TouringPlans Travel Beat 5-4-2025

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!

• Epic Universe Opens Previews to the Public
• New 2026 Adventures By Disney Itineraries Announced
• Universal Studios Hollywood Adds Express Select Add-on
• Limited-time Food for Disneyland’s 70th Announced
• Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor to Close This Fall
• TSA Real ID Enforcement Begins This Week
• New Storyline for Savi’s Workshop Debuts This Week
• Savannah Bananas to Visit Disneyland on May 28
• Headline News Recap

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

Epic Universe Opens Previews to the Public

Epic Universe opens on May 22, but if you’re visiting Orlando before then, you can grab a preview ticket. The preview calendar is open through May 19, with 1-day tickets beginning at $144.

New 2026 Adventures By Disney Itineraries Announced

Adventures By Disney has released its latest itineraries; you can now book for 2026. Booking opens as follows:

• May 6, 2025: Previous Adventures by Disney Guests who have traveled on 3 or more Adventures
• May 7, 2025: All Previous Adventures by Disney Guests
• May 8, 2025: Disney Vacation Club Members, Disney Cruise Line Pearl, Platinum, Gold & Silver Castaway Members, Club 33 Members and Golden Oak Members
• May 9, 2025: General public

Curious what’s new? In addition to some returning programs, two new trips are on the horizon, with itineraries in Switzerland and Greece.

Greece: Mythology of Athens, Peloponnese & Rhodes

• Explore the Acropolis of Athens, a symbol of Greece’s Golden Age and home to the famed Parthenon.
• Journey through the once-great citadel of Mycenae, the first true Greek civilization, and the Epidaurus Theatre – known to be the most perfect Ancient Greek theater.
• Snorkel and kayak over the ancient submerged archaeological site of Epidaurus, evoking images of the lost city of Atlantis.
• Enjoy the charming port town of Nafplio, Greece’s first capital and a hallmark of its unique culture.
• Visit the medieval city of Rhodes and the site of the Colossus of Rhodes, where a statue of the Greek sun god Helios once stood – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Switzerland

• Hit the trails on an alpine hike with the majestic Matterhorn as the backdrop – the inspiration behind Disneyland Resort’s famed Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction.
• Savor authentic Swiss delights, including delectable Gruyère cheeses, luscious fondue, and specialty chocolates in a Swiss chocolate-making workshop.
• Experience a fairytale setting come to life on a privately guided tour of the dreamy lakeside medieval castle, Château de Chillon.
• Take in the scenic wonders of the turquoise blue Lake Brienz by kayaking, swim or relax on the shoreline at a charming lakeside chalet.
• Enjoy a special after-hours event at the Olympic Museum, home of the largest archive of Olympic Games memorabilia in the world, some of which helped inspire Disney Parks’ famed Pin Trading tradition.

Universal Studios Hollywood Adds Express Select Add-on

Universal Studios Hollywood has added a new, less expensive but more limited Universal Express option. Universal Express Select begins at $35 (compared to $80 for Universal Express). But, it only includes Express access to Jurassic World: The Ride, the World Famous Studio Tour, and the stunt show, WaterWorld. Like regular Universal Express, Universal Express Select has limited availability, and requires separate admission for the date of your visit.

Limited-time Food for Disneyland’s 70th Announced

Disneyland’s 70th starts in just a couple of weeks on May 16, and new celebratory items will be hitting menus all over the resort. Just about every menu across the two parks, Downtown Disney, and all of the resorts will be getting one or two special menu additions. And of course, it’s not just eats but also celebratory commemorative popcorn buckets, sippers, and food and drink accessories. There’s way too much to list individually here; to see it all, visit Disney’s Foodie Guide to the 70th. For dining events, you can check out our coverage: New Dining Experiences for Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary. And in case this is the first time you’re seeing anything about this Disneyland 70th Anniversary celebration, here’s what’s up for the whole event. Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary in 2025 – What’s on Tap!

Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor to Close This Fall

Your options for thrill will be more limited in Bowie, MD after November 2, 2025. Six Flags has announced that they’ll be closing Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor at the end of this season. All 2025 season passes and tickets will be honored throughout the final operating season; once closed Six Flags has announced they intend the property to be sold.

TSA Real ID Enforcement Begins This Week

Heading off on vacation soon? Don’t forget, beginning on May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights. Common forms of REAL ID include Real-ID compliant driver’s licenses, passports, and passport cards. A complete list of accepted IDs can be found at https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification. Happy travels!

New Storyline for Savi’s Workshop Debuts This Week

We previously wrote about a new Reclaimed & Reforged theme for Savi’s Workshop; guests can choose parts that were scavenged from smugglers and bounty hunters as scrap. This new storyline is now available – while supplies last – at both Disney World and Disneyland.

Savannah Bananas to Visit Disneyland on May 28

The Savannah Bananas are coming to Disneyland! In case you are like: “Who are these Bananas?”, they are an exhibition baseball team. Think of the Harlem Globetrotters, but for baseball. Anyway, they’ll be stopping by at Disneyland on May 28, and attending guests can look out for the following special events that day:

• Savannah Bananas Cavalcade
• Savannah Bananas Castle Dance
• Specialty Treats at Disneyland Park
  • Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor – Banana Split
  • Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree – Banana Pudding
• Disney California Adventure Park
  • Cappuccino Cart –Banoffee Pie Cold Brew
  • Churro cart near Goofy’s Sky School – Banana Split Churro

Headline News Recap

If you’re heading to Disney World soon, GEO-82 has an opening date – June 4. GEO-82 Fireworks Viewing Packages and Menus + Opening Date

Epic Universe is opening soon, but this fall Volcano Bay will have a seasonal shutdown. And a pretty big operations change too: Volcano Bay Ditches TapuTapu & Refurbishment News.

Disney World previously released a couple of very nice summer ticket deals for the general public. Now there’s an even nicer one for Florida residents: 2025 Florida Resident Summer Magic Ticket Deal

Disney World also released details about some limited-time fun coming to the parks this summer. We added in a few things we thought they left out when we wrote it up. Summer 2025 at Disney World: Limited-Time Cool Kid Fun and More!

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