Mickey's Magic Minute • March 2

👋 Good evening! Welcome to your pixie dusting of Disney news.

Whether you're a seasoned subscriber or a new arrival, we're thrilled to have you here. Each week we'll deliver the latest Disney scoop and our favorite Disney deals directly to your inbox.

In this weekend issue:

🎧 ESPN Expands SportsCenter to Disney+ with New Daily Show ‘SC+’
ESPN is launching SC+ on March 3, a Disney+ exclusive version of SportsCenter featuring a daily top 10 countdown and insights from ESPN reporters.

🌊 Typhoon Lagoon Reopens May 1 as Blizzard Beach Closes for Refurbishment
Typhoon Lagoon will reopen May 1, 2025, as Blizzard Beach closes for refurbishment on April 30, continuing Disney’s seasonal water park rotation.

🏰 Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Refurbishment Moves to Theming Phase, Reopening in 2026
Work on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom is progressing to set installation, with reopening expected in 2026.

🌊 Kali River Rapids Set to Reopen on March 14, 2025
Animal Kingdom’s Kali River Rapids will reopen after its winter refurbishment, bringing back thrilling rapids and a 20-foot drop.

🌸 New Disney Topiaries Bloom at EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival 2025
Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and more join EPCOT’s Flower & Garden Festival, running March 5–June 2, with new Moana-themed topiaries and fresh festival offerings.

🎶 Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Closing in Late Summer 2025 for Muppets Makeover
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is expected to close after August 11, 2025, as it transforms into a Muppets Mayhem ride starring Kermit and the Electric Mayhem Band.

🚂 Disneyland Opens Reservations for Exclusive Lilly Belle Train Tour
Disneyland’s All Aboard! tour is now available for booking, offering a rare ride on the historic Lilly Belle Presidential Car for $145 per person.

✨ Stay tuned for the latest Disney news and updates!

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Disney+

📺 ESPN EXPANDS SPORTSCENTER TO DISNEY+ WITH NEW DAILY SHOW ‘SC+’

ESPN is launching SC+, a new Disney+ exclusive version of SportsCenter debuting March 3, featuring a daily countdown of the top 10 sports stories with insight from ESPN reporters, tailored for a more casual, entertainment-focused audience. This move is part of ESPN’s strategy to expand its presence on Disney+ ahead of its flagship streaming service launch later this year.

Walt Disney World

🌊 TYPHOON LAGOON REOPENS MAY 1 AS BLIZZARD BEACH CLOSES FOR REFURBISHMENT

Typhoon Lagoon will reopen on May 1, 2025, just as Blizzard Beach closes for refurbishment on April 30, 2025, continuing Disney’s seasonal water park rotation. Guests can enjoy Typhoon Lagoon’s tropical-themed attractions, with single-day tickets starting at $74 for adults and $68 for children, while operating hours will initially be 10am to 5pm daily in the spring. Disney Resort hotel guests arriving can enjoy complimentary water park admission on their check-in day, included with their stay.

MAGIC KINGDOM

🏰 BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD REFURBISHMENT MOVES TO THEMING PHASE, REOPENING IN 2026

Walt Disney Imagineering has filed a new permit for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s refurbishment at Magic Kingdom, indicating that the project is now progressing to set installation with Icarus Exhibits, Inc., known for themed attraction design. The ride, which closed on January 6, 2025, is set to reopen in 2026, with ongoing work including track replacement, electrical updates, and enhanced theming elements.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

🌊 KALI RIVER RAPIDS SET TO REOPEN ON MARCH 14, 2025

Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will reopen on March 14, 2025, following its routine winter refurbishment after closing on January 6, 2025. The family-friendly raft ride, located in the park’s Asia section, takes guests through fast-moving rapids and a 20-foot drop, with lockers available for storing personal items.

EPCOT

🌸 NEW DISNEY TOPIARIES BLOOM AT EPCOT FLOWER & GARDEN FESTIVAL 2025

New topiaries featuring Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Chip, and Dale have been added to the main bridge at EPCOT’s International Flower & Garden Festival 2025, along with vibrant floral displays including butterflies, pink flowers, and a Mickey-shaped flowerbed. The festival, running from March 5 to June 2, 2025, will also debut Moana-themed topiaries, resort hotel-themed food booths, and a horticulture gallery, alongside returning favorites like the Garden Rocks Concert Series.

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

🎶 ROCK ‘N’ ROLLER COASTER CLOSING IN LATE SUMMER 2025 FOR MUPPETS MAKEOVER

Walt Disney World has yet to announce an official closure date for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, but speculation suggests it will close after August 11, 2025, likely aligning with the reopening of Test Rack 3.0 to balance park capacity. The Muppets Mayhem reimagining, featuring Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the Electric Mayhem Band, is expected to debut in late 2025.

Disneyland

🚂 DISNEYLAND OPENS RESERVATIONS FOR EXCLUSIVE LILLY BELLE TRAIN TOUR

Disneyland has opened reservations for its exclusive 90-minute Railroad Guided Tour, offering guests a rare opportunity to ride aboard the historic Lilly Belle Presidential Car and explore Walt Disney’s passion for trains. The tour costs $145 per person (excluding park admission).

Thank you so much for being a part of Mickey’s Magic Minute! We’re thrilled to have you along for all the magical updates, exclusive behind-the-scenes peeks, and heartwarming stories from the world of Disney. Your support means the world to us, and we can’t wait to share even more pixie-dusted moments with you.

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Thanks again for being part of our enchanting community. Stay magical!