We LOVE Disney news, probably more than anyone we know. We love new announcements for opening and closing dates, menu items being added to our favorite restaurants, and even hearing about new discounts and promotions that will make our next vacation even better. It was a pretty big week for Disney news, but probably not in the way you’re thinking.

No, new attractions weren’t announced, or hotels for that matter, but nevertheless, these announcements are still BIG deals. Some of them will help you save on your next vacation, some guests got to experience a refurbished ride before its official reopening, but while those things are great, there was also a new system put in place that really threw us all for a loop…and we’re hoping it doesn’t stick around.

Disney Cracks Down on Free Hotel Transportation From Disney Springs

One of our favorite things to do in Disney World on a relaxing day is to go Resort Hopping, which is exactly what it sounds like — it’s where you pop around to different Disney World hotels just to explore! However, for a limited time (during the spring break season), Disney made a pretty big change to the way you can take hotel buses from Disney Springs.

On March 30th, we walked into Disney Springs and found that Disney had set up blockades in front of the bus lines, meaning you couldn’t reach them without first passing a Cast Member. That Cast Member would check your MagicBand or ticket for an existing hotel reservation, or a dining reservation at the hotel you were trying to get to. The Cast Member we spoke to specified that travel on the buses was restricted to just serve those with hotel reservations, dining reservations, wanting to participate in recreation activities, or any general business at the resort besides leisure.

The Cast Member continued, saying the change was just for the coming week, which is the busiest time of spring break, but did mention that there could be an extension. If you still want to head to the resorts, you might want to park at one of the parks first and use Disney transportation to head to your next stop.

5 Tips For the NEW Disney Springs Bus Rule

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Opens Early

We also got very exciting news out of Magic Kingdom when we saw that Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin had soft opened on March 30th — nine days ahead of its scheduled reopening on April 8th!

If you’re visiting Magic Kingdom prior to April 8th, it’s important to know that Disney can close this ride at any time before April 8th to do more work. We suggest checking the My Disney Experience App to see if it’s listing a wait time — that means it’s open!

The ride has been closed for a lengthy refurbishment, and we’ve been so excited to hop back on. There are new ride vehicles…

… handheld blasters (which make gaining points a million times easier)…

…new targets and point values…

…and even a new scene which includes a character named Buddy who teaches you how to shoot. It feels like the whole ride got hit with a bunch of fresh paint, and it took one of our favorite, nostalgic rides and gave it a new life.

The ULTIMATE GUIDE To Getting Galactic Hero Status on the NEW Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Save On Your Next Disney World Hotel Stay!

Disney+ subscribers are in luck, because there’s a new Disney World hotel deal that can help them save pretty big on their next vacation. The offer is only available for select hotels, but you can get your room for as low as $99 per night! The offer became bookable on Thursday, April 2nd, and is available for most stays June 21st through August 15th, 2026, though a two-night minimum is required.

There are a lot of details to check out, depending on which hotel you want to stay at and how much you can save, but we’ve got it all laid out for you in our post below — trust us, the money you’ll save is worth the extra work!

NEWS: Disney World Announces NEW Hotel Deal Starting at $99

Afternoon Ticket Deal

Disney World also introduced an Afternoon Ticket Deal, which is a great way to visit the parks on a budget, especially if you already know you’re not a morning person.

This new ticket covers admission after 2 PM to all four parks, and will be available from May 26th through July 29th. Two-day and three-day options are available, and while the price will depend on the start day, they can run from $118 per day to $156 per day.

Again, if you’re a late-night person rather than an early morning person, this could be a perfect deal for you! We think this is going to be great for those who don’t want to rope drop (especially if you’re coming from the West Coast and the idea of getting up at 4 AM isn’t appealing) and for families who don’t want to spend a whole 12 hours in the parks. You can have a relaxing morning with a long breakfast and some time by the pool before heading into the park in the afternoon.

Disney World Drops NEW Afternoon Ticket Deal

We’re here to keep you updated on all the latest Disney World news each and every week, so stay tuned to DFB!

Is Disney World’s NEW Afternoon Ticket Deal Worth It?

How do you feel about these announcements? Tell us in the comments!