TouringPlans Travel Beat 8-10-2025

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!

• Limited Time Half-off Lightning Lanes for Magic Key Holders at Disneyland
• Buzz Lightyear Closed for Refurbishment
• New Crush Passholder Magnet Now Available
• Disneyland Avengers Campus Expansion Goes Vertical
• Limited-Time Halloween Menus Released for Disney World
• Fantasia Fairways Closing for Two-Month Refurb in September
• Disney Destiny Floats Out
• Headline News Recap

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

Limited Time Half-off Lightning Lanes for Magic Key Holders at Disneyland

This is a very limited-time magic, but if you are a Magic Key holder, and you are visiting Disneyland between August 13 and August 18, 2025, you can purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass for 50% of the regular price. Lightning Lane Single Pass is not discounted.

Buzz Lightyear Closed for Refurbishment

Buzz Lightyear closed this week, and there will be a lot of changes before we see it open again. (ICYMI: Buzz Lightyear Refurbishment Will Make It a 21st Century Experience) A specific opening date hasn’t been announced, but Disney has indicated that it will be in 2026, so we’re expecting at least four months of downtime.

New Crush Passholder Magnet Now Available

A brand new Annual Passholder magnet is available for pickup at Disney World. Annual Passholders can collect the Crush magnet between now and September 27, 2025 at Discovery Trading Company or Riverside Depot in Animal Kingdom.

Disneyland Avengers Campus Expansion Goes Vertical

It’s construction everywhere in the North American Disney Parks right now, with major reimaginings going on at both Disney World and Disneyland. This week: The first steel column was placed for the Avengers Campus Expansion at Disneyland. The expansion was announced a year ago at the D23 Expo in 2024, and will hold two new attractions once it’s completed: Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab.

Limited-Time Halloween Menus Released for Disney World

It may still be sweltering summer, but it’s Halloween at Disney World. Last week saw menu releases for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, including a few items like the Dole Whip Mango and Chamoy Float at Aloha Isle that are available during regular park hours.

This week, limited-time Halloween menu items were released for the whole of Disney World Resort. That includes Jock Lindsay’s Halloween Bar and other locations in Disney Springs. And it includes limited-time items at the Disney World hotels like the Whoopie Monster Apple and caramel whoopie pie with marshmallow buttercream shown below. You’ll find Whoopie at Art Art of Animation’s Landscape of Flavors and Pop Century’s Everything Pop Shopping and Dining.

Dishes in this week’s announcement can be found at their designated locations beginning on August 19, and a few more seasonal menus at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios will be announced soon!

Fantasia Fairways Closing for Two-Month Refurb in September

One of the two courses at Fantasia Gardens & Fairways Mini-Golf will be closing for refurbishment from September 9 through October 24, 2025. The Fantasia Gardens course – the less challenging course – will remain open throughout, but guests will not be able to reserve tee times until both courses are open again.

Disney Destiny Floats Out

The Disney Destiny floated into open water for the first time this week, as she left dry dock at the Meyer Werft shipyard for a wet dock where her build will be completed. Her exit from Hall 6 on August 9 was accompanied by fireworks, an appearance by “Hero” Minnie Mouse, and a catchy tune that will be the ship’s own theme song. Still ahead before the Destiny’s maiden voyage in November: completion of the interior spaces and sea trials.

The Destiny wasn’t the only Disney ship making news this week, as the first steel cutting for the fourth Wish-class ship took place at Meyer Werft on August 8. This is the first step in physical construction of the as-yet-unnamed new ship, which is scheduled for delivery sometime in 2027.

Headline News Recap

We’re still going strong … or is that weak … on the headlines in these dog days of summer. But we did get an opening date for the Beak & Barrel in Magic Kingdom! Magic Kingdom’s Beak & Barrel Pub Opens August 29th

What’s coming next week? Party season kicks off at the Magic Kingdom as the first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party will be held on Friday, August 15. Dates are starting to sell out fast now that the season is beginning, so get your tickets now if you’re planning to go. 2025 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Dates and Ticket Info

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