Mardi Gras booths were announced for Universal Orlando Resort, a freezing wind advisory was issued for the Central Florida theme park areas, and Universal Studios Hollywood closed due to the nearby fires — all this and more in today’s daily recap for Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
Walt Disney World
Magic Kingdom
- Just a few days after closing for refurbishment, crew members are dismantling the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad track.
EPCOT
- Disney released the full menus for the Food Studios at the 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts.
- The 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts will have a new premium Figment Light Bulb Popcorn Bucket.
- Weinkeller in the Germany pavilion at EPCOT is currently closed for renovations.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Disney has restocked the Salvaged Stormtrooper Helmet Bucket at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
- Walt Disney World filed a Notice of Commencement permit for the new Disney Villains show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Ahead of the land’s closure and reimagining, Disney has removed the final real animals from DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
- The Courtyard Pool, spa, and Courtyard Pool bar at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa are closing this month for a routine refurbishment.
- Walt Disney World is celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows with a new limited-release pin featuring Moana.
New Merchandise
- The 2025 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend begins tomorrow but the runDisney Expo opened today so runners can pick up their bibs and shop exclusive merchandise.
- A brand new Blizzard Beach 30th anniversary pin has arrived at Walt Disney World.
Other Walt Disney World News
- The National Weather Service has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for the Walt Disney World area for Thursday morning.
- As cold weather continues to impact Central Florida, Disney’s Blizzard Beach has extended its temporary closure by another day.
- A new design for the Disney Parks popcorn box provided at popcorn carts has arrived at Walt Disney World.
Disneyland Resort
- The Disneyland website confirms the Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party will return in 2025.
- Now that the 2024 holiday season is over, the Mickey garlands have been removed from Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland — and won’t return for the 2025 holidays.
- The new Haunted Mansion Bride souvenir sipper, originally scheduled to be released on January 8, has been delayed.
- The AI artwork in Disneyland’s new Haunted Mansion gift shop — Madame Leota’s Somewhere Beyond — has officially been replaced.
- Disneyland Resort has opened reservations for bookable experiences at the 2025 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival.
- Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe at Disneyland is now closed for refurbishment and covered in scaffolding.
The Walt Disney Company
- Amid the ongoing wildfires in southern California, the Walt Disney Company has closed select offices.
Universal Studios
Universal Studios Hollywood
- Universal Studios Hollywood and CityWalk were closed today due to extreme winds and fire conditions.
Universal Orlando Resort
- The National Weather Service has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for the Universal Orlando Resort area for Thursday morning.
- The full list of Mardi Gras food booths and a preview of a few menu items has been released.
WDW News Today
NEW Figment Popcorn Bucket, Spaceship Earth Construction, DinoLand Demolition Update
That’s it for today; we hope you enjoyed this Daily Recap. Thanks for stopping by, and we’ll see you tomorrow!