TouringPlans Travel Beat 8-17-2025

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: it’s jam packed.) 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!

• Royal Caribbean Debuts New Kid-Tracking Feature
• Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure Added to Lightning Lane Options
• Disney Cruise Line Confirms Final Season in Australia
• Full Panel Lineup Released for Destination D23
• Free Tote at MNSSHP for DVC Members
• Chefs de France Food & Wine Breakfast Buffet
• DVC Welcome Home Weeks Kick Off Through September 16
• Minnie Van Airport Transfer Returns for Deluxe Resort Guests
• Beak & Barrel ADR Reservation Opening Dates and Delays
• Acrobatico! Debuts at France Pavilion in EPCOT
• Menus Released for Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic 2025
• Party Season Officially Begins at Magic Kingdom
• Radiator Springs Racers Refurb Begins Tomorrow
• Headline News Recap

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

Royal Caribbean Debuts New Kid-Tracking Feature

Royal Caribbean has rolled out a new feature in the Royal Caribbean app, available on the Icon-class ship Star of the Seas. Guests sailing on this ship can outfit their kids (ages 3-12) with a tracking bracelet that allows them to view the child’s location in real time on the app. It’s unknown when (or if) the feature will be rolled out to other Royal Caribbean ships.

Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure Added to Lightning Lane Options

Hollywood Studios will have a new Lightning Lane option; beginning on August 20, eligible guests will see the option to reserve a time for The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure for dates on September 13 and beyond. The Little Mermaid Lightning Lane will be a second-tier reservation. As with all shows, we don’t anticipate that it will be a good strategic choice unless you will redeem it almost instantly.

Disney Cruise Line Confirms Final Season in Australia

A third year of wintering in Australia and New Zealand is ahead for the Disney Wonder, but Disney Cruise Line has confirmed that the 2025/2026 season will be the end of Down Under itineraries, at least for now. If you’d like to sail these itineraries – or the repositioning cruises to/from Hawaii and Australia, book ’em now before they’re gone. The Wonder will sail for Sydney from Hawaii on October 3, 2025, arriving October 18. And her farewell from Sydney to Honolulu departs on February 2, 2026.

Full Panel Lineup Released for Destination D23

Destination D23 will be here in a couple of weeks, and I know that we are all waiting with bated breath for updates on our favorite projects. Or even the announcement of some new projects. The full panel schedule is out, and there is no parks-focused keynote on the schedule, meaning that any updates will come during other panels and there aren’t likely to be any major announcements. Click here to view the full panel lineup, including a list of panels available on livestream.

Free Tote at MNSSHP for DVC Members

Disney Vacation Club Members attending select Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties can stop by McKim’s Mile House to pick up a free tote bag. Bags are available only to members who are eligible for Membership Extras, subject to availability, at parties held on Friday nights.

Chefs de France Food & Wine Breakfast Buffet

Chefs de France has a new offering during the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival this year! The Parisian Breakfast Buffet will be offered with seatings from 9 to 10:30 am on Fridays and Saturdays, beginning September 5 and continuing through the end of Food & Wine. For $64.95, the buffet offerings include assorted French pastries, cheeses, charcuterie and smoked salmon, fresh fruit, and unlimited mimosas, juice, and freshly brewed coffee. Reservations are open now.

DVC Welcome Home Weeks Kick Off Through September 16

DVC Welcome Home Weeks celebrates Disney Vacation Club Members with a chance for a few extra goodies and discounts from August 14 to September 16, 2025. Look for a chance to meet up with other members over coffee, complimentary ice cream distribution, 40% off at select dining locations throughout the month, and more. Welcome Home Weeks has offerings at Disney World, Disneyland, Aulani, and the Vero Beach and Hilton Head resorts. Check out the event page for more details.

Minnie Van Airport Transfer Returns for Deluxe Resort Guests

Minnie Vans are Disney’s private rideshare, and you can take them between most points at Disney World. Or, if you’re a guest with a Club Level or Deluxe Resort stay, you can take them between the airport and Disney World! Airport service was previously available to Club Level guests only; availability for Deluxe guests was added this week.

For trips around Disney World, Minnie Vans are booked through the Lyft app, even though they are operated by Disney Cast Members. For airport service, guests need to call (407) 828-3500 between 60 and 2 days in advance of their visit. The cost for an airport transfer is $199 each way between Orlando International Airport and any Disney World Resort.

Beak & Barrel ADR Reservation Opening Dates and Delays

It’s been an exciting week for the Beak & Barrel, and it’s not even open yet! Late last week, Disney announced reservation dates for Beak & Barrel spots during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. For these reservations, guests with a Disney Resort reservation can book beginning on September 3, 2025, and all other guests can book beginning on September 8. The usual rules about 60-day booking windows apply, and you must have a party ticket to make a reservation.

This week, reservations for spots during regular park hours were supposed to open on August 14, but there were some snags. After many guests spent hours viewing “Stitch ate the page” or equivalent, Disney announced that reservations would not be available until next week. There’s still no confirmation of which day next week they’ll go online.

Acrobatico! Debuts at France Pavilion in EPCOT

If you’re passing through the France Pavilion, you might catch sight of a brand new act – it’s Acrobatico! This one-woman act features a performer who mimes her way from setting a table to the top of a stack of chairs, entertaining all the way. If you miss the Serveur Amusant act that retired in 2020, we think you’ll really enjoy this. And if you never saw Serveur Amusant, we still think you’re in for a treat.

Menus Released for Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic 2025

For one weekend at Disney World, there’s a second Food & Wine Festival, just a boat ride away from EPCOT. It’s the Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic, where your ticket buys an all-you-can-eat sampler of dishes and drinks from the Swan & Dolphin’s fine (and not-so-fine) dining establishments. (Our review of last year’s event: The Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic: Disney World’s OTHER Food & Wine)

This year’s event is held on November 14-15, and you can buy tickets for just one night or both. Tickets have been on sale for a bit, but if you want to know what’s on offer, menus were released this week.

Party Season Officially Begins at Magic Kingdom

It’s official! The 2025 Magic Kingdom Party Season has arrived with the first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party of the Year. From now through mid-December, the Magic Kingdom will close early 3-4 nights per week for these hard-ticket events. And if you’re heading to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party this year, check out some of our park team’s coverage below:

• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Wristband Distribution
• Review: Everything We Ate at the 2025 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
• New!! More Characters with Not-So-Scary Treats!

Radiator Springs Racers Refurb Begins Tomorrow

Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure is set to close for a month-long refurb, beginning on August 18, 2025 and concluding on September 26. The downtime will be used for track resurfacing and other minor upgrades.

Headline News Recap

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit finally closed this past week. Here’s what we know about what’s coming next, and how to adjust your touring if you’re visiting soon. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Closing – Here’s What to Know

EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival is just a couple of weeks away. Time for some menus! And this year, Disney released most prices along with the booth details. 2025 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Menus

Volcano Bay Nights will be returning in 2025! Dates and details here: 2025 Guide to Volcano Bay Nights

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