We found out that V.I.Passholder Days are returning to Walt Disney World soon, and Universal Helios Grand opened its doors to its first guests today — all this and more in today’s daily recap for Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Daily Recap (4/16/25)
Walt Disney World
EPCOT
- While some of the planetary mosaics in the pavement outside Mission: SPACE still have noticeable damage, two of the mosaics have finally been repaired.
- Crews have set up more construction walls around the tanks of The Seas pavilion in EPCOT.
- After a few months of construction on the east side of Project Tomorrow, the west exit is now blocked off for work on the new Spaceship Earth lounge in EPCOT.
Disney Springs
- Disney filed a Notice of Commencement this week for construction of Level99, which will replace the NBA Experience at Disney Springs.
New Merchandise
- A new gold-plated Pandora Charm resembling Cinderella’s carriage is now available at Walt Disney World.
- The April pastel Loungefly collection featuring Baymax from “Big Hero 6” is now available online from the Disney Store.
Other Walt Disney World News
- Disney has announced that V.I.Passholder Days will be returning to Walt Disney World Resort this summer 2025.
Disneyland Resort
Disney California Adventure
- Pym Test Kitchen at Disney California Adventure is introducing two new plant-based nacho dishes later this month.
Tokyo Disney Resort
Tokyo Disneyland
- Tokyo Disneyland has several new menu items available across the park for the 2025 version of Donald’s Quacky Duck! Duck! Duck City! We tried everything from sandwiches to pasta to fruity drinks.
- One of the Disney Resort Line Monorails at Tokyo Disney Resort has been transformed into the Duffy and Friends Colorful Happiness Liner for Duffy and Friends 20th: Colorful Happiness, celebrating 20 years of the characters.
Disney Cruise Line
- Disney Cruise Line now has an official playlist that fans can enjoy exclusively on Spotify, themed to the Disney Destiny.
The Walt Disney Company
- Developers of the new Storyliving by Disney community in North Carolina, Asteria, have purchased its first plot of land.
Universal Orlando Resort
Epic Universe
- Epic Universe previews for Universal Orlando Annual Passholders begin tomorrow, and four more dates have already sold out.
- Universal Helios Grand Hotel has opened to coincide with Annual Passholder previews of Epic Universe. Available at the hotel’s Aurora Market is a new Helios Grand Hotel souvenir cup with refills.
- Universal Orlando Resort has confirmed the hours for the remaining Epic Universe preview dates and early park admission for Universal Hotel guests.
- Universal Helios Grand Hotel has opened its doors ahead of Annual Passholder Previews for Epic Universe, the newest theme park at Universal Orlando Resort. We were there on opening day to tour a Park View 2 Queen Beds room.
- Universal Helios Grand Hotel is now open, with a gift shop full of Epic Universe merchandise, including some new items.
- Join us for a full tour of Universal Helios Grand
Universal Studios Hollywood
- Universal Fan Fest Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood are just around the corner, and Universal has shared cosplay costume guidelines for those attending.
WDW News Today
Disney Skyliner Closure Announced, Cars Project Begins
That’s it for today; we hope you enjoyed this Daily Recap. Thanks for stopping by, and we’ll see you tomorrow!