TouringPlans Travel Beat 11-2-2025

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 holiday updates.) 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!

• Holiday Decor Begins To Appear in the Parks
• Disney World App Update: Sayonara to the Tip Board
• Haunted Mansion Parlor Welcomes Brides (and Grooms)
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Menus and More Released
• Disney Springs Santa Greeting to Use Virtual Queue
• Story Time With Deadpool Returns to DCA for the Holidays
• Meltdown at MCO: What You Need to Know
• Zootopia: Better Zoogether Welcomes First Guests
• Cashless Snack Stops Appearing Across Disney World
• Tree of Life Awakenings Returns to Animal Kingdom
• New Year’s Eve Fireworks Schedule Announced
• AstroFizz Opens in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom
• New Year’s Eve Gala at California Grill Returns
• Headline News Recap

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

Holiday Decor Begins To Appear in the Parks

As of today, Halloween season is officially over in the Orlando parks. But holiday decor has been popping up in the parks during the last week. Look for the pace to pick up ahead of the first hard-ticket parties and the official debut of the holiday season. If you’re heading to the parks in the next couple of months, take a moment and read up on our Holiday Guides:

• Everything To Do at Disney World During the Holidays 2025
• Getting to Know Holidays at Universal Orlando 2025

Disney World App Update: Sayonara to the Tip Board

The My Disney Experience app got a major update this week. The “My Day” tab from Disney Genie and the Future Plans area have been unified into a single “My Plans” screen. And the Tip Board is no more, now it is simply the Wait Times & Showtimes Board. Our walkthrough on using Genie with the new My Plans screen is here: How To Plan Your Disney World Day With My Disney Experience.

Haunted Mansion Parlor Welcomes Brides (and Grooms)

When the Disney Destiny joins the fleet, it will offer a new venue for vows as part of Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons. If your wedding party is 25 or fewer, you’ll be able to get married in the Haunted Mansion Parlor, beginning with the May 14, 2026 voyage departing from Fort Lauderdale.

Got more than 25? Not to worry, The Sanctum is also available for groups up to 40, as is the Grand Hall. Of course, you’ll also need some cash; weddings in the Haunted Mansion Parlor begin at $6,000.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Menus and More Released

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party begins on Friday and just in time, Disney released the party food menus. You can look for items like the Candy Cane Tart (Chocolate tart filled with peppermint ganache and topped with festive meringue), pictured below and found at Casey’s Corner during the party. But there were a couple of other party-related announcements.

The Holiday Christmas Tree Truck novelty popcorn bucket will be available during the party, and in a stunning be fair to Florida move, it will also be available at Disneyland and sold on Disney Cruise Line later in the month without the need to purchase a party ticket.

Guests will also receive a keepsake ornament when they check in, and this year’s cookie selections were posted in the event guide that’s available in the My Disney Experience app.

Disney Springs Santa Greeting to Use Virtual Queue

You can meet Santa Claus at Disney Springs from November 13 through December 24, 2025, near Disney Pin Traders. But you’ll need the My Disney Experience app to do it, because Santa will be using a Virtual Queue. Guests will have multiple chances to join the queue, including drops at 9 and 11 am, and 1, 3, and 6 pm. You must be at Disney Springs in order to join, and the maximum party size is 10 people.

Story Time With Deadpool Returns to DCA for the Holidays

Storytime with Deadpool closed almost a year ago in January, but Disney has announced that The Story Time with Deadpool Holiday Special will be returning to Disney California Adventure when Disneyland’s holiday season begins on November 14. And from time to time, Deadpool’s friend Wolverine may stop by too. Check the Disneyland app for times.

Meltdown at MCO: What You Need to Know

Travelers to Orlando International Airport saw lots of cancellations and several hours of delays on Thursday night, as a ground delay program was implemented in response to air traffic controller staffing shortages. If you’ve got a trip in the near future, be aware that this could happen again while the government is shut down and controllers aren’t receiving paychecks.

Zootopia: Better Zoogether Welcomes First Guests

The brand new attraction in the Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life officially opens on Friday, November 7, but it’s begun previews and we were lucky enough to snag one. You can read our thoughts on this replacement for It’s Tough to Be a Bug here: First Look: Zootopia: Better Zoogether!

Cashless Snack Stops Appearing Across Disney World

If you rely on cash to keep your Disney budget in check, you might need to do a little extra planning. Over the past few weeks, a number of snack kiosks and carts have gone cashless. Still accepted: Credit/debit cards, Disney Gift Cards, Mobile Payment, and MagicBands.

Tree of Life Awakenings Returns to Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom often shuts before sunset, but the end of Daylight Saving Time brings the regular 6 pm closing closer to dark, and when hours are extended until 8 pm, the park enjoys a good stretch of nighttime touring. That means an opportunity to see Pandora at night (which is glorious), and also the return of Tree of Life Awakenings.

The popular Tree of Life projection show has showtimes added to the calendar beginning yesterday (November 1) and on several more nights this week. We expect it will be on the calendar whenever Animal Kingdom is open until 8 pm, and will switch over to the holiday version shown above as we get further into November.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks Schedule Announced

Disney has added New Year’s Eve Fireworks spectaculars to calendars for the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT; if you’re planning to be in the parks, now you can plan for your New Year’s Eve sparklers. At the Magic Kingdom, look for Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks to show at both 7:30 pm and 11:50 pm on December 30 and 31, 2025. Happily Ever After returns on January 1.

At EPCOT, Luminous the Symphony of Us will show at 9:30 pm throughout the Festival of the Holidays, which ends on December 30, 2025. On New Year’s Eve, Luminous will show at 6:30 pm and Cheers to the New Year: A Sparkling Celebration will show at 11:54 pm. On January 1, Luminous returns to its regular 9 pm showtime.

AstroFizz Opens in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom

A new snack location is open in Tomorrowland: AstroFizz now stands on the space vacated by Cool Ship’s demolition. The new stand has a cool futuristic look and a menu featuring frozen slushies, cotton candy, and a Cherry-Cola churro. (Tap here to see the whole menu on Disney’s site.) Oh, and did we mention above that many snack stands are ditching the cash? AstroFizz is a cashless location.

New Year’s Eve Gala at California Grill Returns

The swanky New Year’s Eve gala at California Grill is returning for 2025, and it’s actually available on three seatings, over two nights. The Magic of New Year’s Eve at California Grill includes:

• A 4-Course Meal: Savor event-exclusive dishes made from premium ingredients.
• Music: A live band will play smooth tunes to create a festive ambience for your elegant meal.
• Characters: Enjoy a photo opportunity with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.
• Fireworks: From a prime viewing area, watch the special New Year’s Eve fireworks light up the sky above Magic Kingdom park.
• Fireworks viewing will take place at the end of each seating. Fireworks may be cancelled due to inclement weather and are subject to change.
• A Champagne Toast: Receive a complimentary glass of champagne (ages 21 and older only).

The Magic of New Year’s Eve at California Grill is offered on the dates below. Call 407-824-2284 to reserve, and you can find the full menu details at California Grill’s webpage.

• December 30: $229 per person
• December 31 – Early Seating: $299 per person
• December 31 – Late Seating: $349 per person

Headline News Recap

The big headline this week was one of our own, with an update that brought a new feature to our customized touring plans. New! Custom Lightning Lane “Grace Period” for Touring Plans

And hey, it’s not Disney, but that was some World Series, huh? Congrats to the Dodgers and their fans, and for those like me who were rooting for Toronto … well, next year is a brand new year.

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