Disney released details about what new expierences are coming to Walt Disney World resort in 2025. But let’s review some perks and extras Disney is offering

Get Soaked

Don’t forget your 2025 Resort stay comes with free admission to a Disney Water Park on your arrival day.

Disney After Hours Returns

Start your night as early as 7 p.m. and stay three hours after the parks close, experiencing shorter wait times for attractions, meeting some of your favorite characters, and indulging in snacks like ice cream, popcorn, and select drinks included in your ticket. The events begin on January 6 at Magic Kingdom, January 22 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and February 27 at EPCOT. These are separately ticketed events, so check the Disney site for prices.

Hollywood Studios After Hours Dates:
January 22 and 29

• February 12 and 19

• March 5 and 26*

• April 1* and 30

• May 14 and 28

• June 4,11 and 25

• July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30

• August 6, 20 and 27

• September 3

*On March 26 and April 1, Disney After Hours will run from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m.

Magic Kingdom After Hours Dates:

• January 6, 13, 20 and 27

• February 3, 10, 17 and 24

• March 3, 17, 24 and 31

• April 7 and 28

• May 5, 12 and 19

EPCOT After Hours Dates:

• February 27

• May 8 and 29

• June 19 and 26

• July 10, 24 and 31

• August 7, 14, 21 and 28

• September 11 and 25

Prehistoric Preservation

You’ll get one or more chances to ride Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom in 2025 as Disney announced it won’t close until 2026.

Ok now let’s get into the new stuff:

Spring 2025

A Mission to Relax

EPCOT’s new spaceship earth themed lounge will open in Spring of 2025. This lounge will pay tribute to the EPCOT icon, Spaceship Earth. It’s an elevated lounge that will honor the history of Spaceship Earth and EPCOT itself. Disney’s chefs have created delicious culinary creations to complement the elegance of this setting. You’ll see views of World Celebration Gardens and a unique perspective of the nightly fireworks.

Summer 2025

It’s about (night) time for a parade.

“Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away” is the full name of the new Magic Kingdom nighttime parade, which will debut in the Summer of 2025. This new evening spectacle combines Disney storytelling and illuminating technology.

Lots of favorite characters from classic and new Walt Disney Animation Studios films like “Peter Pan,” “Encanto,” “Frozen,” “Moana,” and more will appear.

Disney says:

The Blue Fairy from, “Pinocchio,” will weave the transformative magic of starlight through each float and every costume in the parade, illuminating the stories in a vibrant constellation of wonder, hope and imagination.

The Worst is Yet to Come

Hollywood Studios’ new villain show, "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” replaces Lightning McQueen’s racing academy. It’s set to open in the Summer of 2025. Captain Hook and Maleficent will break through the glass to take center stage. Disney says, “performances full of witty humor and mischievous charm.” We’ll also see a few more favorite villains through the magical mirrors.

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Shell-abrate the Little Mermaid

Originally scheduled to open in Fall 2024, the new Hollywood Studios Little Mermaid show in the animation Courtyard will open in the Summer of 2025. This is not a rehash of the old show Disney says this is all new sets, puppets, and lights. Included songs will be, “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World,” plus two new-to-this-theater musical numbers, “Daughters of Triton” and “Kiss the Girl.”

A Thrilling Return

The beloved Test Track will return from it’s third re-do late summer 2025. General Motors is making its return as Test rack’s sponsor as the refurbishment of this ride adds references and images to the classic EPCOT ride World of Montion.

Late 2025

Bye Bye Bugs, Hello Zoo. 🐇

No exact closing date has been announced for It’s Tough to Be a Bug!, a 4D attraction shown in the theater underneath the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be closing. But we know its replacement show, “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” will open in the Winter of 2025. This means the end of the year, most likely around the time Zootpia 2 opens on November 26, 2025.

Rest those (peg) legs

The D-23 announced Pirates of the Caribbean-Inspired Tavern will open in “late 2025” according to Disney. Not many details are known about this tavern. The speculation is that it will be where the Pirates Leaguee used to be. And reading Disney’s blur, I thinkb it sounds like this is a family-friendly lounge with some neat surprises. Think along the lines of the Polynesian’s Trader Sams.

What are you most looking forward to?

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