Happy New Year! Let’s start 2025 off with the first Disney theme park news roundup of the year. As expected, the news slowed down a bit, but there are still a few big updates we need to discuss.
These stories include updates from both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort, so if you have an upcoming vacation, you’ll want to read up on these headlines…especially the leading story if you were thinking of a summer vacation to Orlando!
Free Dining Plan Offer Announced For Walt Disney World
Disney World is once again offering a Free Dining Plan promotion, available now for booking. With this offer, you and your party will receive the Disney Dining Plan at no extra cost when eligible. If you’re interested in applying this offer to your upcoming Disney World vacation, you must book by February 10, 2025. This Free Dining Plan offer is valid for stays starting May 27 through June 26 and July 7 through August 6, 2025 — so, this year is once again limited to late spring and early summer vacations.
The fine print here is important. In order to be eligible within those dates, you must book a non-discounted minimum 3-night Disney Resort package with Park Hopper tickets. In other words, you are not able to stack this deal with any other discount. More details can be found on Disney Parks Blog.
READ MORE: SHOULD YOU GET THE DISNEY DINING PLAN ON YOUR NEXT DISNEY WORLD VACATION?
Free Water Park Admission Offer Now Available For Walt Disney World Resort Guests
Since it is officially 2025, Disney World has begun its new promotion that includes complimentary admission to its water parks. In order to be eligible for this promotion, you must be staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. Guests whose names appear on the reservation receive complimentary admission on check-in day to either Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach (whichever is operating that day).
This offer is good for the entirety of 2025. If you’re planning on incorporating the Disney water parks into your upcoming vacation, this is a great way to do so while saving some cash (just make sure you book an early flight to make the most of this deal).
READ MORE: WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT 2025 WALT DISNEY WORLD VACATIONS
Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond Officially Opens at Disneyland
If you’ve been to Disneyland recently, you’ve probably noticed the west side of the park has gone through quite the transformation! Tiana’s Bayou Adventure officially opened this past November, and the area formerly known as Critter Country is now called Bayou Country.
Those aren’t the only changes in that corner of Disneyland. There is also a new retail location that officially opened in late December called Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond. It’s easy to spot; you’ll find the shop at the exit of Haunted Mansion.
At Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond, you’ll be able to shop for a number of curiosities, including Haunted Mansion merchandise as well as other Disneyland essentials. Stop by on your next visit!
READ MORE: START PLANNING YOUR 2025 VACATION TO DISNEYLAND RESORT
Disney Announces Date of Q1 Earnings Report and Call
Looking ahead to next month, the Walt Disney Company has announced the date of its Q1 earnings report and call. For those interested in tuning into the call, it will take place on Wednesday, February 5 at 8:30 AM. The earnings report will be released shortly before the call.
In years past, quarterly earnings reports were used as opportunities to make announcements about the parks (especially at the height of the pandemic while the parks were in a phased reopening). That is less so the case now, but you may still catch some valuable insight into how the company is currently thinking about the parks in the year to come.
