TouringPlans Travel Beat 8-24-2025

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!

• Paint the Night Pausing for the Holidays on November 10
• Oga’s Cantina at Disneyland Ditches Advance Reservations
• Beak and Barrel Dining Reservations Now Open
• EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival Begins this Week!
• Halloween Horror Nights Opens 2025 Season
• Headline News Recap

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

Paint the Night Pausing for the Holidays on November 10

Paint the Night Parade is running at Disneyland for the 70th Anniversary Celebration, but it will be taking a backseat during the holidays. Beginning November 10, Paint the Night will pause, and the Christmas Fantasy parade will run daily instead. Paint the Night will return in the new year.

Oga’s Cantina at Disneyland Ditches Advance Reservations

As of August 19, Oga’s Cantina at Disneyland is no longer offering Advance Dining Reservations. All existing reservations will be honored, but from now only it’s walk-up seating only.

Beak and Barrel Dining Reservations Now Open

After a bit of a snafu last week, Beak & Barrel dining reservations finally opened this week, with Disney using an online virtual queue to manage demand. Reservations quickly filled through mid-October, but of course, new days become available daily. If you’d like to stop in on your upcoming trip, make sure to try booking right when your reservation window opens. And in the meantime, Disney has released a preview video with a look around. The pub opens Friday; keep your eyes here for a first-look article!

EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival Begins this Week!

Food & Wine begins on Thursday. If you need a refresher, check out our guide to everything that’s been announced! Guide to the 2025 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival … and of course, the menus! 2025 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Menus

Halloween Horror Nights Opens 2025 Season

Just one day later, Halloween Horror Nights kicks off its season at Universal Orlando. After a Premium Scream Night preview on August 28, the event’s first full run is on Friday August 29. Need to make some plans? Check out our guide to the event: Guide to Halloween Horror Nights 2025 at Universal Orlando.

Headline News Recap

Whoa, it’s been a busy week!

Disneyland Vacation Packages for 2026 went on sale: Disneyland 2026 Vacation Packages Will Go On Sale August 20, which was accompanied by the news that Disneyland Resort will be ending its Early Entry benefit for onsite stays in 2026: Disneyland Resort Ending Early Entry January 2026.

New Disneyland Annual Pass sales (lowest two tiers only) were announced Go-Go-Go! Magic Key Pass Sales Return August 26, 2025

And itineraries are out for Disney Cruise Line ships in Fall 2026 / Spring 2027. Disney Cruise Line Announces 2026/2027 Itineraries.

We got an opening date and some plot details for the new show in Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life: Zootopia: Better Zoogether! Roars to Life on November 7, 2025

An update on how the Muppets will take over from Aerosmith at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster to Muppets Re-Theme Details

And finally, a sneak peek at some new features coming to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Updates: More Than Gold in Them Thar Hills.

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