It’s that time of the week once again to catch up on the latest Disney theme park and cruise line news! Not only do we have some major Disney theme park news updates this week, but we also have some exciting announcements from Disney Cruise Line!Â
While most of these Disney theme park news roundups have positive news, we’re kicking off this week’s roundup with a story that’s a bit of a bummer if you’re a long-time fan of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. Let’s dive into the latest news from Disney World and beyond!
Jellyrolls To Close at Current Location in Walt Disney World
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn has had a bit of activity in and around the area in recent months. Late last year, it welcomed its newest dining location, The Cake Bake Shop Restaurant by Gwendolyn Rogers. In this week’s news, we’re learning that when one door opens, another apparently closes.
Jellyrolls, the fan-favorite piano bar located at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, announced this week on Instagram it will be closing permanently. In the announcement, Jellyrolls shared that they would remain open “into the spring season,” allowing fans to have one (or one of several) final visit.
Theme park reporter Scott Gustin later confirmed that while Jellyrolls intends on opening a new location, that new location would not be on Walt Disney World property.
READ MORE: START PLANNING YOUR 2025 WALT DISNEY WORLD VACATION TODAY
Disneyland Resort Offers Complimentary One-Day Tickets to LA Firefighters and Law Enforcement Personnel
In the wake of last month’s Los Angeles wildfires, Disneyland has announced a limited-time ticket offer to area firefighters and law enforcement personnel. This complimentary ticket offer, called Heroes Tickets, are available to “eligible California firefighters as well as eligible Los Angeles-based law enforcement personnel and emergency medical technicians who helped combat the LA fires in January 2025. The Heroes Ticket will also be available to eligible individuals from other departments that provided mutual aid assistance.”
Heroes Tickets include complimentary admission for responders and one guest. The tickets will be available from May 5 through August 7, 2025, Mondays through Thursday (valid theme park reservations also required). Eligibility and registration information will be communicated directly to qualifying fire, police and sheriff’s departments in April.
Closing Date Set For It’s Tough To Be A Bug at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Speaking of closures, we learned more this week about the closing timeline for It’s Tough to Be A Bug at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The long-running attraction will have its final day of operation on March 16. Starting on March 17, the Tree of Life Theater will be closed as it transforms into its new show, “Zootopia: Better Together!” We learned at last year’s D23 Disney Fan Event that this new Zootopia show will open winter 2025.
In this new show, guests will see characters from the hit film Zootopia, including an Audio-Animatronic figure of Officer Clawhauser, first seen at Shanghai Disneyland.
Be on the lookout in the coming months for an updated timeline on the opening of Zootopia: Better Together!
READ MORE: EVERY MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT FROM LAST YEAR’S D23 DISNEY FAN EVENT
Pixar Putt Arrives at Pixar Place Hotel at Disneyland Resort
If you’re looking for a leisurely activity to break up your day at Disneyland Resort this spring, you’ll want to head to Pixar Place Hotel. For a limited time, guests can experience Pixar Putt, the pop-up mini golf experience that appeared last summer at the D23 Disney Fan Event and later in 2024 in Long Beach, California.
Last summer, I had the chance to experience Pixar Putt during my visit to the D23 Disney Fan Event. It’s a really fun and clever mini golf course and I highly suggest you check it out!
The Pixar Putt course will be available at Pixar Place Hotel from February 7 through June 1, 2025.
READ MORE: WHAT TO EXPECT AT DISNEYLAND RESORT IN 2025
Disney Cruise Line Reveals Summer 2026 Itineraries
If you’re like me and always dreaming of a Disney Cruise Line voyage, I have some good news: you can now daydream into summer 2026. That is the latest time frame for new itineraries that Disney Cruise Line announced this week.
The summer 2026 itineraries also include the first time the Disney Magic will have Alaskan voyages. Beginning in May 2026, the Disney Magic along with the Disney Wonder will offer 7-night voyages from Vancouver Canada. Itineraries on these voyages include ports of call like Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan.
Additional summer 2026 itineraries include sailings to Europe, The Bahamas, Caribbean and new departures from Singapore aboard the Disney Adventure. Booking windows for summer 2026 itineraries will be available to Disney Cruise Line Castaway Club members beginning on February 10, 2025. Itineraries will then be available for booking to the general public on February 17, 2025.
READ MORE: WHAT’S COMING TO DISNEY CRUISE LINE IN 2025
Indiana Jones Adventure Closing For Refurbishment at Disneyland Resort
Attractions around Disneyland Resort are going through a series of refurbishments ahead of the 70th Anniversary Celebration, which begins on May 16, 2025. This celebration is expected to last through summer of 2026, so it’s important the rides are in tip-top shape!
Rides like “it’s a small world,” Space Mountain, the Disneyland Monorail, and the Disneyland Railroad have all been undergoing refurbishments over the last several months in preparation for the festivities (in addition to simply needing routine maintenance). Last week, it was revealed that Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: BREAKOUT will close for a brief amount of time starting on March 10. Now, the latest attraction to join the lineup of temporary closures is Indiana Jone Adventure.
The E-ticket ride is listed as being closed for refurbishment starting on March 17. At this time, a reopening date has not been announced. So just be aware if you are visiting Disneyland in mid-March, you may see a few E-ticket rides (Indiana Jones and Guardians of the Galaxy being two) closed for refurbishment.
