DISNEY NEWS ROUNDUP: Free Dining; Discounted Tickets; Festival Menus; New in 2025; Cruise Line Expansion & More

Happy 2025! Walt Disney World has kicked off the year with a free dining offer for select dates. Learn about the eleven things we’re excited about for Walt Disney World in 2025, the menus for the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Arts, a special discounted ticket for Walt Disney World, and details on the runDisney 2025-2026 race season. Learn about these stories and more in this week’s news roundup.
1 – ICYMI – Walt Disney World Free Dining Offer for Select Dates Now Available
Disney has brought back its free dining offer, and this time, it’s for select summer vacations! This offer is limited and has been available for a week, so if you are planning on visiting Walt Disney World this summer and are interested in a free dining offer visit the link below.
Click here for details on the free dining offer for select summer dates for Walt Disney World.
2 – Walt Disney World Brings Back Discounted Ticket Offer
Walt Disney World is offering Florida residents a special Discover Disney Ticket and offers deep discounts. Learn more at the link below.
Click here for more details on the Florida Resident Discover Disney Ticket offer.
3 – Menus Released for the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Arts
The 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Arts will open next week! This week, Disney released the menus for the Food Studios! Learn more at the link below.
Click here for the menus for the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Arts.

4 – 11 Things in 2025 We’re Excited About for Walt Disney World
2025 will bring fun and new offerings to Walt Disney World. Visit the link below to learn about the eleven things in 2025 that we’re excited about for Walt Disney World!
Click here for the 11 things in 2025 we’re excited about for Walt Disney World.
5 – runDisney Announces 2025-2026 Race Dates with Registration Details
Grab your calendars and your running shoes! runDisney has released the dates for the 2025-2026 race season with registration details. runDisney is as popular as ever, and races sell out in hours on the mornings that registration opens. If you want to run a runDisney race next season, visit the link below with all the important details!
Click here for details on the 2025-2026 runDisney race season.
6 – Disney Cruise Line Announces New Ship Class and 4th Wish Class Ship
Disney Cruise Line has shared more details on the expansion of its award-winning fleet, including introducing a new class of vessel and adding a fourth ship in the Wish class. These ships, which will debut between 2027 and 2031, will be constructed at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and designed by Walt Disney Imagineering. Learn more about what’s coming at the link below.
Click here to learn more about the new ships coming to Disney Cruise Line.
7 – The Walt Disney Company Commits $15 Million to Los Angeles Area Fire Relief & Rebuilding Efforts
Statement from the Walt Disney Company:
The history of The Walt Disney Company is inextricably linked to the greater Los Angeles region, and the destruction from the devastating fires affecting thousands in our area is truly heartbreaking.
We will be supporting vital organizations offering essential services on the ground, including the American Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, among others. Additionally, we’ve been working around the clock to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, many of whom have been impacted by these fires, and we intend to provide further resources to our Employee Relief Fund to help those facing hardship as a result of this crisis.
Beyond critical relief efforts, we will be working closely with the business community to find ways to support important rebuilding efforts in the region.
“As this tragedy continues to unfold, The Walt Disney Company is committed to supporting our community and our employees as we all work together to recover and rebuild from this unbelievable devastation,” said Bob Iger, CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “Walt Disney came to Los Angeles with little more than his limitless imagination, and it was here that he chose to make his home, pursue his dreams, and create extraordinary storytelling that means so much to so many people around the world. We are proud to provide assistance to this resilient and vibrant community in this moment of need.”
We want to express our overwhelming gratitude to the heroic firefighters and first responders from across the area and around the country whose unbelievable courage and professionalism have been a source of tremendous encouragement and pride this week. Likewise, we are grateful for the outstanding local reporters at KABC and elsewhere who have been a vital resource to all.
While the fires continue to rage and the full extent of the damage won’t be understood for some time, our hearts are with everyone across Southern California who has been affected by the destructive fires, and we urge residents to remain vigilant and follow safety guidance from local officials. This community’s strength is rooted in its people, and we are proud to be a part of it and offer our support.
What’s New and Happening Now at Walt Disney World Resort
Now Open! – Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Click here for our review and what you need to know about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Click here for details on a new, unique PhotoPass ops for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom.
Coming to Walt Disney World
Click here for the 11 things in 2025 we’re excited about for Walt Disney World.
January 17-February 24 – EPCOT Festival of the Arts
Click here to learn about the five new experiences coming to the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Arts.
Click here for the menus for the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Arts.
2025 – Reimagined ‘The Little Mermaid’ Live Show Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
D23 Horizons Projects Announced for Walt Disney World
Click here to learn more about the Villains’ land coming to Magic Kingdom.
Click here to learn more about the Monsters, Inc. land coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Click here to learn more about the Cars expansion in Frontierland in Magic Kingdom!
Click here to learn more about Tropical Americas Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Click here to learn more about the new nighttime parade coming to Magic Kingdom.
Click here to learn more about the lounges coming to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT!
Click here to learn more about Test Track reopening in 2025.
New & Coming Soon to Disney Cruise Line
Now Open – Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point – DCL’s Newest Private Island
Click here for an overview of Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and what you need to know.
Click here for the menus for Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Disney Treasure – Now Sailing
Click here for an overview of the Disney Treasure.
Click here for Dining on the Disney Treasure – What You Need to Know.
Visit the links below to view our Instagram Story during our Preview Cruise to get a look at the Disney Treasure:
Itineraries in 2025-2026
Click here to learn about Disney Cruise Line’s Early 2025 Itineraries.
Click here to learn about Disney Cruise Lines’ summer 2025 itineraries.
Click here for details on Fall 2025 and Spring 2025 itineraries; now booking!
Disney Destiny – Sailing November 2025
Click here for “Everything New Coming to the Disney Destiny Sailing in 2025.”
Click here for an overview of what you can expect on the Disney Destiny.
Click here for all the details on the upcoming Disney Destiny, sailing in 2025.
Click here for “Discover the Disney Destiny Day 1 – Your Own Heroes Journey.”
Click here for “Discover the Disney Destiny Day 2 – Villains.”
Disney Adventure, Sailing from Singapore
Click here for the grand reveal of the Disney Adventure, sailing in 2025!
Click here for details about the Disney Adventure, sailing from Singapore in 2025.
D23 Horizons Announcements
For a no obligation, FREE Quote on a Disney vacation package, please contact our travel partner Magical Vacation Planner at 407-442-0227 (407-442-0215 for Spanish). You can also request a FREE quote online by Clicking HERE.