I hope you’re ready for a lengthy update from the Disney theme parks, because this week’s news roundup is filled with major stories you’ll want to read about if you’re heading to the parks soon. As expected by Disney fans, October is once again the month of price increases, and our lead story has all of the details regarding the latest wave of price hikes. In addition, there was a lot of exciting news about some of the updates coming to the Disney parks in 2026, including a lot of news surrounding Disney’s Audio-Animatronics. Whether you’re a ride geek, a foodie, or you just enjoy planning a trip, there’s a news story this week for you!
Disney theme parks raise prices of tickets and Annual Passes
October 1 marks the start of the Walt Disney Company’s fiscal year, and fans have become accustom to expecting price increases around this time of year as a result. This year is no exception, and would-be vacation planners woke up Wednesday morning to their upcoming Disney vacation costing a little more than it did the day before.
Effective on October 8, price increases went into effect at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. This includes price hikes on single day and multi-day tickets as well as Annual Passes. Other expenses, like parking and Lightning Lane, increased in price as well.
Notably, Disney World’s peak 1-day ticket for holiday dates in 2026 is $209 per day, marking the first time a 1-day ticket has surpassed $200. Disney World Annual Passes increased by $20 to $80, depending on the pass:
- Pixie Dust: $489 (was $469)
- Pirate: $869 (was $829)
- Sorcerer: $1,099 (was $1,079)
- Incredi-Pass: $1,629 (was $1,549)
Standard parking at Disney World increased from $30 to $35 and peak price for Lightning Lane Multi Pass now costs $45 per day, up from the previous maximum of $39.
At Disneyland Resort, single day tickets increased anywhere from 3-4% depending on the day you are visiting. Disneyland’s cheapest 1-day remains the same at $104 but peak season tickets are now $224 per day (up from $206). According to reporter Scott Gustin, the number of $104 days available is up to 46 days from September through April, an increase from 26 days last year.
Disneyland’s Inspire Key increased in price to $1,899, which means it could cross the $2,000 threshold in 2026. The Believe Key is now $1,474. The price of Enchant and Imagine Keys remains unchanged. Like Disney World, additional items saw price increases this week, including parking at Disneyland Resort which increased in price from $35 to $40.
PLANNING A 2026 DISNEY VACATION? START HERE.
California residents discount announced at Disneyland Resort
While Disney’s latest price increases could inflate the cost of a vacation, there are always ways to save. In addition to the previously-announced offer of $250 off per night on a 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney World vacation package, series of new promotions have been announced this week as well, offering discounts at Disneyland Resort.
Starting on December 3, 2025, California Residents can purchase a 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket for $83 per day totaling $249. While the tickets are available for purchase starting December 3, the tickets will be valid for use from January 1 through May 21, 2026.
READ ABOUT THE NEW WALT DISNEY AUDIO-ANIMATRONIC THAT DEBUTED AT DISNEYLAND THIS YEAR.
New Gordon Ramsay gastropub coming to Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort
Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort has undergone major changes recently. If you haven’t been to Disneyland in several years, the shopping and dining district will look completely different to you on your next visit! One of the many changes coming still to Downtown Disney is a new Earl of Sandwich housed in a two-story facility.
We learned this week that sitting atop Earl of Sandwich will be Gordon Ramsay at the Carnaby, an all-new British-themed gastropub from the creators of Earl of Sandwich that features the world-famous Chef Gordon Ramsay. The menu will feature British faves and famous Gordon Ramsay dishes including beef Wellington, fish and chips, and sticky toffee pudding.
Disney foodie news: new menu items and restaurant closings
If you’re like me, then you get just as excited for Disney news having to do with food as much as you do for Disney news having to do with a new ride or land! There have been a few exciting foodie updates coming out of the parks over the past week or so that I wanted to make sure I included in this roundup.
One of the most iconic Disney theme park snacks has got to be the Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar. The classic snack has gotten a glow-up, and you can now purchase Hand-Dipped Mickey Bars at Walt Disney World.
I can’t start my day without coffee (preferably iced), so I’m always on the lookout for my new favorite caffeinated beverage at Disney World. If you’re a cold brew aficionado, you’ll want to know about the following NEW themed cold brew coffees:
- The White Rabbit (available at Cheshire Cafe in Magic Kingdom): Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee, including white chocolate sauce, raspberry cold foam, and is topped with raspberry powder and a chocolate piece.
- Honey Lavender Cold Brew (available at Golden Oak Outpost in Magic Kingdom): Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee with honey-lavender cold foam, honeycomb toffee, and a sugar candy piece.
- Epic Cold Brew Spectacular! (available at Epic Eats in Hollywood Studios): Vanilla-flavored Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee, complete with cookie butter cold foam and an edible Indiana Jones fedora embellishment.
- Cold Crumb (available at Kringla Bakeri Og Cafe at EPCOT): Skøl Bread-inspired Cold Brew made with coconut-flavored Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee, vanilla custard cold foam, and shredded coconut.
- Ube Cold Brew (available at Satu’li Canteen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom): Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee with ube sweet cream, it also includes butterfly pea tea whipped topping and freeze-dried raspberries.
Disney also announced that the number of locations serving cold brew coffee along with cold foam is expanding. Head to Disney Parks Blog to see the full list of locations.
While I love an artisanal culinary journey as much as the next person, sometimes it’s best to keep things simple and enjoy a tasty basket of chicken tenders. I consider chicken tenders to be a great vessel for whatever sauce I pair with them, which is why I’m stoked to see Disney World launching 13 new sauces, available now. The new chicken strips are available at locations across Walt Disney World, with a full list of flavors available on Disney Parks Blog.
We also learned that Trilo-Bites and Dino-Bite Snacks will have their final day of operation on October 19 before a permanent closure begins on October 20 as work continues on the new Tropical Americas land coming to Animal Kingdom in 2027. Don’t worry, your favorite snack items aren’t gone forever. The Buffalo Chicken Chips will move to Eight Spoons Cafe on Discovery Island, Dole Whip Floats will move to Warung Outpost in Asia, and the hand-scooped ice cream will return to the park in February.
Harambe Market in Animal Kingdom will close temporarily starting on October 20 to update the facility so it can serve burgers and chicken strips ahead of the closure of Restaurantosaurus, which will take place in February of next year. The updated Harambe Market will reopen early next year (no reopening date announced at this time).
READ MORE ABOUT THE TROPICAL AMERICAS LAND COMING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD IN 2027.
Rapid-fire news!
We have a longer series of rapid-fire news stories this week, many of which feature exciting updates coming to Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort attractions. 2026 already has a big lineup of refurbishments and ride reopenings featuring new Audio Animatronic figures, and this week brought even more animatronic news front and center!
- Frozen Ever After at EPCOT will receive a refresh soon with major changes coming to its Audio Animatronics. When the refurb is complete, the animatronics will no longer have those uncanny valley screen faces and instead will be akin to the animatronics seen on the Frozen attractions in Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea. This marks yet another Walt Disney World attraction that will see an upgrade early next year.
- It was announced this week that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will open in summer 2026. A closing date for the original Aerosmith version of the ride has not been announced, but we do know that the O.G. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coater will remain open at least through the end of 2025. So, once the ride closes, it should only be a few months before the new version starring The Muppets opens.
- We also learned that the previously-announced Audio Animatronic of Scooter won’t be the only Muppet animatronic we’ll see on the new Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. No word yet on who else we’ll see — I’m crossing my fingers we get Statler and Waldorf near the ride’s launch.
- We got a first look this week at the Clawhauser Audio-Animatronic figure coming to Zootopia: Better Zoogether! opening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on November 7. We also learned of the preview dates for the attraction: Annual Passholder previews will take place on November 5 and 6 with Virtual Queues available at 7am and 1pm each day. Disney Vacation Club previews will take place November 1, 2, and 3, with registration opening on October 23 for eligible members.
- Over at Disneyland Resort, Rapunzel’s tower from Tangled will be added to Storybook Land Canal Boats in Fantasyland this winter. As riders drift by the tower during the day, they’ll hear an arrangement of “When Will My Life Begin?” and in the evening, they will hear an arrangement of “I See the Light.”
Theme Park News: Latest Price Increases Arrive at Disney World and Disneyland was originally published on The World of Spark.
