It's been a monumental week across The Walt Disney Company, with major leadership changes at Lucasfilm, record-breaking box office milestones, and exciting park announcements for the year ahead. Whether you're a Star Wars fan, planning your next Disney vacation, or just want to stay in the know about all things Disney, we've rounded up the biggest stories from the past seven days. Let's dive in!

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Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Timeline Expands at Disneyland
The immersive land at Disneyland Park expands its timeline to include additional eras from the Star Wars saga, offering guests new experiences across different periods of the galaxy far, far away.
📰Explore at Disney Parks Blog · StarWars.com

EPCOT Festival of the Arts in Full Swing
The 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts (January 16-February 23) features new Broadway performers, culinary offerings, and artistic experiences celebrating creativity in all forms.
📰 Plan your visit at Disney Parks Blog - Festival Details · Broadway Series Lineup

EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Dates Announced
Disney reveals dates and details for the 2026 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival, including the full Garden Rocks Concert Series lineup featuring diverse musical acts throughout the spring celebration.
📰 See the lineup at Disney Parks Blog - Festival · Garden Rocks Series

Chinese New Year Celebrations Across Disney Parks
Disney Parks worldwide celebrate the Year of the Horse with special food, entertainment, and character appearances honoring Chinese New Year 2026.
📰 Discover at Disney Parks Blog

Garden View Lounge Tea Experience Returns
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa announces the reopening date and new menu for the beloved Garden View Lounge tea experience.
📰 Preview the menu at Disney Parks Blog

PlanDisney Class of 2026 Welcomed
Disney introduces the new PlanDisney Class of 2026, featuring Disney enthusiasts ready to help guests plan magical vacations throughout the year.
📰 Meet them at Disney Parks Blog

Disney Cruise Line Adventure Updates
New itineraries and onboard experiences announced for Disney's expanding cruise fleet, including updates on ships sailing from Port Canaveral.
📰 Set sail at Disney Parks Blog · Disney Experiences

The Seas with Nemo & Friends Celebrates 40 Years
Disney Experiences marks 40 years of EPCOT's The Seas pavilion, tracing its evolution from opening day to its transformation into The Seas with Nemo & Friends.
📰 Dive in at Disney Experiences

Disneyland Handcrafted Documentary Reactions
Viewers share their reactions to the new documentary showcasing the artisans and craftspeople who create magic at Disneyland, featuring 20 Disney Legends.
📰 Watch reactions at Disney Parks Blog · D23

Lucasfilm Announces Major Leadership Transition
After nearly 14 years leading Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy steps down to return to full-time producing, with Dave Filoni taking over as President and Chief Creative Officer alongside Lynwen Brennan as Co-President.
📰 Read more at The Walt Disney Company · StarWars.com

'Zootopia 2' Makes Animation History
Walt Disney Animation Studios' sequel surpasses Inside Out 2 to become the highest-grossing animated MPA film of all time with $1.703 billion globally, ranking as the #9 biggest film in history worldwide.
📰 Full story at The Walt Disney Company

High School Musical Turns 20
Disney celebrates two decades of the cultural phenomenon that changed the landscape of music-driven franchises, launched major careers, and continues attracting new generations of fans.
📰 Celebrate at The Walt Disney Company · D23

'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Season 3 Confirmed
Following the Season 2 finale, a surprise first look reveals Season 3 will return later this year, with all Season 2 episodes now available to binge on Disney+ and Hulu.
📰 Get the details at Disney+ Press

'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere' Streaming Soon
The Golden Globe-nominated film starring Jeremy Allen White begins streaming exclusively on Hulu starting January 23.
📰 Learn more at Disney Studios

Star Wars Character Guides & Features
StarWars.com releases new character guides including an in-depth look at Darth Maul's history and a comprehensive breakdown of every character in the new Lucasfilm Animation poster.
📰 Explore at Who is Maul? · Animation Poster Guide

D23 Highlights Disney Films Released in January
D23 celebrates five notable Disney films that premiered in January throughout history, marking their anniversaries and cultural impact.
📰 Revisit at D23

Viktor & Rolf x Disney Cinderella Collectible Doll
The haute couture design house partners with Disney and Mattel to create a limited-edition Cinderella doll featuring exquisite couture detailing.
📰 See the collection at The Walt Disney Company · Disney Parks Blog

GANNI x Disney Daisy Duck Collection Launches
Contemporary fashion brand GANNI unveils a new collection inspired by Daisy Duck, bringing modern style to the iconic character.
📰 Shop the looks at Disney Parks Blog

That’s it for this week. Thanks for riding along! We appreciate you spending part of your week with us. We’ll see you back on the monorail soon. 🚝

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The Monorail Newsletter is an independent fan publication published weekly and focuses exclusively on official Disney news from verified Disney sources. The Monorail is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Walt Disney Company.

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