Welcome back to another roundup of Disney theme park news. Today is a big festival day, with the Festival of the Arts starting at EPCOT and the Lunar New Year Celebration starting at Disney California Adventure.
Aside from the two wintertime festivals kicking off, this week was filled with exciting updates and stories from both coasts. Some of these stories could have a noticeable impact on your 2025 Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation, so be sure to read up!
DinoLand USA Begins Phased Closure at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Fans bid a fond farewell to a swath of DinoLand U.S.A. this past week at Walt Disney World. Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, TriceraTop Spin, and Fossil Fun Games are no longer available to guests as of January 13. The rest of the land will go through a phased closure as work begins to transform the area to a Tropical Americas land. DinoLand’s headliner attraction, DINOSAUR, will remain open until sometime in 2026.
A land breaking ceremony also took place this year with Imagineers, with the now former DinoLand area in the backdrop.
The Tropical Americas land is scheduled to open in Disney’s Animal Kingdom some time in 2027.
READ MORE: WHAT’S COMING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD IN 2025, 2026, 2027, AND BEYOND
Disneyland Resort to Resume Magic Key Sales
If you’ve bee contemplating adding a Disneyland Resort Magic Key to your arsenal of annual passes, you’ll soon have another opportunity to purchase one. All four Magic Key types will be available for purchase on Wednesday, January 22. According to Disney, sales will begin no earlier than 9:00 AM PST.
The four Magic Key types will be available while supplies last. In previous sales, Disney has paused the availability of the pass types, so if you know you want one, be ready to go Wednesday morning.
READ MORE: DISNEYLAND RESORT TURNS 70 THIS YEAR! HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE CELEBRATION.
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts Begins
EPCOT’s first festival of the year, the Festival of the Arts, has officially begun! The festival will run through February 24. A celebration of all things visual and performing arts, the Festival of the Arts features colorful and vibrant food and beverage items, photo ops inspired by famous paintings, and more. At night, the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series stars performers from current and previous Disney Broadway musicals.
Speaking of DISNEY ON BROADWAY, there’s a temporary 30th anniversary exhibit in CommuniCore Hall throughout the festival. And don’t forget about that limited-time merchandise, including this year’s Figment Premium Popcorn Bucket.
READ MORE: WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT 2025 VACATIONS TO WALT DISNEY WORLD
Lunar New Year Celebration Begins at Disneyland Resort
Over on the West Coast, Disneyland Resort has also gone into full festival mode with the kick off of the Lunar New Year Celebration. One of the best festivals of the year on either coast, the Lunar New Year Celebration honors Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures with a wide array of food and beverage offerings, merchandise, entertainment, and more.
The Lunar New Year Celebration will run at Disney California Adventure through February 16.
READ MORE: PLAN YOUR 2025 DISNEYLAND RESORT VACATIONÂ
New Mobile Order Feature Available in Disney World and Disneyland Apps
Our lives just got a little easier if you have an iOS device and use Mobile Order during your Disneyland and Disney World vacations. Their apps received an update that allows you to track your Mobile Order status without needing to open the app.
The update also allows users to select “I’m Here” from the Live Activities display on your home screen, also without having to go into the app. This simple convenience is a nice touch to the guest experience! As of this writing, these changes are only available on devices that run on iOS.
READ MORE: SHOUD YOU GET THE DISNEY DINING PLAN ON YOUR NEXT DISNEY WORLD VACATION?
Haunted Mansion To Reopen at Disneyland With New Bride Effects
Following the conclusion of its holiday layover, the original version of Haunted Mansion is set to reopen at Disneyland Resort on January 18. Its Nightmare Before Christmas-inspired version, Haunted Mansion Holiday, will return in mid-August.
According to the Los Angeles Times, when Haunted Mansion reopens, it will feature new Bride figure in the iconic attic scene, using the latest projection technology to give off the illusion of floating. Haunted Mansion is no stranger to periodic updates that keep the ride in-step with the latest technologies while still respecting the ride’s historic origins.
Space Mountain Celebrates 50th Anniversary at Walt Disney World
We’re closing out this week’s news roundup with a little birthday party! This week, Space Mountain at Walt Disney World celebrated its 50th anniversary. The classic indoor coaster opened in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom in January 15, 1975.
Magic Kingdom’s version of the coaster was the first version of Space Mountain to open — Disneyland’s original version would open two years later.
