MickeyBlog News for December 29th, 2025
Happy holidays, my many loves!
I hope that you’re enjoying plenty of time with your ‘ohana as we conclude 2025.
We have just a few stories to cover in MickeyBlog News. Then, you can return to your fireplace.
Oh, who am I kidding? It was 73 degrees here on Christmas. That’s like the exact opposite of a White Christmas.
Christmas Week at Disney
We’re in the middle of the busiest two-week period on the annual theme park calendar.
Everyone knows by now that Disneyland and Walt Disney World are the places to be as the year ends.
You can tell this by the crowds, which MickeyBlog has shown you a couple of times recently.
Our reporters also got some behind-the-scenes footage of a show I hope you watched.
Here are pictures from The Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade. And here’s the parade!
Yes, Disney has uploaded the parade on YouTube for posterity’s sake. So, you can watch it whenever.
I won’t tell you where, but some members of the MickeyBlog staff appear at several points.
Anyone visiting the parks this week received an unexpected bonus treat, too.
Disney has turned the after-hours ticketed experiences at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party into free amenities.
For a limited time, guests can enjoy the attraction overlays that are typically paywalled in December.
And that’s not all! Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is also free this week.
You should prioritize these experiences, as they’re something to do when the parks are crowded.
That’s a big deal since so many Lightning Lanes have sold out in December.
Also, while Santa Claus has taken his hard-earned vacation at the parks, there’s a solid substitute!
Santa Goofy is still meeting guests at three locations for a little while longer.
These are just a few highlights of the final week of 2025.
Speaking of which, here are Disney World’s New Year’s Eve details.
Finally, you may be interested in this article about how Disney shapes holiday traditions around the world.
The Cinderella Restoration
Photo; Disney
Now, let’s quickly go through a few other big stories happening at the parks now/soon.
Most importantly, Disney just provided a timeline for the next restoration of Cinderella Castle.
As you know, park officials keep the landmark fresh by giving it an updated look every few years.
Most recently, Disney decorated the castle for Disney World’s 50th anniversary.
Photo: Disney
Now, Cinderella Castle will take on a new look that pays tribute to Magic Kingdom’s origins.
So, we’re expecting a retro yet modern style, something based on the past and the future.
If that sounds familiar, it’s the same underlying concept that has turned Test Track 3.0 into a huge success.
Disney’s castle makeover begins in January, and we’ll know soon enough what the new style is.
Meet Buddy the Robot
Computer World
I’ve been writing about A.I. a lot more than I’d expected lately due to some recent Disney decisions.
The writing was on the wall in early September that Disney had reached an inflection point.
However, the company’s decision to embrace a new technology shouldn’t have surprised anyone.
Disney has been at the forefront of technological innovation since its inception.
Photo: Disney
The latest example is…Buddy the Robot. Okay, I know that sounds ridiculous, but hear me out.
Imagineers designed Buddy as the helper bot who makes the entire ride experience easier.
Since Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin requires a bit of a learning curve, she’ll help improve players.
Speaking on behalf of all the tragically awful Space Rangers of the galaxy, that’s appreciated.
Photo: Disney
More importantly, Buddy will make the ride more fun for all her new friends playing against one another.
Disney is enhancing Space Ranger Spin by adding a helpful UI that comes in the form of a friendly robot.
Disney
As far as Imagineering tricks go, it’s not the best one, but it’s the latest in a very long line of great ideas.
Disney Miscellany
Photo: Disney
Okay, we’ve got the new Hollywood & Vine schedule for the first half of 2026.
So, you can read this to learn the dates for the outfit changes at this marvelous character dining experience.
The other fun thing happening at the parks is the foreshadowing of what’s to come in 2026.
Bluey merchandise has arrived by way of adorable Squishmallows!
Yes, you can buy Bluey and Bingo in Squishmallow form at the parks now!
This is one of the early signs that Disney is all-in on Bluey as of next month.
The characters will appear at Disneyland and Disney World in just a few weeks.
Before then, parents who need last-minute gifts have enjoyed the blessing of Bluey merch.
Photo: Merlin Entertainments
You’ll meet Bluey at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and that’s not the only thing happening here.
Disney also expanded the covering for several of the bus stops, a LONG overdue enhancement.
Photo: Disney
Circling back to Disney’s tech innovations, the company has pulled back the curtain on Olaf.
The Disney Research Hub posted this YouTube video of how Olaf can move around the parks.
Next, in news I would never mention if it weren’t a slow news week, this happened.
Yes, there are new stained glass windows at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Use this information as you will.
Finally, Disney Cruise Line just absolutely cleaned up, winning several awards.
The upcoming year really is shaping up to be Disney Cruise Line’s biggest yet.
Happy New Year, everyone!
Photo: MickeyBlog
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