Got a second? Okay, good — we’ve got a LOT of Disney updates to tell you about!

Critical information has been shared about the TRON Lightcycle / Run ride coming to Magic Kingdom, a Disney World hotel restaurant is going to be CLOSING and totally CHANGING soon, and we’ve got other food news and updates related to the Disney Company as a whole. So what are you waiting for?! Let’s dive into this week’s BIGGEST Disney news!

Critical TRON Information

First, we’ve got to go over some important TRON news. TRON Lightcycle / Run will be opening in Magic Kingdom on April 4th (and will host Cast Member, Disney Vacation Club, and Annual Passholder previews before then). Recently, we got some information you NEED to know about this ride.

First, once TRON Lightcycle / Run officially opens, it will NOT feature a “regular” standby line. Instead, a virtual queue will be used. So you’ll have to try and sign up for the virtual queue if you’re hoping to get on this ride (without paying extra). Distribution times for the virtual queue have not yet been shared.

Want to skip the virtual queue process entirely and get yourself a more guaranteed chance to ride TRON? Then you may want to buy an Individual Lightning Lane (pay-per-ride) for this ride. That’s right, TRON will NOT be on the standard Genie+ service. Instead, like some of Disney World’s other super popular rides, you’ll have to pay individually to skip the virtual queue at this ride. The starting cost for this has not been revealed but remember Individual Lightning Lane costs can vary by date, park, and ride.

Other big TRON news was also shared this week. Namely, there will be an on-ride photo and video, but you’ll want to follow some specific steps to ensure the photo links to your My Disney Experience account or MagicBand. Click here for all of the steps.

Also, in a “first” for Disney World rides, the use of lockers will be required at TRON. Loose items and larger items will need to be stored in the FREE lockers within the queue. The only items that’ll be able to come with you on the ride vehicle itself will be small things like a wallet, phone, or glasses, which you’ll need to safely store away in the small (keyword: SMALL) on-ride storage compartment.

@disneyparks

>◎//: Initiating Locker Protocol #DisneyParks #MagicKingdom #Tron #TronlightCycleRun #Rollercoaster #Lockers #Magicband #WaltDisneyWorld #Ride #DisneyRide

♬ original sound – Disney Parks

 

 

What about the seating on this ride? While most seats are those bicycle-style options, it’s important to note that there is some adaptive seating. Those adaptive seats are more of your “regular” roller coaster-style seats. These could be useful for guests who do not comfortably fit on the bicycle-style seats or who have a disability that otherwise would prevent them from sitting on those unique seats.

Recently, the coaster as a whole also reached a major milestone as its outdoor canopy (called the Upload Conduit) was officially powered on in its entirety. When vehicles pass by, the lights on the Upload Conduit dance across the canopy and will leave flowing hexagons.

And finally, we wanted to remind you of one crucial TRON detail — there IS a height requirement for this ride and it’s quite high. TRON has a minimum height requirement of 48″ (122cm). That’s much higher than many of Disney World’s other rides. In fact, the only other ride with a height requirement that high is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.

So be sure to measure little ones before making your trip!

Click here to see the latest ride testing at TRON!

CLOSURE and CHANGES Announced for a Disney World Restaurant

Next, we turn our attention to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground where some BIG news has been shared.

According to Scott Gustin via Twitter, Trail’s End Restaurant will be CLOSING for refurbishment in the spring. It will then reopen later in the year as a “marketplace concept with expanded quick service options.” The key change here is that the table service option at Trail’s End will NOT return when the restaurant reopens. Instead, it’ll be focused on quick service meals.

Not much else has been shared about this refurbishment yet, but we are on the lookout for more details. If you are a fan of Trail’s End’s table service option (particularly its current family-style skillets), be sure to visit SOON.

See more about Trail’s End here

Food News!

Get ready — we have a LOT more food news for you! February has begun which means we’ve got quite a bit to celebrate. The main celebrations going on right now are Valentine’s Day and Black History Month (through the Celebrate Soulfully campaign), and plenty of treats have arrived for both!

In terms of Celebrate Soulfully snacks, we’ve tried a cake that very well may be one of the BEST cakes in all of Disney World…

…a CHEESY new lunch that is wonderfully greasy but in the best way possible…

…some of the BEST southern food in Disney World (but it’s hiding in a place you might not think to look!)…

…snacks that bring on the SWEET HEAT (YUM!) and don’t require a Park Pass…

…a Tiana Praline Cupcake…

…a Sweet Potato Lunch Box Tart(!!)…

…and even Banana Pudding Cheesecake.

There’s a LOT to try during this celebration, so be sure to check it all out!

Click here to get a full list of the Celebrate Soulfully treats in Disney World

But you can’t forget about Valentine’s Day too! Over at Gideon’s Bakehouse, you can celebrate the SPICY side of love with some cookies, cakes, and even a drink that might really bring some heat into your life.

There’s also a Valentine’s Day-inspired DOLE Whip Treat in Disney World, but it does have a pretty substantial flaw when it comes to the sprinkles and the way they’re stuck on the cone. See our full review here.

Other Valentine’s Day snacks are also starting to arrive, including GIANT heart-shaped donuts, so grab them while you can!

Click here for the FULL LIST of Valentine’s Day snacks coming to the Disney parks

Flower and Garden Festival NEWS!

Next, we’ve got news for all those who love EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival. The Festival will run from March 1st through July 5th this year, and we already shared some important details about it, but now we’ve got even MORE.

The FULL LINEUP has been announced for the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Garden Rocks Concert Series! Performers this year include Daughtry, Smash Mouth, STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas, Casting Crowns, Plain White T’s, Simple Plan, and MUCH more. See the full list here!

Want to guarantee a good spot at the concert of your choice? Consider looking into a Garden Rocks Dining Package. These will be returning for the Festival this year and will be available at a variety of spots including Biergarten, Coral Reef Restaurant, Le Cellier, Rose & Crown Dining Room, and Regal Eagle Smokehouse.

These generally come with an appetizer, entree, and dessert (or one full buffet or family-style meal) as well as a non-alcoholic beverage (though that can vary depending on the restaurant).

Click here for the dining package details and pricing

Reedy Creek District News

And finally, we’ve got some updates on the future of Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District (“RCID”) — that is the district that functions essentially as its own county government in Orlando and has given Disney a large amount of control over the land on which it operates.

First, a spokesperson for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has indicated that DeSantis expects a special session will take place next week that will address Reedy Creek and other matters. So we could get some BIG news about the future of this situation very soon.

DeSantis also spoke more about the situation, saying “We’re not going to have a corporation controlling its own government.” DeSantis indicated that a bill regarding Reedy Creek is in the works and that the control of the area would be “reverted to the state.” He said he’d rather have local governments handle it, but he doesn’t feel they’re prepared for it, so “the state is going to have a board to run it.”

He also said that the state would ensure “there are no special legal privileges and that they’re abiding by the same laws. That will be in the bill. And then making sure they’re paying their fair share of taxes and paying the debt.”

Again, it sounds like big updates about Reedy Creek could be coming soon, so stay tuned for updates.

Click here to see more about DeSantis’ statements on the matter

Those are the biggest stories from this week, but we’ve got more to share! To see other updates from Disney, click the links below:

• Construction at a Disney World Hotel Might Affect Your Next Vacation
• ALERT! The Skyliner Has REOPENED in Disney World
• VIDEO: See “Hey Disney!” Alexa Devices in ACTION at Disney World
• Happily Ever After and EPCOT Forever Fireworks Showtimes Revealed for Disney World

• Check Out McDonald’s’ NEW Disney Happy Meal Toys!
• Ulta Beauty Has a NEW Disney Character Line!
• A Fan-Favorite Eatery is BACK at Downtown Disney!
• UPDATE on the Battle for Disney’s Executive Board
• Your Next Trip Through Orlando Airport Security Could Be LESS Stressful

And that’s it for this week’s news! But wait…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 bundle here!

What news from this week surprised you the most? Tell us in the comments.