Bitesize Orlando July 2025 – Issue 49

Welcome to your next monthly update, this month brought to you direct from Orlando as I am currently visiting Universal Orlando to check out their brand-new theme park, Epic Universe, for myself!

Work is continuing on my accessibility pages for the theme parks. The downloadable overviews are written and ready and I’ve made great progress in laying out the website pages. Hopefully, it won’t be too long before I can make them live for you all to see.

I have also completely rewritten my attraction tick lists for the waterparks. My theme park tick lists are some of the most popular downloads already used by hundreds of visitors to help them plan out their days when they arrive. It was high time the water parks received the same treatment. The new downloads are now live on the waterpark overview pages, or download them now from the links below.

• Disney‘s Typhoon Lagoon
• Disney‘s Blizzard Beach
• Aquatica by Seaworld
• Universal Volcano Bay

Disney released a new episode of its popular YouTube series, “We Call It Imagineering,” mid-month. The latest episode focuses on live shows, fittingly titled “On With The Show”. Check it out below.

As a reminder, this is the 4th video in the series. Check out the other videos on the links below.

• Soundscapes
• Audio-Animatronics
• Rides

A quick reminder that new lightning lane tiers are now in effect in EPCOT. Test Track (3.0) re-opened from its reimagining on July 22nd. Disney has opted not to invoke virtual queues for it (thankfully), but the attraction has been bumped up to Tier 1 from Tier 2. It will remain a very popular Tier 1 pick for the rest of the year, likely into next year, while it still has the new attraction vibe.

To balance out the other (limited) attraction availability in EPCOT, Soarin has been moved down to Tier 2, easily making it your top choice for a Tier 2 pick when pre-reserving your attractions.

Eat To The Beat is a popular concert lineup included in your EPCOT entrance ticket during EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival. In 2025, the festival runs from the end of August all the way through to mid-November, and there are some popular returning acts being joined by seasoned artists to entertain you at weekends. This year, KT Tunstall, Bowling For Soup, Jordin Sparks and The Beach Boys join popular established ETTB performers, including Baha Men, Hoobastank, Hanson and Tiffany. The full list is below, and with just one weekend yet to be confirmed, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the strongest lineups for EPCOT’s most popular festival.

• Aug. 29–30 – Joey Fatone & Friends
• Aug. 31–Sept. 1 – MercyMe
• Sept. 5–6 – KT Tunstall (NEW)
• Sept. 7–8 – TobyMac
• Sept. 12–14 – STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
• Sept. 15 – Bacilos
• Sept. 19–20 – Sheila E.
• Sept. 21–22 – Ben Rector (NEW)
• Sept. 26–27 – Tiffany
• Sept. 28–29 – Jesse & Joy
• Oct. 3–4 – Baha Men
• Oct. 5–6 – TBD
• Oct. 10–11 – The Wanted 2.0 (NEW)
• Oct. 12–13 – The Fray
• Oct. 17–20 – Hanson
• Oct. 24–25 – Hoobastank
• Oct. 26–27 – Smash Mouth
• Oct. 31–Nov. 1 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
• Nov. 2–3 – Boyz II Men
• Nov. 7–8 – David Archuleta
• Nov. 9–10 – Jordin Sparks (NEW)
• Nov. 14–15 – Bowling For Soup (NEW)
• Nov. 16–17 – The Beach Boys (NEW)

As the month was coming to a close Disney dropped a complete surprise reimagining announcement. Animation Courtyard in Hollywood Studios will close On September 25th to be reimaginied. The reimagining will permanently close the Star Wars Launch Bay meet and greet area plus Disney Junior Play Dance show and bring the Sorcers Hat back to Hollywood Studios as a new centrepiece for the show building.

The reimagining will look at taking back Animation Courtyard to to roots of the studio. If any of you remember the Animation Experiece that used to be housed in the enormous building prior to the closure of Walt Disney Animation Florida. Outside the courtyard area will become a “lush” space to sit under trees and other spaces to sit and enjoy a tasty snack. There was a hint that some character meet and greet opportunites will be taking palce in the area thoguhout the day.

A new Drawn To Wonderland play area will keep little ones occupied with an oversized flower garden full of musical instruments, a Mad Tea Party playset and a Tulgey Wood exploration area.

Theme-wise the entire area will be inspired by Walt Disney Studios (in Burbank, not what used to be here). The two soundstages that are already here (one home to The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure and the other currently home to Disney Junior Play And Dance) will remain.

Disney Junior Play And Dance will close permanently, but a brand new Disney Junior show will open in it’s place in 2026. Star Wars Launch Bay will become a brand new attraction, The Magic Of Disney Animation, a place where animated characters will “come to life”. You’ll be able to watch portraits interact, see a short film and even learn to draw Disney characters (that last bit is defintiely familiar).

I have some good news for anyone who likes to make use of Memory Maker while in Disney World, remember it is included as standard in all UK ticket packages.

Disney has had a long-standing deal with Nikon over the years that ran to branding in the parks but extended to the equipment that PhotoPass Cast members use to take visitors’ photos in the parks. The Nikon partnership finished in 2021, but the equipment has remained until now.

In EPCOT, cast members have been trialling new Sony equipment that will make for much clearer photos and give them some leeway when taking shots. A common complaint from guests, and something I have experienced myself, is that the exposure levels can be all over the place.

The new equipment brings a full-frame sensor upgrade from Nikon’s current crop sensor, vastly improving the image quality while addressing said exposure issues and providing better image stabilisation. Hopefully, the upgrade will be rolled out to all PhotoPass cast members within the next few days following its trial run at EPCOT over the last few weeks.

Disney has announced that Hollywood Studios’ separate ticketed Christmas event, Jollywood Nights, will return in 2025 after a somewhat shaky start in 2023. Last year’s offering was vastly improved following feedback from the inaugural event, meaning Jollywood Nights is fast becoming a hot ticket.

In 2025, the merriment starts half an hour earlier, giving visitors a full 5 hours from 1930 through 0030 to enjoy everything the park has to offer. As with most ticketed events, ticket holders can enter the park early, in Jollywood Nights’ case, from 1730.

In 2025, the event will run on select nights from November 8th through to December 22nd. Prices $159 up to $199 per ticket (plus tax). Remember, if you’re a non-ticket holder visiting the park on an event night, the park will close early at 1930, and Fantasmic will not be shown on event party nights. The full list of event nights is:

• Nov. 8, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29
• Dec. 1, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 22

Disney Holidays In Hollywood, a dazzling stage show held in the Theatre Of The Stars hosted by Kermit and Miss Piggy, has a glamorous vibe of classic Hollywood holiday TV specials starring fan-favourite characters including Mickey, Minnie, Belle and Tiana.

The Hyperion Theatre hosts Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along, blending spooky charm and festive cheer effortlessly.

Head to the courtyard of the Hollywood Tower Hotel, where the Tip-Top Club transports guests to a 1930s-style jazz lounge, while younger ones will find a holly jolly dance party in Pixar Lights Up Pixar Place featuring characters including Edna Mode, Frozone, Joy and other Pixar favourite characters.

Glisten, Hollywood Studios’ ice skating show, will be returning in front of the Chinese Theatre in 2025. Two of Hollywood Studios’ most recent show premieres will remain open with extended showings throughout Jollywood Nights: Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After and The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.

Characters are a mainstay of a Hollywood Studios visit, and Jollywood Nights is no different. Catch the following confirmed character interactions through the evenings, with more to be added.

Echo Lake

• Phineas and Ferb 
• Max Goof as Powerline 
• Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers 
• Stitch dressed as Santa 
• Baloo and King Louie 

Sunset Boulevard near Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster

• José Carioca and Panchito from “The Three Caballeros” 
• Miguel from “Coco” 

Pixar Plaza

• Mike Wazowski 
• Edna Mode 
• Frozone 
• Joy from “Inside Out” 

Following on from the Jollywood Nights announcement, Disney has also confirmed dates for Magic Kingdom’s popular Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) in 2025.

The party kicks off on November 7th, running on select nights through to December 21st. The full list is:

• November: 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 30
• December: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21

The party officially kicks off at 7 pm, but ticket holders are allowed into Magic Kingdom starting at 4 pm.

As a reminder, on party nights, there will be no showing of Magic Kingdom’s newest parade, Disney Starlight Dream The Night Away, nor will there be a showing of Magic Kingdom’s fireworks. These offerings are taken over by Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, respectively.

Following on from that, there’s a plethora of entertainment on offer during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, including multiple dance parties; Frozen Holiday Surprise on the Cinderella Castle Stage, Club Tinsel at the Rocket Tower Plaza stage in Tomorrowland, and Disney Junior Jingle Jam in Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe at the entrance to Tomorrowland.

Head over to Storybook Circus, which has been transformed into Santa’s Christmas Carnival, to meet Santa. Not far away, near The Barnstormer and Dumbo, guests can participate in crafts.

Dotted throughout the park, stalls will also be dishing out complimentary hot cocoa, cookies and other festive goodies to visitors, so bring your appetites! The signature element of MVMCP also returns in 2025. Festive tunes play as snow falls over Main Street U.S.A.

Now for some bad news for those visiting over the next few months, because Disney has confirmed 2 more popular attraction refurbishment closures; one we knew about, just not the date and the other has come a little out of the blue.

Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin will have its last day of operation on August 3rd before closing, potentially for a year or more as Disney’s Imagineers get to work on updating the ageing classic, including new show scenes, upgraded blasters and ride vehicles and the addition of interactive targets.

Over in EPCOT, Spaceship Earth will close in a few weeks, on August 25th. Disney hasn’t shared a reopening date beyond late 2025, meaning this closure isn’t the reimagining announced and then cancelled several years ago due to budget cuts. It’s more likely to be due to the underlying infrastructure of the attraction. Don’t get me wrong, Spaceship Earth is crying out for a re-imagining, but a lot has happened between the initial re-imagining announcement in 2019 and now, not least rising costs, new technology and changes in leadership and direction.

The cards are stacking in favour of Spaceship Earth finally getting some love. The last reimagining, in my mind, stripped some of the soul of the attraction. The descent is now a black void, meaningless and devoid of any character. Hopefully, this could be the first of a few closures to sort out the infrastructure, leading up to a tentative reimagining just as the Muppets are taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster next year. Only time will tell, but for now, Spaceship Earth will be out of action for September, October and likely most of November.

On Account that Halloween Horror Nights will be underway before my next update, I thought it prudent to update you all on the confirmed houses so far. We’re not quite there with the full reveal for this year, but we’re not far off. So, without further ado, here are the 8 confirmed houses (out of a total of 10) so far. All images are © Universal.

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In case you hadn’t seen the news in the last couple of weeks, Universal Great Britain is moving full steam ahead after Comcast’s purchase of 476 acres of land in Bedfordshire, a former brick works.

The new development is currently scheduled to open in 2031, all things going well with the planning and build. The land has been split into 4 zones.

• Core Zone – Theme park and onsite hotel
• West Gateway & Lake Zones – Supplementary entertainment and recreational use. West Gateway will also house a highway service area.
• East Gateway Zone – Transport infrastructure, including a new and expanded Wixams railway mainline train station.

If approved and built, the theme park will become one of the largest and most advanced in Europe, attracting up to 8.5 million projected visitors per year. There will be a minimum of 500 hotel rooms initially, 7,106 car parking spaces, 100 coach parking spaces and 250 cycle spaces.

A minimum of 49 hectares has been set aside for green infrastructure, including landscaping and environmental enhancement. This more than eclipses the core zone of the main theme park, which will be just over 32 hectares. Have a look at the indicative masterplan below. The theme park and core zone are shaded in red.

The planning document also lets us peek into predictions for the theme park. It is being built to cater for up to 55,000 daily guests. The ticketed theme park area could be open from 7 am through 11 pm seven days a week, but special event evenings with extended hours, sometimes up until 2 am, for 60 days per year, could see the inventors of immersive horror entertainment that we know today bring the iconic Halloween Horror Nights to the UK, along with other special events.

The entrance plaza will offer retail, dining and entertainment designed to encourage guests to remain onsite outside of the proposed theme park hours. A 20-year master plan and buildout could see the resort accommodating up to 12 million guests per year by 2050.

Slightly delayed but finally across the finish line, Busch Gardens Tampa has opened Wild Oasis, part of the Jungala area, designed for children with a 35-foot mini drop tower multimedia experience.

Canopy Climb contains 200 feet of horizontal climbing trails up to 45 feet high, plus a brand new multi-animal exhibit featuring capybaras, tropical birds and squirrel monkeys, and a Latin-American themed restaurant.

Check out the report from local news provider Fox 13.

Merlin Entertainment, owners of Legoland theme parks worldwide, has announced its most ambitious and most expensive attraction ever attempted, an immersive space-themed indoor roller coaster with a price tag of a colossal $90 million ($45 million per attraction). The attraction will open simultaneously at Legoland California and Legoland Florida.

Merlin promises the attraction will be the most immersive and technologically advanced they have ever designed with a story-driven queue line.

This is more than just a ride! It’s a fully immersive mission that starts the minute guests enter the building.”

The new attraction will anchor a new area, Spaceport 885, an homage to the original Lego Space Scooter set #885. Legoland California gets its own expanded Spaceport 886 in homage to the Lego Space Buggy Set #886. Florida’s Spaceport 885 will feature a DUPLO Tot Spot play area for younger guests to play in the shade, plus a new retail experience.

The investment marks the first new rollercoaster since the resort debuted in 2011. In California, it will be the first roller coaster built at the park in 2 decades.

Everest Place, a new 220-acre multi-million dollar resort currently under construction just southwest of Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Highway 192 in Kissimmee, has reconfirmed that one of the hotel’s on-property will feature Nickelodeon themeing. I have more details of what the new complex will include when it opens in 2026

• 400 hotel rooms and condo units (yes, you will be able to purchase a condo)
• AquaNick water park
• Le Spatula – a restaurant inspired by “SpongeBob SquarePants”
• Mikey’s Pizzeria – a restaurant inspired by “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”
• Snick Lounge – hang-out spot for games, sports, and music
• A Nickelodeon-themed retail experience
• Club Nick – More details to be released nearer the opening
• Character greetings with stars from “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Paw Patrol,” “Dora,” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”
• It wouldn’t be a true Nickelodeon experience without opportunities to get slimed!

The new resort will be operated on behalf of Paramount Location-Based Entertainment & Experiences by Lionstar Hospitality (a U.S. licensee of Karisma Hotels & Resorts). The new resort will join other Nickelodeon hotels in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Riviera Maya in Mexico.

Thanks for reading, I must dash, I’ve got a date with some dragons in the Isle of Berk. I’ll see you at the end of August!