you possibly can solely imbibe contained in the restaurant and will not have the ability to take your drink to-go as you stroll by way of the park.
Reimagined Take a look at Observe
In case you’re searching for a brand new trip at Disney World in 2025, the closest you’ll get is with the reimagining of Take a look at Observe that has been happening at Epcot because the trip’s closure in the summertime of 2024.
However starting in late summer time of 2025, Take a look at Observe, introduced by Common Motors, will once more put friends within the driver’s seat. When it reopens, there can be an all-new storyline and vehicles with an all-new look. Disney hints that you just may get to see a few of the vehicles whirling across the observe for “check runs” in early 2025 if you’d like a sneak peek.
We count on this to be a extremely fashionable trip when it reopens, so that you may need to brush up in your Lightning Lane Multi Move abilities earlier than any late-summer 2025 and past journeys, simply in case.
Spaceship Earth lounge
One other new lounge coming to Disney World within the late spring of 2025 can be discovered at Epcot. This lounge’s design (and site) will take inspiration from the park’s icon, Spaceship Earth. The Spaceship Earth lounge area can be the place a company lounge was, and it will provide a view of the park’s Celebration Gardens and even the nighttime fireworks.
Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After
In September 2024, Disney introduced that Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, a theater present at Hollywood Studios with an animatronic model of Lightning McQueen at heart stage, would shut in early October to make method for one thing somewhat extra … depraved.
Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After will characteristic dozens of characters from the darker aspect of Disney, together with Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook and Maleficent; they may break by way of the Magic Mirror (of “Snow White” fame) and belt out notorious performances.
The information of Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After got here on the heels of Disney asserting at D23 that a complete land dedicated to Disney villains is being deliberate for Magic Kingdom. Constructing a complete theme park land takes time, however Disney is giving followers a small chew of the poison apple, so to talk, with this new present.
The present is scheduled to open in the summertime of 2025 after the theater’s malevolent makeover is full.
The Little Mermaid — A Musical Journey
That is not the one addition coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios: It’ll get one more present in its lineup starting in the summertime of 2025 when “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Journey” takes the stage. This present will characteristic all-new units, dwell performers, puppets and fashionable songs corresponding to “Below the Sea,” “A part of Your World,” “Daughters of Triton” and “Kiss the Woman.”
Zootopia: Higher Zoogether!
We have recognized since 2023 that the “It is Robust to Be a Bug” attraction inside Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life can be getting a “Zootopia” retheme.
At this yr’s D23 Disney Experiences Showcase, Disney lastly revealed the brand new attraction will open in winter 2025.
In its present state, “It is Robust to Be a Bug” is a 3D movie that includes characters from the animated film, with a number of 4D results and animatronics combined in. Zootopia: Higher Zoogether! will probably observe an analogous format however with a contemporary, new storyline that includes Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde together with the remainder of their furry, feathered and scaly associates.
Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
It technically opened very late in 2024, however for many friends, 2025 would be the first probability to take pleasure in an all-new, free-standing, 10-story Island Tower on the fashionable Polynesian Village Resort. It is on the aspect closest to the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.
You’ll be able to e-book this Disney Trip Membership property with DVC factors (here is easy methods to hire them) or with money instantly with Disney. It presents new-to-Polynesian room varieties, corresponding to duo studios constructed for 2, one-bedroom suites and a two-bedroom penthouse, together with extra normal deluxe studios.
Its design inspiration truly comes from early idea artwork for the Polynesian Village Resort itself. It combines some beloved Disney tales and settings, corresponding to these from “Moana,” with the fantastic thing about the pure world.
With the opening of this property comes a “Moana”-themed splash pad, a brand new zero-entry pool and a brand new eating possibility, Wailulu Bar & Grill. It does not require advance reservations, and up to now, it has obtained very excessive marks amongst those that need straightforward breezy cocktails and perhaps even a poke bowl to go along with them.
Free water park visits for Disney resort friends
Disney Resort resort friends can begin their 2025 trip off with a splash with a free water park go to on their check-in day. So, chances are you’ll need to take the early flight or keep off-property in your arrival day to take advantage of your “check-in” day. Tickets to Disney’s Storm Lagoon and Blizzard Seashore water parks usually value $74 plus tax for adults and $68 plus tax for teenagers ages 3 to 9. (Children below 3 are free in any respect Disney World parks.)
Reasonably than speeding to the parks as quickly as you arrive or ready till the second day of your trip to start out the enjoyable, you possibly can reap the benefits of a free water park go to in your arrival day. Disney’s water parks don’t remain open as late as its 4 theme parks, however in case you arrive early sufficient, you may simply sneak in a half-day at Storm Lagoon or Blizzard Seashore.
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