TouringPlans Travel Beat 7-13-2025

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? (Sneak peek: LOTS of Christmas headlines.) 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!

• Rivers of America Now Closed; Construction Updates
• its a small world Update Coming to Both Coasts
• TSA: You Can Keep Your Shoes On
• Disneyland Refurb Calendar Updates
• Disney Magic & Wonder Release a Few New 2026 Itineraries
• High Key Club Concierge Lounge Opens at Disneyland Hotel
• Walt Disney – A Magical Life Will Use Virtual Queue
• Autumn Dining at Storytellers Cafe Begins August 22
• Sneak Peek at Disney Starlight on “We Call It Imagineering”
• Headline News Recap

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

Rivers of America Now Closed; Construction Updates

Rivers of America officially closed on Monday, and Disney wasted no time putting up construction walls – including this intriguing “door to nowhere”. (It actually gives access to the former exit from the Liberty Belle attraction.)

We’ve got details of what to expect if you’re visiting, including a look at Stitch’s guest conductor stint on the Walt Disney World Railroad: Construction in Frontierland: Big Changes Coming to Magic Kingdom

its a small world Update Coming to Both Coasts

It’s a love-it-or-hate-it kind of song, but almost everyone can at least hum along to the theme from its a small world. The ditty was penned by Disney Legends Richard and Robert Sherman, and before his death Richard wrote a new verse as “his final gift to Disney”.

Mother earth unites us in heart and mind
And the love we give makes us humankind
Through our vast wondrous land
When we stand hand in hand
It’s a small world after all.

This final verse will be added to the finale scene of the attraction at both Disney World and Disneyland on July 17, 2025. Can’t make it to the parks? You can hear the final verse as a digital single on your favorite streaming platforms, released on the same date.

TSA: You Can Keep Your Shoes On

Our long national nightmare is over: this week TSA formally updated its policy to allow all passengers to keep their shoes on at security screening checkpoints. As one of those people who chose their travel footwear based partly on ease of removal for security screening, all I can say is: hooray!

Disneyland Refurb Calendar Updates

There are quite a few opens and shuts on the Disneyland refurbishment calendar in the next couple of months. With a few new additions this week, let’s run them down:

• Matterhorn Bobsleds: reopening July 24
• Pixar Pal-A-Round: closed July 14-24
• Walt Disney – A Magical Life: debuts July 17
• Storybookland Canal Boats: closing July 21
• Casey Jr. Circus Train: closing July 28
• Incredicoaster: closing July 18
• Haunted Mansion: closes August 9
• Radiator Springs Racers: closes August 18

The Haunted Mansion closure on August 9 kicks off the seasonal transition to Haunted Mansion Holiday, which will run from August 22, 2025 through January 7, 2026.

Disney Magic & Wonder Release a Few New 2026 Itineraries

Changes in drydock schedules and other adjustments have opened a few new sailings for the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder in 2026. The new cruises include two new 4-night Baja cruises, a repositioning cruise, and a 7-night Alaska sailing as shown below.

• Disney Magic April 19, 2026 4-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego
• Disney Magic April 23, 2026 4-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego
• Disney Magic April 27, 2026 4-Night Pacific Coast Cruise from San Diego ending in Vancouver
• Disney Wonder Aug. 31, 2026 7-Night Alaska Cruise from Vancouver

High Key Club Concierge Lounge Opens at Disneyland Hotel

Disney previously announced updates to the concierge spaces at the Disneyland resorts, and the first of the new or updated lounges opened this week. The High Key Club is brand-new at the Disneyland Hotel, and offers the typical service and snacks of a club-level experience. And fireworks viewing is available on nights when they are included in the parks’ nighttime spectacular!

Walt Disney – A Magical Life Will Use Virtual Queue

As part of Disneyland’s 70th Celebration, the new attraction Walt Disney – A Magical Life will open next week at Disneyland’s Main Street Opera House. And when it does, it will use a Virtual Queue. Guests will join via the Disneyland app, with two opportunities to grab a Boarding Group at 7 am and noon.

Autumn Dining at Storytellers Cafe Begins August 22

The character dining at Storytellers Cafe in Disneyland will make a seasonal shift beginning on August 22. Through August 21, guests can enjoy Mickey’s Tales of Adventure breakfast and brunch buffets, and Donald’s Tales of Adventure dinner buffet. From August 22 through November 16, guests at breakfast and brunch will meet Mickey & Friends for breakfast or brunch at Mickey’s Autumn Adventures breakfast or brunch buffet.

And from August 22 through October 31, dinner guests will join the brand-new Clarabelle’s Enchanted Halloween Dinner for a chance to see Clarabelle and her woodland friends dressed up for Halloween. Bookings for the seasonal buffets begin on July 15, 2025.

Sneak Peek at Disney Starlight on “We Call It Imagineering”

Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away parade opens in just one week, and this week Disney rolled out a peek at some of the floats and an in-depth look at the parade’s development on the YouTube series “We Call It Imagineering”.

In the Starlight Parade section, you’ll meet Whimsy, a brand-new character created just for this parade. The episode also covers the development of parades and nighttime spectaculars at Disneyland Paris, California Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland.

Headline News Recap

It was a Disney Holidays Data Drop … first off, Disney primed the pump with a rundown of what you can expect for the holidays this year. Everything To Do at Disney World During the Holidays 2025

They also dropped some info for the Festival of the Holidays … so we updated our Guide to the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays.

Then came the details on this year’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights events …

• 2025 Jollywood Nights Dates, Details, and Ticket Info
• 2025 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Dates, Details, and Ticket Info

On Thursday, a discount to encourage you to book a holiday trip Disney World 20% Off Rooms + Dining Promo Card Offer for 2025 Holidays (our advice: compare all offers on the date you want to travel, this one may not be the best and there are several right now).

Not to be left out, Universal dropped multi-night passes for HHN Halloween Horror Nights Orlando Multinight Passes Now On Sale.

Whew. It was a busy week at the headline desk, but if you’re planning a holiday trip to Orlando, you can firm up some details!

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