TouringPlans Travel Beat 7-20-2025

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!

• Lillian Disney Gets a Window at Disneyland
• Extend the Adventure Offer on Disney Cruise Land and Sea Vacations
• Menu Updates at Be Our Guest Restaurant
• Legoland Building Space-themed Experience for Florida and California
• Universal Partners with Franklin Institute for Exhibition
• Limited Time Anaheim Resident Ticket Available
• Disneyland’s Official 70th Birthday Arrives
• New Disneyland Resort Hotel Offers for Halloween and Holidays
• Starlight Parade, Test Track Soft Opens at Disney World
• Headline News Recap

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

Lillian Disney Gets a Window at Disneyland

Theme park windows have long been used as nods to those who made significant contributions to the parks or their parent companies. On July 13, just ahead of the 70th Anniversary of Disneyland Park, Disney unveiled a new commemorative window honoring Lillian Disney.

If you’re visiting the park, you’ll find it on the Disney Showcase gift shop building. And if you’re wondering why the window was dedicated on July 13 – well, Disneyland might be 70 years old, but Walt and Lillian were married on July 13, 1925. It’s their 100th wedding anniversary!

Extend the Adventure Offer on Disney Cruise Land and Sea Vacations

If you’re sailing out of Port Canaveral, Florida, you can save 35% on a pre- or post-cruise stay at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa or Disney’s Old Key West Resort. This offer is valid for travel dates from March 12 through June 14, 2026. Contact your travel agent to book a Land and Sea Vacation, or check your email if you booked directly with DCL for a cruise during the eligible dates.

Menu Updates at Be Our Guest Restaurant

Disney World has announced several updated and new menu items for Be Our Guest restaurant, already available if you’re visiting the parks. But sadly, no return of the Quick Service lunch.

• ️ French Onion Soup au Gratin: Rich beef broth, sherry wine, and swiss cheese
• ️ Mixed Greens Salad (Plant-based): Tomato, cucumber, and dijon vinaigrette
• ️ Endive and Walnut Salad: Roquefort, green apple, radicchio, and champagne vinaigrette
• ️ Steak Frites: Slow-roasted butcher’s steak, house-cut french fries, and red wine sauce
• ️ Pan-Roasted Artic Char: Roasted potatoes, charred tomatoes, shaved fennel, and citrus-caper brown butter
• ️ Poulet Rouge Chicken: Roasted potatoes, stewed pepper pipérade, and sweet corn velouté
• ️ Crème Brûlée Tart: Orange custard, passion fruit meringue, and chantilly cream
• ️ Blooming Rose: Chocolate cake topped with “The Grey Stuff”

Legoland Building Space-themed Experience for Florida and California

Legoland has announced that Spaceport 885, an all-new space-themed experience, will be coming to Legoland parks in California and Florida in early 2026. Spaceport 885, named for the LEGO® Space Scooter set #885, will feature

• Orbital Outpost, a themed retail shop with souvenirs, space gear, and LEGO sets
• An all-new indoor roller coaster, with a covered, story-driven queue
• A DUPLO Tot Spot for Tiny Astronauts play area for guests ages 1-4.

Legoland invites you to stay tuned for more updates, including the name of the new coaster!

Universal Partners with Franklin Institute for Exhibition

Universal Parks and Experiences is partnering with the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia on a new exhibit to open in February 2026. Titled “Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition”, the focus will be on the storytelling, innovation, and world-building behind Universal’s great success stories. The exhibition will cover an 18,000 square foot space and feature eight themed galleries, along with interactive experiences and original artifacts from Jurassic World, Universal Monsters, and more. A pre-sale waitlist for tickets is available now.

Limited Time Anaheim Resident Ticket Available

In honor of Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary, Disney is recognizing Anaheim locals with a special 1-day $70 ticket offer. Tickets are on sale now, and can be used on one day from August 4 through September 25, 2025. Park reservations are required and subject to availability, and offer is only for those in ZIP codes 92801 through 92809, 92812, 92814 through 92817, 92825, 92850 and 92899. For more details, see Disney’s special offer page.

Disneyland’s Official 70th Birthday Arrives

Happy Birthday to the OG! Disneyland Park marked its 70th birthday on Thursday, with messages and reflections from Thomas Mazloum, the President of Disneyland Resort, and other Disney dignitaries such as Josh D’Amaro and Robert Iger himself.

The day kicked off with a 4 a.m. party for Cast Members, including Bob Iger ringing in the NYSE opening bell from Disneyland. The cast photo above was taken before park opening, and it was the first official day for some new exhibits and the Walt Disney – A Magical Life attraction. (Both had soft opened a few days earlier.)

New Disneyland Resort Hotel Offers for Halloween and Holidays

If you’re thinking about a Disneyland visit this fall, Disney would like you to stay on-site at the Disneyland Resort Hotels. And they’re smoothing the way with a pair of offers now available to book.

Guests can save up to 20% during Halloween Time or the Holidays on Standard and Premium room types at

• Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
• Disneyland Hotel
• The Villas at Disneyland Hotel

This offer can be booked through December 16, 2025, and travel must be completed by December 20, 2025. Full details of this offer can be found on Disneyland’s Special Offer page.

Offers are also available for Disney® Visa® Cardmembers and Magic Key holders.

Starlight Parade, Test Track Soft Opens at Disney World

The Starlight Parade soft opened on July 18, giving guests a preview of the all-new floats and helping spark a sell-out in Annual Pass reservations across all four parks for the 19th. Those who scored a reservation were not disappointed, as the parade returned for a second night of soft opening on Saturday. And if you’re heading to the park today … it’s the official opening day for Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away! Disney Starlight Parade Begins July 20 at Disney World

Disney has also announced a soft opening for the reimagined Test Track on July 20 and July 21 ahead of its official return on July 22. Although a Virtual Queue was in use during the just-completed Annual Passholder previews, it’s expected to use a standby queue during the soft opening, and Disney has announced that no Lightning Lane will be available. After the reopening, the ride will offer standby, Lightning Lane, and single rider queues.

Headline News Recap

Most of the theme park news wasn’t “breaking” news this week, with all eyes on Disneyland’s official birthday celebration. But we did get a nice little surprise this week when the BDX Droids appeared in Disney World. They’ll be there until the end of August. BDX Droids Have Arrived in Hollywood Studios.

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