Walt Disney World‘s Pop Century Resort is one of our favorite value resort hotels. Many resort hotels offer fun, unique activities and this popular hotel is no exception.

We just tried this activity on our last visit and it ended up being the cheapest tie-dye activity on our list.

READ MORE – This is Rumored to be Disney CEO Bob Iger’s Favorite Disney World Hotel

Cheap Tie Dying Activity at Pop Century

Many of the Disney Resort hotels offer fun activities guests can take partake in including wine making, art galleries, and more. You can even enjoy different jogging trails around many of the different resort hotels. Over at Disney's Pop Century Resort, one of the activities fits right in with the theme of the hotel: you can tie dye your own t-shirt!

The Cheapest Disney T-Shirt You Can Find

It only costs $20 per shirt to tie dye a shirt. This is the cheapest Disney shirt you can find anywhere at Walt Disney World! You just tell the cast members your size and they will hand you a pre-rolled and rubber banded shirt.

Pick Your Colors!

After that, you simply just use the dye bottles to color your shirt. One end of the shirt will have three rubber bands separating part of the shirt to have a Mickey in the middle. This was a very quick and easy activity to do!

Easy to Make Mickey Tie Dye Shirts

There is a fun variety of colors too! The advice from the cast member is that you make the mickey one color and separate a bit from the other colors so it stands out. Once you're done, the cast members will take your shirt and seal it in a plastic bag with instructions.

Wash Your Sheet When You Get Home

You leave your shirt in the bag for up to two weeks and then you rinse it out at home and wash it! This was such a fun and cheap activity to do. Definitely made for a great souvenier!

The Longer You Wait, the Brighter Your Shirt

The longer you wait to wash the dye out, the brighter your shirt will be!

If you're interested in tie dying shirts at Pop Century, check for the list of scheduled weekly activities when you check-in to see when it is available. This was such a fun and unique souvenir.

READ MORE – Disney World Pros Know Not to Ignore These 10 Overlooked Food Items at the Parks

Guests always find themselves so distracted with the incredible attractions, shows, and overall atmosphere at the Disney World theme parks that they often pass by some of the tastiest snacks within the parks! We visit Disney World property monthly and often find many overlooked or underrated food items throughout the four amazing theme parks.

READ MORE – 11 Unwritten Rules of the Disney Parks You Really Need to Follow

From knowing what time the park opens to getting the right ticket, understanding park hopping, and hitting all the top attractions, it can be tough to keep it all straight! Along with those more logistical items to keep track of, there are also quite a few “unwritten rules” to be aware of. Learn this secret code of Disney park etiquette here so you don’t unknowingly make a faux pas on your next visit!

The post The Cheapest Disney Shirt On Property Comes With a Groovy Activity appeared first on Mickey Visit - Disney News & Planning Tips.

One of the best hotels near Disneyland has debuted a new weekend brunch offering at its rooftop lounge with park views. We tried this new brunch recently and will share photos and our full review!

We have written in the past about how the Westin Anaheim offers such a luxurious atmosphere and amenities that some choose it over Disney's Grand Californian. The rooftop lounge is one of the highlights of this beautiful property, with views overlooking Disney California Adventure. It is one of the best spots to watch the Disneyland fireworks outside of the parks in the evening, and now the restaurant has a great new brunch offering! Keep reading for photos and our brunch experience here…

READ MORE – Hidden Details on Disneyland Rides That You Will Completely Miss if You Don’t Know Where to Look

RISE Rooftop Lounge Brunch Overview

Brunch is offered at RISE Rooftop Lounge on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 am-2:30 pm, and you can make reservations through OpenTable. Our reservation was for 11:30 am, and it started to get busier around 12:30 pm. It was a perfectly warm, sunny day in Anaheim when we visited.

The highlight of the location is, of course, the lovely view you get of the backside of Disney California Adventure. You can see the Incredicoaster, Pixar Pal-a-Round, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission: Breakout!, and more from this vantage point.

There is one thing to be aware of for seating! We were initially seated at a high-top table with prime viewing of Disney California Adventure, which was stunning on such a nice day, but that seating is right next to where the live music is played. We thought the live performers were very talented, and we liked the music they played. However, just due to the positioning of the table, it was quite loud and we couldn't hear each other talk, so we asked to be moved to a table off to the side. This is just something to keep in mind, as it will be a little hard to hear if you're seated with a head-on view of the parks next to the speakers with the live performers. However, not everyone will mind this, so take this with a grain of salt!

We could still see some of the park from our table off to the side.

RISE Rooftop Lounge Brunch Food Review

There are a lot of really interesting options on the menu (see the full menu below), including a selection of breakfast cocktails and sweet and savory plates. The offerings are all on the pricier side, but for the food, you get some very generous portions, as you'll see below.

You get an assortment of pastries to begin (croissants, madeleines, muffins, etc.), which we thought were all very good and fresh.

A highlight of the brunch is the specialty brunch cart, where you can choose from three different types of sparkling wines and various juices like pineapple, mango, passion fruit, etc.

We started out with the Cinnamon Roll Skillet, which was very good and perfect for sharing. The cream cheese icing was delicious and perfectly melted into the cinnamon roll. A similar sweet offering on the menu is the Coffee & Donuts (a chef-inspired seasonal creation), which we will definitely be trying next time.

We also had the two types of Benedicts, the Rise Benedict and Corn Beef Benedict. The serving size for these dishes is significant. It doesn't look like it from the photos below with the lovely presentation, but once you start to dig into the plate, you'll realize just how much food you're getting.

The Corn Beef Benedict features toasted rye, whole grain mustard, pickled Cabbage poached eggs, hollandaise, and chive, served with spring greens & chef’s breakfast potato. This was very good and flavorful, and the dish had lots of variety. I especially liked the combination of flavors from some of the sides, like the breakfast potato, which was a mashed potato in a spiced, crispy shell.

The Rise Benedict features toasted English Muffin, onion jam, thick-cut rosemary scented bacon, poached eggs, and hollandaise, served with spring greens & chef’s breakfast potato.

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This brunch is a great option for a break from the parks after rope drop on the weekends, or an activity to end your trip on a high note on your check-out day. We really enjoyed our experience and will definitely be coming back to try some more of the brunch offerings!

Don't Miss the Latest Disney News

Don't miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips.

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Halloween at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando looks very different than Halloween at Disneyland or Halloween at Walt Disney World! Universal Studios Hollywood's ticketed event, Halloween Horror Nights, is recommended only for ages 13 and up and caters strongly to a teenager and adult crowd with Hollywood-style special effects in haunted houses, and scare actors that roam the parks with other horrific encounters. This is a popular event and guests will have the best experience if they go in with a Halloween Horror Nights strategy in mind.

For adults and teens looking to enjoy the spookier version of Halloween, Halloween Horror Nights is a great option. Each year this ticketed event gets more and more popular and haunted houses have included popular film franchises like Stranger Things, Last of Us, Chucky, classic monsters like Frankenstein, and the Jordan Peele films. This popular event brings large crowds and a different strategy is needed to tackle the event most efficiently! Here is my strategy for attending the event plus the best tips on surviving the crowds at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood.

READ MORE – 11 Unwritten Rules of the Disney Parks You Really Need to Follow

Best Halloween Horror Night Tips

Here are all my best Halloween Horror Night tips that take into account how to have the best experience seeing all the haunted houses, scare zones, entertainment, and more at Universal Studios Hollywood.

• Buy Express Pass– This is a crucial step for having the best experience. This is one instance where the money is always absolutely worth it, the lines for all these haunted houses get very, very long. You will not be able to do everything without Express Pass.
• Buy Early Entry– If you're splurging on Express Pass, you might as well purchase Early Entry too and enter the park at 5:30pm instead of 7pm so you can start on the popular houses in the Lower Lot.
• Wear Comfortable Shoes- You will do a lot of walking at this event, more so than you do on a regular day at Universal Studios Hollywood. Nearly all the haunted houses are located in the backstage area of the park which means more walking as some of the houses require you to walk pretty far into this backstage area!
• Eat Before the Event- While Halloween Horror Nights has its own special dining experiences, you should plan on eating a big meal before it starts. Like any special event at a theme park, you will have a busy night and may encounter long lines for food! Best to eat beforehand and have a lighter meal later.
• Take Your Time in the Haunted Houses- Although it can be challenging, especially if you're scared, take your time walking through the haunted houses. The timing of the jump scares and appearances from scare actors are often coordinated to each separate group, if you are following the group in front too closely, you may miss out on some parts of the house. Take your time, walk at a slow pace, and really take it in.
• Go Last for Best Jump Scares- Being the person who walks through the haunted houses first might actually be less scary than going second. We found that many jump scares were timed to hear the first person walking past, and once they jumped out it was really at the second person! What a fun twist that is.
• Don't Be Scared- Well, easier said than done but if you're nervous just remember that many folks who work in haunted houses were once theater kids. And theater kids can't be that scary, right? I had many theater kid friends when I was young and what did they all do when not acting in plays? Work in haunted houses! Scare actors also can't touch you- not in the haunted houses or the scare zones. Take a deep breath and have fun!
• Prepare for Loud Noises/Smells- The haunted houses are all extremely loud and can include flashing lights and strong smells. If you are sensitive to this type of stimulation, it's good to be prepared. Some guests even bring a mask to wear in the houses with the smells if this is something that may bother them. And some of the houses have very strong smells!
• Bring Your Teens– If you have teens who won't be scared by haunted houses, this event is a must. Being a teenager can be a hard age as they're between childhood and adulthood and so many experiences do not cater to them. Halloween Horror Nights is a perfect event many teens will love, we saw so many having a blast!
• Leave the Young Kids at Home– Halloween Horror Nights is not recommended for anyone under 13 and I think this is a perfect recommendation. We did not see one single kid under the age of 13 at this event and it's good advice to follow, most kids would be terrified by this event. And maybe some of us adults too!

Keep reading for our full strategy for surviving Halloween Horror Nights!

Is Express Pass Worth It for Halloween Horror Nights?

While I don't believe Express Pass is always necessary at Universal Studios Hollywood, you can read my full thoughts on that in our Express Pass guide, my opinion changes a bit when you consider the crowds for Halloween Horror Nights.

The same two versions of Express Pass for Halloween Horror Nights are offered: once per use and unlimited. Express Pass can be used for all the haunted houses, the Terror Tram, priority viewing for the Purge show in the Waterworld theater plus the open attractions.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood is an extremely popular event amongst locals and tourists alike. Since this is a popular event for folks who live in the area, you will see much larger crowds on weekends than on weekdays. You can read more about crowds at Universal Studios Hollywood in our crowd calendar.

You will also see much larger crowds in the month of October than in September so if you are visiting in October, I would highly recommend purchasing Express Pass. If you are visiting in September on a weekday then you might be able to get by without Express Pass but keep in mind that you won't be able to experience all the houses. If you are visiting on a weekend, I would highly recommend it in either September or October.

I had regular Express Pass during my most recent Halloween Horror Nights experience which was on a Friday night in September and so we saw very high crowd levels during our night.  We saw wait times average around three hours for these houses throughout the night! I was able to experience every house using Express Pass even the most popular houses. Some houses had a three-hour wait in the regular line but with Express we waited about 20 minutes which was a huge difference!

If you do not have Express Pass, it may not be possible to experience all the houses so that is one big reason I feel that Express Pass is worth it if the houses are a big priority for your group. Otherwise, you will spend a large chunk of your night spent in line which is not a great way to spend the evening! It's an investment in a better experience and I do feel it is necessary for most evenings at Halloween Horror Nights. We were able to take our time going to all the houses while still experiencing the scare zones, Terror Tram, and the new Purge show in the Waterworld theater. And we also rode a few rides too!

Is Halloween Horror Nights Early Entry Worth It?

Universal Studios Hollywood also offers an Early Entry pass that you can purchase in addition to your regular admission. This Early Entry ticket allows you access to the event 90 minutes earlier so guests enter at 5:30 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. During Early Entry, all the lower lot houses will be available.

If you have Express Pass, you may want to wait and see what the posted wait time is before automatically using it. If you can use the regular line then you could use your pass to come back later and do it again if you want!

During our experience with Early Entry, by 6 p.m. both Lower Lot houses had around an hour-long line but the Express Pass line was a walk-on for all the houses during the time. This is also helpful because the Express Pass lines will grow a bit during the evening although we never experienced one longer than 20 minutes.

Using Express Pass and Early Entry, we had all four houses in the Lower Lot done before 7 p.m. and also had time to ride The Mummy twice in a row.

Since Early Entry is so cheap, ranging around $15-25 per ticket, I think it is easily worth it. If you do not plan on purchasing Express Pass, I would say this ticket is essential!

Halloween Horror Nights Strategy

If you purchase Express Pass, my best advice for a Halloween Horror Nights strategy is to start in the Lower Lot and slowly work your way around the Upper Lot when finished. The beauty of Express Pass is a Halloween Horror Nights strategy is not often needed as long as you move deliberately around the park rather than zig-zagging or going out of your way.

For guests purchasing Early Entry, starting in the Lower Lot is necessary since those are the available houses during the event.

For guests not purchasing Early Entry, they may want to do the opposite and start in the Upper Lot! Rather than go right to the Lower Lot which will already have houses with waits, go straight to the other houses. Based on my observations from our night at Halloween Horror Nights, guests without Early Entry should go straight to the Chucky house which is located at the end of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the backstage area. Do the upper lot first and then save the lower lot for last.

If a guest decides to not purchase Express Pass or Early Entry, I recommend monitoring the wait times in the Universal Studios Hollywood app to zig-zag throughout the park as wait times drop. I noticed that most of the crowd seems to follow a similar pattern, some houses will reach high waits and others will drop as the crowds move around. Watch the app for the lowest times!

You will naturally experience the Scare Zones as you walk through the park so you don't necessarily have to plan on incorporating them into your evening.

Tips on Seeing The Purge at Halloween Horror Nights

As for The Purge, wait times for the houses might actually go down during this show which takes place in the Waterworld area so this could be a time to prioritize popular houses instead of seeing the show. Without Express Pass, it simply won't be possible to do everything so this is a moment of deciding which is the bigger priority. That being said, this is a great show and is worth the time to see!

The last hour of the event may see lower wait times as many guests may begin to clear out before then. But keep in mind, unlike other theme park events, the crowds will mainly be adults and teenagers and most will likely stay until the end.

Overall, I believe the best Halloween Horror Nights strategy is to purchase Express Pass and Early Entry but it can be done without Express if you plan ahead. Just know that without Express Pass, it's unlikely you will see everything! Prioritize your top houses and plan the order you want to tackle them as you monitor wait times in the app.

READ MORE – Don’t Pack These Items For Your Disney Trip. They Can Cause Headaches and Some Are Banned.

Don't Miss the Latest Disney News

Don't miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips.

The post How to Survive Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood appeared first on Mickey Visit - Disney News & Planning Tips.

The Disney Starlight Parade officially opens at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World on July 20th but there was a surprise soft opening this evening and we were there to see it!

This is the first nighttime parade at Disney World in nearly 10 years. Our review covers our first impressions of the parade plus PHOTOS of all the floats.

READ MORE – This is Rumored to be Disney CEO Bob Iger’s Favorite Disney World Hotel

Disney Starlight Parade Soft Opening

The highly anticipated Disney Starlight parade kicked off two days early at Magic Kingdom. When the parade officially starts on July 20 it will have two showings a day at 9 PM and 11:00 PM. For this soft opening, the parade ran at 9 PM.

Disney Starlight Lights Up Parade Route

As you can see from the pictures, the lighting of these floats is so stunning that it lights up the entire area.

Peter Pan Float Shines

The Peter Pan float might just be my favorite, so beautiful!

Encanto Starlight Float

Encanto is a popular choice to incorporate into the parks, this float is so bright and vibrant.

Wish Float Stuns with Contrasting Colors

I love how they incorporated such bright colors. The Wish float is stunning. Even though this wasn't the most popular Disney film, the visuals from this film are so gorgeous and work well as a parade float.

Disney Princesses Shine

This float dedicated to the Disney Princesses shines bright!

Belle and Beast Dance at the End

You'll see Belle and Beast dancing at the end of this float.

Frozen Float Steals the Show

The Frozen float showcases Elsa looking fantastic. The coloring here works so well.

Coco Float Brings Magic of Pixar

The Coco float is also impressive featuring the life size alebrije from the film.

Moana's Float Combines Water and Light

The Moana float does a nice job of using the “starlight” to create waves.

Meet Whimsy!

And of course, the finale float we've heard so much hype about includes the new character “Whimsy” created just for the parade. The inspiration of this new character came after studying old vintage Disney animation including the Silly Symphony animation shorts. He's adorable!

This is a breathtaking addition to Magic Kingdom! It's so nice to see such a stunning nighttime parade return to the park. And don't worry, if you're visiting in the Disney World Halloween or Disney World holiday season, Disney Starlight will run on nights the seasonal parties aren't taking place so it's not going away anytime soon!

READ MORE – These 10 Disney Rides Have Changed Dramatically Since Their Opening

I've seen changes come and go, and like many seasoned Disney park goers, I've become familiar with the resulting emotional rollercoaster. It can be sad when the company decides to overhaul or even remove a beloved attraction. On the other hand, there are times when it's easy to embrace a much-needed update. Here are ten Disney attractions that have transformed substantially since opening day, for better or worse.

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The post SURPRISE! New Disney Nighttime Starlight Parade Debuts Early – PHOTOS of All Floats appeared first on Mickey Visit - Disney News & Planning Tips.

Disneyland just celebrated its 70th anniversary date yesterday with lots of special festivities, including the debut of a new attraction featuring the first-ever Walt Disney animatronic.

The new “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” has been using a virtual queue to manage demand in its initial opening days, but we've now seen a change that a virtual queue is already not required to experience the attraction. Keep reading for more details…

Change to Virtual Queue for Walt Disney Attraction

Disneyland previously shared that Walt Disney – A Magical Life would be utilizing a virtual queue in its initial opening days, but we anticipated that this would not be offered for long. Now, just one day after the attraction's debut, we are already seeing that a virtual queue is not required. We are not very surprised, as we figured the virtual queue was mainly to manage demand for the new offering during its debut on Disneyland's anniversary date.

In the Disneyland app, there is the following message in the virtual queue section: “Guests may head directly to the standby queue at the Opera House for the Walt Disney – A Magical Life, until 7:30 PM. Virtual queue is not required at this time.”

Disneyland will continue to use a virtual queue for the attraction as needed each day. You can check the Disneyland app on the day of your visit to see if a virtual queue is in use.

Don't Miss the Latest Disney News

Don't miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips.

The post New Disneyland Attraction Drops Virtual Queue Requirement appeared first on Mickey Visit - Disney News & Planning Tips.

Universal’s Epic Universe, a brand-new theme park, is now open at Universal Orlando Resort. This new theme park includes a Harry Potter land, a Super Nintendo land, an area themed on How to Train Your Dragon plus a land themed around the classic Universal monsters. This is one of the biggest theme park expansions we've seen in Orlando since the early 2000s.

Universal Orlando went all out for its third theme park expansion with dozens of brand new attractions and out of this world immersion. Universal Orlando already has two existing theme parks: Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida plus their own water park Volcano Bay. Universal counts Volcano Bay as a third theme park making the addition of Epic Universe as a full fourth theme park. We've spent time at Epic Universe since it's opened and here's our full guide along with our thoughts on what the best features of the park are.

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Universal Orlando Expansion

Universal’s Epic Universe is the first major theme park built in the Orlando market since Universal Islands of Adventure in 1999. Epic Universe opened in May 2025 and has five lands:

• Celestial Park
• Super Nintendo World
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
• How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
• Dark Universe

Super Nintendo World has been a huge hit at Universal Studios Hollywood and this is an even larger land with MORE attractions. Be sure to read our top tips for visiting Epic Universe to learn all our best hacks and tips for navigating this popular theme park.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Ministry of Magic has the most popular ride in the park with Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. How to Train Your Dragon-Isle of Berk and Dark Universe both exceed expectations at their immersive details. Both of these lands also offer some of our favorite Epic Universe food and snack items.

Epic Universe features a large luxury hotel inside the park at the end of Celestial Park called the Universal Helios Grand Hotel. Two other hotels, Universal’s Terra Luna Resort and Universal’s Stella Nova Resort, bring the total up to three hotels built for Epic Universe. All of these hotels feature a short walk or bus trip to Epic Universe. This is helpful since Epic Universe has been built at a distance away from the other parks.

Express Pass at Epic Universe

Premium Universal Orlando hotels do not include Express Pass for Epic Universe in their hotel stays. Currently, you get Express Pass included with your hotel stay if you stay at one of these three hotels: Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort. But for now, that is only for use at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida.

Additionally, only once per ride Express Pass is available at Epic Universe. There is no option to purchase Unlimited Express Pass which allows you to ride attractions using Express Pass more than once.

There are three rides that are not included in Express Pass at Epic Universe and unfortunately, two of these rides are the main e-ticket attractions in the park. Express Pass is not included for:

• Dragon Racer's Rally
• Mine-Cart Madness
• Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry

You can read more about if Express Pass is worth it reading our experience after spending $830 on Express Pass for one day.

Use Early Entry at Epic Universe

Early Park Admission allows guests staying at Universal resort hotels and select Annual Passholders access to the theme parks an hour before official opening.

Epic Universe, the newest Universal Orlando theme park, has offered Early Park Admission since the park opened but it's been constantly changing in terms of how efficient it is and what attractions it offers.

Based on our most recent experience, read more about whether or not waking up early for Early Park Admission at Epic Universe is worth it.

Celestial Park

Celestial Park is the area guests see first as they enter Epic Universe with acres of rolling gardens, chasing waterways and pathways which Universal states will “put the park back in theme park.” Celestial Park is truly what it sounds like: a park! You can wander through the expansive gardens, waterways, all surrounded by architecture inspired by astronomical and mythological elements.

Celestial Park is truly a beautiful area of Epic Universe but the main downside is there is not much shade so it can feel pretty hot in the sun. At night is when it truly comes alive with bright LED lighting that connects the entire park. This area of Epic Universe really shows off the beauty of the park.

Stardust Racers

Stardust Racers is a dual-launch racing coaster that sends guests rocketing through the skies aboard comets in a race to see who’s the fastest! This rollercoaster reaches speeds up to 62 mph and heights up to 133 feet along 5,000 feet of track. This is the most thrilling coaster experience at Epic Universe with unique maneuvers like the “Celestial Spin,” in which the two coaster vehicles perform an inverted crisscross while speeding through the air. This is the best ride in Celestial Park and is the most thrilling in Epic Universe.

Constellation Carousel

Constellation Carousl takes guests on a fantastical whirl aboard constellations that glide forward, backward, and even make 360-degree rotations. Guests get to experience the milky way in a choreographed dance of music and starlight. This attraction is best enjoyed at night to really take in all the lighting effects in Celestial Park.

Astronomica is an interactive wet-play area that also doubles as a giant compass to the many wonders of Epic Universe featuring crystal blue fountains that spring to life and dance around guests. It's a bit of a stretch to call this an attraction as it's just a splash pad but still a great inclusion for kids to enjoy.

Celestial Park also features fountain shows over seven acres of water with heights reaching up to 135 feet in the air with music and interactive lighting from day to night. If you're looking for a nighttime show in Epic Universe, this is the one! The fountain show focuses on each portal in the land and plays the music associated with each one while the lights change colors. It's a low maintenance, easy show to see since you can see it anywhere in Celestial Park.

Super Nintendo World

This Super Nintendo World land is huge in comparison to the one at Universal Studios Hollywood with enough space to incorporate more attractions like those in Japan like the Donkey Kong Mine Cart rollercoaster. When guests enter Super Nintendo World they go up a themed escalator (or an elevator is available) into the land into Princess Peach's castle. From there you can see the full scope of the land including the two main attractions and levels that you can interact with. Donkey Kong Country is its own themed area within Super Nintendo World that includes the popular Donkey Kong coaster.

Super Nintendo World has easily been one of the most popular areas in Epic Universe for adults and kids alike. Unfortunately, this causes the area to be quite crowded compared to the others which can feel a bit overwhelming due to the smaller walkways in comparison to the other areas. See everything about Super Nintendo World Orlando in our guide!

Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge

This driving simulation attraction allows Mario Kart video game fans to enter that world. Guests will enter Bowser’s Castle before embarking on their journey. This ride already exists in Japan and Hollywood based on this popular game. This is one of the most popular rides in Super Nintendo World and often has long waits but it does offer Express Pass. The ride uses advanced VR technology combined with digital and physical sets, it's a great experience especially for Super Nintendo fans.

Yoshi’s Adventure

This family-friendly omnimover-style ride takes guests on a trip around the land. The first version of this ride system exists at Universal Studios Japan. This is similar in concept to Walt Disney World's People Mover with guests riding on the “back” of Yoshi's as they enjoy views of Super Nintendo World while they search for Yoshi eggs. This is a fine ride but it moves very, very slowly which can be rough in the hot sun. This could be a skip if you are low on time.

Donkey Kong Mine Cart Rollercoaster

Donkey Kong Mine Cart rollercoaster features a unique ride system that makes riders feel their coaster vehicle is jumping gaps in the track. Recreating the mine cart levels from the video game, this new Donkey Kong roller coaster makes it look like you’re jumping over gaps in the track. This is such a great coaster, although a bit short, and is one you should try to ride!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

Epic Universe also includes a brand new Harry Potter themed land! This addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Epic Universe blends the 1920s Paris from the Fantastic Beasts films with the British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series.

Before guests enter the portal into the land, they journey from a Muggle park in Paris into the 1920’s Place Cachée. The setting of this land brings guests into the 1920's spectacle of “Place Cachée” – a hidden, shopping district in wizarding Paris lined with Haussmannian buildings, shops, sidewalk cafés, and historic Parisian domes rising in the distance.

The land features the same ability for interactive wands and spells the other two wizarding lands Universal offers. The immersion and details in this land are stunning. Harry Potter fans love this area and even guests that aren't Harry Potter fans! You don't need to know anything about Harry Potter to appreciate the beauty of this space.

Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry

The biggest draw in the Harry Potter land is the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry attraction. This e-ticket ride combines massive environments, storytelling and “first-of-its-kind ride technology.” Read more about how to ride the most popular Harry Potter ride in all of Universal Orlando in our guide. 

The ride begins when guests travel by “Métro-Floo” which is the form of wizarding travel inspired by the Floo Network seen in the films. Guests will travel from wizarding Paris to the British Ministry of Magic to battle the infamous Dolores Umbridge. Yes, the villain of this ride will be Dolores Umbridge first featured in the Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix films. This is one of the most iconic villains in the franchise. I love this idea to incorporate a different villain as Voldemort is already predominantly featured in the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts attraction.

One of the main features of the attraction is the entrance into the ride itself as guests will get to enter the Ministry of Magic atrium and venture through Ministry departments before boarding the new attraction which will use “omnidirectional lifts.” Guests will watch the trial of Dolores Umbridge take place and then follow the story as she tries to escape.

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger are also featured in the ride. The classic trio is joined by a new character, a house-elf named Higgledy. The ride is a “thrilling chase” that “propels guests up, down, forward, backward, sideways” as they chase Umbridge through the Ministry. Guests will also be dodging attacks from Death Eaters, “rampaging creatures” and other obstacles as they chase down Umbridge.

This is a fantastic ride and one of the best in Epic Universe. However, lines tend to be long and it does not offer Express Pass so many guests need to weigh how badly they want to ride and how willing they are to wait.

Le Cirque Arcanus

Le Cirque Arcanus offer guests the first time ever experience in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to enjoy a live, full-scale theatre experience. This stage show features live performers, aerialists, skilled puppetry and amazing special effects.

The show follows the story of Ringmaster Skender, who has stolen Newt Scamander's suitcase, in an attempt to bring the circus back to life. Guests will see characters like Demiguise, Diricawl, Mooncalves and more during this performance. Gwenlyn, a circus employee characterized in the show, will attempt to rescue the creatures from Skender. This is a great way to incorporate the creatures of the Harry Potter world into the land.

How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

This area of Epic Universe builds on Universal’s partnership with DreamWorks. How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk features numerous attractions, meet and greets with favorite characters, and an amazing show.

The How to Train Your Dragon land is themed after the isle of Berk from the films where Hiccup, Toothless, and the rest of the vikings and dragons live. In the films, Berk features rocky arches, cliffs, waterfalls, streams and large forests.

In the films, the main village called Hooligan is where all the vikings live. The village is composed of large structures which are all themed around dragons. After the first film when the vikings make peace with the dragons, they add “Dragon Birdhouses” for the dragons to live in. The entire village is bright and colorful featuring many different species of dragons. Universal did an amazing job bringing these dragons to life in the land making it easily one of the most immersive lands in the park.

Hiccup’s Wing Gliders

The main roller coaster of the land is a family friendly ride where Hiccup has invited brave new vikings to take a ride on his latest glider creation. This “winged flying machine” launches new Dragon Riders into the sky for a dragon's eye view of Berk. This is the best ride in the land and is one you should not skip!

Fyre Drill

Viking twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnu, invite teams of Vikings to outscore and out-soak each other on this boat battle. Guests board a colorful dragon-headed boat and blast water cannons at flame-like targets to practice putting out fires. This is a fun ride but you will get soaked so keep that in mind before you ride.

Dragon Racer’s Rally

This attraction allows new Vikings racers to “practice aerobatic maneuvers and high-speed barrel rolls” on this attraction that reaches heights of up to 67 feet in the air. This ride has a very slow loading and unloading procedure so it creates very long waits.

The Untrainable Dragon

This show is inspired by the popular “Untrainable” show at Universal Beijing Resort. This dragon focused live spectacular features favorite characters like Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid as they work together to solve the mystery of The Untrainable Dragon. The show features musical numbers, breathtaking sets and life-sized dragons. This is hands down the best show at Epic Universe! If you have to pick between this or the Harry Potter show, see this one!

Meet Hiccup and Toothless

And of course, the land would not be complete without a Hiccup and Toothless meet and greet! You can also meet Astrid and Stormfly but they are often harder to find unless you go first thing in the morning. These meet and greets are very popular and often have long lines.

There is also a Viking Training Camp which gives “Junior Vikings” a chance to learn everything about dragons as they enjoy this interactive play camp which includes a a Viking agility course, a Toothless-themed teeter-totter, baby Gronckle dragon climbers and more.

Dark Universe

Dark Universe is a land focused on the Universal Classic Monsters where guests encounter everything from the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to a shadowy landscape where monsters roam. The classic Universal monster family includes well-known creatures like Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, the Mummy, the Wolf Man, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon. All of these monsters have become pop culture icons and are a big part of Universal's history and connection to classic horror.

The land includes a new generation of monsters and characters including Dr. Victoria Frankenstein. Dr Victoria Frankenstein is the great-great-granddaughter of the infamous Henry Frankenstein who has continued his misguided experiments. You will meet her in the main attraction of the land, Monsters Unchained, and hear of her experiments throughout the village.

The journey to Dark Universe begins when guests enter the portal which harnesses the dark energy of Darkmoor, the village of the land. The focal point of Darkmoor is Frankenstein Manor and holds the main attraction of the land. The immersion of this land is amazing and is even better at night! Don't forget to come back when the sun falls.

Monsters Unchained

Monsters Unchained takes guests into the catacombs of Frankenstein Manor where they will see Dr. Victoria Frankenstein conduct her twisted experiments. Dr. Victoria Frankenstein is a new character created for Dark Universe. She is the great-great granddaughter of Henry Frankenstein, the creator of Frankenstein from the original story, and she aims to demonstrate her control over monsters.

Dr. Victoria Frankenstein's attempts to control the other monsters goes wrong with Dracula and this unleashes a horde of enraged monsters. Guests are thrust into an intense dark ride as they try to escape The Wolf Man, The Mummy, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Brides of Dracula and others. This attraction uses the same ride system as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

There are 14 animatronics in the Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment attraction. The animatronic for Frankenstein's Monster is nine feet tall and weighs over 800lbs. You first see this figure in the queue of the ride as he walks within Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s lab during the preshow.

This is the best ride in Epic Universe and one we rank in that top spot, along with Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, in our top ranking of rides of Epic Universe.

Curse of the Werewolf

Curse of the Werewolf is a spinning family coaster inspired by “The Wolf Man” ensuring this land as an attraction for all ages. Guests enter the encampment of The Guild of Mystics where they’ll be greeted by the Maleva, the guild’s all-knowing seer and leader, who warns them that they bear the mark of the werewolf. You then board a wagon and venture into the forest as they race to escape the werewolves. This is a fun attraction but not quite on the same level as Monsters Unchained. This is a fun ride though so if you have the time, don't skip it.

Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience

Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience will allow guests of all ages to don elaborate face paint and temporary tattoos featuring all their favorite classic monsters.

The story goes that monster makers have converted Dr. Pretorius’ infamous old lab into a parlor to continue the spirit of his demented experiments. This is where skilled artists can transform their appearances to showcase their favorite Universal Monsters.

Meet the Monsters

You can also meet the monsters themselves! Character meet and greets in this land include Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s Monster and the Bride of Frankenstein.

Characters also roam the village including Victoria Frankenstein’s servant, Ygor, The Invisible Man, an eccentric monster hunter, and a talented musician who regales guests with songs and tales of the classic Universal Monsters stories.

Watch Out for The Burning Blade Tavern

The Burning Blade Tavern is an old fiery mill that has been transformed into Darkmoor's monster hunters favorite hangout, despite the blades of the windmill still smoldering and flaming periodically. This part of Dark Universe is an attraction in itself, similar to the fire breathing dragon at Universal Studios Florida, with the windmill lighting on fire every 15-20 minutes.

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The post We’re Breaking Down Universal’s Epic Universe — Here’s Everything Inside appeared first on Mickey Visit - Disney News & Planning Tips.

Disneyland rides will close for routine refurbishment throughout the year, and some have seasonal closures that happen around the same time each year to set up holiday overlays. The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland was closed for several months last year as its queue was completely reimagined and a brand-new gift shop was added outside the attraction's exit.

Now, Disneyland has revealed when the Haunted Mansion will be closing for refurbishment ahead of the start of the Halloween celebration at Disneyland. This is when work will take place to transform the ride from its traditional version into the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay, which will remain through the duration of the Christmas celebration at Disneyland. Update! The closing date was moved up. See that date below. 

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Closing Date Disneyland Haunted Mansion

At Disneyland Park, the Haunted Mansion will be temporarily closing starting August 9, 2025. This was originally August 11. The attraction will be closed until the start of the Halloween celebration on August 22 while they put the holiday overlay up. This Nightmare Before Christmas-themed overlay is one of the highlights of Halloween at Disneyland and is always extra popular! We love seeing the gingerbread house they create for the ballroom scene each year.

This ride joins a list of several other ride closures coming up at Disneyland this summer. One of the major closures, which will likely end up sharing a few days of overlap with this one, is Radiator Springs Racers over in Disney California Adventure. You can see details about that major ride closure in our announcement here.

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Make sure to keep up-to-date with all of the Disneyland ride closures that are currently happening and coming up in our Disneyland ride refurbishments guide.

Don't Miss the Latest Disney News

Don't miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips.

The post UPDATE! Disneyland Haunted Mansion CLOSING Date For Refurbishment Announced appeared first on Mickey Visit - Disney News & Planning Tips.

Today is Disneyland's 70th anniversary and to kick off this historic day, Disney held a special cast member party before the park opened.

We were honored to be invited to this party to witness the special moments that cast members were a part of in this moment in Disneyland history! At Mickey Visit, we always try to go the extra mile for our readers, working to deliver you the latest Disney news and planning resources, even if that means getting to Disneyland at 3:30 AM.

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Disneyland Celebrates July 17th With Cast Members

We were among a very small group of media invited to attend a Disneyland cast member celebration and special festivities before the theme park opened to guests on Disneyland's actual anniversary date.

Here's a look at how Disney celebrated this special day with their cast members and broadcast the moment to the world. One highlight of the morning was seeing Disney CEO Bob Iger appear at Disneyland for a historic business moment.

One of the coolest things from this special event is that the Disneyland hot air balloon from the national tour was here for photos!

There was also a DJ nearby hosting the party, you can see where the hot air balloon was set up right in front of the Tomorrowland entrance.

We also got a chance to take this beautiful nighttime photo without any crowds of the new sign for “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” the new Walt Disney animatronic show debuting for Disneyland's 70th anniversary.

Cast members were also treated to special showings of The Tapestry of Happiness projection show. This was also the first showing that features the new verse of “it's a small world” which is a special moment for cast members to enjoy.

It was magical to see such a diverse assortment of cast members at this event. It shows how many people it takes for Disneyland to operate smoothly!

And it's certainly a new experience to be inside Disneyland at 3:30 am and see the parks so empty.

Cast members were also given exclusive ears that one very nicely let me take a photo of. You can see the ears say cast member on one side and the date of the party on the ear itself. Very cool!

The party wrapped up with a quick succession of events. There was a special flag raising ceremony in the park that honored Disney Legend, former Disneyland Cast Member, and veteran Tom Nabbe. Then, Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro gave speeches to the cast members.

After the speeches they rang the New York Stock Exchange Bell (more details and photos), took a huge cast member photo, and headed to the front of the park.

Disney CEO Bob Iger Greets Guests at Park Opening

We were then positioned along with maybe 1,000 or so of the first guests that lined up for the park on this day as well as the family of the 170,000th Disney wish granted by the Make a Wish Foundation, to see Disney CEO Bob Iger give a welcome address.  More details on how he greeted guests at park opening along with the freebies for all the guests coming into the park.

Today was also the day that the new verse for “it's a small world” debuted at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Plus a new Zootopia themed window is now live on Main Street.

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Don't Miss the Latest Disney News

Don't miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips.

The post We Went to Disneyland at 3:30 AM For Cast Members 70th Anniversary Event appeared first on Mickey Visit - Disney News & Planning Tips.

In honor of Disneyland's 70th anniversary, a new limited-time special ticket offer has been revealed for Anaheim residents.

This special offer is a fantastic deal! Disneyland has offered great deals like this to Anaheim residents in the past for extremely low-priced 1-day tickets. The visit window encompasses what we consider to be one of the best times of year to visit Disneyland. See all of the details and pricing below…

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Anaheim Resident Special Ticket Offer

For a limited time, Anaheim residents can purchase a special 1-day, 1-park ticket for as low as $70, starting today. There is the option to add Park Hopper and Lightning Lane Multi Pass upgrades for additional fees. This special offer is valid on one day from August 4 through September 25, 2025.

This is an extremely good deal, as these are the lowest prices on 1-day tickets that you'll find. Additionally, the validity window encompasses the full 70th anniversary celebration and offerings that will be offered in the window from now until Halloween, and the first part of the Halloween season at Disneyland, in the window that we consider to be the best time to visit during this celebration.

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This offer is only valid for Anaheim residents within ZIP codes 92801 through 92809, 92812, 92814 through 92817, 92825, 92850 and 92899. Proof of eligible residency, including valid government-issued photo ID, is required for purchase and admission.

You can purchase these tickets by calling (844) 695-1240. Tickets will not be available at the ticket booths, and all ticket holders must be Anaheim residents.

Don't Miss the Latest Disney News

Don't miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips.

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Disneyland has changed the classic “it's a small world” ride at Disneyland and Walt Disney World to honor Disney Legend Richard Sherman. The change is based on a new addition to the classic song featured throughout the ride. The addition was written by the original songwriter, Richard Sherman.

This new change debuted today for Disneyland's 70th anniversary! We have been at the parks since 3:30 AM for a special cast member event, then the ringing of the New York Stock Exchange Bell by Disney CEO Bob Iger before he greeted guests at park opening.

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Disneyland “it's a small world” Verse Change Debuts

Disney Legends Richard Sherman and Robert Sherman were the original writers of the “it's a small world” song for the original attraction. Before Richard Sherman passed away last year, he wrote a new lyric for the song and shared it with Disney CEO Bob Iger. We first heard the lyric at a D23 panel honoring Sherman, this was an emotional moment we were there to witness.

The new lyric has now been introduced into the Disneyland attraction as part of the Disneyland 70th anniversary celebration and we were amongst the first to ride the attraction and hear it! Here's that new lyric:

“Mother Earth unites us in heart and mind / and the love we give makes us human kind / Through our vast wondrous land / when we stand hand in hand / it's a small world after all.”

The lyric has been added to the last room in the “it's the small world” attraction and it blends seamlessly into the attraction. You wouldn't even notice the change if you weren't looking for it! Which honestly is how it should be so this is something a little extra just for the Disney fans.

New Sherman Brothers Tribute at Main Street Cinema

Guests can also hear the verse in the Main Street Cinema as they honor the Sherman brothers with the “So Much That We Share: A Tribute to the Sherman Brothers.”

Inside Main Street Cinema you can learn about all the different attractions, nighttime spectaculars, and films the Sherman brothers contributed to.

The Main Street Cinema is also now playing the new verse added to “it's a small world” so you can hear it here as well.

Plus a new Zootopia themed window is now live on Main Street!

“it's a small world” New Verse Now Live at Disney World

This new verse has also been added to Walt Disney World's “it's a small world” attraction, which debuted today too!

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Listen to the New “it's a small world” Verse

You can hear the new “it's a small world” verse below:

New “Last Verse” written by Disney Legend Richard Sherman debuts on “it’s a small world” at Disneyland.

The verse was added in the finale scene of the attraction. It was seamless. pic.twitter.com/K5A94pVXsM

— Mickey Visit (@mickeyvisitnews) July 17, 2025

Don't Miss the Latest Disney News

Don't miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips

The post Disney Made Change to “it’s a small world” at Disneyland and Disney World – Review After Riding the Ride appeared first on Mickey Visit - Disney News & Planning Tips.