Disney Theme Park News For the Week of May 5, 2025
Things are heating up in the world of Disney theme park news! Disneyland is preparing for the start of its 70th Anniversary Celebration and Walt Disney World is about to start a busy summer season of its own with new shows, dining experience, and more.
All of that was eclipsed, however, by an even bigger story abroad. It’s our lead story this week:
Disney To Build Its Seventh Resort Destination in Abu Dhabi
The biggest and perhaps most shocking news story this week, and possibly for the entirety of 2025, is that Disney announced it will build a theme park resort destination in Abu Dhabi.
The announcement came ahead of Disney’s quarterly earnings call, which took place on Wednesday. Disney is entering a partnership with Miral, an entertainment company based in Abu Dhabi that specializes in theme parks and immersive experiences — they’re the ones behind Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, for example.
There’s no opening timeline announced at this time, but don’t expect this park to open any time before 2030.
READ MORE: DISNEY IS BRINGING A THEME PARK TO ABU DHABI
Name Revealed For Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern Coming to Walt Disney World
Magic Kingdom is seeing a lot of changes in the upcoming years, including the addition of a new Cars-inspired section of Frontierland and a Disney villains land. This year, the park will open a brand-new tavern inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean.
This week, Disney unveiled the name of the new tavern: The Beak and Barrel. The tavern will draw inspiration from both the classic Disney World attraction as well as the hit film franchise.
The Beak and Barrel will feature a menu for “pirates of all ages.” An opening date has yet to be announced, but we do know it will open at some point later this year.
READ MORE: WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT DISNEY WORLD’S UPCOMING PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN TAVERN
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar to Open for Breakfast For the First Time
Disneyland Resort has debuted a ton of new menu items across the resort lately, and there’s more on the way! With the 70th Anniversary Celebration officially starting next week, guests have even more options when they visit. Among the lineup of menu additions, shared on Disney Parks Blog, are the first-ever breakfast offerings at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel.
The breakfast items will be available starting on May 16 and will be offered on a walk-up basis only. Menu items includeUbe-stuffed French Toast, Open-Face Lomi Salmon Sandwich, Korean-style Breakfast Sandwich, and Tropical Pancakes. Other new menu items are coming to Trader Sam’s on May 16 as well as other locations around the hotels at Disneyland Resort.
READ MORE: DISNEYLAND’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION BEGINS NEXT WEEK!
Reservations Open For Disney World’s New Adult-Exclusive Lounge
We are less than one month away from the next opening at Walt Disney World: GEO-82, also known as Spaceship Earth Lounge. This adult-exclusive space will officially open on June 4 and will be limited to guests above the age of 21.
Ahead of the lounge’s opening, we recently got a sneak peek at the menu items. Advance Dining Reservations officially went live this week, and they’re filling up quickly!
As a reminder, Advance Dining Reservations open up 60 days prior. To book those hard-to-get reservations, be ready just before 6:00 AM to book the day your window opens up (you can book for your entire trip 60 days ahead of arrival if you are staying on Walt Disney World property) and consider back loading more popular restaurants for the best odds of grabbing what you want.