Buckle up folks, we have some MASSIVE Disney news to share with you.

This week was HUGE — we got updates on fireworks shows, the TRON coaster, Park Passes, hotel parking, and SO. MUCH. MORE. There’s even a new Universal theme park experience coming to TEXAS?! We’re not kidding! So sit back and get ready to have your jaw DROP at all of the latest news!

Enchantment End Date & Happily Ever After Return Date!

We start at Magic Kingdom where it has officially been announced that the Disney Enchantment Fireworks Show in Magic Kingdom will have its last performance on April 2nd, 2023!

But, get ready! Because the day after — on April 3rd, 2023 — the Happily Ever After Fireworks will RETURN to Magic Kingdom with all NEW projections down Main Street, U.S.A.

Our advice? Get your Park Passes for Magic Kingdom ASAP if you want to be in the park during these eventful days!

Harmonious End Date, EPCOT Forever News, and a BARGE Update!

Over at EPCOT, we’ve got big updates. First, the Harmonious Fireworks Show will have its last performance on April 2nd, 2023. It will then swiftly be temporarily replaced by EPCOT Forever starting April 3rd, 2023! EPCOT Forever will return for a limited time while the team prepares for EPCOT’s eventual new nighttime spectacular, set to debut in 2023.

You might be wondering, “if Harmonious is going away, will the Harmonious barges be going away too?” And the answer is…YES!

Disney has confirmed that the Harmonious barges will be removed following the end of Harmonious’ run in the park. It is set to be a phased removal, so it may take a bit of time before they’re gone, but we’ll keep an eye out for updates.

Click here to see more about the END of Harmonious

TRON Lightcycle / Run Opening Date

Next, we hop back to Magic Kingdom for massive TRON Lightcycle / Run news (that’s the full name of the upcoming TRON coaster).

First, Disney has announced that the TRON coaster will officially open on April 4th, 2023! Park Passes are already starting to sell out for some guests (Annual Passholders) on that date, so be sure to reserve yours ASAP.

Want to make sure you get a guaranteed ride on TRON on opening day in Disney World? Click here for our post FULL of details!

Don’t want to be there with the opening day crowds? Wish you could get a preview of the ride? Well, thus far we’ve seen that there will be Disney Vacation Club Member Previews, Cast Member Previews, and Annual Passholder Previews.

So, if you fall into one of those groups, watch closely for further details about how to sign up so YOU could be among the first to ride this exciting new attraction.

Click here for full details about the TRON ride

HUGE Park Pass Change

Speaking of Annual Passholders, some BIG Park Pass Reservation CHANGES have been announced for Passholders specifically. Disney has shared that they will soon be allowing Annual Passholders to enter the Disney World theme parks after 2PM WITHOUT a Park Pass reservation.

The exception to that 2PM rule, however, will be those seeking to go to Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays. And note that regular pass blockout dates will still apply. This change is set to begin within the “next few months” so stay tuned for details.

See our full post about this change

Free Hotel Parking Is BACK!

In more Disney World news, FREE overnight hotel parking for Disney World Resort Hotel guests is BACK!

That’s right folks, the overnight parking fees that were put in place at Disney World’s hotels a few years ago have now been totally REMOVED.

See our post about the return of FREE Overnight Hotel Parking HERE

Genie+ Change

And a Genie+ change has been announced too! Starting within the next few months, those who buy Genie+ in Disney World will get FREE digital downloads of select Disney PhotoPass attraction photos and videos.

This will only apply for select attractions and it’s only for photos taken on the day of the Genie+ purchase and park visit, but it’s a good perk to know about!

See our full post about the FREE PhotoPass Downloads here!

Festival of the Arts Begins

Heading back to EPCOT, January 13th marked the start of the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts!

We’ve been in the park on the Festival’s opening day to share ALL of the details with you. We’ll be sharing a full look at entertainment, merchandise, and more, so be sure to look for ALL of our posts on this topic.

For our FULL list of reviews of the 2023 Festival of the Arts booths, click here.

You can also click here to check out the NEW DFB Guide to the Festival of the Arts, which is available NOW!

We’ve also got a FREE DFB Printable for ALL the 2023 EPCOT Festival of the Arts Booths, and a DFB-Exclusive 2023 EPCOT Festival of the Arts Map.

If you want to grab one of the Figment Popcorn Buckets, be sure to check the Mobile Order section of your My Disney Experience app to snag yours!

And if you want to get a SNEAK PEEK at the FOOD and MERCH for the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, click here!

Stay tuned for more Festival of the Arts news and reviews!

Discounts & Deals

Looking to save some cash on your next Disney trip? Some discounts and deals were recently announced. Check them out below:

• Florida Residents can save BIG on Disney World Tickets
• NEW Florida Resident Room Discount Announced for Disney World

• NEW Summer 2023 discounts have been announced for Disney Cruise Line
• Major DISCOUNTS announced for Disney’s Aulani Resort

We’re constantly keeping track of ALL of the latest Disney deals and discounts right here!

A New Theme Park…in TEXAS?!

A new theme park experience is coming to TEXAS?! It’s TRUE! Universal Parks & Resorts has announced its plans to expand its lineup of theme parks by building a new experience in Frisco, Texas.

The new experience is set to feature “immersive themed lands” and will be a “family-focused resort” aimed at younger kiddos. There will be rides, shows, a hotel, and even character meet-and-greets for characters from movies like Minions and Shrek!

But that’s not all! Universal has also announced its plans to build a NEW Year-Round Horror Experience in Las Vegas! Content from historical and upcoming films will be featured in this space where there will be high-energy food and beverage locations that’ll turn into haunting bars and eateries at night.

So, if you’re in Texas or Las Vegas (or willing to travel there!), love new theme park experiences, or love horror, you’ve got a LOT to look forward to!

Massive Disneyland News

And, finally, some BIG Disneyland news dropped this week! We start with Tiana’s Palace Restaurant — a restaurant that had previously been announced for Disneyland (during the D23 Expo in 2022).

Disney has now revealed that the restaurant will open sometime later this year! We also got some details about the decor and menu for this upcoming spot. The restaurant is set to feature “elegant fixtures and appointments reminiscent of Tiana’s life and friendship.” On the menu, you’ll find flavors inspired by Tiana’s friends and adventures, including seasonal flavors and New Orleans classics.

Oh, and did we mention that it’s a quick service spot? So it’ll be easy for you to stop by and visit at some point during your busy Disneyland day!

In order for this NEW restaurant to open, the French Market Restaurant (and attached Mint Julep Bar) will be CLOSED starting February 17th, 2023. We’ll then see this spot reopen as Tiana’s Palace later in 2023.

But don’t stress — the Mint Julep Bar will be BACK. It’ll reopen with Tiana’s Palace and bring back those famous mint juleps and Mickey beignets later in the year!

Will you be able to MEET Tiana at her new restaurant? It seems the answer to that is “no,” but Disney has shared that you may have the ability to meet Tiana in New Orleans Square from time to time, so keep an eye out for her!

But wait — there are even MORE changes coming to Disneyland soon!

Starting February 4th, 2023, Park Hopping will CHANGE. At Disneyland Resort, park hopping will shift from a start time of 1PM PT to 11AM PT. That gives you an earlier hop time and the chance to spend more time in your second park for the day.

Disneyland has also announced that during 2023 there will be nearly 2 months’ worth of dates where a 1-day, 1-park ticket will be at the lowest price point — $104. So if you’re planning to visit this year, look at the ticket pricing carefully and see if you can score a ticket at the lowest price.

In terms of Magic Key Passes, Disneyland has revealed that new Magic Key passes will be available to purchase “from time to time” in 2023. It will all depend on availability, but if you’re been hoping to purchase a new pass, keep an eye out for updates.

And there’s MORE. Disneyland has announced that starting February 4th, ALL guests visiting Disneyland will get FREE PhotoPass attraction photo downloads included in their ticket. This will be available throughout the Disney100 celebration.

Planning to visit soon? Don’t miss the FULL MENUS that have been revealed for Disney’s Lunar New Year Festival. The Festival is available at Disney California Adventure park from January 20th through February 15th, 2023.

Remember when Disney revealed that the Pacific Wharf area of Disney California Adventure park would be reimagined to become San Fransokyo, the city from Disney’s Big Hero 6? Well, now we’ve got an update. Work has already started to bring San Fransokyo to life and construction has begun to transform Pacific Wharf. We’ll keep an eye out for more details there and share them with you.

And finally, we have some Downtown Disney updates! Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen has CLOSED for refurbishment and will reopen in the future with a “temporarily modified experience.” They’ll get a new name — Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio — and will have Pasta Jambalaya, Beignets, and more. It’s set to be closed for a “short time” before reopening.

Also in Downtown Disney, La Brea Bakery Cafe has permanently closed. Soon, it will become the temporary home of Earl of Sandwich (in February of 2023). But eventually, the NEW Porto’s Bakery will take La Brea Bakery’s place.

Click here for our full post on the 4 MAJOR Downtown Disney Restaurant updates shared recently! We can’t wait to see Downtown Disney once all of these changes are finalized.

See Why You Should Avoid Disneyland on January 27th

But wait…there’s MORE! For more Disney news from this week, check out the posts below:

• Plans Announced for the Dissolution Disney’s of Reedy Creek District By Governor Ron DeSantis
• EPCOT’s Most Expensive Restaurant Is Now Accepting Reservations in Disney World
• VIDEO: See the Brand-New Brightline Train Station at Orlando International Airport!
• Disney CEO Bob Iger Announces NEW Employee Rules
• The 11 BIG Disney Park Changes That Went Into Effect THIS WEEK!
• THIS Is Why Magic Kingdom After Hours Are Worth the Money
• How You Dine at Spice Road Table in EPCOT Has CHANGED
• Nike Executive Mark Parker Named Disney’s NEW Chairman of the Board
• New Disney Chairman Will Lead a “Succession Planning Committee” To Find Bob Iger’s Replacement
• Disney Takes BIG Steps Toward Future Parks Amid Reedy Creek Drama
• Where To Get the NEW 2023 Annual Passholder Magnet in Disney World

Hold up for a sec! Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, check out our DFB Guide Everything Bundle here.

You will get ALL of our best-selling eBooks with details on Disney World Dining, EPCOT Festivals, the BEST snacks in each park, and soooooo many tips and tricks we’ve learned over decades of visiting our happy place.

Get the guides here!

What news are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments!