MickeyBlog News for June 23rd, 2025
This past week, we learned the opening date for Test Track, more details about the new Magic Kingdom parade, and the closing date for a recognizable attraction.
We’ve got plenty to cover in this week’s MickeyBlog News. So, let’s get started!
Test Track Is Coming Soon
I won’t lie to you. Disney has been worrying us about its mysterious behavior surrounding Test Track.
Throughout the past year, Disney has indicated a TBA Summer 2025 opening date for the new version of the popular attraction.
Then, something surprising happened. Just as Disney seemed to be making excellent progress, it updated the opening timeline.
Frustratingly, the update looked like a delay. Test Track’s debut moved from TBA Summer 2025 to TBA 2025.
Photo: Disney
This knowledge caused our staff to speculate about a potential delay. And we said that earlier in June!
In our defense, changing that opening date certainly seemed like a de facto delay.
Within a week of that bit of strangeness, Disney confused us again by removing the construction walls at Test Track.
At that point, the thrill ride definitely seemed like it was ready to go, and I’m happy to report that this is the case.
Photo: Disney
Disney has shared the opening date for Test Track 3.0. Even better, the ride will debut one month from today!
Yes, on July 22nd, EPCOT guests can experience the new and improved version of Test Track for the first time.
Test Track
Actually, some guests will get to ride Test Track even earlier.
Disney will hold sneak previews for annual passholders, Cast Members, Club 33 members, DVC members, and Golden Oak residents.
Test Track 3.0
Cast Member previews start on June 27th. Yes, that’s Friday. After all this time and confusion, Test Track is obviously ready to go.
I hope to have video I can show you of the new version during next week’s MickeyBlog News. At most, it’ll take two weeks.
So, our yearlong wait for the return of Test Track is basically over!
Starlight, Star Bright
Photo: Disney
Disney was full of surprises this week, and one of them involved the next nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom.
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away will debut on July 20th, something we already knew.
Photo: Disney
However, this new exhibition still has two other ways it’ll surprise you, and I’m ready to tell you both.
For starters, Disney will host the parade twice a night, which is a bit unexpected but not wholly shocking.
The surprise involves the nightly performances. Magic Kingdom will host Disney Starlight at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. each night this summer.
I’ll go ahead and save you a quick check of Magic Kingdom’s operating hours. Yes, the park closes at 11 p.m. on most nights.
Photo: Disney
So, Disney will host the parade at a time when it’s kicking out guests. Basically, Disney will close the park visit with Disney Starlight.
Now, I realize you have questions, as this idea ostensibly flies in the face of the conventional Magic Kingdom exit strategy.
Photo: Disney
If everyone is leaving the park anyway, why would Disney create a bottleneck on Main Street, U.S.A.?
Well, Disney Starlight won’t do that. I say this because the parade route will follow the same path you’ve always known…but backwards.
Photo: Disney
Disney’s plan calls for the parade to start on Main Street, U.S.A. and then make its way back to Frontierland.
So, everything will work the opposite of how it has in the past, meaning that people will bottleneck Frontierland instead.
Photo: Disney
Since that area of the park is less trafficked, Disney moves the congestion from the park entrance off to the side.
Presuming this works as intended, it seems like a brilliant solution. Plus, park guests will have three different stopping points.
Photo: Disney
You can leave after either parade or the 10 p.m. performance of Happily Ever After.
Disney Miscellany
We’ve got several other stories to cover, a couple of which could have anchored this week’s news.
The first is that The Boneyard will permanently close in September. We’ve known this news was coming for a while.
However, Disney indicated that DINOSAUR would remain open throughout 2025, creating hope that The Boneyard may have more time.
Alas, Disney needs to reclaim that space sooner than the area surrounding DINOSAUR.
On the bright side, my beloved Stormalong Bay has finally reopened, as has its pool bar, Hurricane Hannah’s.
Disney has spent the body of 2025 refurbishing the area, going so far as to drain the sand-bottom pool entirely.
In other park news, Disney confirmed that its annual Fourth of July presentation will return next week.
Meanwhile, we have a slight mystery building at Tomorrowland. A construction crew is building a mysterious structure.
This will be the thing that replaces the former Cool Ship kiosk, and it…looks like another kiosk.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Elio preview is now playing at the theater here. Also, I highly recommend the movie.
Also at Magic Kingdom, we just learned that the Dumbo playground’s reopening won’t occur as quickly as expected.
Again, we’ve got good news to counter the bad, though, as there’s a massive pool expansion coming to a popular resort.
Meanwhile, the refurbishment at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will last into 2026. I can’t wait to see what Disney does here.
Oh, and we got a look at this year’s Flavors of Florida foods, too.
Disney Miscellany Part II
Photo: Disney
At Disneyland, we learned that Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room will return in time for the park’s 70th birthday.
This update may confuse you, as Disney is already celebrating Disneyland 70 at the park.
However, The Happiest Place on Earth doesn’t officially turn 70 until July 17th. So, that’s the cutoff date here.
During the following month, Disney Jr. Let’s Play! will return from August 8th through August 10th.
Photo: Disney
Also, we now know the closing and opening dates for Earl of Sandwich, the restaurant Disney keeps killing then bringing back to life.
Finally, I’ve got two Disney Cruise Line (DCL) updates, one of which involves some of the stuff coming to the Disney Destiny.
However, the policy change that will impact you much more is that DCL has changed the deposit amount.
Historically, you had to pay 20 percent down for your Disney cruise. I’m happy to report that’s no longer the case!
Photo: Disney
Now, Disney will only require a ten percent payment upfront for your next Disney cruise.
If you were already considering a Disney cruise, the company just did you a big favor.
MickeyTravels can book your next Disney vacation!
You should speak with a MickeyTravels agent to learn the best ways to take advantage of this huuuuge policy shift.
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Feature Photo: Disney
