TouringPlans Travel Beat 2-23-2025

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!

• Jellyrolls Final Day of Operation is April 19
• Tickets Go On Sale for Universal’s Horror Unleashed
• Level 99 Announced for Former DisneyQuest Location
• Comic-Con: The Cruise Vol. 2 Opens Bookings
• Universal Kids Resort Themes Announced
• New Ticket Phase for Epic Universe
• New National Geographic Private Jet Adventures
• Indiana Jones Adventure Reopening Date Announced
• Headline News Recap

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

Jellyrolls Final Day of Operation is April 19

Jellyrolls on Disney’s Boardwalk had previously announced its upcoming closure. This week, we got a date – April 19. There’s no word yet on a possible new location.

Tickets Go On Sale for Universal’s Horror Unleashed

Universal’s Horror Unleashed has an opening date, and tickets are on sale. This year-round Las Vegas experience is based on the Haunted Houses of Halloween Horror Nights and features four permanent installations. Guests can visit houses themed to Universal Monsters, the Exorcist, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or Scarecrow, the Reaping, each set into its own dedicated entertainment area. Guests can choose from two ticket types; a $69 one-time access ticket that gives a single entry to each house, or a $99 unlimited access ticket that gives unlimited (surprise!) access to the houses for guests wishing to make repeat visits. A Nevada resident version of the one-time access ticket is also available.

Level 99 Announced for Former DisneyQuest Location

Long, long ago and far away, there was a space at Disney World where you could go to play interactive indoor games, get food, and spend time with your family. Kind of like an arcade, if arcades featured VR experiences, the chance to design (and ride) your own roller coaster, and more. Then it closed.

Some other stuff used the space for a while, but it was Not A Success.

It’s a few years later, and social gaming challenges are all the rage. It is the next evolution of the arcade, and one of these challenge room outfits, Level 99, announces that it will be taking over the space formerly occupied by DisneyQuest!

There’s definitely some irony there, but I live near enough to the Massachusetts Level 99 location to have been there a few times, and it is fun! There’s something for everyone; you can choose challenges that are physical, skill, mental, or a combination. Some games are cooperative and some are competitive. The venue features art installations by local artists that they’re constantly swapping out. And the same goes for the challenge rooms. The space is built so that the rooms are modular, and “played out” installations are swapped out for new ones regularly. For those wondering how Level 99 will succeed when DisneyQuest failed, I think that’s the answer – DisneyQuest’s offerings were much more limited, and much less dynamic, than what you’ll find at a Level 99. The tour below from their Youtube channel will probably give you a better idea of what’s there than anything I could write about it.

Comic-Con: The Cruise Vol. 2 Opens Bookings

What’s more fun than Comic-Con? It’s Comic-Con at sea! The first-ever Comic-Con (Vol. 1) cruise debarked just a short bit ago on February 9, 2025. It was a great success, and the organizers have announced a new 4-night Vol. 2 sailing from January 30 – February 3, 2026. Bookings are open now; see more about the offerings at the Comic-Con the Cruise site.

Universal Kids Resort Themes Announced

In Orlando they’re building Epic Universe, but in Frisco, TX Universal is moving full steam ahead with a resort aimed directly at the younger set. This week, Universal confirmed that visitors can look forward to areas themed to Shrek, Puss in Boots, SpongeBob, Minions, Jurassic World, Trolls, and Gabby’s Dollhouse. Universal Kids Resort is targeting an opening in 2026.

New Ticket Phase for Epic Universe

The opening of Epic Universe is the exciting event of the summer in Orlando, and Universal has extended its ticket offerings to include a Florida Resident ticket that includes a day of Epic Universe admission. A one-day Add-on for holders of the Universal Military Freedom Pass was also released.

New National Geographic Private Jet Adventures

National Geographic has released two all-new itineraries for their Private Jet adventures. African Discovery by Private Jet takes guests from Namibia to Italy, with stops at Victoria Falls, Volcanoes National Park, and more between July 12-25, 2026.

Photographing the World by Private Jet circumnavigates the globe, beginning in Seattle on the U.S. West Coast and ending in Washington D.C. Along the way you’ll visit some of the most photogenic spots across 8 different countries between Oct. 25 – Nov. 17, 2026.

Indiana Jones Adventure Reopening Date Announced

A couple of weeks ago Disneyland announced a refurbishment of the Indiana Jones Adventure, beginning on March 17, 2025. We’re happy to let you know it looks like that will be just a few weeks, as they’ve now updated the announcement to indicate it will reopen on April 24.

Headline News Recap

The Disney Adventure’s launch is getting closer, and we heard some new things about shows and bookable activities. They’re added to our mega-guide: Everything You Need to Know About the Disney Adventure

I think it’s fair to say that this is a moment many of us have been waiting for. After 2 years, 9 months, and 5 days, Cosmic Rewind will drop its Virtual Queue. Tiana too! WDW to Eliminate Virtual Queues for Major Attractions

Tickets for a brand-new Universal event are now available: 2025 Volcano Bay Nights Tickets Now on Sale

Let’s see, that’s DCL, WDW, UOR – looks like Disneyland did not want to be left out of the headlines. Spring 2025 Discounts at Disneyland Hotels

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