food IS a theme park
Be sure to check out our list of restaurants in the Magic Kingdom.
I’m about to grab my paintbrush and head to Magic Kingdom because the castle is getting repainted and I want to help. Okay, maybe Disney doesn’t want me climbing in a crane and getting the work done, but the pink is switching back to gray this year, and work is about to start.
©Disney
When we visited Cinderella Castle on January 5th, work hadn’t started yet, but Disney just took a major step towards the start of the project.
This summer is shaping up to be a BIG one at Disney World!
Between EPCOT festivals, the return of the hotel water park perk, and Cool Kid Summer returning, we don’t blame you if you suddenly want to plan a trip. Speaking of Cool Kids’ Summer, Disney just dropped even more details about what we can expect — including our favorite Toy Story pals coming to Diamond Horseshoe at Magic Kingdom!
The theme for Magic Kingdom in 2026 is CHANGE. EVERYTHING is changing in Magic Kingdom. Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island are gone FOREVER while Disney builds a new Cars-themed expansion, Piston Peak, in Frontierland. A new Villains land is being built behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which is also currently under construction for some new updates. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is even getting updated.
Happily Ever After
Well, that’s not all, because the ICON of Magic Kingdom is also changing, starting this month. Disney has plans to repaint Cinderella Castle, starting this month, and that’s going to impact some entertainment in the park as of January 28th.
Happy New Year, DFB friends! We have officially kicked off 2026 in Disney World and said goodbye to the holiday season.
Countdown to Midnight Cake Bar
But there’s SO much to look forward to in the coming weeks, including the EPCOT Festival of the Arts, where we’ll be eating our way through every food booth (and we are SO ready). However, before that happens, we’ve got some changes to tell you about that are happening at Disney World restaurants. Yes, it’s that time again…let’s look at the Disney World restaurant menu changes from this week. Here’s a word of warning: some of your favorite holiday snacks and drinks are officially gone for the season!
While you might be thinking about all the rides you’re going to hop on at Disney World, you can’t forget about meeting some of the characters! Seeing your family’s favorite movie characters come to life right in front of you is only one of the reasons Disney Parks is so magical.
The Astounding Donaldo at Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Magic Kingdom
Before you head to Magic Kingdom to meet some of the Fab Five (aka Mickey and his pals), you need to know about this character change.
Are you hoping to meet Donald, Daisy, Minnie, and Goofy in Magic Kingdom this week? We have a heads-up for you: a popular meet and greet area in Storybook Circus is temporarily closing. However, you CAN still meet these beloved characters during your visit!
The Astounding Donaldo!
While their usual meet and greet spot will be closing for a bit, these characters will still be available to meet in Storybook Circus. We have all the details about this closure, plus ALL the other closures you should expect in Disney World this week!
This is going to be a HUGE year for change in Disney World, including Magic Kingdom. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is getting updated, while Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is getting a MASSIVE makeover. Construction has already started on the new Cars expansion in Frontierland, as well as on Villains Land, which will be going behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
©Disney
Cinderella Castle will also be changing soon, too: Disney previously announced that it would be getting a brand-new color scheme and that painting would begin soon, as in this month.
First-time visitors often race to the biggest rides in Magic Kingdom, but in doing so, they could be missing some of the park’s most underrated attractions!
Magic Kingdom
When you’re planning your first day at Disney World’s opening day park, it’s easy to focus on the headliners with the longest wait times or the most hype online. But that can lead you to overlooking classic rides that offer air conditioning, shorter lines, and charm. These are the kinds of attractions that don’t always make the “must-do” lists, but end up being guest favorites once experienced.
If you are a MASSIVE Big Thunder Mountain Railroad fan, January is NOT the month for you…
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
There are tons of reasons to visit Magic Kingdom in January 2026. From experiencing Extended Evening Hours to tons of world-class rides, there’s a lot drawing us to “The Most Magical Place On Earth”. With that said, if the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad thrill ride is your raison d’être, January is going to be ROUGH.
Happy 2026! Can you believe we’re already here? We feel like 2025 just began!
Happy New Year from Disney World!
The holiday season is one of Disney World’s most popular times of year, beginning with holiday offerings like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights, as well as all the seasonal treats and events that you can experience, but New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are also incredibly popular. Who doesn’t want to spend the first day of the new year in Disney World? We stopped into Magic Kingdom to see just how many people had the same idea, and let’s just say, we weren’t expecting this.
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