Attraction funerals, BDX droids, and all the other Disney parks news worth caring about this week (6/20)
Where my Kermit lovers at?
I don’t know about you, but when I hear “Test Track 3.0,” I suddenly want to spend my weekend planning a fictional GM-sponsored race… and maybe crash into a giant animatronic tumbleweed? Either way, this news deserves a victory lap.
Here’s all the Disney parks news you should care about this week.
🏁 Disney revs up Test Track 3.0 reopening – July 22
After a year-long makeover, EPCOT’s speed demon is returning as Test Track 3.0, now hitting 65 mph with a fresh storyline, new soundtrack, cameras, sensors and, yes— light fixtures galore.
The GM sponsorship continues (bye, Chevy), and previews are set for passholders and Club 33 types before the public launch. Buckle up!
Say goodbye to Rivers of America (Magic Kingdom)
Starting July 7, Walt Disney World is permanently closing Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and Liberty Square Riverboat to make space for the massive new Piston Peak National Park (read: Cars land expansion). Crowd control making you dizzy? Construction walls might too, but hey, at least Lightning Lanes will spare us from trampling tourists, right?
Muppet*Vision funeral ends with a smile
Over at Hollywood Studios, sad trumpets sounded as Muppet*Vision 3D shuttered after nearly 35 years. Fans showed up in muppet-themed best to grieve, prom it up at PizzeRizzo, and remind Disney that nostalgia matters. The theater and entire Muppets courtyard will transform into a Monsters, Inc. land.
But don’t worry, Kermit's legacy isn't going full long-lost puppet — the Muppets will be taking over another attraction which is sort of closing-ish, as they’ll take over the Aerosmith themed Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at some point in the not-terribly-distant future.
Star Wars BDX droids are going global
Over at Galaxy’s Edge, imagineers are cranking out self-walking BDX droids—now rolling out in Tokyo, with Orlando and Paris getting theirs soon.
Plus, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run is getting a Mandalorian/Grogu storyline overhaul, transporting you to Tatooine, Cloud City, Coruscant, Endor—even the Death Star debris. Launch date? May 22, 2026. May the nerd be with you.
Quick Hits
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away parade arrives July 20 at Magic Kingdom
This guy made the reservation and then was for some reason surprised at how expensive Disneyland’s Princess Breakfast was for five people…
Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue at Disney’s California Adventure will officially be closing in early 2026 to make way for the new Avatar land. More funerals to come, I guess. 💀
If you don’t feel like shelling out all that cash, standing in lines, or having actual fun, Disney+ is releasing a whole bunch of new POV videos as part of the Disneyland 70th anniversary celebration.
What to talk about over coffee or Kyber Crystal Cartel meetups:
Are you hyped (or conflicted) about the long goodbye to Rivers of America vs. incoming Cars Land?
Will Test Track’s tech upgrade satisfy realism-seeking nerds, or oversell automotive symbolism?
How enthusiastic are you about BDX droids invading every Galaxy’s Edge?
What did we miss? Let us know…