food IS a theme park
You’ve probably been buying a lot of Christmas presents for friends and family this holiday season — now it’s time to treat yourself!
©Disney
We’ve put together a list of a bunch of fun and random Disney items that you might like to get for yourself. So what are you doing? Take a look for yourself!
Cinderella Castle is getting a makeover in 2026! Say goodbye to the current pink color scheme and hello to the classic color scheme with creams and blues. Disney recently announced the timeline for repainting Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom and how they hope to address a major issue.
Cinderella Castle
Beginning in January 2026, workers will start transforming Cinderella Castle. The repainting is expected to be completed later in 2026. Disney hasn’t announced a more specific completion timeline yet. If you have a trip planned to Disney World in 2026, you may be wondering what this means for those iconic pictures of Magic Kingdom’s icon. Disney tries its best to ensure refurbishments have the least amount of impact possible on guests, but how is that going to work here? How is Disney going to keep Magic Kingdom’s icon looking picture-ready during the process?
In our years of covering Disney parks, we’ve learned a few things! One thing is that Disney will constantly be changing. Another thing is that fans of the theme parks often times, overlap with book lovers!
‘Disney Adults’ by AJ Wolfe
It makes sense after all. The theme parks and reading can represent fantasy, escapism, and a love for things that show us a world beyond our own. A huge majority of the DFB team falls into both camps of Disney Adult and Book Lovers, so we compiled a list of our team’s top 10 books from 2025 because we believe sharing is caring!
Believe it or not, it’s already almost time for another festival to grace EPCOT!
EPCOT Festival of the Arts!
EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays is about to wrap up on December 30th, and it’s been an excellent experience so far. With that said, we all know that when one EPCOT festival ends, another is getting ready to take over. Such is the case with the upcoming 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, which is set to totally transform this Disney World theme park.
We’ve got bad news for fans of baby back ribs and cheese pulls: The (amongst some) iconic Chili’s at the Orlando International Airport (MCO) is closing.
Orlando International Airport Terminal C
The longtime MCO staple is set to close on December 31st, according to a statement released by the airport on social media.
It is one of the busiest times of the year at Disney World! If you are heading to Disney World to celebrate the holidays or ring in the New Year, you won’t be the only ones. While it is definitely a magical time of year at Disney World, it is also VERY crowded. We aren’t telling you to cancel your trip, but we do want you to have the right expectations. Plus, a little bit of preparation and planning ahead can go a looonngg way as you navigate the holiday crowds.
Disney Springs crowds
As we begin the countdown to 2026, we have a bit of a warning if you are headed to Disney Springs. This shopping, dining, and entertainment district is always popular — especially during the holidays. Parking and admission are free, so it is a great spot to have some fun without buying tickets or paying for parking.
As the holiday season gets ready to wrap up in Disney World and we get ready to ring in a brand New Year (seriously, WHERE did 2025 go, y’all?), something HUGE will be ending in EPCOT soon.
2025 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays
The EPCOT Festival of the Holidays started on November 28th and will end on December 30th, which means all the food booths, special festival activities, and the Candlelight Processional will all be going away very soon. That means EPCOT is about to undergo a MASSIVE change.
It is almost 2026! (Seriously, where did the end of 2025 go?) Not only does that mean the start of a new year, but it also means a new week of ALDI finds.
ALDI
We are rounding up some of the items available at ALDI from December 31st through January 6th, 2026. You can ring in the new year with some great finds at great prices. It is time to plan for your next ALDI run!
The holiday season is starting to wind down in Disney World, and we’ve only got a little more time to enjoy the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, as well as all the holiday snacks. All that’s left are the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and then 2026 will be here.
New signs
The end of the year also generally means the end of Jingle Cruise, the holiday overlay for Jungle Cruise. So this is your reminder that if you want to ride Jingle Cruise before it closes and becomes Jungle Cruise again, you’ll need to get to Magic Kingdom no later than January 2nd.
Disney souvenir shopping has officially left the parks and hit our carts.
©Amazon
Lately, Disney fans have been doing that dangerous thing where you hop on Amazon for one thing and somehow end up with fifteen magical extras you absolutely did not plan on buying. We’re seeing a huge surge in retro vibes, playful collectibles, and cozy Disney finds that feel nostalgic without screaming theme park merch. These are the Disney deals fans are grabbing fast right now. If you love Disney souvenirs that work just as well at home as they do in your fandom display, you’re going to want to see these.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
