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For guests planning a stay at the “Most Magical Place on Earth,” choosing a resort is often the most significant decision of the trip. Among the top-tier options, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort stands as a beacon of New England-style elegance. As a “Deluxe” category hotel, it is one of the most expensive properties on Disney World property, with room rates often soaring well above $600 per night. Credit: Disney However, travelers booking a stay in early-to-mid 2026 might find that their premium price tag comes with a side of scaffolding and shuttered doors. The resort is entering a period of significant transition, marked by the simultaneous closure of two of its most beloved dining institutions and a sprawling list of exterior maintenance projects. The Culinary Hit: Yachtsman Steakhouse and Crew’s Cup Lounge Announce Closures The most significant blow to the Yacht Club’s current offerings is the upcoming closure of its signature dining anchors. For many, a trip to the Yacht Club isn’t complete without a meal at the Yachtsman Steakhouse, a premier destination known for its grain-fed beef, open-view butchery shop, and sophisticated nautical atmosphere. Credit: Disney The resort is preparing for a staggered refurbishment of its central dining hub: Crew’s Cup Lounge: This cozy, wood-paneled retreat—famed for its prime rib sliders and craft cocktails—is scheduled to close on February 23, 2026. Fans of this hidden gem will have to wait until May 2026 for its anticipated reopening. Yachtsman Steakhouse: Shortly after the Crew’s Cup returns, the main event goes dark. The Yachtsman Steakhouse is slated for a major “refresh” beginning in May 2026, with a projected reopening in August 2026. For guests paying Deluxe prices, the loss of these locations is a significant hurdle. While Ale & Compass remains open nearby, the absence of the resort’s premier steakhouse removes one of the primary reasons many foodies choose to stay at the Yacht Club over other Epcot-area hotels. A Multi-Year Facelift: Scaffolding at the Yacht and Beach The kitchen closures are only one part of the puzzle. If you walk the promenade along Crescent Lake in early 2026, you won’t just see the Friendship Boats; you’ll see cranes and construction crews. Credit: Disney Disney is currently in the middle of a massive, multi-year exterior maintenance project for both the Yacht Club and its sister resort, the Beach Club. This project involves deep cleaning, repainting the iconic “Yacht Club Grey” and “Beach Club Blue” facades, and performing essential balcony and roof repairs. The Visual Impact For guests who booked a “Water View” room at these premium rates, the reality may include scaffolding outside their window or “shrink-wrap” over sections of the building’s exterior. While Disney makes every effort to limit noise to daytime hours (typically 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), the aesthetic of a high-end seaside resort is undeniably altered by the presence of heavy machinery. This project is expected to continue through late 2026 for the Yacht Club and likely well into 2027 for the Beach Club. The Leisure Pool “Squeeze” Even the recreational areas aren’t exempt from the 2026 refurbishment wave. While the resort’s crown jewel—the three-acre Stormalong Bay pool complex—is currently open and bustling, the “quiet” areas of the resort are undergoing a rotation of closures. Credit: Disney The Admiral Pool (Yacht Club): This leisure pool is currently undergoing a total refresh and is expected to remain closed through May 2026. The Tidal Pool (Beach Club): Following the same timeline, this leisure pool is also walled off for maintenance until May 2026. For guests who prefer the tranquility of a quiet swim away from the sand-bottom chaos of Stormalong Bay, the options are currently limited. During this window, the Dunes Cove Pool at the Beach Club Villas remains the only “quiet” alternative for the entire resort complex. The Transportation Hurdle: Skyliner Maintenance 2026 Adding to the…

Dave Filoni is officially the new co-president of Lucasfilm, but the appointment has landed unevenly with fans, particularly following renewed scrutiny of his comments about one of the franchise’s most acclaimed recent projects. Credit: Lucasfilm ‘Andor’ Finds Success Amid a Lukewarm ‘Star Wars’ Landscape Recent years have been uneven for Star Wars, particularly as the franchise pivoted aggressively toward Disney+. The first season of The Mandalorian was widely embraced, but subsequent series struggled to generate the same momentum. The Acolyte faced heavy backlash and was ultimately canceled after a single season. Even Obi-Wan Kenobi, despite bringing back Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan and Hayden Christensen and Anakin Skywalker, drew a notably mixed response from both critics and longtime fans. That is what made Andor stand apart. Credit: Lucasfilm Created by Tony Gilroy, Andor serves as a prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), following Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) in the years leading up to his involvement with the Rebel Alliance. The series trades lightsabers and legacy characters for grounded political tension, espionage, and the slow mechanics of resistance. Rather than framing rebellion as a mythic destiny, Andor depicts it as a series of compromises, moral failures, and quiet sacrifices. Its storytelling is deliberately restrained, focusing on ordinary people navigating authoritarian rule rather than galaxy-spanning heroics. Much of the show’s acclaim stems from that restraint. Fans and critics praised Andor for treating its audience seriously, leaning into mature themes such as surveillance, radicalization, and the cost of dissent. The series was frequently described as less concerned with expanding lore and more interested in examining power itself. Credit: Lucasfilm For many viewers, Andor represented a version of Star Wars that felt both new and overdue — a sharp contrast to a franchise increasingly defined by nostalgia and interconnected spectacle. And yet the man set to take over the creative reins of a galaxy far, far away isn’t a fan. Dave Filoni Isn’t a Fan of ‘Andor’ – And Fans Are Alarmed According to The Wrap, Filoni “disliked” Andor. “The series, a stark spy thriller about how tyranny takes root, is unquestionably the greatest creative triumph of the [Kathleen Kennedy] era,” the publication wrote in a recent report. “It was also, according to an individual who worked inside Lucasfilm, a series that Filoni disliked.” Credit: Lucasfilm Needless to say, some Star Wars fans haven’t taken well to the news. Many think Filoni’s anti-Andor sentiment is indicative of the direction the franchise will take under his tenure. “So the best thing that they’ve put out in the past 10 years they will make sure never happens again?” one X, formerly Twitter, user wrote. Another said, “Of course, it didn’t take an old EU novel and shit all over it. That’s Filoni’s favorite way of writing ‘Star Wars.'” I’m not surprised dave filoni could never write something as strong and as powerful as Andor. I'm not surprised dave filoni could never write something as strong and as powerful as Andor. https://t.co/4cwf1opIdx — Thomas Thorburn (@ThomasThorbur11) January 16, 2026 “Andor is for adults not for children like most Star Wars content,” one said. “Which is the kind of garbage he prefers.” What’s Next For Dave Filoni’s ‘Star Wars’? Regardless of Dave Filoni’s feelings towards the show, a third season isn’t on the cards for Andor. While showrunner Tony Gilroy initially envisioned the show as a five-season project, he ultimately decided to condense the storyline into two dense seasons after realizing the full extent of Season 1’s production process. Credit: Lucasfilm Diego Luna also emphasized the impossibility of making future seasons. “We work two years and a half for each season of this show,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “Imagine five seasons. It’s impossible. That’s more than a decade doing just one show. It’s impossible to…

Tragedy has struck Universal Studios Florida after breaking news revealed that a guest has died while riding a roller coaster. Credit: Sarah Larson, Inside the Magic Tragedy Strikes Universal Studios Florida For decades, theme parks like Universal Studios Florida have promised something few places can: the ability to step outside reality and into worlds where danger feels thrilling—but never real. Guests board rides expecting controlled chaos, cinematic fear, and adrenaline that ends with laughter as they exit into gift shops and themed streets. That promise has helped Universal Orlando Resort become one of the most visited destinations in the world. From heart-pounding roller coasters to immersive storytelling attractions, the resort thrives on delivering intensity while maintaining a reputation for safety. For many fans, that trust is non-negotiable. When something disrupts that balance—even briefly—it sends shockwaves far beyond the park gates. Credit: LunchboxLarry, Flickr Some Attractions Are More Than Rides—They’re Part of the Park’s Identity Few attractions embody Universal Studios Florida quite like Revenge of the Mummy. Since opening in 2004, the indoor roller coaster has become a rite of passage for guests who crave thrills without the towering heights of modern mega-coasters. The ride blends storytelling, sudden launches, fire effects, and classic coaster elements into an experience many fans consider timeless. Even after a lengthy refurbishment in 2022, Revenge of the Mummy returned with renewed fan enthusiasm, cementing its place as one of Universal’s most beloved attractions. For longtime visitors, it’s the kind of ride you make sure to experience every trip—sometimes multiple times. Credit: Universal In Recent Years, Theme Park Safety Has Become a Growing Conversation As theme parks push technological boundaries, guest awareness around ride safety has also intensified. Social media has amplified guest experiences, allowing concerns—both minor and major—to spread rapidly across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and TikTok. Universal Orlando, like Disney Parks, operates under strict safety regulations and undergoes frequent inspections. Still, recent incidents across the industry have caused fans to pay closer attention to ride operations, restraint systems, and rider health guidelines. That scrutiny has only increased as new, more intense attractions debut across Central Florida. Credit: Inside the Magic Online Reactions Show Fans Struggling To Process Another Unsettling Report In recent days, theme park forums and social media communities have been filled with uneasy discussion. Some fans expressed sorrow, while others voiced concern about riding intense attractions as they age or bring older family members to the parks. Reddit threads questioned how much responsibility falls on guests to self-assess health risks versus how clearly parks communicate those risks. On X, several users described feeling “heartbroken” and “shaken,” emphasizing that theme parks are supposed to be places of joy—not tragedy. What many didn’t realize at first was just how serious the newly released information would turn out to be. Credit: Edited by Inside The Magic A Newly Released State Report Confirms a Tragic Incident at Universal Studios Florida According to a recently released quarterly theme park injury report from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, a 70-year-old woman died after riding Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Florida. The incident occurred on November 25, 2025, when the unnamed woman reportedly became unresponsive while on the attraction. She was transported to a hospital, where she later passed away. As of publishing, Universal Studios Florida has not issued an official public statement regarding the incident. This heartbreaking news arrives amid heightened sensitivity surrounding ride safety at Universal Orlando, following another high-profile tragedy in 2025 involving…

For millions of families, Walt Disney World is the “Most Magical Place on Earth”—a meticulously curated sanctuary where the outside world’s problems are kept at bay by a “Disney Bubble” of high-tech security and impeccable service. However, a terrifying incident reported this week by the Orlando Sentinel has served as a sobering reminder that the safety of the Disney experience often ends the moment a guest steps into a rideshare vehicle and leaves the property. Credit: Disney On January 15, 2026, what should have been a routine end to a magical day turned into a life-threatening nightmare for one Orlando Uber driver. Following a trip that originated at Walt Disney World, the driver was shot at seven times over a dispute involving a tip. A Violent Disconnect: The Incident Details According to reports from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began with a pickup at a Walt Disney World Resort. The passenger, a 22-year-old male, had spent the day at the parks before requesting a ride to an apartment complex just outside the Disney perimeter. Credit: Disney While the ride itself was reportedly uneventful, the atmosphere soured as the vehicle reached its destination. The dispute allegedly centered on the tip—or lack thereof—and the passenger’s dissatisfaction with the service. As the driver attempted to pull away after the drop-off, the situation escalated with terrifying speed. The suspect allegedly pulled out a firearm and discharged seven rounds into the driver’s vehicle. Miraculously, the driver was not struck by the gunfire, though the vehicle sustained significant damage. Deputies tracked the suspect down shortly after the incident, leading to an arrest and a series of felony charges. While justice is being pursued, the event has left the Central Florida tourism community questioning the security gaps that exist when “the magic” meets the reality of modern ridesharing. Safety at Disney World: The “Bubble” vs. the Border Disney World is famous for its “Invisible Security.” From the moment you drive through the iconic arched gates, you are under the watch of a massive security apparatus. There are uniformed officers, plainclothes security, thousands of cameras, and even biometric scanning at the park gates. Within the parks and resorts, violent crime is statistically near-zero. Credit: Theme Park Tourist, Flickr However, Disney’s security is primarily focused on the interior. The vast parking lots and rideshare pickup zones—located at the Magic Kingdom’s Transportation and Ticket Center, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom—are the “border” of that safety. For guests, Uber and Lyft have become the primary method of transportation, often preferred over the slower Disney bus and monorail systems. But as this shooting proves, the rideshare zone is a transitional space where Disney’s control ends and the unpredictable nature of public interaction begins. The Pressure Cooker of Theme Park Tourism While there is no excuse for violence, industry experts point out that the high-stress environment of a Disney vacation can often lead to “Theme Park Rage.” A 2026 Disney vacation is more expensive than ever, with guests paying premium prices for Genie+, Lightning Lanes, and resort stays. Credit: Disney When you combine high financial stakes with 12-hour days in the Florida sun, exhaustion, and dehydration, tempers can flare over the smallest inconveniences—like a rideshare tip or a missed turn. In this instance, a simple dispute over a few dollars escalated into a felony shooting, highlighting a dangerous trend of aggression in the service industry. How to Stay Safe Using Uber and Lyft at Disney World In light of this incident, safety advocates are urging both drivers and passengers to take extra precautions when navigating the Orlando theme park circuit. Credit: Disney For Guests/Passengers: Verify the Vehicle: Always check that the license plate and driver match the app before entering the car. Keep it Professional:…

Après avoir recruté Antoine Semenyo, Manchester City intensifie son action pour tenter de convaincre Marc Guehi de le rejoindre. Un rapprochement a eu lieu ces dernières heures entre les deux parties. Tout s’est accéléré pour Marc Guehi dans les 12 dernières heures Fabrizio Romano, le journaliste spécialisé dans les transferts, a fait le point sur