Disney World Prepares For Complete Overhaul To Cinderella Castle

Something is shifting across Walt Disney World, and you can feel it even before you know what’s changing. Construction walls pop up overnight, long-standing attractions quietly close, and new experiences seem to be forming in every corner of the resort. Guests can tell Disney is in the middle of a massive refresh, even if not every update has been officially announced.

Credit: Kaleb Tapp, Unsplash

With so much movement happening all at once, attention is starting to settle on one place in particular—Cinderella Castle. A new development has pushed eyes toward Magic Kingdom’s most iconic structure, though Disney isn’t giving away the details just yet.

Before diving into what’s happening with the castle, it’s essential to look at how much the rest of Disney World is shifting. Entire lands are being built or reimagined, like the long-awaited Villains Land at Magic Kingdom and Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Both expansions show Disney stepping into bolder themes and fresh storytelling directions, giving fans entirely new corners of the resort to explore.

These large-scale additions indicate Disney’s commitment to reshaping the parks from the ground up, not just polishing what already exists. With these kinds of projects already in progress, it makes perfect sense that the resort’s centerpiece may be preparing for its own evolution as well.

At the same time, Disney is reimagining attractions and entertainment experiences across the resort. Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster’s upcoming Muppets retheme stands out as one of the boldest moves, taking a classic thrill ride and infusing it with the Muppets’ chaotic humor and personality. Disney doesn’t make changes this dramatic unless it’s planning for a new creative direction, and that decision alone says a lot.

Entertainment changes are also reshaping the guest experience, with Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After adding flair to nighttime offerings and the Disney Starlight Parade injecting vibrant new energy into Magic Kingdom. With updates hitting the parks from multiple angles, the idea of a castle transformation feels not just possible, but almost expected.

Cinderella Castle is more than an icon—it’s the emotional anchor of Walt Disney World. Guests treat it as a symbol of their entire vacation, the place where the magic officially begins the moment they catch a glimpse of it from Main Street.

Because of that emotional weight, any sign of change involving the castle always sparks conversation. Recent movement around the park, combined with Disney’s broader wave of updates, has fans wondering whether the castle could be next. Now, thanks to a new filing, that question feels more relevant than ever.

As of November 10, 2025, a newly filed permit lists work for Cinderella Castle with the description: “labor, material, and/or electrical for construction.” Disney frequently uses vague language in permits to avoid revealing exact plans too early, but this particular classification stands out.

It signals an actual construction project—something that goes beyond simple maintenance or touch-ups. When Disney lists materials, electrical work, and labor together, it typically indicates that crews will physically modify or upgrade part of an attraction or structure. With the castle involved, even a subtle hint carries major implications.

While Disney hasn’t shared details, a permit like this typically points to one or more of the following:

Structural reinforcement or interior work

Lighting or projection upgrades

Electrical improvements tied to nighttime shows

New technology installations

Cosmetic changes or exterior restoration

Preparatory work for a larger future project

Several months back, Disney announced plans to eventually repaint Cinderella Castle, bringing back more of its original character and classic tones. Fans immediately expressed excitement, hoping to see the softer, more traditional look return after the castle’s recent anniversary color scheme.

What Disney didn’t reveal, however, was when the repainting would begin or how extensive the restoration would be. Since then, guests have been waiting for the first sign that the project has officially started. Now, this new permit has reopened those conversations and sparked fresh optimism among longtime visitors.

The castle’s original cool-toned palette is deeply nostalgic for generations of Disney World guests. It’s the version featured in countless family photos, commercials, and memories, giving it a timeless quality that fans have always connected with.

The anniversary pink-and-blue makeover was a fun celebratory moment, but many feel it’s time for the castle to return to its classic elegance. If this permit marks the beginning of that restoration, it could be the most exciting update the park has seen in years. With the resort undergoing huge transformations, the timing feels almost too perfect.

With Disney World undergoing rapid transformation, Cinderella Castle appears to be the next significant piece of the puzzle. Whether the new permit signals a repaint, latest technology, structural improvements, or a combination of changes, something meaningful is clearly underway.

Disney may keep quiet for now, but the clues suggest a fundamental shift is happening behind the scenes. Whatever emerges, the castle’s next transformation will undoubtedly shape the future of Magic Kingdom. And as this new chapter unfolds, fans will be watching closely—eager to see what the heart of Disney World will look like next.

https://insidethemagic.net/author/sarahboardwine8732gmail-com/

Disney World Is Opening 3 New Locations In 2026. Here’s The Full List

We’re seeing quite a few ride changes in 2026 at Disney World! Over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is getting a Muppets retheme, Magic Kingdom’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is finally reopening after a year-plus closure with new effects and an updated track, and big things are happening at EPCOT, including new faces coming to the animatronics of Frozen Ever After and Soarin’ getting an “Across America” update during the country’s 250th anniversary celebration. However, we’ll also be seeing multiple new locations pop up over the theme park resort.

©Disney

Disney has confirmed a new theme park area coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and a new bar opening at a popular hotel, and has hinted at a new entertainment experience beginning work soon in Disney Springs. Without further ado, let’s check out these additions.

Animation Courtyard at Hollywood Studios permanently closed on September 25, 2025, and is being transformed into the Magic of Disney Animation! Part of the larger “Walt Disney Studios Lot” reimagining, this new offering will open in 2026 as a “special nod to the legendary Walt Disney Studios Lot” in Burbank, California (including Mickey’s famous Sorcerer Hat). Here, Disney Animation characters will “leap off the screen and into our world.”

©Disney

The new land will keep Animation Courtyard’s The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure and Walt Disney Presents, while introducing brand-new experiences inspired by beloved Disney characters and the “Once Upon a Studio” short film. We’re getting updated meet-and-greets, new drawing classes, and interactive experiences for guests of all ages, such as play zones like a “Drawn to Wonderland” garden/playground setting. During the transformation, Star Wars Launch Bay and Disney Jr. Play and Dance permanently closed, although “a fresh Disney Jr. show” has been teased.

Over at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, a new lobby bar is currently being installed.

Construction as of October 9th, 2025

Although it’s opening in 2025 (November 10th, to be exact), The Perch will still be fresh in 2026. This birdcage bar (inspired by a birdcage that was once found in the lobby) features beautiful woodwork, herringbone tile, and custom stained glass, all while serving up champagne, wine, beer, and two signature cocktails (the Sunshine State Rum Sazerac and the Floridian 75). A non-alcoholic option is also available (the Blueberry and Basil Iced Tea is a blend of lemon, blueberry, and basil tea).

While not confirmed to open in 2026, Disney has already begun hiring for Level99 in Disney Springs, and construction is underway, so we’ve begun speculating.

Construction walls

This space will be an interactive, social entertainment experience that presents “real-world, challenge-based, social entertainment” for adults. Expect to see physical and mental challenges set in artistic environments, such as 60 challenge rooms and duels in a futuristic arcade setting. The largest location of this chain, the Disney Springs Level99 will be 45,000 square feet in a two-story space and will feature dining with a chef-crafted menu — including LEVEL99’s award-winning Detroit-style pizza

Full spread at LEVEL99 at Natick, Massachusetts

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/author/david-goodkind/

Out Of Nowhere, Disney Brings Back A Classic Frontierland Favorite

For a while now, it’s felt like Frontierland was slowly being chipped away, piece by piece.

Between the closure of beloved attractions and the rise of new IP-driven experiences, many longtime Disney World fans had come to terms with the idea that the “wild west” theming we grew up with might be on its way out for good.

But then—without warning—something changed.

Two years after quietly disappearing, a classic piece of Frontierland has returned.

Frontierland has long held a special place in the hearts of Disney fans. It’s home to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the now-reimagined Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and the recently updated Country Bear Jamboree. But in recent years, the land has undergone a noticeable shift.

Splash Mountain closed in early 2023, and the beloved Shootin’ Arcade officially shut its doors in June 2024. Even Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café has faced rumors of change. The Shootin’ Arcade was replaced by McKim’s Mile House—a modern Disney Vacation Club (DVC) lounge with sleek finishes and comfy seating, but no trace of saloon-style theming or the wood-paneled nostalgia that used to define the space.

For fans of Frontierland’s rustic charm, all these changes started to feel like a slow farewell. So when the iconic Frontierland sign went missing in the summer of 2023, it wasn’t surprising—but it was disappointing.

This week, something unexpected happened: that very same Frontierland sign—once thought to be permanently gone—was spotted back at Magic Kingdom.

The sign now hangs above the DVC kiosk outside McKim’s Mile House, right in the heart of Frontierland. And while it’s been given a bit of a facelift, it hasn’t lost its spirit. The wood is no longer weathered or rusted, but the design remains true to its roots: two planks of wood, fastened together with metallic details, with the word “Frontierland” carved and painted in its classic red lettering.

There’s no flashy announcement. No blog post. Just a quiet return of a familiar icon—and fans couldn’t be more thrilled.

To someone unfamiliar with Magic Kingdom’s layout or the emotional connections fans form with the parks, this might seem like a small change. But it’s more than that. This sign represents a certain kind of Disney magic that’s rooted in storytelling, atmosphere, and detail.

It wasn’t just a marker. It was a welcome mat to another world—a place where you could suspend disbelief and find yourself transported to the American frontier, complete with outlaws, gold miners, and dusty saloons. Its disappearance left a gap, not just visually, but thematically.

It also comes on the heels of Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America closing, which doesn’t seem like an accident.

One of the reasons this sign’s return is so meaningful is that it runs counter to the narrative that Frontierland is fading away. With the Shootin’ Arcade gone, the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure replacing Splash Mountain, and Country Bear Jamboree having undergone a musical revamp, many believed the land would be gradually rethemed or absorbed into something else, and it is to a point.

That being said, it seems Disney is at least acknowledging the importance of Frontierland’s identity. They didn’t have to bring it back—but they did. And that decision means something.

Social media lit up the moment fans noticed the sign had returned. On Reddit, posts filled with excitement and nostalgia began popping up immediately. One user said, “It’s just a sign, but honestly, it brings the whole land back together again.” Another joked, “Frontierland isn’t dead after all!”

It’s a reminder that the Disney Parks experience is built just as much on small, thoughtful details as it is on big attractions. Guests notice when those details disappear—and they celebrate when they come back.

In a park that’s always evolving, the return of this sign feels like a rare moment where tradition wins out over transformation.

The big question now is: what does this mean for the future of Frontierland?

Is this simply a cosmetic nod to the past before more change arrives? Or could it be a quiet sign (no pun intended) that Disney is listening to its fans and recognizing the emotional weight these legacy areas carry?

It’s too early to say for sure, but the timing is interesting. With the recent rollout of new shows and experiences across other lands—including the Disney Starlight nighttime parade and upcoming D23 announcements—it wouldn’t be surprising if Disney is reassessing how it approaches its older lands.

As the large Magic Kingdom expansion comes true, Frontierland may play a pivotal role in bridging the old with the new, and perhaps, that means the land still has a place in the theme park after all.

https://insidethemagic.net/author/andrew/

Spaceship Earth Closes After 42 Years At EPCOT

EPCOT’s 42-year-old Spaceship Earth ride shut down last week.

Spaceship Earth opened alongside EPCOT on October 1, 1982. The geodesic sphere immediately became the second Central Florida Disney park’s icon, featured in countless photographs, videos, and merchandise items over the last four decades.

Inside what many guests lovingly call the “EPCOT ball,” a slow-moving dark ride takes guests on a journey from the early days of humanity through centuries of innovation that led us to where we are today. When the omnimover reverses, an interactive digital screen appears, inviting guests to build their own futures through a series of multiple-choice questions.

Like any future-focused attraction, Spaceship Earth has faced criticism for being outdated, with the most recent update in 2007. In 2019, Walt Disney Imagineering announced plans for another update as part of the Future World reimagining at EPCOT.

However, the update was indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Walt Disney World Resort did keep its promise to build an adults-only Spaceship Earth-themed lounge, GEO-82. It opened earlier this month.

https://insidethemagic.net/author/jessicacolopy97gmail-com/

How To Get Rates As Low As $85 At Disney Springs®

Special rates starting at $85 are available to book now through June 30 at Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels for stays April 21 through July 31, 2025. Some blackout dates may apply, and availability may be limited. The rates do not include Resort Service Fees, daily parking fees (if applicable), taxes, or gratuities.

Magical Memories Await at Walt Disney World® Resort

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Cool Kid Summer at Walt Disney World is about to get even cooler! In honor of the 30th anniversary of Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, we’d like to seas the day and announce that Blizzard Beach will also be open for guests this summer in addition to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. From May 21 through September 7, Walt Disney World guests can enjoy the tropical shipwreck oasis of Typhoon Lagoon and the frosty fun of Blizzard Beach water park.

More of a good thing is always a great thing. And more Disney magic just might be the best thing of all. That’s exactly what you get at a Disney After Hours event. You get three hours––after hours–– Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, Magic Kingdom® Park and EPCOT® on select nights.

Find a sweet spot under the stars to watch Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away—a shimmering processional inspired by the classic Main Street Electrical Parade. It’s a star-kissed constellation of Disney dreams, brought to life by the magic of the Blue Fairy. Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away is scheduled to debut in summer 2025.

Disney Springs is the place where you come to indulge in all things your heart desires. Where fashion-forward finds fit like a dream. Where delectable dining delights your taste buds. Where entertainment is an enchanting escape. Come experience a wonderland and find happily whatever you’re after.

Entertainment offerings are subject to change without notice. Admission to Walt Disney World Resort Theme Parks and select special events require a separately priced ticket valid only during specific event dates and hours. Inclement weather conditions may also affect outdoor entertainment.

EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival - March 5 To June 2, 2025

The Flower and Garden Festival is an absolute highlight of Spring in Walt Disney World, and has been since it made its debut in 1994. The EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival is ON from March 5th through June 2nd, 2025. And this year marks the 30th Anniversary of this beloved event.

Travelore News: Florida Governor, Disney Reach Settlement In Lawsuit Over Special District

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Walt Disney World opens new tab have reached a settlement to end a high-profile state lawsuit over the control of the special district that includes Walt Disney World in Orlando, the company said on Wednesday.

The settlement ends all litigation pending in state court of Florida between Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, according to the company. A district board appointed by DeSantis to oversee development around Disney's Florida theme parks had sued the company last year to void "backroom deals" favorable to the entertainment giant.

The lawsuit in state court in Orange County, Florida, had sought to invalidate an agreement prior board members made with Disney, arguing it amounted to a one-sided deal that was rubber stamped.

"This agreement opens a new chapter of constructive engagement with the new leadership of the district," Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle said.

Reporting by Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur, Reuters

Orlando, Florida, Debuts Self-Driving Shuttle That Will Whisk Passengers Around Downtown

There is going to be a new way to get around downtown Orlando, Florida, and it’s not going to require any human drivers.

Starting later this month, an electric, self-driving shuttle will whisk passengers around a 1-mile (1.6 km) loop in the downtown area for no charge, Orlando officials said Wednesday.

The eight-passenger shuttle service is part of a six-month trial for the central Florida city. Transportation planners hope to use data gathered from the pilot program to guide the city’s future transportation strategy.

“With the expansion of autonomous vehicle shuttles into our neighborhoods, we can converge cutting-edge technology with new mobility solutions to further redefine the way our community moves,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said.

The autonomous shuttle service is operated by Beep Inc., an Orlando-based company that already operates a similar service in a planned community near Orlando International Airport.

AP

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For details, please visit: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations Photo credit: ©Disney

Disney World To Host Major Summit On Gay Rights

The Walt Disney Company will host a major conference promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in the workplace in Central Florida this September, gathering executives and professionals from the world’s largest companies in a defiant display of the limits of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign against diversity training.

Disney’s decision to host the conference this fall comes amid a yearlong dispute between the company and the Republican governor, who signed a law that ended decades of autonomy at the Disney resort. It was seen as punishment over the company’s opposition to Florida’s Parental Rights in Education legislation, known widely as the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which prohibits any discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in classrooms before fourth grade.

Disney has had a longstanding relationship with Out & Equal, the organization behind the event, and is listed on its website as one of its most generous sponsors.

The Florida resort has committed to hosting the conference this year and next, which will coincide with the presidential election campaign in 2024. DeSantis is widely expected to challenge former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination.

Michael Chamberlain, chief marketing officer for Out & Equal, confirmed the conference would be held at The Walt Disney World Resort, Sept. 11-14. Last year’s summit was held in Las Vegas.

Dozens of iconic American companies — including Apple, McDonald’s, Uber, Walmart, Hilton, Amazon, Boeing, Cracker Barrel and John Deere — are sponsoring the Out & Equal Workplace summit, which over 5,000 people are expected to attend. Several agencies, including the State Department and the CIA, are listed as government partners and will have booths at the conference.

The conference comes after DeSantis declared victory over Disney in February when he signed a law that gave him the power to appoint a five-member board overseeing government services at the Disney district near Orlando.

“Today, the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end,” DeSantis said when he signed the bill. “This is what accountability looks like.”

In his recently released book, DeSantis describes how, after “Disney declared war on Florida families” by opposing the Parental Rights in Education bill and “indulged in woke activism,’’ he asked the Legislature “to reevaluate — and even eliminate — Disney’s special deal.” DeSantis married his wife, Casey, at the Disney World resort in 2009.

Squaring off against Disney was “a political battle that would reverberate across the nation,’’ he wrote.

The subsequent legislation left most of Disney’s special powers in place despite the governor’s attempt to dissolve the district. The conservative members the governor appointed to the board hinted at the first meeting of the new board that they would exercise leverage over Disney, such as prohibiting COVID-19 restrictions at Disney World. But legal experts have said that the new board’s authority has no control over Disney content.

Hosting the conference is another demonstration of the limits on the Republican governor’s ability to influence the content and scope of events at Disney.

‘LARGEST LGBTQ+ CONFERENCE’

Out & Equal says its summit “is the largest LGBTQ+ conference in the world,” bringing executives, employee resource group leaders, human resource professionals and experts in diversity, equity and inclusion together to promote equality.

“Over more than 20 years, Summit has grown to become the preferred place to network and share strategies that create inclusive workplaces, where everyone belongs and where LGBTQ+ employees can be out and thrive,” the website states.

DeSantis has campaigned against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, pushing for them to be eliminated at state colleges and universities in Florida and asserting that the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank was caused by its focus on DEI programs.

He has accused large corporations that engage in DEI training of attempting to “advance woke ideology through its employee ranks — and virtue signal in the process.”

Rep. Randy Fine, a Palm Bay Republican who last year sponsored the bill to dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which governed land use, fire protection, and sewer services on the Disney resort, said he had never heard of the summit and was not troubled by it.

“I’m not willing to interpret it as some grand conspiracy to stick it in the eye of the state of Florida,” Fine said Monday. “Disney is part of the fabric of the Florida economy. ... If they weren’t holding any conferences at Disney World, that would be news because that would be a big problem.”

He said that even the Legislature used to hold annual events at the resort “before all this woke stuff took over” and that, as a former gambling industry executive, he knows that in organizing a large conference, “there are only two places where you can have a conference and increase your attendance — Las Vegas and Orlando.”

Last year’s Out & Equal conference in Las Vegas included multiple speakers who advocated for the rights of transgender youth, and provided attendees with guidance on how to navigate anti-LGBTQ bills at the state level.

YEAR OF TENSION

Tension between DeSantis and Disney arose last spring, when Disney publicly opposed Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The measure prohibits discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, and in older grades when deemed “not age-appropriate.”

When Disney officials did not publicly lobby against the measure, some employees marched out of the company’s California headquarters in protest. Others urged executives to join corporations that were condemning DeSantis, who signed the bill into law.

After Disney published a statement demanding that the law be repealed, DeSantis retaliated by expanding the agenda of a special session on redistricting to include dissolving Disney’s special taxing district. An obscure provision in state law prohibits the state from dissolving the district until its bond debt — which amounted to more than $1 billion — was paid off.

In April, Disney quietly sent a note to its investors to show that it was confident the Legislature’s attempt to dissolve the special taxing district violated the “pledge” the state made when it enacted the district in 1967, and therefore was not legal.

Disney’s decision to host this year’s Out & Equal summit was announced several months later, to participants of the 2022 conference held in October.

After more than nine months of stalemate, legislators approved a measure in February that renames Reedy Creek as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, and the Disney-appointed board was replaced by conservatives named by DeSantis. But the measure also leaves most of the district’s special powers intact, including the company’s ability to tax itself to pay off its $1 billion in debt.

DeSantis’ office did not respond to requests for comment. Spokespeople for Disney declined to comment. Michael Wilner reported from Washington, D.C.; Mary Ellen Klas reported from Tallahassee.

Source: https://www.miamiherald.com/

New Orlando Terminal Is $2.8 Billion Bet On Florida Tourism

Visitors to the new terminal at Orlando International Airport may want to wear sunscreen, shades and a floppy hat.

Sun rays beaming through the windows of its soaring ceilings don’t just peck at the passing passengers — they practically smooch them as if they were spending a day at the beach.

Accompanied by realistic-looking fake indoor palm trees, gigantic LED screens depicting underwater springs and skylight views of blue skies and billowing clouds, Terminal C lets passengers know they have arrived in Florida. And that’s the point, as the world’s seventh-busiest airport makes a $2.8 billion bet when the 1.8 million-square-foot (167,225-square-meter) terminal opens to the public this week that Florida’s tourism is moving well beyond the pandemic slowdown and has a bright future.

“They get to see the sunshine so they really know they are in the Sunshine State,” Kevin Thibault, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, said of passengers arriving in the terminal. “It really is a facility for generations to come.”

With 40.3 million passengers last year, Orlando International Airport was the busiest airport in Florida, according to Airports Council International. However, that figure was still a fifth below the number of passengers in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic. For 2022, the airport had a rolling 12-month total at the end of June of 47 million passengers, just shy of the 50.6 million who came in 2019.

The addition of Terminal C gives the airport the ability to handle 12 million more passengers at the terminal’s 15 new gates in a first phase, increasing the airport’s capacity by a quarter. Airport officials say it will ease some of the crowding that had grown in the decade before the start of the pandemic at the airport’s other two terminals as central Florida became the most visited destination in the U.S.

The Orlando area had 59.3 million visitors last year, up two-thirds from 35.3 million in 2020, when central Florida’s theme parks shut down for several months and international travel was limited in an attempt to stop the virus’ spread. However, last year’s Orlando area visitor numbers still fell short of the pre-pandemic high of 75.8 million in 2019.

Like Orlando, the state of Florida this year is on pace to match its pre-pandemic tourism figures now that restrictions on international travel have been lifted. Florida had 122 million visitors last year, still short of the 131 million in 2019. But the first two quarters of this year put Florida’s 2022 visitor numbers on pace to match those from three years ago.
Officials at Orlando International Airport said the new terminal is one of the most technologically advanced in the U.S.

Suitcases and other baggage at Terminal C will be deposited in large, chip-embedded tubs that are tracked through radio frequency technology. The tubs reduce opportunities for wheels or straps to cause jams in the maze of conveyor belts that move luggage, and the system allows bags to always be tracked. The goal at the Orlando airport, which gets the most strollers and golf clubs of any in the U.S., is to move bags from a gate to the baggage carousel within five minutes, airport officials said.

“We don’t have to track the bag anymore. We are tracking the transport device,” said Scott Goodwin, assistant director of airport operations.

Passengers on international flights who have opted in can match their passport photos with facial scans at departure gates, speeding up the boarding process. At security checkpoints leading to gates, passengers will be able to place their carry-on bags in bins on automated conveyor belts rather than pushing them along tables until they reach the X-ray machines, speeding up the screening process by allowing travelers to bypass slowpokes in line.

“You can move ahead, grab a bin and you won’t seem impolite to anyone,” said Sari Koshetz, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration.

Terminal C is located across from a newly-built train station that will serve Brightline, a higher-speed line that is starting runs between South Florida and Orlando early next year. Airport officials believe that will open up Orlando International Airport to Europe-bound passengers from South Florida who may have previously used Miami International Airport.

Thibault said Orlando International Airport officials currently are in conversations about having seamless ticketing between Brightline and the terminal’s airlines, which include Aer Lingus, British Airways, Emirates, JetBlue and Lufthansa.

More than 90% of the terminal’s restaurants and stores, which include mandatory shops from Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando, are past security checkpoints in an effort to give departing passengers time to shop and eat once they are past security screening.

Arriving passengers will be flooded by sunlight since they will be on the upper-most level of skylighted Terminal C, a flip from the traditional design of having arrivals on the lower level and departures on the upper level.

“We want them to feel the sunshine. We want them to feel them palm trees, the flora and fauna,” said Curtis Fentress, whose firm was the terminal’s design architect. “It brings light into the building in a way that sort of dapples, like the light that used to stream through the orange orchards, historically.”

By MIKE SCHNEIDER

FBI Seizes Disputed Basquiat Artwork From Florida Museum

The FBI raided a Florida art museum on Friday and seized more than two dozen paintings attributed to artist Jean-Michel Basquiat following questions about their authenticity.

Orlando Museum of Art spokeswoman Emilia Bourmas-Fry said in a statement that they were complying with a warrant from the FBI for access to the ‘Heroes and Monsters’ exhibit, which is now in the government’s possession. She added that no one on the museum’s staff has been arrested.

“It is important to note that we still have not been led to believe the Museum has been or is the subject of any investigation,” Bourmas-Fry said. “We continue to see our involvement purely as a fact witness.”

According to a search warrant, federal art crimes investigators have been looking into the 25 paintings since shortly after their discovery in 2012. The controversy gained more attention shortly after the Orlando exhibit opened in February.

Basquiat, who lived and worked in New York City, found success in the 1980s as part of the Neo-expressionism movement. The Orlando Museum of Art was the first institution to display pieces said to have been found in an old storage locker years after Basquiat’s 1988 death from a drug overdose at age 27.

Questions about the artworks’ authenticity arose almost immediately after their discovery. The artwork was purportedly made in 1982, but experts have pointed out that the cardboard used in at least one of the pieces included FedEx typeface that wasn’t used until 1994, about six years after Basquiat died, according to the warrant. Also, television writer Thad Mumford, the owner of the storage locker where the art was eventually found, told investigators that he had never owned any Basquiat art and that the pieces were not in the unit the last time he had visited. Mumford died in 2018.

Orlando Museum of Art director Aaron De Groft has repeatedly insisted that the art is legitimate.

The exhibit was originally publicized to run through June 2023 in Orlando, the museum later announced it was ending next week. Bourmas-Fry said the art’s owners declined to extend the museum’s contract and were planning to send the works to Italy for exhibition.

“Based on my training and experience, I believe that the significantly advanced date of the international departure of the Mumford Collection from OMA is to avoid further scrutiny of the provenance and authenticity of the works by the public and law enforcement,” an FBI special agent wrote in the warrant request.

No criminal charges have been filed.

Disney World: Face Masks Optional For All Areas Of Resort

Walt Disney World has lifted the last of its mask requirements, meaning face coverings will be optional for visitors at all locations on the central Florida Disney property.

The rule change was posted Tuesday on Disney’s website. Masks are still recommended, though not required, for guests who are not fully vaccinated in indoor locations and enclosed transportation.

In February, the park made face coverings optional for fully vaccinated visitors in all indoor and outdoor locations, with the exception of enclosed transportation, such as the resort’s monorail, buses and the resort’s sky gondola. The new rule change removes the transportation exception, as well as the requirement to be vaccinated.

The change comes a day after a federal judge in Florida threw out a national mask mandate for public transportation. The ruling gives airports, mass transit systems, airlines and ride-hailing services the option to keep mask rules or ditch them entirely.

Major airlines were some of the first to update their rules after the court decision. United, Southwest, American, Alaska, Delta and JetBlue announced that effective immediately, masks would no longer be required on domestic flights. The ride-sharing companies Lyft and Uber announced on their websites Tuesday that masks will now be optional while riding or driving.

Disney Finds Itself In Balancing Act With Walkout Threat

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — With some workers across the U.S. threatening a walkout Tuesday, The Walt Disney Co. finds itself in a balancing act between the expectations of a diverse workforce and demands from an increasingly polarized, politicized marketplace.

On the one side are LGBTQ advocates and Disney employees calling for a walkout in protest of CEO Bob Chapek’s slow response in publicly criticizing Florida legislation that opponents dubbed as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The legislation awaiting the governor’s signature bars instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

On the other are politicians like Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who accuse the entertainment conglomerate of bending to cancel culture after a Disney decision to temporarily suspend political contributions in the state. According to Disney’s conservative critics, the company should be in the business of making profits, not pushing an agenda.

It was unclear how many employees would walk out or what might happen to those who do. Union leaders for the tens of thousands of unionized workers at Disney theme parks in Florida and California said they saw no momentum among their members for a walkout, and advised them not to do so because it would defy contractual obligations. Organizers said they expected some participation from production, marketing, IT and other non-unionized jobs.

Evan Power, the Republican Party chairman in Leon County, said he believes a strident minority of Disney employees are pushing the issue and DeSantis has more to gain by taking the side of parents who want more control over education and “sexual conversations” in early grades at school. DeSantis is viewed as a likely Republican presidential candidate in 2024.

“I think it pays dividends with parents across the state of Florida regardless of political divisions,” Power said.

Romualdas Dulskis, a Teamsters official in Orlando whose local represents costumed characters who portray Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and Stich at Walt Disney world, plus bus drivers and other Disney workers, his union did not support the walkout.

“That’s just not the way we are going to go about this,” he said.

Union leaders said contracts prohibits work stoppages or disruptions.

“I don’t want to downplay anyone’s efforts, if someone feels what they are doing is the right way to make an impact,” said Eric Clinton, president of Unite Here! Local 362, which represents custodians, housekeepers and other Disney World theme park workers. “We aren’t part of that. It would violate our contract if members of our union participated, though we are concerned about the issue, of course.”

One of the organizers of the walkout, a New York-based employee, said they were expecting participation by workers with the “privilege” to be able to protest to stand up for those who can’t, the employee said. The worker spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of being targeted online and because organizers didn’t want a single organizer taking the spotlight.

Workers participating in the walkout plan to meet up with each other at locations in Orlando, New York City, Anaheim and Burbank, California, where the company is headquartered.

“Queer employees have been pushing for years to make this company better -- it shouldn’t have taken all this for us to get the attention of people up the food chain. Our voices mattered before all this,” organizers tweeted Tuesday.

A Disney spokesman didn’t respond to an email seeking comment. Disney employed 190,000 workers as of last October, with roughly three-quarters working in its theme parks division.

Disney, whose movies and properties shaped generations of children around the world, has spoken out several times in recent years about contentious social and political situations.

It was one of a slew of U.S. companies that in January 2021 said it would suspend political donations to lawmakers who voted against certifying President Joe Biden’s electoral victory. It also spoke out early against a 2016 anti-gay bill in Georgia, threatening to pull its business from the state, which has become a favorite of movie and TV studios. The bill was vetoed by Georgia’s then-governor.

And the company has not been immune to changing societal expectations. It has said it would revamp the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain rides at its theme parks to remove racist and sexist elements and put short warnings in front of some of its classic movies on its streaming service, Disney+, alerting viewers to “outdated cultural depictions.”

This time, Chapek, who became CEO in 2020, has drawn fire for speaking out about the gender identity bill only after it passed the Florida Legislature.

Republican lawmakers pushing the Florida legislation had argued that parents, not teachers, should be the ones talking to their children about gender issues during their early formative years.

The legislation attracted scrutiny from Biden, who called it “hateful,” as well as other Democrats who argue it demonizes LGBTQ people. It has been sent to DeSantis, who is expected to sign it into law.

Chapek apologized earlier this month for not coming out more forcefully and publicly against the bill, saying Disney officials had been working behind the scenes to stop it. Chapek also announced a pause to all political donations in Florida and more support for advocacy groups fighting similar legislation in other states. Chapek reiterated those points during a company-wide discussion with employees on Monday.

Disney has long been influential in Florida politics, tending to be conservative and supporting Republicans who have been in control of Tallahassee, the state capital, for two decades, but also being more open on social issues, said Patricia Campos-Medina, co-director of the Worker Institute at Cornell University. “That’s why people felt surprised that they wanted to stay quiet on this issue,” she said.

Organizers of the walkout maintain that withholding political contributions isn’t enough.

On a website calling for the walkout, the group says that until the legislation is repealed, Disney leaders need to stop investments in Florida, including the relocation of 2,000 mostly professional jobs from its California headquarters to Orlando. They also say Disney needs to develop an LGBTQ brand similar to the Onyx Collective, an initiative aimed at developing content by and for people of color.

Power, the GOP official in Tallahassee, said he’s confident that Disney and Florida Republicans will get past this flashpoint and restore their relationship, eventually.

“It’s good that we’re pushing back, because the purpose of a publicly traded company is not to push an agenda,” Power said. “The people at Disney know they need to work with the Legislature and the governor, and they’ll come back around.”

Walt Disney Imagineering Presents The EPCOT Experience Closing Permanently On March 14, 2022.

Statement from Disney about the closing:

"Since its 2019 debut, Walt Disney Imagineering presents the EPCOT Experience has welcomed more than two million guests, as travelers from around the world enjoyed an immersive look at the past, present and future of this beloved park. This attraction gave our team a chance to share a first-person view of the vision coming to life during this ongoing “state of becoming.” It’s a rare moment to see these milestones unfold, and we’ve been inspired and deeply grateful to have this opportunity to pull back the curtain on our thinking.

With the transformation now well under way and many of those projects now open – including Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Harmonious and the upcoming debut of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind this summer – we have decided it is time to close the EPCOT Experience on March 14 and make way for exciting new activations of the Odyssey pavilion to create a great experience for our guests.

I’m proud of the work and storytelling that our Imagineers put into this incredible 360-degree presentation, as it beautifully set the stage for the largest transformation in the history of EPCOT, and provided an in-depth look at the exciting attractions and experiences being developed for this beloved park. I always like to say to our team that EPCOT is a park about people – our dreams, our curiosity and our ability to make magic possible when we work together. The EPCOT Experience was a showcase of all those things, inviting each of you to dream with us as we create the future of EPCOT together.

We have a lot more to share in the weeks and months ahead, and I am grateful for the opportunity to provide an in-depth look at the process through our Imagineering lens. Follow along with me here as we share more exciting details about this historic EPCOT transformation, including Journey of Water inspired by Moana, the ongoing evolution of World Celebration, and more!"

Source: https://wdwnt.com/

Universal Shuts Down Iconic Attraction For Good

Shrek 4-D is one of the first attractions that Guests were able to visit when they enter Universal Orlando Resort and was created in 2003 after the success of Shrek in 2001. Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Studios Japan would all open the attraction in 2003, and later in 2010, Universal Studios Singapore joined in.

In 2017, Universal Studios Hollywood closed down the attraction, and replaced it with Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor’s Quest attraction is located in the theater. That being said, it has not been confirmed what will take over the theater after the attraction shuts down, but considering the location of the attraction is front and center in the Park, it seems likely that something new will one day come in its place.

The show features Kong Fu Panda, and here’s what Universal Hollywood says about the attraction:

Get ready for another level of awesomeness at DreamWorks Theatre Featuring Kung Fu Panda, now open. Discover the all-new multi-sensory attraction using state-of-the-art visual effects and cutting-edge technology, including the first-ever interior projection mapping, 360 surround sound audio and sweeping physical effects, to engulf you in a world of adventure. Join Master Po and more from DreamWorks’ blockbuster franchise on a thrilling journey of awesomeness destined to stimulate your senses, exercise your wit and unlock the hero within through the power of kung fu.

We can speculate that another theater-type attraction will live in the space, as Halloween Horror Nights uses the space as well for their houses, but that is purely speculative. We know that Epic Universe will be utilizing a lot of DreamWorks IP, so perhaps we will see another DreamWorks attraction in place of Shrek 4-D as Universal continues to highlight those specific films.

The Shrek and Donkey meet and greet location that can be found at Universal Studios Florida will seemingly continue to live on, so Shrek fans can still get their fix.

At the moment, Revenge of the Mummy is also under a massive refurbishment at Universal Studios Florida. That being said, Guests can still enjoy attractions such as Rip Ride Rockit, MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack, Transformers: The Ride, and more. Visit Diagon Alley in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter where you can venture into Gringotts! Islands of Adventure has some amazing attractions like the new Jurassic World VelociCoaster, Jurassic Park River Adventure, The Incredible Hulk Coaster, Doctor Doom’s Fearfall, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, and more! Volcano Bay is also open for those who want to get their splash on.

Source: https://insidethemagic.net/

After Almost 2 Years, Water Park Reopens At Disney World On January 2nd

Orlando- The big waves are returning to Walt Disney World.

The theme park resort said Tuesday that it will reopen its Typhoon Lagoon water park after an almost two-year hiatus.

The water park closed in March 2020 as the coronavirus started spreading throughout the U.S. While Disney World’s other theme parks reopened in summer 2020 with virus safety protocols in place, the water park stayed closed.

Visitors to Typhoon Lagoon will be able to swim in its massive wave pool, slide down its water coaster and meander down its lazy river starting on Sunday.

Universal Orlando Reinstates Mask Rule As COVID Cases Rise

Universal Orlando is reinstating its mask requirements beginning Christmas Eve as COVID-19 cases are surging as a result of the omicron variant.

Daily cases of coronavirus have quadrupled in the past week in the state of Florida, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hospitalizations have increased by 12%, the CDC says.

But one of the largest hospital networks in Miami, Jackson Health, has reported twice as many COVID-19 patients on Thursday than it had a week ago.

Universal Orlando says masks will be required at all public indoor locations and at all attractions from the moment guests enter the lines to when they leave. A lot of lines for rides and shows in the resort theme parks start in outdoor areas.

The resort has seen a busy holiday season with popular rides this week reporting waits of up to three hours.

The requirements will be for guests and employees regardless of vaccination status and will cover restaurants, shops, and indoor hotel public areas.

Walt Disney World earlier this year relaxed its face covering rules to require them only indoors, and has not announced any decision to revise their policy.

Vaccinated Visitors Can Take Off Masks At Disney World Starting June 15th.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Walt Disney World in Florida is making it easier to see smiles again, but guests still can’t hug the characters.

Starting Tuesday, face masks will be optional for visitors to the theme park resort who are vaccinated, though Disney workers won’t require proof of vaccination, the company said on its website.

Visitors who aren’t fully vaccinated still will need to wear face masks indoors and on all rides and attractions. All visitors, whether vaccinated or not, will still be required to wear face coverings on buses, monorails and Disney Skyliner, the resort’s aerial gondola, according to the latest guidelines.

The decision on masks is Disney World’s latest tweak to the virus-related safety rules it created when the coronavirus pandemic was declared in March 2020. Disney World closed for two months last year at the start of the outbreak and reopened last summer with strict safety guidelines that involved masking, social distancing and crowd limits.

Last month, Disney officials started allowing visitors to go without masks outdoors. Disney officials said they expect to ease up on physical distancing guidelines in the near future.

“It’s important to remember that some experiences and entertainment may still be operating with limited capacity or may remain temporarily unavailable,” the company said on its website. “We’re not quite ready to bring back everything yet, but we are optimistic and look forward to the day when Disney pals and princesses are able to hug once again.”

Bird’s Eye View Of EPCOT Reveals Stunning Expansion

Disney is adding a brand new section to the existing France pavilion inside the World Showcase at EPCOT. This new expansion will debut Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction at Walt Disney World. Fans are eagerly anticipating an opening date for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and the rest of this new addition.

While we do not yet have an official opening date, we do have some incredible bird’s eye view photos of this new land, thanks to pilot and photographer, Jonathan Micheal Salazar (@TheDisneyPilot on Instagram).

We have been keeping a close eye on the expansion coming to the France pavilion. Disney has opened a small portion of the new area which contains restrooms and what will be home to a new grab-and-go snack window called, Le Creperie De Paris.

Thanks to these photos we can see the beautiful Ratatouille-themed fountain that will be directly outside of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction entrance. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is an attraction that can be found at Disneyland Paris, EPCOT is bringing this beloved attraction to the U.S.

You also get a sense of how large this new area will be when it opens for guests. Additionally, you can see the backside of the temporary structure that is separating the new courtyard from the recently opened walkway.

As you can see from the aerial photos, the Disney Skyliner also offers great views of the courtyard, so be sure to look outside your window next time you travel on the Skyliner to or from EPCOT!

So, when will the expansion of the France pavilion and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure open?

Disney has stated that Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will open with the rest of the France expansion in 2021. While we still do not have a date, we hope to see one as we get closer to the 50th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney has even added a sign under the revealed archway for the upcoming Ratatouille attraction saying “opening 2021”!

Source: https://insidethemagic.net/