Construction walls go up behind Cinderella Castle in Fantasyland; Tony Baxter breaks silence on Splash Mountain; Universal clears more land near Epic Universe; storm week continues.
Park Pulse Daily · Tuesday, April 07, 2026
Tuesday, April 07, 2026
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Construction Walls Seal Off Fantasyland Behind Cinderella Castle
New construction barriers installed on April 6 have effectively closed off a section of Fantasyland behind Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, blocking one of the park’s most iconic sightlines.
Walt Disney World Resort erected new construction walls in Fantasyland on Monday, surrounding the area directly behind Cinderella Castle and restricting guest access to that portion of the land. The move is consistent with ongoing backstage and show building work in the castle hub area, though Disney has not specified the project behind the new barriers. Guests arriving this week will notice the walls on approach to the castle from the Fantasyland side, and the construction footprint covers a portion of the walking area between the castle and the Fantasyland attractions corridor. Disney has yet to announce a completion timeline.
Imagineers · Heritage
Tony Baxter Breaks Silence: Bring Back Splash Mountain, Ditch Buzz Lightyear
Legendary Imagineer Tony Baxter spoke out at a Walt Disney Family Museum event celebrating the 31st anniversary of Indiana Jones Adventure, calling for Splash Mountain’s return and naming Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin as the attraction he’d remove.
Attraction · Animal Kingdom
Guests Spot New Feature Inside Expedition Everest Before Boarding
Sharp-eyed guests at Animal Kingdom have noticed a new addition in the Expedition Everest queue area, spotted before the boarding zone — the latest ripple of the ongoing Tropical Americas transformation reshaping the park.
Hollywood Studios · Star Wars
Disney Ends 7-Month Star Wars Change at Hollywood Studios
After a seven-month modification that followed a 2025 closure, Disney has quietly reversed a change at a Star Wars experience in Hollywood Studios, returning it closer to its original form.
Contemporary Resort Adds Indefinite Monday–Friday 9–5 Closure
Disney’s Contemporary Resort has implemented an indefinite weekday closure period from 9am to 5pm on Mondays through Fridays, a change that affects resort access adjacent to Magic Kingdom.
Development · Epic Universe
87 Acres Cleared Near Epic Universe Raises Bigger Questions
A massive 87.2-acre land clearing on Universal Blvd near International Drive continues to fuel speculation about Universal’s next major project — and nobody’s talking yet.
Attractions Magazine →
Merchandise · Islands of Adventure
Jurassic Park Swimwear and Velociraptor Puppetronic Arrive at Universal
New Jurassic Park merchandise has landed at Islands of Adventure, including themed swimwear and an interactive Velociraptor Puppetronic figure that brings everyone’s favorite apex predator to life.
🎱 This Week in the Parks
Construction Season Hits Disney World. Shovels everywhere.
New construction walls behind Cinderella Castle, active track work at Animal Kingdom for the Tropical Americas expansion, and the Contemporary Resort closing its doors to visitors on weekdays — Disney World is in full build mode this spring. Meanwhile storm week rolls on, with 70–90% rain chances through Thursday before skies clear for the weekend.
Disney: Fantasyland Walls Up Disney: Tropical Americas Work ⛈️ Storm Week Thru Thu Clear Weekend Ahead
☀️ 7-Day Outlook · Orlando Area
Heavy storms continue Tue–Thu (70–90% chance, gusts to 35mph). Friday improves with mostly sunny skies, then a clear and pleasant weekend ahead at 80–82°. Source: National Weather Service
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Endor Collection Drops April 10 Online, May 4 at Parks
A new Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Endor-themed collection launches at the Disney Store on April 10, then arrives at Walt Disney World and Disneyland on May 4 — Star Wars Day.
Disney · Animal Kingdom
Tropical Americas Construction: Encanto + Indiana Jones Rides Taking Shape
New construction photos show meaningful progress on Animal Kingdom’s Tropical Americas land, with visible earthwork for both the Encanto and Indiana Jones adventure attractions.
My Disney Experience “Find Merchandise” Test Still Running After 6 Months
Disney’s in-app feature that lets guests find specific merchandise locations at Walt Disney World has been in testing for nearly six months, suggesting it may be headed toward a broader rollout.
Cursed Coconut Club 2026 Opens at Universal CityWalk: First Look
Red Coconut Club at Universal CityWalk has transformed once again into the seasonal Cursed Coconut Club, offering a themed nightlife and event destination with a first-look preview of the 2026 edition.
Six Flags Completes Sale of Seven Parks to EPR Properties
Six Flags has finalized the sale of seven of its parks to EPR Properties as part of a strategic streamlining effort, reshaping the major theme park operator’s portfolio going into the summer season.
I-4 Shut Down Overnight Due to Storm Flooding
I-4 was closed overnight due to flooding caused by the storm system sweeping through Central Florida — a reminder that this week’s heavy rain could impact travel to and from the parks.
“87.2 acres of land have been cleared on Universal Blvd, near International Drive in Orlando. What it’s for? Well, that’s what we’re trying to figure out.”
Attractions Magazine — April 7, 2026
📅 Upcoming Events · Florida Parks
🌸 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival
Topiaries, Outdoor Kitchens & Garden Rocks concerts continue. Thru Jun 1.
🍽 SeaWorld Seven Seas Food Festival
Global food cabanas & live entertainment continue through spring at SeaWorld Orlando.
🍵 Busch Gardens Food, Wine & Garden Festival
Food booths, craft beers & live entertainment continue at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
⭐ Endor Collection Online Launch
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Endor collection drops on Disney Store online; arrives at parks May 4.
🎤 Garden Rocks: Information Society
80s synth-pop icons Information Society perform at EPCOT’s America Gardens Theatre.
🎤 Garden Rocks: Rick Springfield
Rick Springfield takes the EPCOT stage for a weekend run of Garden Rocks concerts.
🏃 runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend
5K, 10K & half marathon races through Walt Disney World; registration required.
🌿 Animal Kingdom Earth Day Celebration
Special Earth Day programming and conservation spotlights across Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
🎸 SeaWorld Viva La Música Festival
Latin music festival returns to SeaWorld Orlando with live performances and themed food offerings.
🏖 Disney Water Parks Reopen for Summer
Blizzard Beach & Typhoon Lagoon both reopen for the summer season at Walt Disney World.
🛠 The Mandalorian & Grogu: Mission Opens
Disney’s highly anticipated Mandalorian & Grogu ride opens at Hollywood Studios.
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