Rope Drop: I'm going to Disney World
As the "rope drop" starts a day at theme parks, the Sunday "Rope Drop" post kicks off the week here at Theme Park Insider. Here is what lies ahead for fans at the parks this week.
I will be heading to Orlando this week for a national press event at the Walt Disney World Resort. Disney is showing off the new and refurbished attractions that are headlining the return of its "Cool Kid Summer." This also will be my first opportunity to ride the recently reopened and refreshed Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at the Magic Kingdom. Look for my report on all of those new experiences this week.
On Thursday, Blackpool's Pleasure Beach opens its new ride for 2026, Avitkas. This will be Britain's largest Intamin Gyro Swing installation.
The next day, May 22, is the one-year anniversary of the official opening of Universal Orlando's Epic Universe. Look for my coverage of that anniversary then.
On the same day, Michigan's Adventure reopens for its 2026 season, and the new Ocean of Dreams drone show debuts at SeaWorld San Diego, along with its revamped Shark Encounter.
Friday also is the day for the Disney's Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run to debut its new "The Mandalorian and Grogu" mission. That revamp is coming to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at both Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios, and opens the same day that the new Star Wars movie hits theaters. Again, look for my report this week, along with the rest of my WDW coverage.
Attraction closings and openings
Here are the current refurbishment schedules from Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando.
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and Pirates of the Caribbean are closed at Disneyland with no reopening dates yet.
Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind and Silly Symphony Swings are closed at Disney California Adventure with no reopening dates yet.
Universal's Horror Make-Up Show is closed at Universal Studios Florida. Estimated reopening in winter 2026.
Soarin’ Around the World has closed at EPCOT. Soarin’ Across America opens May 26.
May 18 - July 3: Po’s Kung Fu Training Camp and Po Live! close at Universal Studios Florida.
May 22: Pteranodon Flyers reopens at Universal Islands of Adventure.
May 23: Viking Training Camp reopens at Universal Epic Universe.
May 26: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Conservation Station and the Wildlife Express Train at Disney’s Animal Kingdom reopen as Bluey’s Wild World at Conservation Station.
May 26 - June 9: Me Ship, The Olive closes at Islands of Adventure.
June 1 - 16: Men in Black Alien Attack closes at Universal Studios Florida.
November 20: Jurassic Park River Adventure reopens at Islands of Adventure.
Planning a trip?
For great prices and assistance on planning your next theme park vacation, please shop our international and U.S. attraction ticket partners. Or contact our travel agent for a free, no-obligation vacation quote.
Remember that whenever you buy tickets or book vacations through our partners, a small portion of that goes to support Theme Park Insider. So you can support independent reporting while getting a great deal at the same time.
Finally, for my weekly update of travel and theme park news, please sign up for Theme Park Insider's weekend newsletter.
Replies (8)
Today on "Theme Park Insider":
TH Creative claims that Disney invented refurbishing old experiences by calling it "small ball", as if that's not something that every theme park has been doing since forever.
Bobby - Hit The Atlantic restaurant at Epic and tell us how great it is.....
Maybe order a Small Ball Salmon. HAHAHAAHAHA
It's great Brian .... :)
Definitely deserves the hype
@V-Coaster: Disney didn't invent "small ball" -- nor have I ever made "claims" that they did. The company deployed the incremental opening of moderate sized new experiences to garner attention, and sustain the patronage of its fan base. The fact that Robert Niles has reported on most of these new experiences shows how these additions have achieved their objective. Or to quote Russell Meyer: "... but it does look like Disney is getting plenty of mileage from their modest improvements." And, incidentally, thanks for keeping the conversation going.
(Chuckle)
Small ball.. you know. like the NBA Experience at Disney Springs... that stole any attention Epic Universe was hoping to enjoy.
It will be a very busy week for Orlando influencers who want to be the first to post "OH MY GOSH, GUYS!!!" mouth wide open POVs
I get the feeling that TH was usurped in the marketing pitch meeting, and is insulted that Disney went with "Cool Kid Summer" instead of "Small Ball Summer".
There are some POVs for Soarin' Across America, and I have to say I'm pretty disappointed in the new film. However, the early clips of the queue and exit area for Rock 'n Rollercoaster look pretty good with an excellent looking Scooter animatronic and the return of Statler and Waldorf (presumably the same figures from MuppetVision just moved across the park). I'm still not sold on the new on-ride soundtrack and the likelihood that little else will be changed on the ride, but this retheme might not be the downgrade it seemed like a few months ago.
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
Robert: "Universal's Horror Make-Up Show is closed at Universal Studios Florida. Estimated reopening in winter 2026."
Me: OUTSTANDING NEWS! This makes me believe Comcast is putting some real weight behind the reimagination of this classic. Apparently Comcast has learned some lessons fron the WDW "small ball" strategy.