Login
Disney Made A HUGE Change This Week… And Then They Took It Back
Are you someone who loves Disney? Do you watch all of the movies? Do you go to the theme parks every chance you get? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingidom
Each week, it feels like Disney is constantly dropping new information, details, and more, all connected to the company. Each week, we do a wrap-up of the biggest news from the week so you don’t miss a single detail. This week had some fun changes and one major milestone!
Every week is different when you’re following the Disney company! From theme parks to television to movies to hotels, there is always something changing with the company. This week included a MAJOR Disney milestone that honestly makes us emotional.
Disney’s Most Popular Lounges Changed… And Then Changed Back
Disney really played with us this week! Earlier in the week, we noticed that both GEO-82 and the Beak and Barrel finally added walk-up lists to each lounge! This means it would be easier to experience each dining option, which previously required reservations to experience.
©Disney
We were thrilled! Our entire team was so excited to see this change! Sadly, it was short-lived. Disney quickly removed the option from the app. This leads us to believe that this feature is coming in the future but it wasn’t quite ready to be launched.
©Disney
When it was live on the MyDisneyExperience App, it showed that both lounges were full due to high demand, so even when it was live, it wasn’t really available to guests. We’re really hoping Disney moves these two lounges back to the walk-up waitlist soon. We won’t be surprised if the company waits until after the summer rush is over.
FINALLY! It Just Got Easier To Get Into These 2 Disney World Lounges!
A Major Change Comes To Disney Springs
Over in Disney Springs, it seems like the changes are never-ending. Several stores have closed, and several new ones have already filled their place. Even transportation has gotten some now-infamous updates. Now, one very popular dessert stop has found a new (although temporary) home.
Temporary Ghirardelli location
That’s right, Ghirardelli has moved! Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop’s original location has now closed. The dessert shop is expected to reopen in Spring 2027 with new updates. The remodeled store will feature increased guest seating, more efficient guest checkout, and a “few surprises.”
Construction at the old storefront
The new, temporary location is located in the Disney Springs Town Center area, in the former Sprinkles Cupcakes location, which was more recently home to the Black Tap Crazy Shake pop-up. The new spot still has plenty of those famous chocolate squares we still love.
Ghirardelli chocolates
The reopening date for the Ghirardelli store hasn’t been confirmed yet, but we’re glad we can get our sweets in the meantime.
CONFIRMED: MAJOR Changes Just Hit Disney Springs
Disneyland Hits A MAJOR Milestone
Finally, the biggest piece of news today is that Disneyland officially welcomed its 1 billionth guest! That’s right, one billion people have officially visited the original Disney theme park. A young boy named Andres Robles from Arizona was selected as the honorary one-billionth guest. He and his family participated in a ceremony at the train station where they got to reveal a new sign to mark the milestone.
©Disney
The entire family got to meet Mickey, Minnie, the Disneyland Ambassadors, and Disneyland President Jill Estorino! After the big ceremony, they were gifted a VIP tour guide for the day. That meant they could visit historic backstage areas (like Walt Disney’s apartment) and skip the lines for the most popular rides.
©Disney
We can’t help but get emotional thinking about what this means to the entire Disney team. The park officially opened in 1955, and it was only expected to welcome 15,000 guests that day. Over 28,000 people showed up that day to be part of history. Now, one billion people later, Walt’s little theme park continues to make history. What an incredible accomplishment!
Disneyland Hits Major Milestone Just Days Before 71st Birthday
What a week to be a Disney fan! We can’t wait to see what changes keep coming as the year continues. As always, be sure to keep following DFB for more Disney news, updates, and more.
3 NEW Restaurants, Attraction Overhauls, and Food and Wine Festival Updates — Every Major Disney Announcement You Missed
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Which news are you the most excited about? Tell us in the comments.
