TouringPlans Travel Beat 9-28-2025

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!

• Shanghai Disney Resort Adds Third Theater to Soarin’
• Santa Claus Moves to CommuniCore Hall This Year
• Napa Rose Reopening Delayed to Early 2026
• Mickey’s Not So Scary is Completely Sold Out
• Ghostly DisneyBand+ Scavenger Hunt Coming to the Treasure
• Star Wars Launch Bay and Animation Courtyard Now Closed
• Disney Vacation Club Members Can Hoop Dee Holidays
• Baby Tiger Bakso Turns One Year Old
• Universal Fan Fest Nights Return in 2026
• Bet Your Phone Alarm Can’t Do This
• Headline News Recap

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

Shanghai Disney Resort Adds Third Theater to Soarin’

Soarin’ is popular no matter where it is. In 2016, Disney added a third theater to Soarin’ at EPCOT to accommodate the ride’s popularity. Now they’re set to do the same at Shanghai Disney Resort, increasing capacity for Soaring Over the Horizon by 50%. As it did at Disney World, the ride will remain open throughout the expansion.

Santa Claus Moves to CommuniCore Hall This Year

There’s no word yet on whether the Glittering Grove or the gingerbread Spaceship Earth will return to CommuniCore Hall during this year’s Festival of the Holidays. But we do know someone who will be there – Santa! For the last several years, Santa Claus has met guests in the Odyssey, but this year Disney has announced that he’ll be meeting and greeting in CommuniCore Hall. Santa will meet daily from November 28 through December 24, 2025; check My Disney Experience for times.

Napa Rose Reopening Delayed to Early 2026

Disneyland’s flagship restaurant, Napa Rose, is in the middle of a many-month refurbishment that was expected to be complete in fall of 2025. This week, the restaurant’s webpage was updated with a new reopening date of early 2026. When it returns, it will feature an expanded patio space and a redesigned interior that includes more viewing space for the exhibition kitchen.

Mickey’s Not So Scary is Completely Sold Out

If you didn’t grab tickets yet for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, we have some bad news for you, as all dates are now showing sold out. And if you’re looking for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – well, two more dates sold out this week, for a total of three parties that are now completely booked. If you’ve got a holiday trip and you’re on the fence about party tickets, it could be time to make up your mind.

Ghostly DisneyBand+ Scavenger Hunt Coming to the Treasure

A “Happy Hunt” is coming to the Disney Treasure next month, and if you’ve got a DisneyBand+ then you’re all set to play. (Note: if you’ve got a MagicBand+, it’s also a DisneyBand+) Some of the Happy Haunts from the Haunted Mansion Parlor have wandered off. Use your DisneyBand+ to find them, and bring them back to Madame Leota for a surprise.

Star Wars Launch Bay and Animation Courtyard Now Closed

Star Wars Launch Bay and Animation Courtyard closed permanently on Thursday, to make way for the The Magic of Disney Animation. Walls are up, but you can still meet Darth Vader and Chewbacca. You’ll find Darth Vader meeting frequently throughout the day in a new location near Star Tours. Head to Galaxy’s Edge to meet Chewbacca; roaming Batuu is nothing new for our furry favorite, but you’ll now find him meeting frequently near the Millennium Falcon. Check the My Disney Experience app for times on the day of your visit.

Disney Vacation Club Members Can Hoop Dee Holidays

Hoop Dee Holidays event dates for 2025 have been added to the list of Disney Vacation Club Events and Experiences. The event, which adds a member-exclusive seasonal preshow and a keepsake to the regular Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, is $5 more than the everyday price.

Hoop Dee Holidays will be held on December 9 and 16, 2025, with showtimes at 4 and 6:15 pm. It’s open to DVC members who are eligible for Membership Extras, and they may bring up to 11 guests; members can only book one show date (and presumably time) per membership. Members can call Member Services at (800) 800-9800 to check availability and book, beginning on October 10, 2025.

Baby Tiger Bakso Turns One Year Old

We love to announce the new babies here on Travel Beat, and like everyone else who prints Disney news we were tickled when Disney announced the birth of a new Sumatran Tiger at Animal Kingdom in 2024. Can you believe it’s already been a year! Bakso, now full 140 lbs, celebrated his first birthday on Friday with plenty of treats and enrichment activities. If you’re visiting Animal Kingdom, you’ll find Bakso at the Maharajah Jungle Trek.

Universal Fan Fest Nights Return in 2026

Universal Fan Fest Nights at Universal Hollywood Studios is returning in the spring of 2026! And one question has been answered: the sophomore year will have new franchises on tap. It’s unclear if any of last year’s featured fandoms will return to this “step into the show” immersive event, but Universal has announced a Scooby Doo x Universal Monsters mashup and said there are “more reveals coming”. Not sure what it’s all about? Check out Guy’s review from the 2025 inaugural event.

Event dates are: April 23-25; May 1-3, 7-9, 15-16. Presale tickets are available now and come in two flavors: a single night admission and an all-event pass that allows you to attend as many 2026 Fan Fest events as you would like. Both tickets come with a limited-edition collectible medallion.

Bet Your Phone Alarm Can’t Do This

Beginning in October, some Asia Pacific guests of Holiday Inn Express will have the chance to be woken up by the smell of bacon. Yep, that’s right, bacon. Scent-based alarm clocks are part of a limited-time trial by the chain, which is a brand of IHG Hotels & Resorts. The Breakfast Alarm Clock experience will offer guests their choice of three scents: Coffee, Bacon, and Blueberry Muffin in Australia and New Zealand, Nashi Pear in Japan, and Mango in Singapore and Thailand. Holiday Inn Express does offer free breakfast as part of your stay, so presumably there’s no downside to waking up hungry.

While it’s not unusual for us to include some general travel news here in Travel Beat, I was really struck by this one. I want it to be successful, and even more, I want it to be so successful that you can buy a scent-based alarm clock retail. Waking up to the scent of the orange groves from OG Soarin’? Sign me up.

Headline News Recap

On Thursday night, the last After Hours event of 2025 was held at EPCOT. Disney didn’t let any grass grow on releasing the 2026 dates: 2026 Disney World After Hours Dates and Details.

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