Construction Walls Go Up Inside Tomorrowland Launch Depot Following Closure of TRON Identity Program

Something new may be downloading soon in Tomorrowland. Construction walls have appeared inside Tomorrowland Launch Depot at Magic Kingdom following the permanent closure of the TRON Identity Program experience earlier this year.

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The TRON Identity Program officially ended operations on New Year’s Eve after months of heavy discounts leading up to its closure. The experience allowed guests to create custom action figures designed to resemble themselves as programs inside the digital world of TRON. With the experience now removed, construction walls have been installed inside the retail location, blocking off the former area where the activity once took place.

Despite the new walls, guests can still move through the shop thanks to a temporary corridor that has been created along the side of the store. The pathway allows visitors to continue entering and exiting the Launch Depot while work takes place behind the scenes.

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The changes don’t stop there. The D-Tech MaDe kiosks inside Tomorrowland Launch Depot also closed after New Year’s Eve, eliminating the personalized merchandise options that were previously available in the location.

At this time, Disney has not announced what changes or updates may be coming to the space. For now, guests passing through Tomorrowland Launch Depot will see construction walls where the TRON Identity Program once operated as Disney prepares whatever comes next for the futuristic shop.

Intricately Carved Benches Bring New Seating and Storytelling to Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Guests exploring the vibrant village of Harambe at Disney’s Animal Kingdom may notice a subtle but beautiful new addition to the landscape. Several newly installed woodcarved benches have appeared throughout the Africa section of the park, offering weary explorers a place to rest while blending seamlessly into the rich storytelling of the land.

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The benches feature light blond wood and are decorated with detailed carvings that reflect the handcrafted aesthetic found throughout Harambe. Along the front of each bench are four-petal flower designs paired with geometric elements like triangles and arrow shapes. The backrests continue the artistry with triangle-framed squares and diamond-pattern carvings, creating a design that feels both cultural and intentional, as if the benches were carved by local artisans within the village itself.

Even the armrests carry the theme forward. They curve downward in a shape reminiscent of a bent human arm, giving the benches an organic and almost sculptural appearance. The same floral and triangular motifs wrap around the sides, tying the entire design together while maintaining the immersive atmosphere Disney’s Animal Kingdom is known for.

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Beyond their artistic details, the benches also provide something every park guest appreciates during a long day of adventure: more places to sit and relax. Whether you’re taking a break after riding Kilimanjaro Safaris or enjoying a snack from the nearby Harambe Market, these new benches add comfort without sacrificing the authenticity and layered storytelling that make this area of the park feel like a real place.

It’s a small addition, but one that quietly reinforces the immersive world-building that Disney Imagineers are known for. Sometimes the most magical details at Walt Disney World are the ones you can sit down and enjoy.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Permit Extension Hints at Later Spring 2026 Reopening

The wait to ride the “Wildest Ride in the Wilderness” may stretch a little longer than expected. A newly amended permit tied to the refurbishment of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom suggests the attraction’s reopening could arrive later in spring 2026 than previously hoped.

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According to the updated permit, the construction timeline for the project has now been extended through August 31, 2026. The original permit was set to expire on March 13, 2026. While permit extensions do not always mean work will continue until the final date, the update hints that Disney is allowing extra time to finish work on the Frontierland coaster.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has been closed for more than a year while crews refresh and enhance the classic attraction. When it reopens, guests can expect several updates throughout the ride, including refreshed Audio-Animatronics and new gold mining props that further build out the story of the runaway mine train.

One of the biggest changes will be the transformation of the opening Rainbow Caverns scene. Concept art reveals that riders will enter a glowing cavern filled with hundreds of bats, phosphorescent pools, and shimmering stalagmites and stalactites. As the train rolls deeper into the mine, thunder begins to rumble and the environment becomes increasingly menacing as the mountain itself seems to “fight back.”

While Walt Disney World’s spring season typically wraps up at the end of May before the start of the resort’s Cool Kids Summer promotion, the extended permit suggests Disney wants to ensure the Frontierland favorite reopens in top shape rather than rushing the project.

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For now, fans of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will have to keep waiting just a bit longer before the trains start racing through the wilderness again.

Gertie the Dinosaur Gets a “Band-Aid” as Echo Lake is Drained for Repairs at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

One of Disney’s most charming prehistoric residents is currently getting a little extra TLC. Gertie the Dinosaur, the beloved ice cream stand at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, has temporarily received what looks like a scrim “band-aid” after part of her tail broke off.

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The issue began in mid-February when a noticeable crack appeared along Gertie’s tail. The damage became easier to spot after nearby landscaping was removed following Florida’s recent cold snap, exposing parts of the structure that are normally hidden from guest view. Crews initially attempted to repair the crack by patching and repainting it, but the fix didn’t hold. By February 27, the crack had reopened, and shortly afterward, the damaged section of Gertie’s tail fell off completely.

To address the problem, Disney has now placed construction scrim over the area on Gertie’s back where the tail once connected. The broken end of the tail can still be seen protruding from the ground nearby while work continues. From a distance, the scrim covering the repair area is clearly visible to guests walking around Echo Lake.

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As part of the repair process, much of Echo Lake has also been partially drained. The lowered water level now reveals sections of Gertie that are normally hidden beneath the waterline, including an unpainted portion of the structure and the visible stripe marking where the water level usually sits.

Despite the tail trouble, Dinosaur Gertie’s Ice Cream of Extinction remains open and serving guests as usual. The giant dinosaur-shaped building is inspired by the 1914 animated short film “Gertie the Dinosaur” by Winsor McCay, widely considered one of the earliest animated characters ever created. Over a century later, this iconic dino still greets guests in Echo Lake, though right now she’s taking a brief moment for a little structural “prehistoric surgery.”