Theme Park Insider

Universal Orlando debuts new Epic Universe fireworks show

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:21:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Universal Orlando's new nighttime spectacular debuts tonight at Epic Universe.

Universal Celestial Goodnight will light up the skies above Universal Orlando's newest theme park. But this show will be much more than just a fireworks display. The production plays throughout Epic Universe's Celestial Park, with more than 350 fountains, nearly 600 synchronized light fixtures, and a total of seven million LED lights, all coordinated to a musical score that honors the park's four IP lands.

Photo courtesy Universal Orlando Resort

The show and its setting lean into Universal's original backstory for the park, which tells of the Celestians who once traveled the cosmos on comets before unlocking the secret to portals that could transport them to other worlds.

Such as... Super Nintendo World, the Dark Universe of Universal's classic monsters, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter's Paris, and How to Train Your Dragon's Isle of Berk.

The new show will play nightly at Universal Epic Universe.

Universal Nights

Universal Orlando today also announced a new way for fans to spend extra time in the park at nighttime, when Epic Universe looks its best. Universal will offer a new Universal Nights after-hours party at Epic Universe, on Saturday, October 3 and Saturday, October 17.

Tickets will start at $179.99 plus tax for the event, which will allow entry to Epic Universe at 7pm before the party starts at 9pm. Guests will have exclusive, limited-capacity access to the park and its attractions from then until midnight. Tickets for Universal Nights will go on sale on August 13.

For theme park tickets please visit our ticket partner's Universal Orlando tickets page.

For assistance in planning a complete Universal Orlando vacation, please contact our travel agent for a free, no-obligation vacation quote.

Finally, to keep up with more theme park news, please sign up for Theme Park Insider's weekly newsletter.

The secret to great trip planning? Real-life trip reports

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:40:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: First-person, human-written trip reports offer some of the best resources for anyone interested in travel. Whether you are planning a trip or just dreaming about one, reading a trip report can provide inspiration, advice... or a warning about specific destinations.

Since this is Theme Park Insider, we are all about theme park trip reports around here. And the page to find them - and submit them - is our Theme Park Insider Discussion Forum. Long-time TPI reader and writer Russell Meyer recently visited Southern California and has posted a four-part "California Dreamin'" trip report.

In his report, Russell detailed his family's recent visits to Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios Hollywood (with the VIP Tour!), and Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. He offers some great comparisons with other parks around the country and past visits to these parks, while sharing what he did to get the most of our each day at each park.

I regret that I was not able to meet up with Russell when he and his family visited my hometown, as his visit coincided with my trip to Shanghai Disneyland. But I always love to hear about people coming to visit the Los Angeles area and enjoying their stay.

Again, if you would like to share a trip report from a theme park visit, please sign up (it's free) and submit a post on the Discussion Forum.

Rope Drop: A final farewell to the Carousel of Progress

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 12:16:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: 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.

Today is the final day for the current version of Carousel of Progress at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. The attraction closes tomorrow for a substantial redesign before reopening next year. You can read more about that project here: Disney plans 60-year time jump for its Carousel of Progress.

Also this week, Tormenta: Rampaging Run opens officially at Six Flags Over Texas on Thursday. The new Bolliger & Mabillard dive coaster has been in a soft opening over the holiday weekend. At 309 feet tall, 4,199 feet long and with a top speed of 87 mph, Tormenta is the world's tallest, longest and fastest dive coaster.

Attraction closings and openings

Here are the current refurbishment schedules from Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando.

Silly Symphony Swings is closed at Disney California Adventure with no reopening date yet.
Universal's Horror Make-Up Show is closed at Universal Studios Florida. Estimated reopening in winter 2026.
July 6: Carousel of Progress closes at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. New show debuts in 2027.
July 6-16: King Arthur Carrousel closes at Disneyland.
July 20-23: Matterhorn Bobsleds closes at Disneyland.
August 8-20: Haunted Mansion closes at Disneyland for Holiday overlay.
October 26: Volcano Bay closes for the season, with a planned return on or before April 1, 2027.
November 20: Jurassic Park River Adventure reopens at Islands of Adventure.

Planning a trip?

If you would like to get out there and support Theme Park Insider at the same time, please contact our travel agent for a free, no-obligation vacation quote or shop our international and U.S. attraction ticket partners.

You can find our one-page visitors guides to dozens of top theme parks around the world, including Disneyland, Walt Disney World and the Universal parks at www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews.

Finally, for my weekly update of travel and theme park news, please sign up for Theme Park Insider's weekend newsletter.

Let's celebrate America's birthday with The Muppets

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 14:24:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: For this holiday weekend, I am heading home... to the theme park where I once worked. As the United States of America celebrates its 250th birthday, I can think of no theme park attraction more relevant to acknowledge today than The Muppets Present Great Moments in American History: Declaration of Independence show that once ran at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

Disney no longer runs this Liberty Square show. Which is a shame, because I think it remains Disney's best theme park use of The Muppets franchise. The Muppets now reside over at Disney's Hollywood Studios, which opened Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets earlier this year.

The Magic Kingdom, as well as pretty much every other theme park in the nation, will be celebrating with their biggest fireworks show of the year tonight. Heatwaves and wildfire smoke will make the day less than pleasant in many parts of the country, so if you are out celebrating, please do so safely. Best wishes to everyone, and thank you for being part of this Theme Park Insider community.

Previously:

Disneyland celebrates one billionth guest

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:27:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: The population of Disneyland just hit another milestone.

This morning, Disney's original theme park welcomed its one billionth guest.

Photo courtesy Disneyland

The park honored Arizona's Andres Robles, who is celebrating his eighth birthday today, as the official visitor number 1,000,000,000 in Disneyland history. Disneyland opened July 17, 1955, so that's an average of more than 14 million visitors a year.

To see all that is available at the Disneyland theme parks in California, please check out our one-page visitors guides, which include our reader rankings as well as on-ride videos and links to reviews:

You can find discounts on multi-day theme park tickets at our partner's Disneyland Resort tickets page.

Walk Time: Comcast lights the fireworks this week

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:20:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: With the Fourth of July holiday tomorrow, I am running our "Walk Time" week in review column one day early this week. Jake and I also are taking the week off from the podcast, but we will be back next week.

I declared this week as "Summer Vacation Week" on Theme Park Insider because I figured it would be a slow week for news announcements. So I decided to highlight some favorite America-themed attractions on the front page this week.

And then Comcast said, in effect, "hold my beer."

Universal's corporate parent dropped its biggest news of the year by announcing this week that it will spin off NBCUniversal into a separate company. That means yet another ownership change for Universal Studios: NBCUniversal to split from Comcast.

The deal is expected to be complete within a year, and Comcast initially will retain a stake within NBCU. But the deal seems like a way to make both companies more attractive targets or players in the ongoing consolidation in the entertainment and communications industries. I wrote about that in my monthly bonus column for paid subscribers: Universal does, again, what Disney never has.

Openings

Universal Kids Resort opens officially in Texas.

Disney's new Soarin' film makes its California debut

Six Flags Great Adventure this week also opened officially its Shoreline Pier at The Boardwalk, featuring several flat rides from the late Six Flags America theme park. The park this week also completed the track for its "Project Purple" Mack Rides launch coaster.

Photo courtesy Six Flags

"With all track now installed, Project Purple has officially reached its full height of 375 feet, making it one of the tallest roller coasters in the world," the park said in its press release. "Construction efforts will now shift toward electrical infrastructure, ride control systems, mechanical installation, the load station, queue, lockers and the many operational components that will prepare the attraction for testing."

Also from Six Flags, the company this week named Mark Pauls as Chief Operating Officer, effective July 15. Pauls comes to Six Flags from Herschend and Palace Entertainment. Pauls replaces Tim Fisher, who is remaining as a special advisor through the end of the year.

Upcoming

Holiday World and Splashin' Safari announced Cannonball!, America's tallest and fastest Mack Rides water roller coaster, to open May 1, 2027: Holiday World celebrates the Fourth with Mack Rides plans.

While fans await Universal Orlando's next announcement about its planned Pok�mon land at Islands of Adventure, Legoland is working to catch fans' attention. Lego Pok�mon is coming to Legoland Florida and Legoland California for the parks' Lego Festival this summer.

"Guests will step into a Lego Pok�mon-inspired world, joining in hands-on activities and build moments that bring play to life and Pok�mon into the physical realm through the Lego Smart Play system," Legoland said in its press release. "Entering the Nurture area, Trainers can build their Pok�mon a tasty snack, then head to the snack table to add a Smart tag and see how their Pok�mon reacts. They can also build and display a Lego Pok� Ball, plus snap a photo with the giant Lego Pikachu model."

This year's Lego Festival starts July 20 and runs through August 16 in Florida and August 30 in California.

Trip reports

Russell Meyer this week dropped a series of epic trip reports from his recent California vacation:

Planning a trip?

You can find our one-page visitors guides to dozens of top theme parks around the world, including Disneyland, Walt Disney World and the Universal parks at www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews.

Finally, to get this weekly update of travel and theme park news in your in box, please sign up for Theme Park Insider's weekend newsletter.

Soar into the holiday weekend with Thunderbird

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:13:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: It's the Independence Day holiday weekend, so let's head to the U.S. theme park that embraces the holidays like no other. For today's summer vacation week stop, it's time to visit Holiday World, in Santa Claus, Indiana.

Holiday World offers a great collection of roller coasters and water coasters. Today, I would like to shine our spotlight on Thunderbird, a Bolliger & Mabillard launched wing coaster located in the park's Thanksgiving land.

Thanksgiving's other major coaster, The Voyage, nods to the pilgrims who partook in the legendary first Thanksgiving in America. Thunderbird represents the indigenous people who hosted the pilgrims for that feast. The Thunderbird is a popular figure in North American indigenous mythology, and this representation takes riders on a thrilling flight through the Southern Indiana woodland.

The tiny town of Santa Claus is located about an hour west of Louisville, just south of Interstate 64 in Indiana. This is a great rural theme park that welcomes and rewards fans eager to get in their cars and drive far from city centers to enjoy some of the world's best rides. Holiday World's owners also reward their visitors by providing free parking, soft drinks and sunscreen, showing that a theme park can still succeed while not nickel-and-diming its fans.

I don't know if that's the American way of doing business, but it should be.

Previously:

If you would like to get out there and support Theme Park Insider at the same time, please shop our U.S. attraction ticket partner.

Finally, for more updates of travel and theme park news, please sign up for Theme Park Insider's weekend newsletter.

Disney's new Soarin' film makes its California debut

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:33:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: As we celebrate summer vacation week here on Theme Park Insider, let's take a moment to recognize Disney's newest love letter to the United States. Soarin' Across America opens today at Disney California Adventure.

Disney's third flying theater film debuted in May at Walt Disney World's EPCOT and is making its west coast premiere today. Here is our on-ride video from the EPCOT premiere.

Disney's first flying theater film was Soarin' Over California, which opened in 2001 and has been playing at Disney California Adventure for the past few months. Soarin' Around the World (known as Soaring Over the Horizon at Shanghai Disneyland and Soaring: Fantastic Flight at Tokyo DisneySea) opened in 2016.

We do not know how long exactly Disney will run Soarin' Across America at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts. Disney has said that the show will run for the summer vacation season for the nation's 250th birthday, and I suspect that the show will continue at least through the end of the year.

Previously:

If you would like to get out there and support Theme Park Insider at the same time, please shop our U.S. attraction ticket partner.

Finally, for more updates of travel and theme park news, please sign up for Theme Park Insider's weekend newsletter.