Theme park and cruise news: what’s to come at Disney, Universal, and regional theme parks

It has been a busy couple of weeks in the world of theme park news. From sneak peeks of a highly-anticipated ride opening to the announcement of a long-running attraction’s closure, we’re seeing the full “circle of life,” so to speak, of the attractions industry in the news as of late. One thing is certain: the theme park landscape is in a constant state of change, so if you find yourself with a certain affinity for a ride or land, best pull on that yellow strap — it’s an often turbulent but nevertheless thrilling ride.

Outside of the theme park world, Disney Cruise Line is also up to a lot these days. Its eight ship, the Disney Adventure, embarks on its maiden voyage in just a few weeks, but if you’re thinking a little bit beyond March 2026, you can look as far as summer 2027 now to plan your cruise calendar. Let’s dive in and catch up on the latest news to help you plan your upcoming trips.

Disney Cruise Line releases summer 2027 itineraries

Our first story in the latest news roundup comes from Disney Cruise Line, where we now know the summer 2027 lineup of sailings. The latest batch of itineraries includes May 2027 through September 2027. Most notable of these sailings is the Disney Wish’s debut in Europe, where it will embark on several different routes, including a very apt 7-night Norwegian Fjords Cruise.

Both the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder will head to the Pacific Northwest in summer 2027 for even more opportunities to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime Alaska cruise.

Bookings for these and all other summer 2027 sailings are being released this week for Castaway Club Members, with summer 2027 sailings becoming available to the general public on February 23.

READ MORE: DISNEY CRUISE LINE REVEALS ITS SUMMER 2027 SAILINGS

An update on Disneyland Resort’s upcoming expansion projects

Disneyland Resort continues its 70th anniversary celebration through August 2026. While celebrating the past seven decades, the Happiest Place on Earth also has its sights set on a very ambitious future.

Disneyland hosted a small group of media this week where more insight was shared with many of these previously-announced upcoming projects, including the first-ever expansion of Avengers Campus and a new “Avatar”-themed experience coming to Disney California Adventure. Theme park reporter Scott Gustin shared that Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! will now remain open into 2027. The family attraction was originally slated to close permanently in early 2026 t make way for the new “Avatar” experience.

Gustin noted that Disneyland President Thomas Mazloum said the revised timeline “reflects a shift in construction sequencing” and that the “Avatar” experience is still moving forward as planned.

Another big change coming soon to Disneyland Resort is the suspension of the resort’s current Park Hopping restriction. Currently, guests may not Park Hop at Disneyland Resort until 11:00 AM, a measure that was put into place in the wake of the pandemic.

That will soon change, and guests will be able to Park Hop freely from one park to the other starting later in 2026. The Park Reservation system will remain in place at this time.

READ MORE: A MONTH-BY-MONTH BREAKDOWN OF PLANNING A 2026 DISNEYLAND VACATION

Dollywood unveils new look at NightFlight Expedition

Something big is in the works at Dollywood. A groundbreaking new attraction called NightFlight Expedition is slated to open this spring, and we recently got a sneak peek at the work being done behind the scenes.

NightFlight Expedition is a first-of-its-kind attraction combining elements of an indoor roller coaster and water ride. The amphibious ride vehicle will travel across land, water, and sky in a five-and-a-half-minute journey through the Smoky Mountains.

In the latest update, Dollywood shared a look at the construction site and future home of NightFlight Expedition, showcasing the ride track and different areas of the ride that transition between coaster and water ride.

Be on the lookout for more coverage of NightFlight Expedition in the days and weeks leading up to its grand opening later this year!

READ MORE: A GROUNDBREAKING RIDE OPENS IN DOLLYWOOD THIS SPRING

Silver Dollar City announces final season of Thunderation

While Dollywood is inching closer and closer to the opening of a brand-new ride, its sister park, Silver Dollar City, is preparing to bid adieu to a long-running family attraction.

The Branson, Missouri theme park announced the upcoming permanent closure of Thunderation, a family coaster that has been in operation since 1993. According to a press release, the park’s Marvel Train Mining Company says it’s “time for ‘real’ work back beneath the mountain.”

The closure of any long-running attraction is a tough pill to swallow, but Silver Dollar City has made fantastic strides to ensure whatever takes its place offers an enhanced guest experience. The most recent example of this is the closure of Fire in the Hole which was replaced by a new, “plused” version of the same ride.

Don’t worry — if you’re a fan of Thunderation, you have the entirety of Silver Dollar City’s 2026 season to get one final ride in (or several). (Side note — huge props to Silver Dollar City for announcing this closure well in advance so fans can plan to travel to the park if they wish to ride one more time). The ride’s final day of operation will be the last day of Silver Dollar City’s 2026 season, which is scheduled to be January 2, 2027.

No word yet on what is taking Thunderation’s place, but it sounds like the Marvel Train Mining Company is aware of the “return to activity signals significant developments ahead,” and according to Foreman Jedidiah Campbell, “There are still undiscovered sections of the mine,” adding, “The work underground matters more than any cheer from above.” We’ll have to wait and see what Silver Dollar City’s oh-so-cryptic messages could mean, but in the meantime, be sure to visit Silver Dollar City in 2026 if you want that final run on Thunderation.

READ MORE: SILVER DOLLAR CITY’S 2026 SEASON IS ONE TO REMEMBER

Universal Orlando offers new week-long ticket option

Last year’s grand opening of Epic Universe changed the game when it came to the way families plan their trips to Orlando. Specifically, Universal Orlando is making a strong case that their four parks — Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and Epic Universe — add up to a week-long vacation destination.

To drive this point home, Universal Orlando unveiled a new ticket offer that includes 6 or 7 days of park-to-park access to all of its parks, including Epic Universe. For a limited time, this multi-day ticket can be purchased for the price of a 5-day ticket. When you do the math, that brings the price to $65 per day for access to Universal’s three theme parks, or $75 per day to add access to Volcano Bay water park.

That’s not all. There’s also a new deal in store for those looking to stay at one of Universal Orlando’s hotels. If you book five nights or more at select Universal hotels, your reservation will come with a $300 dining credit. Eligible hotels for this offer include Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Universal Aventura Hotel, Universal Stella Nova Resort, and Universal Terra Luna Resort.

These deals are valid for bookings made now through May 6, 2026 for arrivals from April 12, 2026 through September 3, 2026. 

READ MORE: WHAT SURPRISED ME THE MOST WHEN I VISITED EPIC UNIVERSE

Rapid-fire news!

• Disney World has released its Foodie Guide for the 2026 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival. The springtime festival returns on March 4 and runs daily through June 1.
• Frozen Ever After has reopened in EPCOT following a brief closure, now featuring enhanced Audio-Animatronics. These updated Audio-Animatronics will be featured on the latest version of Frozen Ever After in Disneyland Paris when World of Frozen opens next month.
• Blizzard Beach has reopened at Walt Disney World and Typhoon Lagoon has begun its seasonal closure. Typhoon Lagoon will reopen at Walt Disney World on May 12. As of that date, both water park will be open daily through the summer season. Don’t forget that Walt Disney World is bringing back its free water park entry offer this summer for guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels.
• Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln has resumed performances at Disneyland Park and is playing in repertory with Walt Disney — A Magical Life. Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln will now show daily from opening until 1:30 pm and Walt Disney – A Magical Life from 2pm until close.

READ MORE: DISNEYLAND PARIS’ SECOND PARK WILL SOON BECOME DISNEY ADVENTURE WORLD

Theme Park and Cruise News: What’s to Come at Disney, Universal, and Regional Theme Parks was originally published on The World of Spark.

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