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Ep 587 - Disney World Roundup of 2025

·1 hr 8 min·6 clips

Cars Land in Frontierland doesn't make sense theming-wise, but it saves Disney maintenance costs.

This episode of Capture The Magic Podcast is a year-end review of 2025's biggest Disney World news and changes. Hosts Jared and Jamie Lee, a knowledgeable and personable couple, recap the year's major openings, closures, and operational shifts. The hosts detail the debut of new shows like Villains Unhappily Ever After and A Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure at Hollywood Studios. They discuss the return of Test Track 3.0, the conversion of Remy's Ratatouille Adventure to a 2D experience, and the new Disney Starlight nighttime parade. New dining options included the adults-only lounge, Gio 82, at EPCOT and the Pirates of the Caribbean-themed Beacon Barrel lounge. A significant operational change was a 150% price increase for the park merchandise shipping service, now capped at $99.99. The year also saw the closure of Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and the MuppetVision 3D area for future construction. Major construction began for the announced Cars-themed Piston Peak National Park and Villains Land, leading to a shortened Disney World Railroad route. A new resort perk offered free water park entry on a guest's check-in day, and the Polynesian Village Resort's Island Tower opened at the end of the previous year. Jared speculates the Villains stage show is a survey tool to gauge interest for the upcoming Villains Land. He argues the drastic shipping price hike is a "convenience charge" targeting high-spending guests, not a reflection of actual shipping costs. Jamie finds the new nighttime parade feels incomplete, anticipating future enhancements. Jared expresses strong thematic confusion about placing a Cars land in Frontierland, believing the change is driven by cost-saving on water maintenance. A memorable, humorous tangent involves Jamie's visceral disgust at people walking barefoot in water park bathrooms, which she calls "one of the grossest things." The tone is casual and conversational, blending news recap with the hosts' personal opinions and relatable tangents. The style is educational for planners but feels like a friendly chat, often punctuated by the couple's playful banter. This episode is ideal for Disney World enthusiasts planning future trips who want a concise recap of recent changes. Listeners who prefer strictly structured news without personal anecdotes or humorous digressions might find parts less engaging.

As heard by us

A year-end Disney World discussion that turns BoardWalk changes into grounded, familiar reactions.

The Disney World discussion works best when it stays on the BoardWalk changes people can actually picture, and it does that well. The hosts move from holiday chatter into a look back at 2025, with Jellyrolls and Big River Grill left as empty spaces, and the talk keeps circling…

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Why you'd press play

You want a BoardWalk check-in that feels like sitting in on a familiar park conversation.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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