DISNEY NEWS ROUNDUP: Flower & Garden Details & Dates; New Dining Experience Preview; Schedule Changes at MK; Lots of Refurbs/Closures; Cruise News & More

Chad & Cindy NykampJanuary 24, 2026Last Updated: January 24, 2026

Another busy couple of weeks of news from Disney. We got dates and a bunch of details for the 2026 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, along with a sneak peek at an updated dining experience coming to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. There are some absolutely amazing new waffle treats at Disney Springs that we’re flipping out over, and there are schedule changes at the Magic Kingdom for the Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire show and the DVC member lounge. There is a pretty long list of refurbishments that will have an impact, ranging from minor to major, on the guest experience, and you should be aware of them. And make sure you check out the fantastic new behind-the-scenes documentary now streaming.

All this and more below in this week’s Disney news roundup.

1 – Disney Releases Dates & Details for 2026 Flower & Garden Festival at EPCOT

It’s almost here! Our personal favourite festival, the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, is just around the corner. The weather is perfect, EPCOT is decked out with amazing flowers and topiaries, and we think the food offerings at the festival kitchens are the best of all the EPCOT festivals (shhh, don’t tell Food & Wine). It’s time to start planning your Flower & Garden Festival visit, as Disney has released the dates for the 2026 edition along with tons of details.

Full details here.

2 – Disney Shares Sneak Peek at New Dining Experience

Great news! A new dining option is opening soon at the Grand Floridian Resort that is truly an experience. A revamped Garden View Lounge – Tea Experience will open on March 19, 2026, and we have a sneak peek. For those who have enjoyed tea at the Grand Floridian in the past, you can expect the same great experience with some delicious new offerings.

Read all the details here.

3 – Disney Introduces New Loaded Waffles

When it comes to Mickey waffles, we’re a bit like Bruce after sniffing a drop of blood in the water. We haven’t been officially banned from all Disney breakfast buffets, but I’m pretty sure we’re on the waffle watch list. So yeah, we freaked out a little bit when we saw the new loaded waffles over at Marketplace Snack in Disney Springs.

Full details here.

4 – Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire Schedule Change

Starting this week on January 28, 2026, Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire will move to afternoons only. The change is being made to accommodate work being done on Cinderella. The schedule will also move from five shows per day to four. The show schedule starting January 28, 2026, will be:

1:00 PM
2:05 PM
4:00 PM
5:15 PM

For more information on the Cinderella Castle transformation, click here.

5 – Disney Handcrafted Behind the Scenes Documentary Now Available to Stream

For Disney junkies like us, we just can’t get enough of the behind-the-scenes stories of how the parks were designed and made. A brand-new documentary from Leslie Iwerks chronicling the development of Disneyland is now available to watch at multiple locations.

Read all the details here.

6 – Percy Jackson Exhibit Opens at Walt Disney Presents in Hollywood Studios

Fans of the Disney+ show Percy Jackson and the Olympians are going to want to make their way over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Walt Disney Presents is now hosting an exhibit featuring costumes, props and more from the show, along with a cool photo spot.

7 – Magic Kingdom DVC Lounge Hours Change

McKim’s Mile House, a DVC members’ lounge in Frontierland, will have extended hours moving forward. The new operating hours are from 11:00am-8:00pm daily.

8 – Water Views ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Resort Temporarily Obstructed

Heads up if you’re planning a meal at ‘Ohana in the near future. Due to work being done on the exterior of the building, a scrim has been erected that is partially or completely obstructing views of Seven Seas Lagoon. This, of course, means guests with late reservations should not expect views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks, which is one of the things that make this restaurant so special. Details on how long the work will last have not been provided.

9 – Lime Garage at Disney Springs Closes for Maintenance

The Lime Garage, one of two primary garages at Disney Springs, has closed for maintenance. The garage will be closed through March 13, 2026. While the closure occurs during a low-attendance period, it will almost certainly affect the parking experience at Disney Springs. Several surface parking areas are available if the Orange lot is full. However, the surface lots require a longer walk to get to the Disney Springs area. Guests should allow extra time for parking and walking.

10 – Refreshment Port in EPCOT’s World Showcase Closed for Refurbishment

The quick-service location near the entrance to World Showcase has closed for refurbishment. There is no word on the length of the refurbishment or what guests can expect when it reopens.

11 – Upcoming Resort Pool Closures

Old Key West and Beach Club Resort will both see pool closures for routine maintenance and refurbishment. At Old Key West, the Turtle Pond Pool area, including the playground and BBQ facilities, will be closed through early February. Old Key West has three other pool areas for guests to use during this time. The Tidal leisure pool at Beach Club will be closed through early May. Stormalong Bay will remain open for guest enjoyment.

12 – Boat Dock at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Closed for Refurbishment

Boat transportation to Magic Kingdom, Contemporary Resort and Fort Wilderness is currently unavailable for guests staying at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The dock will be closed and boat service suspended through January 30, 2026. Guests should use bus transportation and plan some extra travel time during this period.

13 – Yachtsman Steakhouse & Crew’s Cup Lounge Closing for Refurbishment

The Yachtsman Steakhouse and Crew’s Cup Lounge, both located at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, will close this year for refurbishment. Crew’s Cup Lounge will close on February 23, 2026, and is expected to reopen in May. Yachtsman Steakhouse will close in May and is expected to reopen in August.

14 – Disney Cruise Line Makes Change to Photo Availability

Great news from Disney Cruise Line regarding the availability of photos taken by DCL photographers on board the ship and private islands. Previously, guests had to download their photos prior to disembarkation. We love having these keepsakes, but who has time to sort through photos while they’re on the cruise? DCL guests will now have 45 days to review and download photos. Guests can purchase individual photos or purchase photo packages. It’s important to note that this change applies to cruises ending after January 21, 2026, and the 45-day window is from the day the photo was taken, not from the last day of a cruise.

15 – Disney Cruise Line’s Newest Ship Docks in Port Canaveral for the First Time

Disney Cruise Line’s Newest Ship, the Disney Adventure, docked for the first time at Port Canaveral. The Disney Adventure is making its way from Germany, where it was constructed, to its home port in Singapore. The Disney Adventure is making stops in Port Canaveral, Los Angeles and Tokyo on its two-month journey to the opposite side of the globe. The Disney Adventure was designed specifically for the Asian market and will offer three- and four-night cruises.

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.