TouringPlans Travel Beat 10-5-2025
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!
- Reclaimed & Reforged Storyline Returns to Savi’s Workshop at Disney World
- Fall 2025 Disney Cruise Line Disney Visa Cardmember Offer
- Merch Alert: Evil Queen & Witch Mug Arrives at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar
- Jane Goodall, Key Advisor for Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Dies
- Grand Hall Details for the Disney Destiny
- Spaceship Earth Will Reopen October 25
- Disney World Travel Protection Plan Price Increase
- Unfairly Ever After Tunes Available on Streaming
- Mickey & Minnie Reveal New Looks for ImaginAtrium Meet & Greet
- New Treats Will be Arriving at the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party
- Teachers Can Win a 2026 Trip to Disney World
- Stardust Racers Reopens After Getting an All Clear
- Thirteen Saucy New Flavors Coming to Chicken at Disney World
- Headline News Recap
Can you guess which story inspired this week’s cover image? Leave your guesses in the comments!
Reclaimed & Reforged Storyline Returns to Savi’s Workshop at Disney World
You may recall that a new storyline, Reclaimed and Reforged, was introduced at Savi’s Workshop as part of May the 4th this year. Reclaimed and Reforged allowed builders to choose parts recovered from countless lightsabers that passed some time with bounty hunters and smugglers, eventually becoming just parts and scrap. Reclaimed and Reforged will return on October 12, and will be available while supplies last.
Fall 2025 Disney Cruise Line Disney Visa Cardmember Offer
If you’re a Disney Visa Cardmember, it’s your chance to save on Disney Cruise Line. This fall, you can book a cruise on the Wish, Dream, Magic, or Fantasy on select dates and get $250 in onboard credit. Even better, this offer is stackable with the Categories with Restrictions offer and 50% 3rd and 4th Guest offer. Book through December 1, 2025; the full list of eligible sailings is below.
- Disney Magic
- Dec. 15, 2025
- Disney Dream
- Nov. 3, 2025
- Nov. 8, 2025
- Nov. 12, 2025
- Nov. 17, 2025
- Nov. 26, 2025
- Dec. 8, 2025
- Dec. 15, 2025
- Dec. 19, 2025
- Dec. 26, 2025
- Disney Fantasy
- Dec. 17, 2025
- Dec. 21, 2025
- Dec. 26, 2025
- Dec. 31, 2025
- Disney Wish
- Oct. 17, 2025
- Oct. 20, 2025
- Oct. 24, 2025
- Oct. 27, 2025
- Oct. 31, 2025
- Nov. 3, 2025
- Dec. 19, 2025
- Dec. 22, 2025
- Dec. 26, 2025
Merch Alert: Evil Queen & Witch Mug Arrives at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar
Just in time for spooky season, a brand new mug went on sale at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar on Wednesday. Find it on Mobile Order!
Jane Goodall, Key Advisor for Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Dies
You may already have heard the news of Jane Goodall’s death on Wednesday. What you may not have known is that she was intimately involved in the development of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and collaborated with Disney on a variety of projects throughout the years. You can read about her extensive work with Disney in their official statement, which includes thoughts from Disney CEO Bob Iger and Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences.
Grand Hall Details for the Disney Destiny
The Destiny’s maiden voyage is approaching quickly, and Disney has introduced two mysterious new characters. Zayah and Gamble are traveling storytellers, equipped for the Destiny with enchanted trunks that react to the energy and magic of classic Disney villains. Zayah is a fortuneteller, and Gamble a conjurer. You’ll find the pair hosting a variety of immersive storytelling experiences in lounge and entertainment venues throughout each voyage, including some time spent mingling in the Grand Hall.
Spaceship Earth Will Reopen October 25
That’s it. That’s the tweet.
Disney World Travel Protection Plan Price Increase
As of October 1, 2025, the price of the Travel Protection Plan has increased at both Disney World and Disneyland. At Disney World, the new rate is $99 per adult, and at Disneyland, the new rate is $89 per adult. The rates are inclusive of children up to age 17. With the beginning of Disney’s fiscal year on the first of this month, we expect to hear about a range of price adjustments in the next few weeks, including tours, dining, and Annual Passes.
Unfairly Ever After Tunes Available on Streaming
Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After opened at Hollywood Studios in May, and if you loved the music on a recent trip, now you can listen at home. You’ll find the full soundtrack available on popular streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more.
Mickey & Minnie Reveal New Looks for ImaginAtrium Meet & Greet
It’s not uncommon for Mickey & Minnie to celebrate an event with some new duds, and in this case the event is an exclusive Meet & Greet. How exclusive? Well, first, you need to be a Disney Vacation Club Member who is eligible for Membership Extras, as the Meet & Greet is held in the ImaginAtrium Lounge at EPCOT. And on top of that, you need to pay for Membership Magic Beyond, an upcharge perks package that includes the Meet & Greet. And when you meet Mickey & Minnie, they’ll be decked out in the globe-trotting garb you see above.
New Treats Will be Arriving at the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party
A mini-makeover is coming to the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party. Beginning October 8, guests will find a new array of sweet treats:
- Star Command Mousse Cup: With chocolate cookie crumbs, white chocolate mousse, green apple gelée, whipped cream, red crispy pearls, and a star command chocolate piece
- Under the Sea Cupcake: Vanilla cake soaked in tres leches with coconut and topped with whipped cream, red sprinkles, and sugar shells
- DOLE Whip Pineapple Mousse Cup: With pineapple gelée and panna cotta with flavors of DOLE Whip Pineapple
- Country Bear Cheesecake: Chocolate tart filled with whipped cheesecake, apple pie filling, cinnamon streusel, whipped cream, and a chocolate piece
- Bayou Peach Cobbler: Cinnamon panna cotta, peach cobbler, cinnamon streusel, and a chocolate piece
- Mickey-shaped Fruit Tart: Pastry cream topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges, and gold leaf in a Mickey-shaped tart shell
Teachers Can Win a 2026 Trip to Disney World
Disney Imagination Campus and ABC’s hit comedy “Abbott Elementary” are teaming up to send 15 teachers on a 4-day, 3-night trip to Disney World in early May 2026. It’s a professional development opportunity; the teachers will have the chance to attend exclusive Disney Imagination Campus workshops and network with their peers. But of course, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy; the winning educators will have time to visit the parks, and the package includes tickets to get through the tapstiles. Enter between October 1, 2025 and January 17, 2026; full details and official rules are here: disneycampus.com/disneyteacherssweepstakes.
Stardust Racers Reopens After Getting an All Clear
Stardust Racers has been closed since a guest was found unresponsive on the ride on September 17 and later died at a hospital. After passing inspections and reviews by Universal, the ride manufacturer, and an independent evaluator, Stardust Racers reopened yesterday, October 4.
In all inspections, the ride and its safety systems were found to have performed properly throughout boarding, operation, and return to the station. Universal has modified operational procedures and attraction signage to reinforce existing ride warnings and updated physical eligibility requirements at Stardust Racers and other rides to assist guests in determining whether or not they can safely ride an attraction. Most notably, guests must now be able to walk independently to ride Stardust Racers; previously, guests using mobility devices needed to be able to take a small step into the ride vehicle on their own or with assistance from a companion. These same changes have been made at the Epic Universe attractions Dragon Racer’s Rally and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.
Thirteen Saucy New Flavors Coming to Chicken at Disney World
They’re not chicken tenders, they’re boneless wings! Disney World didn’t say so in so many words, but hey, wings are popular, and they’ve announced 13 new flavors of sauced chicken strips coming to locations across the parks and resorts.
Look for these new flavors starting October 8:
- Honey Buffalo Chicken Strips with Ranch; Backlot Express
- Sweet Chili Aïoli Chicken Strips; multiple food courts and resort Quick Service spots
- Waffle Cone Chicken Strips; Beaches Pool Bar & Restaurantosaurus
- Buffalo Chicken Strips; Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
- Lemon Pepper-Parmesan Chicken Strips; Pinocchio Village Haus
- Gochujang-glazed Chicken Strips; Capt. Cook’s & Everything POP
- Jerk BBQ Chicken Strips with Pineapple Salsa; multiple food courts and resort Quick Service spots
- Spicy Aïoli Chicken Strips; Rosie’s All American Cafe
- Roasted Jalapeño-Cheddar Chicken Strips; Good’s Food to Go, Trail’s End Restaurant
- Spicy Ranch Chicken Strips; Contempo Cafe
- Citrus-glazed Chicken Strips; Primo Piatto
- Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strips; multiple food courts and resort Quick Service spots
- Seaside Chicken Strips; Columbia Harbour House
And don’t forget, we know you aren’t carrying a dog-eared copy of this article with you as you search out every one of those 13 flavors, but you can always find where that Disney World snack is at with the TouringPlans menu search.
Headline News Recap
The weeks started off with the first Disney World discounts for 2026: Late Winter and Early Spring 2026 Room Discounts for Disney World and Save Up To $250 on Disney World Packages in Early 2026
On Wednesday, some previously announced changes went into effect at Volcano Bay: Volcano Bay Ditches TapuTapu & Refurbishment News
Finally, some news we’d been hoping to see: the return of a holiday tour overlay: Behind the Seeds: Glimmering Greenhouses is Back for 2025!
That’s it for this week’s Travel Beat. What news are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!
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At Travel Beat we have all the “other” news from the last week or so—the stuff that wasn’t big enough to…
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Love the chicken sauce news. I smell a new saturday 6 – the 6 best new flavors!
I think you may be on to something there. 😉
The new UO requirement that “Guests using mobility devices must be able to walk independently” also applies to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the VelociCoaster, and in the motorbike seats at Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure.
Hi Tom, thanks for this! I didn’t want to dive too far into the details, but we have a bit more depth on those changes here: https://touringplans.com/blog/change-in-accessibility-for-six-major-attractions-at-universal-orlando-resort/