Following a brief hiatus for the holiday, this week is absolutely PACKED with park updates, festival fun, and a few changes that could impact your next visit!

We’re digging into the latest details from EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts, new Annual Passholder perks, and updates across Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line that are worth keeping on your radar. There’s also lots of entertainment news and new merchandise making waves. Let’s start this new year right and get into everything you need to know!

A quick reminder to give our sponsor a wave click as you pass by - they're the ones keeping our Joffrey’s Après Ski Hot Cocoa hot and this newsletter free! 🍪

Trusted specialty outdoor retailer, REI Co-op, has teamed up with the world’s largest adventure travel company, Intrepid Travel, to create a collection of active trips. From farm stays in Costa Rica to sunrise summits on Kilimanjaro, each trip is led by a local expert with small group sizes capped at 16.

Find your next adventure

_{For T&Cs and to view the full collection of trips in 85+ destinations, visit rei.com/travel.}

EPCOT International Festival of the Arts Foodie Guide
Get ready to indulge! The complete guide to food offerings at EPCOT's Festival of the Arts features artistic dishes and creative culinary experiences you won't want to miss.
Explore the Menu

Lunar New Year Food Guide at Disneyland Resort
Celebrate the Year of the Snake with delicious Asian-inspired dishes and treats available throughout Disneyland Resort during the 2026 Lunar New Year celebration.
See What's Cooking

New Savory Loaded Waffles Launch at Disney Springs
Disney Springs is taking waffles to the next level with creative new loaded waffle options featuring savory toppings and gourmet combinations.
Get the Details

New 2026 Sweets & Treats Coming to Disneyland
From seasonal confections to innovative desserts, Disneyland is rolling out an exciting lineup of sweet treats throughout 2026.
Discover What's New

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Costume Exhibit Opens at Hollywood Studios
Swifties visiting Walt Disney World can now see authentic costumes from Taylor Swift's record-breaking Eras Tour on display at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Step Inside

Disney Water Park Seasonal Pass Returns
The popular Disney Water Park Seasonal Pass is back, offering unlimited visits to Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon for passholders.
Make a Splash

Summer 2026 Deals & Updates for Walt Disney World
Planning ahead? Disney has announced special deals and experiences coming to Walt Disney World for summer 2026.
Start Planning

Celebrate Avatar: Fire and Ash Across Disney Parks
From special merchandise to themed experiences, Disney parks worldwide are celebrating the return to Pandora with Avatar: Fire and Ash activations.
Explore Pandora (Experiences) | (Products)

Disney Cruise Line Adventure Updates
New itineraries, destinations, and onboard experiences are coming to Disney Cruise Line ships.
Set Sail with Disney

Adventures by Disney: Rhine River Cruise & Munich Escape
Adventures by Disney has reimagined its Rhine River cruise experience and added a brand-new Munich escape vacation package.
Book Your Adventure

Disney Festivities for America's 250th Anniversary
Disney parks will celebrate America's 250th birthday with special entertainment, decorations, and patriotic experiences throughout 2026.
See the Celebration

Disneyland 70th Anniversary Fortnite Experience
Gamers can celebrate 70 years of Disneyland magic with a special in-game Fortnite experience featuring iconic park elements.
Jump In

Favorites from Past EPCOT Festivals Return
Fan-favorite food items and experiences from previous Festival of the Holidays celebrations are making a comeback at EPCOT.
Revisit Classics

Your Ultimate Guide to Downtown Disney District
Everything you need to know about shopping, dining, and entertainment at Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort.
Plan Your Visit

Latest Disney Experiences Offers
Current special deals and offers available across Disney parks, resorts, and experiences.
Browse Offers

Tokyo Disney Resort Celebrates 900 Millionth Guest
Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea reached an incredible milestone, welcoming their 900 millionth guest since opening. The achievement highlights the enduring popularity of Disney's Asian flagship resort.
Learn More | Disney Experiences

runDisney Race Guide & Blood Cancer Partnership
Everything you need to know about upcoming runDisney events, plus the announcement of a new partnership with Be The Match to support blood cancer awareness.
Get Race-Ready | Disney Experiences

Disneyland Handcrafted Documentary Premieres January 22
Acclaimed filmmaker Leslie Iwerks takes viewers behind the creation of Disneyland in this new documentary streaming on Disney+ and premiering on Disney's YouTube channel.
Watch the Premiere | (Premiere) | (Director Interview) | (How to Watch) | (Feature)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens 10th Anniversary Celebration
Multiple retrospective features celebrate a decade since The Force Awakens, including deep dives into Rey's theme, behind-the-scenes footage, scene breakdowns, concept art reveals, and creature department features.
Celebrate the Saga (Rey's Theme) | (Behind the Scenes) | (Scene Breakdown) |(Concept Art) | (Creature Department)

Avatar: Fire and Ash Surpasses $1 Billion at Global Box Office
James Cameron's latest Avatar epic has officially crossed the $1 billion mark worldwide, making it the third film in the franchise to reach this milestone and cementing Avatar as one of cinema's most elite franchises.
See the Numbers | Disney Studios

How Avatar Creates Immersive Experiences On and Off Screen
An inside look at how the Avatar franchise delivers immersive storytelling in theaters and brings Pandora to life at Disney parks, including plans for future expansion at Disney California Adventure.
Journey to Pandora

Behind the Scenes of Avatar: Fire and Ash with the Cast
Stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, and Sigourney Weaver share what it was like returning to Pandora for the third chapter of the epic saga.
Hear From the Cast | D23

TRON: Ares Made its Streaming Debut on Disney+ January 7
The latest chapter in the TRON franchise arrived on Disney+ for subscribers to stream at home.
Start Streaming | Disney+ Press

Marvel's Wonder Man Drops New Trailer
Marvel Television released an exciting new trailer and exclusive stills for Wonder Man, premiering January 27 on Disney+.
Watch the Trailer | Marvel.com

Avengers: Doomsday Teaser Trailer Released
Marvel Studios dropped the first teaser for Avengers: Doomsday, coming to theaters December 18, 2026.
See the Teaser

Star Wars Celebrates Best of 2025
A look back at the year's highlights and memorable moments from across the Star Wars galaxy.
Revisit 2025

Malcolm in the Middle Revival Coming to Hulu April 10
The beloved family sitcom returns with Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair, reuniting the cast for an all-new adventure streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
Relive the Nostalgia

The Muppet Show Special Event Coming February 4
Disney+ and ABC are bringing back The Muppets for a special event airing February 4.
Join the Fun

D23 Ranks 2026 Disney Anniversaries
Which upcoming Disney milestones are fans most excited about? D23 asks readers to rank the 2026 anniversaries they're anticipating most.
Cast Your Vote

Imagineer That Returns with Tom Morrow 2.0
The popular Disney Imagineering video series is back with new episodes featuring the robotic character Tom Morrow 2.0.
Watch Now

Hulu Acquires All Seasons of Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Kardashian fans can now stream every season of the iconic reality series on Hulu.
Start Binge-Watching

Everything New on Disney+ in January 2026
A complete guide to all the movies, series, and original content arriving on Disney+ this month.
Browse What's New

LEGO Unveils First SMART Play Star Wars Sets
LEGO's groundbreaking SMART Play technology debuts with Star Wars sets that blend physical building with interactive digital experiences.
Build the Future | Disney Parks Blog

GANNI x Disney Unveils Daisy Duck Fashion Collection
Danish fashion brand GANNI partnered with Disney to create a stylish new Daisy Duck-inspired clothing collection.
Shop the Collection

Whether you’re planning your next park day, tracking festival offerings, or just keeping up with what’s new across Disney entertainment, we’ve got you covered. Thanks for spending part of your week with us — and be sure to check back soon for more updates, tips, and a little extra Disney magic. Until next time… see ya on the monorail! 🚝

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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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