TouringPlans Travel Beat 7-6-2025

At Travel Beat we have all the “other” news from the last week or so—the stuff that wasn’t big enough to stop the presses for. What did the newsroom bring us this week? Bullets are just ahead if you’re in a hurry, and more details follow below. Don’t forget to check out the Headline News Recap, in case there was something you missed!

• Hall of Presidents Reopens
• Annual Passholder and DVC Preview Dates for Test Track
• “Daisy’s Dig” Added at Animal Kingdom
• Bookings Open for Royal Caribbean’s First Royal Beach Club
• Tiana Museum Exhibit to Make Multi-City Tour
• Last Day for RoA and Tom Sawyer Island
• Headline News Recap

Can you guess which story inspired this week’s cover image? Leave your guesses in the comments!

Hall of Presidents Reopens

The Hall of Presidents at Magic Kingdom reopened on June 29. The five-month refurbishment included the changeover to update the attraction for a new presidential administration, as the current president typically has a speaking part. In the reopened attraction, President Trump recites the Oath of Office.

Annual Passholder and DVC Preview Dates for Test Track

If you’re an Annual Passholder or Disney Vacation Club Member, check your email. Preview dates and procedures are now available for Test Track.

For Disney Vacation Club members, you must hold a reservation for July 12, booked using your membership prior to July 6, and register for the event. Those with a qualifying reservation should have already received emails with a registration link; registration begins on July 8 for previews that will happen on July 12.

Annual Passholder Previews will take place July 13, 14, 15, 18, 19. A Virtual Queue will be used to distribute preview spots; Passholders with an EPCOT reservation will be eligible to join the 7 am drop, and a 1 pm drop will be open to all Annual Passholders.

“Daisy’s Dig” Added at Animal Kingdom

Dinoland is slowly closing down at Animal Kingdom, but offerings are still being added in the transition. The latest: Daisy’s Dig at Restaurantosaurus includes a Meet & Greet with Daisy and a Dino Institute intern, plus crafts and activities. Although not officially announced as part of the Cool Kid Summer lineup, Daisy’s Dig is expected to be a summer-only offering and matches the kids-Characters-crafts spirit of the event’s offerings.

Bookings Open for Royal Caribbean’s First Royal Beach Club

Guests sailing on Royal Caribbean in late December and making port stops in Nassau can now make bookings at Royal Caribbean’s Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. The location has two beaches, three pools, three beachside grills, and 10 bars. The all-inclusive booking has many features that guests have come to expect from cruise line private destinations, including round-trip transportation, games, WiFi, umbrellas, towels, lockers – in short, a “leave it to us” experience.

If you’re now wondering what sets Royal’s Beach Clubs apart from Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day private destinations, the answer is: the fee. Perfect Day is a private destination included in your cruise fee. Royal Beach Clubs are private destinations that you can choose as an experience. Perhaps a good way to think of it: Perfect Day is the port stop, whereas Royal Beach Club is an option for an in-port excursion. Paradise Island is the first of the planned Royal Beach Clubs to open, with two more coming at Cozumel in 2026 and Lelepa in the South Pacific in 2027.

Tiana Museum Exhibit to Make Multi-City Tour

Disney is partnering with the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis to create Tiana’s Joyful Celebration, a traveling exhibition that builds on the concept of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure envisions Tiana and Naveen a year after the events of the Princess and the Frog movie, with Tiana established as a successful New Orleans businesswoman.

Tiana’s Joyful Celebration leans on this vision of Tiana’s success. She’s celebrating her community by throwing a parade, and all her friends have been working hard to get ready. But a mix-up in the scheduling, discovered last-minute, means the entire community of friends and critters must work double time to get ready on time. Enter museum visitors, who will learn that Tiana needs help and be asked to contribute their talents through a series of interactive, multi-sensory experiences to help with décor, music, food, costumes, and everything that needs to be done.

The exhibition will open on March 7, 2026, at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Beginning in 2027, it’s planned to travel to 12 additional cities, with dates and tour stops announced at a later time.

Last Day for RoA and Tom Sawyer Island

In case you somehow missed the runup, today is the final day to ride the Liberty Belle Riverboat or take a visit to Tom Sawyer Island. Beginning tomorrow, both attractions will be closed and the Rivers of America will be drained as the area is converted to Piston Peak National Park. Farewell old friends, we loved thee well.

Headline News Recap

Following the previously announced reopening date, this week Disney confirmed details about how to ride. No Virtual Queue, and Test Track will be a Tier 1 Lightning Lane Multi-Pass selection. Test Track Zooms Back Into Action on July 22, 2025 – UPDATED

It is hot, hot, hot, but fall is coming and Food & Wine is coming with it. 2025 Eat to the Beat Concert Lineup and Dining Packages were announced this week.

That’s it for this week’s Travel Beat. What news are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!