WHAT A WEEK.

From the permanent closure of Splash Mountain in Disney World to the start of the 100th Anniversary festivities in Disneyland, a lot has happened in just a few short days. If you want to make sure you’ve got ALL of the latest Disney news — from food updates to ride openings and beyond — you’re in the right place!

Here are this week’s biggest Disney news stories.

Splash Mountain Has Permanently CLOSED in Disney World

That’s right folks, Splash Mountain is now a thing of the past in Disney World (though the Disneyland version is still open and a closing date for that has yet to be announced).

We were in Magic Kingdom on Splash Mountain’s last day to experience the good, the bad, and the CROWDED. Let’s just say, we weren’t the only ones in the park that day. The crowds were…intense.

Genie+ Lightning Lane return times quickly  SOLD OUT for the ride on its last day, and wait times went BEYOND 200 minutes at one point in the day. But the day ended, as all days do, and Disney swiftly got to work on the ride’s transformation into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

By the time we arrived in Magic Kingdom on the day after Splash Mountain’s closure, construction walls were UP around the ride and its gift shop, and water was starting to be drained from the ride.

The ride has already been removed from the Magic Kingdom map, which now features a portion about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure instead.

Plus, narration on the Liberty Square Riverboat about Splash Mountain has been removed, AND the Walt Disney World Railroad now has some narration referencing Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

We’ve continued to see construction work done on Splash Mountain, so it seems Disney is really wasting NO time. Just keep in mind that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is not set to open in Disney World until 2024, so we’ve still got a ways to go.

Oh, and as if it comes as any surprise (😂) some individuals have taken to eBay in an attempt to sell “Splash Mountain water.” No, we’re not joking.

If you do want to buy something to represent your fandom of Splash Mountain OR your excitement about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, might we suggest a shirt that could be a bit more useful than some “Splash Mountain water?”

Pick from a shirt that reminds you to never lose sight of what’s really important, or opt for the Briar Patch Band farewell tour shirt.

Or you can grab both to remember this eventful time.

Click here to get the shirts!

Roundup Rodeo BBQ

Next, we move to Disney’s Hollywood Studios where we have HUGE Roundup Rodeo BBQ news. This will be the first table service restaurant in Toy Story Land, and we have a feeling it could become a very popular spot.

This week, Disney revealed the OPENING DATE for Roundup Rodeo BBQ — March 23rd, 2023! We’re just a few weeks away!

But that’s not all — Disney has also revealed the FULL MENU for this new family-style restaurant! Meals will include cheddar biscuits with sweet pepper jelly…

…salads…

…house-smoked meats (or a plant-based entree option)…

…sides…

…desserts…

…and more!

See the FULL menu here!

If you’ll want to dine here though, don’t forget you’ll need a valid park ticket, Park Pass reservation, AND a dining reservation! The opening date for reservations for this spot has not yet been shared, but we’ll be on the lookout for more details.

Work continues on the exterior of the restaurant, and we’ve seen several CHANGES recently, with more decorations and artwork coming together.

To see 5 of the things we’re MOST excited to try at Roundup Rodeo BBQ, click here. And stay tuned for more news!

Click here for our full page on Roundup Rodeo BBQ!

The 100th Anniversary Has BEGUN!

The 100th Anniversary had started to kick off in smaller ways (with releases of merchandise on Amazon and more), but now the festivities have officially begun in Disneyland Resort!

There are a LOT of things to look for and enjoy. If you’re a fan of details, be sure to look for the NEW 100th Anniversary nametags Cast Members will be wearing with the names of their favorite characters.

You’ll also want to take a close look at the decorations throughout Disneyland. Sleeping Beauty Castle is decked out…

…and you’ll find 100th Anniversary medallions…

…and statues!

Mickey and his friends also have shiny NEW costumes for the celebration, and the Monorail is looking spiffy too!

PLUS two NEW nighttime shows have debuted at Disneyland as part of the celebration. In Disney California Adventure park, check out World of Color — ONE! It celebrates how a single action can grow into a wave of change and features water effects, fountains, lasers, and more with clips and music from hit Disney movies. Get a first look here!

At Disneyland Park, you can now watch another new nighttime show Wondrous Journeys. It has “state-of-the-art projection effects,” special lighting, and more. On select nights there will be fireworks too. The show actually has nods to EVERY. SINGLE. Disney Animation Studios film and 18 different Disney songs played throughout, including a brand new song.

Need more 100th Anniversary news? Well, you can click here to see some of Disney’s newest 100th Anniversary Merchandise Collections (spoiler alert: your wallet might hate you for doing that)…

…or click here to see how you can livestream some of the 100th Anniversary celebration from HOME! We’ll be covering lots more from the Disney100 celebration, so stay tuned for updates.

See our full page on the 100th Anniversary here

Runaway Railway Is OPEN in Disneyland!

Speaking of exciting things at Disneyland, another BIG thing has just happened. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (which is already open in Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Disney World) officially opened on January 27th in Disneyland Park!

While the ride itself is very similar to the Disney World version, the queue is dramatically different.

The queue here takes you through the “history” of shorts and films featuring Mickey Mouse, with all kinds of incredible easter eggs and references to other Disney films throughout.

There are hilarious posters with Disney spins on classic movies…

…all kinds of jokes…

…and hidden details only the experts will recognize.

If you love Disney and hidden details, this is a queue you cannot miss!

Click here to get a first look INSIDE the ride

And click here to learn about the easter eggs you HAVE to see in this new ride!

Food News

Next, we’ve got some food news! February is Black History Month, which means Disney will be really focusing on its Celebrate Soulfully campaign and bringing NEW treats to the Disney Parks! Want to get some Gumbo in Hollywood Studios? You can do that! What about a  Sweet Potato Lunch Box Tart? Or a Berry Beignet?

All of that and MORE is coming to the Disney Parks soon — with most treats becoming available on February 1st.

Click here for the full list!

In more food news, California Grill (in Disney’s Contemporary Resort) will be getting an UPDATED menu starting April 1st, 2023. We already shared that update, but this week we got the pricing for the updated menu. Spoiler alert: it isn’t cheap. Pricing will remain the same as the 50th prix fixe menu — $89 per adult and $39 per child. So get ready to shell out some serious cash.

And finally, in food news, big menu CHANGES have hit the beloved Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ in Disney Springs.

There are items that have been removed, changes made to certain things, price increases, and even NEW dishes now available so get those must-eat lists handy.

Don’t Forget: The Skyliner Is Closed

Finally, we wanted to give you a quick reminder that the Walt Disney World Skyliner is currently temporarily CLOSED. The Skyliner is set to be closed from now through January 29th, so keep that in mind if you’ll be traveling around Disney World.

And click here to see some of the work being done on the Skyliner during its closure.

But wait…there’s more! For more Disney news, see our posts below:

• Changes have come to EPCOT
• Get the latest update on a potential Disney World stop for the Brightline airport train
• Is Wall-E coming to EPCOT? We have a potential clue
• NEWS: Lake Nona Employee Relocation Moving Forward at Disney

• A Popular Princess Is BACK Meeting Guests in Magic Kingdom!
• “The Corporate Kingdom Has Come to an End” — Updates on Disney World’s Reedy Creek District
• runDisney’s Coast to Coast Race Challenge Is Coming BACK!

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. 

Grab the bundle here!

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