EPCOT’s Impressions de France and Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along Set to Reopen in May
A little bonjour and a tale as old as time are making their return to EPCOT very soon. Disney has confirmed that both Impressions de France and the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along will reopen on May 10, 2026, inside the France Pavilion’s Palais du Cinéma after a nearly three-month refurbishment.
The theater has been closed since February 22, 2026, with the entire Palais du Cinéma undergoing updates. While Disney has not shared exact details, refurbishments of this length typically include projection upgrades, seating improvements, and other technical enhancements to keep the experience feeling fresh while preserving its charm.
For longtime EPCOT fans, Impressions de France is one of the park’s original opening day attractions from 1982, offering a sweeping 18-minute journey through France set to a stunning classical score. The Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along joined the lineup in 2020, creating a shared schedule between the two shows. Prior to the closure, Impressions de France played in the morning and evening, while the sing-along filled the midday hours, though Disney has not yet confirmed if that schedule will remain the same when the theater reopens.
Whether you are there for the nostalgia of classic EPCOT or ready to sing your heart out with Belle, Lumière, and friends, May 10 is shaping up to be a très magnifique return date for this corner of World Showcase.
Disney Adds More April Good-to-Go Days for Annual Passholders at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World just tossed Annual Passholders a little extra pixie dust for the end of April. Disney has added four more Good-to-Go Days this month, giving Passholders even more chances to visit the parks without needing to make a park reservation first.
The newly added Good-to-Go dates are Monday, April 27, Tuesday, April 28, Wednesday, April 29, and Thursday, April 30. These join the previously announced reservation-free dates of April 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, and 23, bringing the total number of Good-to-Go Days for the month to eight. On these dates, all four types of Walt Disney World Annual Passes can be used at any of the four theme parks without needing that extra reservation step.
Disney marks Good-to-Go Days with green circles on the Annual Passholder admission calendar, and for Passholders looking to squeeze in a few more spring park days before the calendar flips to May, this is a pretty sweet surprise. It is another sign that late April could be a great time for Passholders to sneak in a castle stroll, a festival snack run, or one more spin around their favorite attractions with a little less planning required.
How Imagineers Created Those Viral Muppet Coaster Posters
Walt Disney Imagineering just pulled back the curtain on the creative chaos of the Muppets’ newest gig! In a fresh Instagram feature, Dani Iglesias, Creative Director at The Muppets Studio, breaks down the design process behind the hilarious new queue posters for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets. From capturing the gang’s signature wit to perfectly blending rock-and-roll edge with Muppet mayhem, Iglesias reveals how these “sensational” pieces of art were brought to life at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Iglesias explains that her goal was to celebrate the ride’s high-energy concert premise while giving each of the six members of The Electric Mayhem their own moment in the spotlight. By dedicating a poster to every individual band member, she ensured that longtime fans and newcomers alike could get to know the legendary rockers—from Animal to Dr. Teeth—before they even step onto the coaster.
The design process begins with a simple sketch that serves as the foundation for the background, followed by the addition of detailed vector illustrations. Interestingly, Iglesias reveals that illustrating the Muppets presents a unique challenge: because they are puppets rather than traditional animated characters, they have specific physical movements and “poses” that must be carefully captured to keep them looking authentic to their felt-and-foam roots.
Animals Celebrate a Milestone Anniversary at Disney’s Wildest Resort
Twenty-five years ago, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge opened its doors, offering guests the incredible chance to wake up to views of a lush African savanna. This week, the resort celebrated its Silver Anniversary, and the party wasn’t just for the humans!
To mark the milestone, Disney’s dedicated animal care team and Cast Members put together a day of “wild” festivities, ensuring the animal residents were at the heart of the celebration.
At Disney, enrichment is a vital part of animal care—it’s how keepers keep the animals mentally and physically stimulated. For the 25th anniversary, the enrichment was themed to the max!
Savanna “Cakes”: Several animals were treated to specially crafted “cakes” made of their favorite snacks. These weren’t your typical birthday treats; they were designed by animal nutritionists using browse, hay, and fruit.
Birthday Decor: From carved watermelons to woven sensory toys, the savanna was decked out in celebratory items that encouraged the giraffes, zebras, and red river hogs to forage and play.
Cast Involvement: Cast Members from across the resort joined the animal care experts to witness the animals enjoying their gifts, highlighting the deep bond between the staff and the wildlife they protect.
Since its opening, Animal Kingdom Lodge has been more than just a hotel; it’s a living laboratory and a beacon for Disney’s conservation efforts. Home to over 200 hoofed animals and birds, the resort allows guests to learn about biodiversity directly from African cultural representatives and animal experts.
As the Lodge enters its next quarter-century, its mission remains the same: to inspire guests to care for the planet while providing a world-class luxury experience. Whether you’re watching the zebras graze from your balcony or enjoying the fire pit at Jambo House, the magic of the savanna is as strong today as it was in 2001.
A First Look at the 2026 runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend Merchansie
Grab your running buddy and get your credit cards ready, because the 2026 runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend merchandise is officially here! This year’s theme is all about those iconic Disney duos, and the collection is a total love letter to friendship, and let’s be real, a great excuse to expand the workout wardrobe. From the starting line to the post-race celebration, the gear is absolutely bursting with personality.
For the 5K, we’re heading to the urban jungle with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. You’ll find them starring on the official t-shirts, tanks, and pins, looking as sly and heroic as ever. If you’re a collector, keep an eye out for the Zootopia mystery figurines that made a splash last year, they’re back at the Expo, so here’s your second chance to snag your favorites.
Moving on to the 10K, it’s a total hunny of a collection featuring Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. The race gear is adorable, but the real show-stoppers might actually be the Pooh shoes. They are the perfect race accessory to complete your look!
For those tackling the 10-Miler, things are getting emotional, in the best way possible. Joy and Sadness from Inside Out take center stage on the apparel, though keep in mind that most items are limited to two per guest, so you’ll want to prioritize your core memories quickly.
If you’re brave enough for the 19.3-mile Challenge, Genie and Aladdin are there to grant your wish for epic swag. Along with the standard challenge shirts and pins, there are some seriously cool Genie-inspired Brooks running shoes that look like they were plucked right out of the Cave of Wonders.
Beyond the specific races, the general Springtime weekend merchandise is sleek and stylish. There’s a white windbreaker jacket with the event logo in blue shades that’s perfect for those early morning corrals. There’s also a water bottle, mug and pin.
For bag fans, the Lug collection is a heavy hitter this year, featuring a large gym bag with a running Mickey, plus a handy water bottle bag.
To top it all off, you can grab a purple-to-blue ombre Spirit Jersey, a matching zippered jacket, or a classic blue shirt, but the one piece we spotted that is very unique, is the skirt! A must have for sure.
There are also other Springtime and general runDisney merch that include a cap, mug, pin, ornament and tumbler.
And let’s not forget about the Coast to Coast challenge. You can commemorate your accomplishment with a tank top, t-shirt and pins!
Finally, there are other Brooks designs available like Mickey, Chip and Dale and generic runDisney in a gorgeous blue color. They will add magic to every step. Keep running!
Nine New Permits Filed as Tropical Americas Expansion Powers Up at Animal Kingdom
Construction on the upcoming Tropical Americas land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is quietly picking up momentum, and a fresh batch of permits is giving us a clearer picture of what is happening behind the scenes. Walt Disney Imagineering has now filed nine new permits focused on electrical work across multiple locations in the former DinoLand U.S.A., signaling that infrastructure installation is moving forward across several major elements of the project.
All nine permits list Pro Audio Video Inc. as the contractor, a company that has worked on multiple Disney projects and is also tied to the ongoing reimagining of Animation Courtyard at Hollywood Studios. The scope of these permits stretches across the future Encanto attraction, the Indiana Jones retheme of DINOSAUR, and several supporting areas that will help bring the land to life.
Key addresses include locations tied to the Encanto ride footprint, the future Indiana Jones attraction, and multiple former DinoLand spots like Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, Dino-Bite Snacks, and the Boneyard entrance, where a new wood-carved carousel is expected to take shape.
Other permits point to backstage infrastructure like a pump building, as well as the transformation of Restaurantosaurus into a new quick-service hacienda-style dining location. Altogether, this spread of permits suggests Disney is not just focused on headline attractions, but also the systems and support spaces that will keep Tropical Americas running smoothly once it opens.
While we are still waiting on official timelines for completion, this wave of permits is another strong sign that Animal Kingdom’s biggest transformation in years is steadily moving forward.
Disney Confirms Classic Monorail Announcement Was Never Changed
All aboard the rumor express… except this one never left the station. Despite recent chatter online suggesting Disney had “restored” the classic “ladies and gentlemen” monorail announcement, Walt Disney World has confirmed there was nothing to restore in the first place. The iconic greeting has been riding the rails this whole time without skipping a single stop.
While Disney has made updates in recent years to remove gendered language in select areas, including the well-known change to the Magic Kingdom fireworks greeting back in 2021 and Cast Members shifting toward more inclusive terms like “friends,” the monorail spiel quietly stayed the same. That familiar voice welcoming “ladies and gentlemen” before arriving at Magic Kingdom has continued uninterrupted, as confirmed by years of recorded audio and guest experiences.
So if that announcement gives you a little nostalgic Disney chill as you glide toward Cinderella Castle, you are not imagining things. The monorail script remains a time capsule of classic park storytelling, still delivering that same magical arrival moment guests have heard for decades. Sometimes, the most magical updates are the ones that never actually happened.
Disney World Extends Early Entry and Deluxe Evening Hours Perks Through 2027
If you love getting a head start on your park day or enjoying the parks after the sun sets, Walt Disney World just handed you a little extra pixie dust. Disney has officially confirmed that its popular early entry and extended evening hours perks for resort guests will continue through 2027, giving visitors even more incentive to stay inside the Disney bubble.
Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels will continue to receive 30 minutes of early entry at all four theme parks every single day. That means a head start on rides, shorter waits, and a chance to knock out must-do attractions before the crowds roll in. Meanwhile, guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts and Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts will still have access to extended evening hours on select nights at select parks, offering a more relaxed, low-crowd experience where you can squeeze in extra rides under the glow of nighttime park magic.
Alongside the perk extension, Disney also announced that 2027 vacation bookings are now open for travel dates through October 31, 2027, with late-year bookings arriving later. Disney also teased updates to dining plans, including the addition of a new Deluxe Disney Dining Plan and some name changes to existing options, though the core offerings remain the same.
Between extra park time and dining updates, 2027 is already shaping up to be a pretty magical year to visit.
Disney World Shares First Full Ride Description for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets
Disney has officially turned up the volume on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, as the Walt Disney World website now has a dedicated page for the re-imagined attraction along with a full new description of the experience ahead of its late May opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The updated details confirm guests will head inside G-Force Records for a VIP tour of the Muppets’ music studio, where The Electric Mayhem is in full jam session mode but, true to Muppet form, running hilariously late for their own concert across town. That kicks off a chaotic plan involving Scooter, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the gang as guests pile into a super-stretched limo for a wild dash to the venue. Disney’s description also confirms the coaster will still pack its signature thrills, including three inversions made up of two rollover loops and one corkscrew, while riders race past Muppet-fied Hollywood landmarks.
On top of that, the attraction will feature a soundtrack from The Electric Mayhem covering popular rock songs, all played through a limo audio system powered by the latest and greatest from Muppet Labs. Disney also used the page to spotlight the band itself, featuring Dr. Teeth, Floyd Pepper, Janice, Zoot, Lips, and Animal, teasing the groovy rock energy guests can expect when this long-awaited retheme finally debuts.
Disneyland has officially revealed that General Leia Organa will soon be arriving at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This historic addition comes as the land’s timeline shifts, allowing guests to encounter the legendary leader of the Rebellion and Resistance for the first time within Black Spire Outpost.
Instead of her iconic gown from A New Hope, Leia will debut a rugged white jumpsuit paired with a brown vest. While this ensemble is a brand-new design, it draws inspiration from her classic Hoth gear in The Empire Strikes Back, updated to better suit the humid climate of the Batuu wilds. Completing the look, her signature style remains intact with a meticulously detailed braid styled across the top of her head.
A newly released video showcases a historic reunion as Leia meets up with R2-D2 right in front of the Millennium Falcon. Starting April 29, the shifting timeline of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will allow fans to see Leia, R2, Han Solo, and Chewbacca all appearing together near the legendary ship.
The character updates don’t stop there: Luke Skywalker is set to appear near Savi’s Workshop, while Darth Vader will take over for Kylo Ren, patrolling the outpost alongside his Stormtroopers. Meanwhile, Rey will maintain her presence near Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, as that specific area remains anchored in the sequel era.
Celebrate A Royal Mother’s Day With The Ultimate BoxLunch Gift Guide for Every Disney Mom
Remember those Saturday mornings spent in your pajamas, eyes glued to the TV while Cinderella found her glass slipper? There was something so magical about those stories, they taught us about kindness, courage, and the idea that a really great outfit can solve almost anything. With Mother’s Day around the corner, it’s the perfect time to give Mom a little piece of that nostalgia. BoxLunch has dropped a collection that feels like a warm hug from our childhood, blending those classic Disney vibes with styles that are actually, well, grown-up.
If your mom is the type to reach for a sweatshirt the second there’s a breeze, these crewnecks are a total dream. They aren’t your average bulky hoodies; we’re talking scalloped edges and delicate embroidery that feel vintage and high-end. The Rapunzel & Maximus, Belle & Phillipe Floral, and Cinderella Horse crewnecks feature gorgeous floral details and signatures that look like they were plucked straight from a storybook.
For a bit more enchanting touch, the Tangled Rhinestone Hoodie is a showstopper with its satin-lined hood and lace hems, while the Ariel Seashell Zip Hoodie offers a sleeker look with silhouettes of aquatic icons.
If she’s more of a coffee and a quiet moment person, the Pocahontas Meeko Critter Mug (with Meeko literally peeking over the edge!) or the Minnie Mouse & Friends Floral Mug, complete with a figural Minnie charm on the handle, are guaranteed to make her smile.
Accessories are where you can really lean into that soft girl aesthetic. BoxLunch has these incredible Claw Clips, the Belle Roseversion even has a tiny dangling Chip charm, and the Rapunzel Lantern clip features Pascal and sparkling rhinestones.
If Mom is more of a hat person, the Disney Princess Horses Ball Cap is a literal work of art, featuring a lace bow that balances sporty with royal perfectly. For her hair, the Sleeping Beauty Aurora Scrunchy Set adds a pop of satin and chiffon that feels way more special than a standard hair tie.
Park-Ready Mini Backpacks
You can’t talk about BoxLunch without mentioning the bags. If you’re planning a family trip to the parks or just a trip to the grocery store, these mini backpacks are essentials. The Aristocats Marie Velvet Bow bag is almost too cute to handle with its ruffle details, and the Belle & Philippe Floral bag is perfect for a springtime stroll.
Finally, for the mom who is always on the move, the apparel in this collection is surprisingly functional. The Tangled Rapunzel Active Dress is a game-changer, it has built-in shorts with pockets, the holy grail of women’s clothing!, and can be paired with theAriel Women’s Active Jacketfor those early morning walks.
The Force is Strong with the New Star Wars x BaubleBar Collection
Whether you’re heading to Galaxy’s Edge or just celebrating from your couch, May the 4th is the ultimate excuse to add some galactic flair to your look. BaubleBar is leading the charge this year with a collection that strikes the perfect balance between high-end sparkle and pure fan service. From clever stackable sets to bold bag accessories, there is plenty here to help you channel your inner Jedi or Sith, if that’s more your vibe.
For those who lean into the power of the Dark Side, the Darth Vader Ring Set ($72) is a total standout. It’s a clever three-ring stackable set where each thin gold band features a different piece of the Sith Lord’s helmet in vibrant, high-gloss enamel. When you wear them together, they create a graphic image of Vader that is equal parts collectible art and wearable fashion. It’s a subtle way to show your allegiance while keeping your jewelry game sharp.
If you prefer a more classic look, the charm necklaces are a great way to wear your favorite characters. The Darth Vader Charm Necklace ($58) is packed with personality, featuring the Dark Lord himself alongside the Galactic Empire logo and a Stormtrooper charm that reads The Dark Side. On the flip side, the Yoda Charm Necklace ($58)celebrates the legendary hero with a tiny Yoda, the Jedi Order logo, and a lightsaber charm inscribed with “The Force.” Both pieces are great for layering and add a little extra magic to any outfit.
Finally, for a pop of color that you can take anywhere, the Lightsaber Bag Charms ($34) are a total must-have. Available in blue, red, or green, these bold charms are a nod to the most iconic symbol in the franchise. They’re the perfect size to clip onto your favorite backpack or purse, letting everyone know which side of the Force you’re on.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a fellow fan, these pieces are the perfect way to make this year’s Star Wars Day one to remember.
