Disney News & Discussion

Our reporters spotted two new pressed pennies, which are dated 2026, now available across the resort. We found these at EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, though more may be added later. EPCOT 2026 Pressed Penny We spotted the first penny at World Traveler near the International Gateway. The penny shares the machine with Mulan and the China Stamp. The design has 2026 dated on the right, while Mickey & Minnie Mouse hold hands on the left side. Disney’s Hollywood Studios 2026 Pressed Penny We spotted a second penny at Oscar’s Super Service in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The design features the park icon of the Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror, with 2026 dated below it in the same font as the EPCOT pressed penny. Are you looking forward to seeing new pressed pennies designs? Let us know on social media. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The post 2026 Dated Pressed Pennies Debut At Walt Disney World appeared first on WDW News Today.

First Look at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts Figment Artist Bucket! Here's All the Details:

The popular fitness shop remains open while it undergoes some extensive work in the larger half of the store. Changes Coming to the Fit2Run Disney Springs Location On a recent visit to Disney Springs, we noticed a significant portion of the Fit2Run store have been temporarily walled off, presumably for some form of refurbishment or reorganization. The location has not officially announced the nature of the work. A portion of the space appears to remain open while work is underway on the larger walled off section. Fit2Run is a specialty running and athletic footwear retailer focused on runners, walkers, and fitness-minded customers. Founded in 2006, the company is headquartered in Florida and operates dozens of brick-and-mortar locations primarily across Florida, with additional stores in select Southeastern U.S. markets and Puerto Rico. The brand markets itself as “The Runner’s Superstore,” positioning its stores as destination hubs for both performance athletes and everyday fitness participants. Fit2Run stores offer an assortment of running and training footwear, performance apparel, and accessories from major athletic brands such as Brooks, ASICS, HOKA, Nike, On, and others. The store chain initially occupied another location in Disney Springs closer to the former-NBA Experience building. The current location is located in the Town Center area among the shops in the enclosed walkway section between Planet Hollywood and the Disney Springs Welcome Center. The store moved to its current location in late 2020. You can find additional photos of how the space originally/typically looks in our previous report. Have you had the chance to visit this Fit2Run location at Disney Springs? Let us know on social media. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The post Fit2Run Store at Disney Springs Undergoing Refurbishment appeared first on WDW News Today.

A Florida family says they were left “shaken up” after allegedly being accused of shoplifting in an incident involving their autistic 7-year-old daughter during their visit to Epic Universe, according to a new report from PEOPLE. While visiting Super Nintendo World, a major draw for their daughter due to her “fixation” of Mario, the family entered the 1-Up Factory gift shop. There, the child selected a $16 Mario keychain. According to Nikki Daou, the mother and the family’s attorney, Eric “Rick” Block, of Morgan & Morgan, the store was crowded and prompted concerns about her daughter’s sensory overload. Daou then removed the barcode sticker from the keychain and handed it to her husband, who remained inside the store to complete the purchase, while Daou exited the store with her daughter and the item in hand. Moments later, the family alleges an unidentified Universal employee accused them of shoplifting outside the store. Despite attempts to explain that the child’s father was still inside with the barcode to pay, Block claims the family was escorted to another location where they were “interrogated” by park officials. The family was then allegedly issued a one-year no-trespass warning and instructed to leave the park immediately. “It was a traumatizing, and horrible and embarrassing situation, one that we will remember for the rest of our lives,” said Daou The family later received a letter from Universal’s attorneys demanding a $200 civil penalty for allegedly “intentionally” depriving the park of merchandise without payment. Daou strongly denies the allegation, stating, “Whether it was a dollar, $20 or $500, we wouldn’t have stolen it.” Block says he has since sent a demand letter to Universal alleging negligence, abuse of process, libel, and false imprisonment. He emphasized that the family is not seeking financial compensation and would instead donate any potential settlement to an autism-focused charity. “We really just want change. It’s important people understand we’re not asking for money,” Daou says. But, she claims, “I do want people held accountable for not complying with their own Universal guidelines and procedures when it comes to ADA and disabilities.” Nikki Daou, is a paralegal for Morgan & Morgan. Universal Orlando Resort has not commented at this time. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The post Family of Little Girl With Autism Accused of Shoplifting and Removed From Epic Universe appeared first on WDW News Today.

Temperatures are set to drop precipitously in Central Florida tonight leading to freezing weather on Friday morning.

The Disney Parks x Stoney Clover Lane Valentine's Day Collection Drops This Week!

The live-action Lilo & Stitch, Andor, and Wicked: For Good are among the nominees for the 63rd annual International Cinematographers Guild Publicists Award. ‘Lilo & Stitch,’ ‘Andor,’ ‘Wicked’ Nominated for ICG Publicists Award Variety reported the news, sharing that both Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch and Universal’s Wicked: For Good publicity teams are nominated for the Maxwell Weinberg Award for motion picture publicity. Those nominated include “unit publicists, individual publicists, studio publicists, as well as unit still photographers and members of the media.” The other film nominees are KPop Demon Hunters, Sinners, and Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Meanwhile, the critically-acclaimed Disney+ series Andor is nominated for the flagship Maxwell Weinberg Award for Television publicity campaign. Andor is a prequel to the events of Star Wars: Rogue One and currently has two seasons on the streaming platform. The live-action Lilo and Stitch was one of only two films to earn over $1 billion at the box office last year, the other being Zootopia 2. Wicked: For Good, the continuation of the smash hit Wicked: Part One, performed well in preview screenings but did not have the blockbuster endurance of its predecessor, despite having a record 400-plus marketing brand partnerships to accompany its release. However, Universal says it is “figuring out” how to keep the Wicked franchise going. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The post ‘Lilo & Stitch,’ ‘Andor,’ ‘Wicked’ Nominated for International Cinematographers Guild Publicity Awards appeared first on WDW News Today.

Pandora at Disneyland has released new jewelry themed to Disney Princesses, Year of the Horse, and more, as well as a new gift with purchase. New Pandora JewelryYear of the Horse Charm – $98‘Sleeping Beauty’ Aurora Crown Ring – $130‘Sleeping Beauty’ Maleficent Horns Ring – $98‘Snow White’ Evil Queen Charm – $115‘Little Mermaid’ Ursula Charm – $98Daisy Duck Charm – $85Stitch with Rose Charm – $98Mickey Ferris Wheel Charm – $105Disney Castle Charm – $135Partners Statue Charm – $115‘Once Upon a Time’ Book Charm Bracelet – $250‘Mulan’ Sword with Dragon Charm – $215‘Cinderella’ Slipper Charm – $215Disney Princess Jewelry Box with Bookmark – Gift with PurchaseLocation Year of the Horse Charm – $98 This charm celebrating the Year of the Horse features a shiny red silhouette of a horse’s head. ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Aurora Crown Ring – $130 This ring themed to Princess Aurora’s crown from Sleeping Beauty is gold with pink gems. ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Maleficent Horns Ring – $98 This studded ring is shaped to look like the horns of Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. ‘Snow White’ Evil Queen Charm – $115 This figural charm is shaped to look like the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She is wearing a gold crown and is holding a heart box. ‘Little Mermaid’ Ursula Charm – $98 This figural charm is designed to look like Ursula from The Little Mermaid. Her skin is purple and her tentacled body is sparkly. Daisy Duck Charm – $85 This minimalistic charm looks like Daisy Duck, complete with a purple stripe representing her shirt and a pink bow on top. Stitch with Rose Charm – $98 This figural charm is shaped to look like Stitch. In his mouth is a red and green rose. Mickey Ferris Wheel Charm – $105 This charm looks like a Ferris wheel with Mickey’s face in the center of it. The gondolas on the wheel are made with differently colored gems. Disney Castle Charm – $135 This dangling gold charm is shaped to look like a Disney castle. The part the charm hangs from is studded with gems. Partners Statue Charm – $115 This dangling gold charm is shaped to look like the Partners Statue in several Disney Parks. Walt Disney is holding the hand of Mickey Mouse while he waves. The part the charm hangs from is smooth. ‘Once Upon a Time’ Book Charm Bracelet – $250 This silver corded bracelet comes with a single charm. The charm looks like a book. On the front cover is a lab-grown diamond next to the text “Once upon a time.” The back cover says, “Happily ever after.” One side of the charm looks like the spine of the book, while the other side has gold-edged pages. ‘Mulan’ Sword with Dragon Charm – $215 This dangling, silver charm is shaped to look like Mulan’s sword with a gold dragon coiled around it. There is a lab-grown diamond on the front of the charm. ‘Cinderella’ Slipper Charm – $215 This dangling, translucent charm is designed to look like Cinderella’s glass slipper. There is a gold bow where the charm hangs, and the toe of the slipper has a lab-grown diamond. Disney Princess Jewelry Box with Bookmark – Gift with Purchase There is also a Disney Princess jewelry box as a gift with purchase. The box looks like a pink book and is decorated with the Disney Princess logo and icons of various Disney Princesses. The inside of the book has numerous compartments for storing your Pandora jewelry collection. A pink Disney Princess x Pandora bookmark is included with the jewelry box. The bookmark has a pink tassel and a silver Sleeping Beauty crown charm. The gift with purchase is available for guests who purchase two of the three lab-grown diamond pieces: ‘Once Upon a Time’ Book Bracelet – $250 ‘Mulan’ Sword with Dragon Charm – $215 ‘Cinderella’ Slipper Charm – $215 Location We found all the new Pandora jewelry at the La Mascarade d’Orleans shop in New Orleans Square at the Disneyland Resort. Will you be adding anything to your collection? Let us know in the comments and on social media. For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT. The post New Pandora Jewelry Themed to Disney Princesses, Year of the Horse, and More Now at Disneyland appeared first on WDW News Today.

Guests and visitors to Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Resort can carry their park essentials in this new Contemporary-themed tote bag. Contemporary Resort Canvas Tote – $19.99 The tote bag is an off-white color color across its canvas material. The face of the bag prominently features a graphic of the iconic A-frame tower of the Contemporary Resort in a white-blue color scheme. Behind the tower, a yellow minimalist sunset contrasts against the bright white and dark blues of the resort building. A monorail – specifically monorail red – can be seen swooping out of the tower, over some trees, towards the right edge of the tote. The direction of travel would suggest that the graphic specifically depicts the north face of the building, closer to the Magic Kingdom side. The bottom of the bag features the full logo of Disney’s Contemporary Resort in a matching blue. Location We found this new bag at Bayview gifts in the Grand Canyon Concourse at the Contemporary Resort. Let us know on social media if you plan on grabbing this Contemporary tote. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The post Exclusive Contemporary Resort Tote Now Available at Walt Disney World appeared first on WDW News Today.

Guests at Downtown Disney can enjoy a limited time opportunity to create their own custom Starbucks tumblers with Disneyland’s 70th anniversary designs. Create Your Own Starbucks Tumbler at Disney Home in Downtown Disney On a recent visit to Downtown Disney, we discovered a new “Create Your Own Tumbler” experience in the Disney Home store located near the center of the shopping district. The custom designs and product offering from Starbucks appear to be specifically promoting Disneyland’s 70th anniversary. Visitors can choose from an array of tumbler cups, Mickey-ear-shaped lids, and colorful straws to create a customized Starbucks tumbler, mixing and matching the afforementioned elements from six variants of Disneyland-centric designs. In the image above on the bottom center shelf, you can see six examples of the custom tumblers created using matching elements from each of the six designs. Positioned above that shelf, to the left and right of the Disneyland 70th signage, six other tumblers are displayed showcasing some examples of mixing the different design elements available. Disneyland 70th Create Your Own Tumbler – $59.99 Each completed tumbler (the combined product including a tumbler body, Mickey topper, and straw) is priced at $59.99. We’ll take a closer look at some of the different tumbler options below: The six designs can be identified by their dominant color scheme. Looking at the tumbler cups themselves, there are gold, chrome, blue, peach, teal, and confetti options to choose from. The gold tumbler features a sparkling gold base coast overlaid with a graphic of the classic Disneyland signage, accompanied by the iconic descriptor, “The Happiest Place on Earth”. The top rim and interior walls are a light red peach hue in color. The chrome tumbler features a stylized map of Disneyland in a white and dark blue color scheme. The base coat shows shimmering chrome appearance depending on the lightning. The top rim and interior continue the dark blue color scheme. The blue tumbler features the Disneyland D – specifically styled after the collection’s version of the Disneyland 70th logo – with Mickey emerging from within the D and waving a penant. The red penant emits a trail of red stars flowing across the heigh of the cup. The base color and the penant accents have a glossy finish. This peach version prominently features Tinkerbell positioned in front of the D logo and a trail of pixie dust across the cup. The base has a sparkling finish to it, and the overall color and the interior lining continues the peach coloration. This teal tumbler prominently features the original Disneyland signage logo, with the singular D logo patterned across the cup’s surface and accented with twinkling star graphics. The teal color appears almost translucent against a glossy interior base. Lastly, a “confetti” style tumbler featuring Mickey again with the penant rounds out the custom options. The multicolored dotted pattern is evocative of celebratory confetti and visually suggestive of a smooth, dotted texture. The interior lining is a solid lighter peach hue compared to the colors seen on the Tinkerbell or gold variants. Mickey Ears Tumbler Lids Each of the primary tumbler designs has a matching Mickey ears lid to go with it – or to mix-and-match as you like across disparate designs. As such they follow the same schemes in solid colors of gold, chrome, blue, light red, teal, and peach pink. Choose Your Own Straw Three straw designs are available for the collection, covering the collection’s dominant colors of dark blue, peach, and a rotating striped pattern of light peach, light teal, blue, and white. Notably this suggests that the gold and chrome variants are likely intended to align with the peach and dark blue straws, respectively. Between the six tumbler bodies, six lids, and three straws, it’s technically possible for a visitor to choose from 120 different create-your-own tumbler designs. Mystery Silicone Toppers – $12.99 If 120 possible designs isn’t enough for you, you can add some extra flare to your Starbucks tumbldr with one of these new “Surprise Silicone Topper” options. In keeping with the recent trend of mystery box collectibles, visitors can pickup a straw topper featuring one of five Disneyland 70th designs, with a sixth possibility of a red-lidded Starbucks coffee cup (an inversion on their famous red cup specials). The Disneyland designs included two blue variants of the D logo, a blue Disneyland Resort penant, and a pair of light blue Mickey ears. We found this collection available to customize at the Disney Home store near the center of the Downtown District at Disneyland Resort. How would you customize your own Disneyland 70th Starbucks tumbler? Show off your design ideas with us on social media. For more Disneyland Resort n

The Walt Disney Company has named Asad Ayaz its first-ever Chief Marketing And Brand Officer. Here is the latest.

Dr. Mark Penning, VP of Disney’s Animals, Science, and Environment, had previously teased a 40th anniversary celebration on Instagram of The Living Seas. In a new Instagram post, he shared some fun facts about the iconic EPCOT Pavilion. The Living Seas Facts Image source: RetroWDW.com The first fact is that Spaceship Earth can comfortably fit inside the main environment at the Seas, as it is 203 feet across. There would still be enough room to drive a Disney bus around the perimeter. The Living Seas was planned for EPCOT years before the park’s 1982 opening. It was at one point scheduled to open in 1984. After delays, it ultimately opened on January 15, 1986. It was sponsored by United Technologies until 1998. The second fact is that the main environment is 35 thousand square feet and holds 5,7 million gallons of water, while also maintaining 793 thousand gallons for storage and additional habitats. Upon opening, The Living Seas had a movie about the oceans called The Sea, followed by an “elevator” to the ocean floor called the Hydrolator and the Caribbean Coral Reef Ride. The experience concluded in the SeaBase Alpha aquarium. The third fact concerns sea turtles, in that over 350 sea turtles have been rehabilitated in collaboration with the ASE Conservation team and organizations like Florida Fish & Wildlife. Turtle Talk with Crush opened in November 2004 to overwhelming popularity. The pavilion closed in August 2005 and began to reopen in November 2005. Turtle Talk was moved to a larger area, and the entire pavilion received new Finding Nemo decorations. The fourth fact is that construction took 22 months, and 27 truckloads of non-iodized salt were used to fill the environment. There are 9 species of sharks, those being blacktip reef sharks, sandbar sharks, sand tiger sharks, and Hali, its only scalloped hammerhead shark. He concludes by writing that the 40th anniversary of the pavilion will be on January 15. See the full Instagram post here. The Caribbean Coral Reef Ride actually closed in late 2001 amid declining park attendance. It was updated and reimagined into The Seas with Nemo & Friends, which opened in early 2007. Over the past few years, Disney has made a few design updates to The Seas. New signs were installed for the SeaBase aquarium and Coral Reef Restaurant. The façade was updated with a new color scheme and lighting in late 2023. Last year, the aquarium switched from a long-term care residence to a short-term rehabilitation center. The diver lock-out chamber demonstration also returned after five years. Watch our 4K multi-cam POV video of The Seas with Nemo & Friends below. Will you be at EPCOT to celebrate 40 years of The Seas? Let us know on social media. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The post VP At Disney Shares Facts About The Seas In Honor Of 40th Anniversary appeared first on WDW News Today.

Disney Legends, Imagineers, and cast members share emotional reactions after an advance screening of Disneyland Handcrafted.

Signs of Lunar New Year are now appearing around Disney California Adventure, with the festival’s signature arch now in place. Lunar New Year “Year of the Horse” Arch Installed The red and yellow arch is installed at the entrance to the Performance Corridor and has the same details as in years past, supported by two columns showcases the Disney character representing that year’s animal with themed Mickey icons around the base. the arch. This year is the Year of the Horse, and Horace Horsecollar is the festival mascot. A red banner with yellow flags declaring “Year of the Horse” flies underneath the center of the arch. Each side of the column has the same artwork of Horace Horsecollar dressed in his festival outfit above a yellow “Year of the Horse” banner. This same character design is also featured on a button exclusively available for Magic Key holders. The arch is identical on either side. Lunar New Year Celebration The 2026 Lunar New Celebration at Disney California Adventure runs from January 23-February 22, 2026, celebrating the Year of the Horse with tributes to Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures. Check out our full guide to the festival, including menus and entertainment offerings. Are you excited for this year’s Lunar New Year celebration? Let us know on social media! For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT. The post Lunar New Year Arch Installed at Disneyland Resort appeared first on WDW News Today.

Since our last construction update, new scaffolding has risen up next to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Magic Kingdom as its refurbishment continues. New Scaffolding Next to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad In our last update, we saw the construction walls around Big Thunder Mountain Railroad expand outward as the ride continues testing. Now, a new scaffolding structure is clearly visible near the loading stations. A notable amount of scaffolding was removed late last year, and just as we predicted, the construction crews are starting work on the guest-accessible sections of the mountain. Golden Spike Ceremony Walt Disney World recently celebrated a milestone in the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment with a golden spike ceremony, an old tradition in American railroad construction, to commemorate the completely rebuilt steel track. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has been closed at Walt Disney World for a year as Imagineers gave the classic ride a complete refurbishment. The coaster has new ride vehicles that have been testing, refreshed Audio-Animatronics, gold props, and an updated Rainbow Caverns opening scene. The reimagined Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will reopen this spring. Are you excited to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad again? Let us know on social media! For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The post New Scaffolding Rises Up Near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Walt Disney World appeared first on WDW News Today.

The next time you visit the AMC DINE-IN Disney Springs 24, keep in mind that you’re walking in the footsteps of Disney Legends, Imagineers, and Disneyland Handcrafted director, Leslie Iwerks. Via rare archival footage, the new documentary explores the days leading up to the opening of Disneyland in 1955, revealing the pressure of tight deadlines

January 16 will mark the fifth anniversary of the opening of Gideon’s Bakehouse at Disney Springs. Gideon’s has shared an Instagram post with details about celebrating this milestone, while teasing a big announcement. Gideon’s Bakehouse Fifth Anniversary The Instagram post promises a free gift to the first thousand transactions this coming Friday, which is a limited-edition commemorative art print reminiscent of the original opening day print. In case you can’t make this (because you’re at the Festival of the Arts), there is an alternative version signed by the art director at Gideon’s, Michael Reyes. This edition size will be equal to the number of orders received until Monday, January 19, 10 AM EST. Additionally, at the bottom of the post is a tease for some “big info.” This could be the unveiling of the long-rumored second location at Disney Springs, for which we might have spotted artwork. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gideon's Bakehouse (@gideonsbakehouse) Hi! This Friday is our 5-year anniversary of Gideon’s in Disney Springs, and, as promised, I’m giving you a little heads-up on a free gift. To mimic our grand opening day celebration, we are giving away a new limited-edition commemorative art print to the first 1k transactions of the day. This new print features the Gideon’s Morsels version of our Gargoyle and perfectly mimics the original Gargoyle print! It measures 11×14 and will have a strict limit of one per person/transaction. Only available at Gideon’s in Disney Springs this Friday. Can’t make it to the celebration? We are offering an alternative color version of this print, signed by our biggest crush, Gideon’s art director, Michael Reyes. This Limited Art Print is an open edition. What does open edition mean? You have until Monday, January 19th, at 10 am EST to place your order. The edition size will be equal to the number of orders. On Sale this Friday at 10 am EST only at gideonsbakehouse.com. Limit 2 per household. We’re dropping some big info this Friday, so meet me back here in a couple of days. I’m excited to tell you something. Earlier in the month, we looked at the menu and limited-time offerings for January, which are bananas. Would you rather go to the opening day of Festival of the Arts or pick up a free art print from Gideon’s? Let us know on social media. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The post Gideon’s Bakehouse Teases 5 Year Anniversary Celebration And Major Announcement At Disney Springs appeared first on WDW News Today.

Know before you go! #DisneyVillage #DisneylandParis #DisneyParks

The WWE is facing a class action lawsuit which argues that the promotion of its streaming deal with ESPN misled customers.

The Walt Disney Company will discuss their fiscal first quarter 2026 financial results via live audio webcast on Monday, February 2, 2026. Q1 2026 Earnings Call for Investors Disney shared the news in an official news release. The webcast will begin at 8:30 a.m. ET / 5:30 a.m. PT. The stream will be broadcast at www.disney.com/investors. The Walt Disney Company’s earnings calls follow a fairly consistent structure and focus on financial, operational, and strategic topics. The webcast is primarily intended to cover quarterly performance, address investor concerns, and outline management’s forward-looking priorities. Highlights from these calls typically include financial performance, streaming performance from platforms like Disney+, developments within parks and experiences, and longer-term strategy across the company portfolio of products and services. Importantly, we are anticipating an announcement regarding who the company will name as the next CEO, replacing Bob Iger. As we covered in December, recent industry polling suggest Josh D’Maro is a highly favored candidate for the position. We expect news on the subject some time in early 2026, so it’s not unlikely that the first quarterly report will touch on the matter. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The post The Walt Disney Company Announces Date for Q1 2026 Earnings Call appeared first on WDW News Today.

Asad Ayaz has been named the first-ever Chief Marketing Officer of The Walt Disney Company. Disney Names First CMO The Walt Disney Company has never had a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for the entire company, until now. Asad Ayaz, the head of marketing for The Walt Disney Studios, has officially been named the company’s first CMO. This marks the first time the family monolith has ever installed a CMO across the entire operation. As marketing head at the studios for eight years, Ayaz has taken lead on marketing for properties including Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, and Disney live-action and animation. Both Variety and Deadline reported the news. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The post The Walt Disney Company Names First-Ever Chief Marketing Officer appeared first on WDW News Today.

Disney Creates New Chief Marketing and Brand Officer Role, Names Asad Ayaz

Disney announced a new enterprise marketing and brand organization designed to align the company’s industry-leading marketing teams more closely. Asad Ayaz has been named Chief Marketing and Brand Officer of The Walt Disney Company and will lead the organization.

A rare Disney refund policy quietly went live this week.

No crowds. No lines. Just Magic Kingdom looking… empty.

Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away and other Disney and Universal offerings are finalists in the IAAPA Brass Ring Awards for 2025. The top three finalists in each category were chosen by each of IAAPA’s task force as it relates to their respective award category. The IAAPA Brass Ring Excellence Awards recognize “organizations that push boundaries, elevate guest experiences, and demonstrate operational excellence across all facets of the business.” Disney Brass Ring Award Nominations Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away is the new nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom. It’s a finalist for Most Creative Spectacle against two other Disney Productions: World of Color Happiness! at Disney California Adventure and Disney Tales of Magic at Disneyland Paris. Meanwhile, Disney’s The Tale of Moana on the Disney Treasure is nominated for Most Creative Theatrical Production – Year-Round Operation. The Key to Disneyland, part of the resort’s 70th anniversary celebration, is a finalist for Best Custom Retail Souvenir. Disney Consumer Products also earned a nomination for Best Sustainability Program with their Disney Figurine Set Sustainable Packaging Program. Universal Brass Ring Award Nominations The Boiler at Universal Horror Unleashed is a finalist for Best F&B Building Renovation or New Build. The Death By Chocolate dessert at Universal Horror Unleashed was nominated for Best New Menu Item – Year-Round Operation. Universal Studios Japan, Singapore, and Beijing are the only nominees in the Most Creative Atmosphere Production category, for Melting Pot, Minions Summer Street Party, and Universal Spring Carnival Party, respectively. Universal Studios Singapore’s Once Upon A Time… To Die and Tokyo Disney Resort’s The Villains’ Halloween… “Into The Frenzy Parade” are competing against Six Flags for Most Creative Halloween Production. Universal Beijing Resort’s Universal Winter Holiday: This Time of Year is a finalist for Most Creative Holiday Production. The resort’s Universal Cool Summer: Battle of the Bands is nominated for the Showstopper category. The resort is also nominated for their New Brand Campaign OOH: No Boundaries Infinite Universe in the category Most Creative Outdoor Advertisement. Halloween Horror Nights HamiKuma merchandise at Universal Studios Japan is nominated for Best Collective Visual Merchandise Display. Watch our video of Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away below: Watch the first performance of World of Color Happiness! below: For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The post Disney Starlight Parade, Universal Horror Unleashed, and More Nominated for IAAPA Brass Ring Awards appeared first on WDW News Today.

From cocktail tastings to new sweets, here are the new items around Downtown Disney!

The current version will change forever #Disneyland #Disney #StarWars

Magic Key holders can celebrate the dual anniversaries of Disney California Adventure and Disneyland Resort with an exclusive pair of refillable popcorn buckets. Magic Key Disneyland 70th Anniversary Refillable Popcorn Bucket – $15.25 Includes regular popcorn at time of purchase. $2.25 Magic Key Popcorn Bucket refills through February 24, 2026. The Disneyland 70th Anniversary bucket has a wraparound Fantasyland-inspired design similar to the Magic Key exclusive insulated cooler bag released last year, but with a green color scheme instead of purple and with slightly different icons. Everything is against a cream background with a subtle “quilted” pattern adorned with light blue fleur de lis icons. A green stripe around the top has a repeating pattern of gold crown flanked by blue and green flourishes, plus two pink shields representing the Space Mountain and the Matterhorn. The bottom has a pink stripe patterned with blue and white vines. A stylized pastel image of Sleeping Beauty Castle with the Matterhorn behind is on one side of the bucket, in an oval frame adorned with geometric greenery. The Disneyland logo stretches across a blue banner at the bottom, while “D70” is on a shield at the top. Heralds flank the frame. Another side has the Magic Key logo above the Disneyland Resort logo, both in light green, as well as the Disneyland “D” with lions in front, like a medieval crest. The final side has a small retro Sleeping Beauty Castle icon next to the vintage Disneyland wordmark with a blue “70” shield. The handle and lid are gold, and the lid has an embossed Mickey icon. Magic Key Disney California Adventure 25th Anniversary Refillable Popcorn Bucket – $15.25 Includes regular popcorn at time of purchase. $2.25 Magic Key Popcorn Bucket refills through February 24, 2026. At Disney California Adventure, Magic Key holders can commemorate the park’s 25th anniversary with this shimmery navy popcorn bucket with holographic silver accents. On the front, Minnie and Mickey are posing in their colorful California Adventure anniversary outfits on either side of a graphic reading “25 Years.” The Magic Key and Disneyland Resort logos are above, while the Disney California Adventure logo is below. Around the bucket are blueprint-style illustrations of multiple California Adventure icons and attractions in holographic silver: San Fransokyo Square’s bridge, Grizzly Peak, the sun icon from the former Sunshine Plaza, Soarin’, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT!, Incredicoaster, Pixar Pal-a-Round, Cozy Cone Motel, the entrance plaza, and Carthay Circle. The handle and lid are silver, with an embossed Mickey icon on the lid. We found these buckets at multiple popcorn carts throughout their respective parks. Popcorn Refills – $2.25 Through February 24, 2026, Magic Key holders can bring these buckets back for $2.25 popcorn refills at any popcorn cart in either park. This means that the buckets are usable for popcorn refills through the entirety of the upcoming Lunar New Year Celebration at California Adventure. Will you be picking up one of these refillable popcorn buckets? Let us know on social media! For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT. The post New Magic Key Refillable Popcorn Buckets Celebrate California Adventure’s 25th and Disneyland’s 70th Anniversaries appeared first on WDW News Today.

NEW: Disneyland filing permit to install digital signs at monorail turnstiles after that wild January evacuation ?2

Chalk art has begun to appear at the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. Here is the latest from Walt Disney World.

Chalk Full Character has returned to EPCOT's Festival of the Arts, transforming World Showcase pavilions into an interactive scavenger hunt!

The Walt Disney Company will report its fiscal first quarter 2026 results on February 2. Here is what fans and investors can look forward to.

Work is almost done on the Toy Story Mania entrance archway in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. A refurbishment began in mid December and was halfway done before the holidays. Toy Story Mania Entrance Refurbishment The archway resembles cardboard cutouts with Jessie and Rex peeking out of fake booths on either side. Jessie’s column was completed first but Rex has been missing for several weeks. The dinosaur is back now, with his barker hat and bowtie. The decals on both columns look vibrant and clean compared to the top of the archway. There are still rolling planters in front of each archway, suggesting work isn’t quite complete. The ride remains open, however. A new snack kiosk opened in Toy Story Land earlier this month, offering pepperoni pizza spring rolls. Construction continues on new bench seating between Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Do you enjoy riding Toy Story Mania? Let us know on social media. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The post Toy Story Mania Entrance Archway Restored at Walt Disney World appeared first on WDW News Today.

After Disney announced its partnership with OpenAI’s Sora, a cease-and-desist letter was sent to Google regarding Gemini’s usage of Disney characters. Google has since removed those videos, but additional details concerning this dispute have been revealed. Details On Disney-Google Dispute According to an industry source, the cease-and-desist letter also went out to third-party producers to disentangle any Google AI tools from their respective workflows. Meanwhile, Disney gave its employees official access to ChatGPT. The source goes on to say Disney went about this maneuver in a detailed and coordinated manner, hinting at a months-long elaborate plan. Disney has previously sent cease-and-desist letters to Character.AI and Meta, and joined lawsuits against AI companies Midjourney and MiniMax. Disney has highlighted AI for advertisers at a recent tech showcase, while the president of SAG-AFTRA has commented on the deal between Disney and OpenAI. Currently, Gemini does still generate content with Disney characters (not the case with ChatGPT and Copilot), though with mixed results. Pictured above is an image generated of Figment celebrating his new ride. What do you think of Disney’s cease and desist order to Google? Let us know on social media. For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The post Disney’s Cease & Desist to Google Was Part of a Larger, Coordinated Behind the Scenes Strategy appeared first on WDW News Today.

Can we talk about how many people get SURPRISED by Disney World dress codes?

Disney just made the bombshell announcement that they're finally “unlocking” the timeline of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to include original trilogy characters, classic era storytelling, John Williams' iconic scores, and more...at Disneyland.  Unsurprisingly, this has

JoJo Siwa visited Disney College Program housing at Flamingo Crossing, sharing TEA about Dance Moms, her music, and reality TV. The star who created chaos at EPCOT on her 21st is back at Disney, and cast members are excited.

BREAKING: Nationwide cell outage hits Disney World visitors. Your My Disney Experience app just became useless... or did it? ?

Guests witnessed a stunt gone wrong at Disney World, involving a boulder malfunction and an injury to a cast member, raising safety concerns.

Chalk art has begun to appear at the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. Here is the latest from Walt Disney World.

Chalk Full Character has returned to EPCOT's Festival of the Arts, transforming World Showcase pavilions into an interactive scavenger hunt!

Check out photos here. #DisneyParks #DisneylandParis #DisneyStore

John Williams' Iconic Scores Coming SOON to Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge!

The timeline of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland will soon “expand” to include all the eras of Star Wars. Until now, the land has been strictly set during the sequel trilogy with only a few exceptions in the form of limited-time character appearances. The land’s timeline will now be split in half, with one area representing the sequel trilogy and the other taking place in the later stages of the Galactic Civil War in the original trilogy. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Timeline Change Disney said in a press release, “New storylines will be brought to life on Batuu, spanning multiple eras of the planet’s rich history. These updates will enable you to experience the Galactic Civil War and New Republic, as well as the Age of the Resistance and First Order.” The change will go into effect on April 29, 2026, but guests can expect to see visible work and some props arrive before then. Notably, this timeline shift is only for the Disneyland version of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and is not happening Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has always been set between Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi and Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, because it was mostly designed and built after the release of Episode VII – The Force Awakens. However, the timeline of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland has previously been a little looser than at Walt Disney World. The Florida land had to remain stricter to match up with the story of the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, although the hotel is now closed and being turned into an office building. Din Djarin (The Mandalorian), Grogu, Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, Luke Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Sabine Wren, and Hera Syndulla from The Mandalorian and Ahsoka have all appeared at Disneyland, even though the shows are set just a few years after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, decades before The Last Jedi. That said, Din Djarin and Boba Fett wear helmets, so one could assume they have aged, while Grogu’s species ages slower than humans. Original Trilogy Characters With the update, characters from the original trilogy will start roaming Batuu: Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker. Vader will be accompanied by Imperial Stormtroopers as they search for Luke, who is roaming the outpost seeking knowledge of the Force and artifacts related to lightsaber building and kyber crystals. Leia and Han will be near the Millennium Falcon, recruiting travelers and locals to help keep Luke safe. The characters will interact with Chewbacca & R2-D2, who already appears in the land. The forested outskirts of Black Spire Outpost will continue to represent the Age of Resistance from the sequels, with Rey roaming the Resistance Camp. Ahsoka Tano, The Mandalorian, and Grogu will remain near the marketplace. R2-D2 will roll around Droid Depot and the garage. John Williams Music & Oga’s Cantina As guests were told they could “live their own Star Wars adventure” in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, it was not filled with background music that would feel out of place if you were actually living on a Star Wars planet. Now Disney will have recognizable selections of Star Wars music by John Williams playing throughout the land. The “Main Title” and Force Theme will play as guests enter Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge through the various tunnels, replacing the original piece Williams created for there land when it opened in 2019. Other iconic tracks being added will include “Han Solo and the Princess,” “The Desert and the Robot Auction,” and “The Emperor.” Disney Imagineers stated there will be brand new rearrangements that will play as well. The “Cantina Band” song will play at Oga’s Cantina (we assume outside as not to change the existing DJ-Rex show), which is also seeing a timeline update. “In the era of the Galactic Civil War,” the press release states, “proprietor Oga Garra only recently opened this watering hole, which is already becoming a popular spot for intergalactic travelers.” Store Changes There will be new props and graphics throughout Black Spire Outpost. First Order Cargo will become Black Spire Surplus, a military salvage operation with artifacts from across history, including Imperial and Rebel items from the Galactic Civil War. In storyline, it is operated by two retired Clone Troopers, one who sympathized with the Rebellion, and another who was a supporter of the Galactic Empire. Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities will “change with the times,” displaying a different array of one-of-a-kind items from its past. An earlier generation of the Mubo family will now operate Droid Depot. They will be prototyping the BB style of droid. Guests will still be able to purchase and create their own droid at the shop. Guests will also still be able to build lightsabers at Savi’s Workshop, which Luke is interested in. More Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Offerings Continuing offe

Disney is "unlocking" the timeline of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in the biggest way yet, to include the classic era and characters from the original trilogy of films. This post covers dates and details of

Characters from the original Star Wars trilogy will begin appearing regularly in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland when Black Spire Outpost shifts to the classic period in April. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Characters While Luke Skywalker appeared for a limited time during Season of the Force 2025, he will now appear consistently at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge along with Darth Vader, Leia Organa, and Han Solo. According to the new backstory, Vader’s search for Luke brings him to Batuu. He is joined by Imperial Stormtroopers. Press photos imply he will appear near Kylo Ren’s ship (which is not being changed despite the timeline shift). Leia and Han will be reunited with Luke and Chewbacca. Luke will be roaming the outpost seeking knowledge of the Force and artifacts related to lightsaber building, kyber crystals, and more. He’s specifically interested in meeting Savi at Savi’s Workshop, so may appear near the build-your-own lightsaber experience. Guests will see Leia near the Millennium Falcon, recruiting travelers to help keep Luke safe. Han will also be near his ship. The original trilogy characters join characters that already roam the land, like Chewbacca. Ahsoka Tano, The Mandalorian, and Grogu will stick near the marketplace. R2-D2 will roll around near Droid Depot and the garage. The Age of Resistance will remain represented in the forested area, with Rey wandering the camp around Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. There has been no word on if Vi Moradi will appear in this area as well. The characters and other updates will arrive on April 29, 2026, although guests may see some changes in the months before. The timeline change has only been announced for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland, not Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Timeline Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is currently set between Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi and Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, because it opened between the release of those films. The timeline at Disneyland has always been a little looser than at Walt Disney World, which tried to keep a strict story that matched up with Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, even though the hotel is now closed. Previous timeline breaks at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland include the appearances of Din Djarin (The Mandalorian), Grogu, Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, Luke Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Sabine Wren, and Hera Syndulla. All of these characters were in their outfits from The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. The shows are set just a few years after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, decades before The Last Jedi. Most of these meet-and-greets were only for a limited time, however. And characters like Din Djarin and Boba Fett wear helmets, so it’s easy to assume they have aged, while Grogu’s species ages slower than humans. Are you ready to meet these characters at Disneyland? Let us know on social media. For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT. The post Darth Vader & Other Original Trilogy Characters Coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland appeared first on WDW News Today.

Disney is finally making several changes to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge that fans have been begging for since the land first debuted in 2019. One of those is the long-overdue addition of scores from legendary

Disney is finally bringing classic characters from the original trilogy to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, including Darth Vader, Han Solo, Leia Organa, and Luke Skywalker. This post covers dates and details about where to find

Four years ago, I wrote "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Needs to Break the Rules." That frankly felt overdue even at the time, as the land had a lot of squandered potential outside of Rise of the