Theme Park Bits: ‘Incredible Summer’ Begins, Pixar Pier Reveals Neighborhoods, Chewbacca Flies Star Tours
In this edition of Theme Park Bits:
PHOTOS: Decorations, Photo Spots Appear for Incredible Tomorrowland Expo at Magic Kingdomhttps://t.co/7KMjSbP6NO#MagicKingdom#TheIncrediblespic.twitter.com/FmKfCoV7nQ
— WDW News Today (@WDWNT)July 10, 2025
Incredible Summeris now upon us at Walt Disney World and Edna Mode, the fashion designer for the superhero family inThe Incredibles, is getting in on the action. The characterwill be appearingat the Magic Kingdom and Disney California Adventure this summer.
Ariel’s Grotto and the Cove Bar may have closed at California Adventure, but the ever-popularlobster nachos will live onat the same venue when it reopens as the Lamplight Lounge as part of Pixar Pier. Take a gander at some of the restaurant’snew menu itemsand prepare to salivate over food photos.
There’s still a month to go before Pixar Pier opens, but hype for the new land continues this week with afresh commercialand a bevy of videos, including a couple from Inside the Magic with Disney Imagineers leading a tour of the land’s scale model and concept art.
Incredibles Park, Toy Story Boardwalk, Pixar Promenade, and Inside Out Headquarters will bethe four neighborhoods of Pixar Pier.
Are you ready to ride the Incredicoaster? Composer Michael Giacchino has beenteasing the soundtrackfor the new ride.
The closure of A Bug’s Land and its kiddie ride Heimlich’s Chew-Chew Train will follow not long after the opening of Pixar Pier, but never fear: you’ll still be able to hear the voice of the German caterpillarspouting some of the same linesin Heimlich’s Candy Corn Toss, a boardwalk game at Pixar Pier.
Epcot is making further progress on the construction of itsGuardians of the Galaxyroller coaster and in the meantime, the park hasannounced datesfor its annual Candlelight Processional and International Festival of the Holidays.
Chewbacca ain’t just standin' around greeting people at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. No, everyone’s favorite Wookie recentlyventured out from his meet-and-greet spotatStar WarsLaunch Bay “in search of a solo rider with the knowledge and skills to join him as co-pilot on a special surprise adventure aboard a Starspeeder 1000.”
Solo: A Star Wars Storyis now in theaters and there’s a wealth of “parks-specific” merchandise for the movie coming to Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. Get the lowdown on all the goodieshere.
TOMORROW—Join us near the@LEGO_Groupstore at@DisneySpringsstarting at noon and see the LEGO Master Builders use the Force to construct a model of the Millennium Falcon all weekend long! More details:https://t.co/mf1nQGxoqhpic.twitter.com/alKHbu5r63
— Disney Springs (@DisneySprings)August 16, 2025
Guests aboard the Disney Cruise Line need not fear missing the opening day of any newStar Warsmovies. Films likeSolo: A Star Wars Storyscreen on the ship the same day they premiere on land, so there you go: that’s your incentive to book a cruise and joinStar WarsDay at Sea.
If you’ve got a Disney Visa debit card,that’s your ticketto meet Kylo Ren at Hollywood Studios.
This week, actors Zach Braff and Eden Sher hosted atelevision sneak peekofToy StoryLand during an airing of my personal favorite Pixar movie,Toy Story 3, on ABC.
A new episode of"Inside Disney Parks"celebrating 20 years at Disney’s Animal Kingdom features Imagineer Joe Rohde talking about his top 5 places at the park. There is also a behind-the-scenes look at the new UP! A Great Bird Adventure show and an unboxing of a limited-edition Banshee at the Windtraders gift shop.
Can’t decipher French? Not to worry. The video above contains an English update from a top Imagineer about the renovation of Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris.
Sailing Day Buffet was one of thebest restaurants at Tokyo DisneySeabut if you like to eat hearty you may be dismayed to learn that it has closed and is being converted into a craven counter-service restaurant. On August 20, it will reopen as theDockside Dinerwith an array of simple set-menu options (for lightweights).
Oh, well, there’s still plenty of comfort food to be found atCasey’s Cornerin the Magic Kingdom. Hey, how about a foot-long hot dog covered with macaroni and cheese and bacon bits? I’ve been told it’s healthier if you choose the apple slices as your side instead of french fries.
