TouringPlans Travel Beat 11-9-2025

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: Christmas trees went up everywhere, but it’s dining that drove the announcements.) 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 Treats at Disney World Resorts
• Disney World Testing Find Merchandise App Feature
• Holiday Menus for Disneyland
• Magic Key Upgrades Now Available Digitally
• Disney World Holiday Dining at Parks and Disney Springs
• New Zootopia Meet & Greet at Animal Kingdom
• Universal Executive Jay Stein Passes Away
• Santa Meet & Greets at Disney World Begin
• Storybook Land Canal Boats Reopens This Week
• Headline News Recap

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

Holiday Treats at Disney World Resorts

Disney World has confirmed that gingerbread displays are on the way to five resorts, real soon now. Look for these lobby centerpieces at the Contemporary, BoardWalk, Beach Club, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Wilderness Lodge. The Grand Floridian gingerbread house is taking a year off due to the ongoing refurbishment work there.

It’s not just the gingerbread; there’s a whole lineup of festive items for the holidays at Quick Service and snack locations throughout Disney World’s resorts, like the cupcake above that you’ll find at the Polynesian. Most items have been available since November 3, and will stick around through January 1.

Disney World Testing Find Merchandise App Feature

In a stunning move, there’s one way that Disney made it harder to spend money in the last several years, but it appears they are now reconsidering. If you’re old enough, you’ll remember the “Shop Merchandise” tile in My Disney Experience, the Shop Disney Parks app, or resort listings in the ShopDisney app. These tools let you use your phone to locate merchandise in stores at the Disney World Resort. But, one by one, those options were retired, and in 2019, the last one hit the dust. Until this week.

It’s only visible to Annual Passholders and Cast Members, it only works for World of Disney, and it’s clearly marked as “Now Testing”. But Disney World rolled out a new “Find Merchandise” feature in the app this week, and we expect that if the testing is successful, they won’t wait long to make it available to everyone. Now if they would only bring back hotel package delivery when you shop in the parks …

Holiday Menus for Disneyland

The Holiday Foodie Guide is out for the Disneyland parks and resorts. Most items are available from November 14 through January 7, with menu additions to Quick Service and Table Service throughout the parks. Tap here to see the full lineup.

Also running from November 14 through January 7, special menus for Disney California Adventure Festival of the Holidays. You’ll find kiosks throughout the park, and Festival additions to Quick Service locations as well. You can find everything on the list in the Disney Eats Guide.

Magic Key Upgrades Now Available Digitally

This week, Disneyland added the ability to upgrade your Magic Key online or in the Disneyland app, instead of needing to visit a ticket booth. Also of note: the two highest tiers (Inspire and Believe) began offering new sales on Tuesday, and both are currently still available. The Enchant and Imagine Key are listed as only available for renewal right now.

Disney World Holiday Dining at Parks and Disney Springs

Disney World released the full Parks and Disney Springs Foodie Guide for this year’s holidays this week. Some highlights:

⭐The full menu for Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar opening November 12, 2025.  Pictured below: Hot Cocoa Flight (Sugar Cookie, Peppermint Mocha, White Hot Cocoa), but there’s plenty more appetizing food and drink on the seasonal menu.

⭐A star-studded lineup at Amorette’s Patisserie and the Ganachery, if you’re looking for something to take home and gift. (If you don’t want to gift, we won’t tell.)

⭐Coke Cinnamon at the Coca-Cola Store Rooftop Beverage Bar

⭐The Mickey Elf Popcorn Bucket, available at EPCOT. A decorative tin and collectible sippers are also available at various park locations.

⭐Seasonal Table Service menu items at the Plaza Restaurant, including Beef Pot Roast, Turkey Meatloaf, and Pistachio and Cherry Cheesecake. Available November 7 through January 3.

New Zootopia Meet & Greet at Animal Kingdom

Alongside the official opening of Zootopia: Better Zoogether! on Friday this week, the new Nick Wilde & Judy Hopps Meet & Greet launched at the Zoogether Dayd Gathering Spot. You’ll find the Gathering Spot on Discovery Island, in the location formerly used by the Russell & Dug Meet & Greet. Russell & Dug are now meeting on the Discovery Island Trails; check the My Disney Experience app for times.

Universal Executive Jay Stein Passes Away

You might never have heard of Jay Stein, but he was a giant in the history of Universal Parks. After beginning in the studio’s maiļroom in 1959 (it was MCA then), he worked his way up to President at Universal Studios Hollywood and was later instrumental in the creation of the Universal parks in Florida. Stein passed away this week at the age of 87; you can read more about his history with the studios and parks at Inside Universal.

Santa Meet & Greets at Disney World Begin

It’s official: you can now meet Santa Claus on your 2025 visit to Disney World. Disney confirmed dates for both Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, adding to the previously announced dates for EPCOT and Disney Springs. This year’s Animal Kingdom Meet & Greet will be at the patio on Restaurantosaurus again, but Disney has confirmed that with the closure of the final elements of Dinoland, this will be the last year at that location.

At the Magic Kingdom, you can meet Santa during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, but there’s no news yet on when regular hours appearances will start; we expect them in December. Here’s the current meet-Santa lineup and opening dates. Santa heads back to the North Pole at all locations after December 24.

• Visit with Santa Claus Inside Walt Disney Presents (Hollywood Studios) – November 8, 2025
• Meet Santa at Disney Springs – November 13, 2025
• Greet Santa Claus in Dinoland (Animal Kingdom) – November 14, 2025
• Meet Santa at CommuniCore Hall (EPCOT) – November 28, 2025
• Magic Kingdom TBA

Storybook Land Canal Boats Reopens This Week

After a lengthy refurbishment, Storybook Land Canal Boats at Disneyland is scheduled to reopen this week on Friday, November 14. The updated attraction will include a new scene with Rapunzel’s Tower. Casey Jr. Circus Train is also set to reopen on the same date.

Headline News Recap

Some personal news started off the week, with Len’s live chat about Disney Adults and Disney World Costs in the Washington Post. The live part is history now, but you can view all the Q&A at the link in the article. Len’s Live Chat with The Washington Post – This Thursday!

Later in the week, Disney rolled out some more carpet for Grand Floridian lobby dining, with the announcement of the Perch lobby bar and news about the return of the Garden View Lounge afternoon tea. The Perch Lobby Bar – Opening Soon! – and Other Grand Floridian Dining Updates

Festival of the Arts will be here before you know it (of course, there’s Festival of the Holidays to get through first) and the lineup for the Festival’s Disney on Broadway concerts is out. 2026 Festival of the Arts Disney on Broadway Concerts and Dining Packages

Finally, Disney closed out the week with a ticket discount for Disney+ subscribers in early 2026. We’ve got the math on how this deal works out compared to regular tickets. Disney+ Subscriber Special Disney World Tickets for Early 2026

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