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I love Disney with my kids — but going without them is even better in some ways

by with No Comment Xpandfy

I love visiting Disney World with my kids — seeing that first Mickey hug, the hysterical photos from Tower of Terror, their amazement at the castle lit up by sparkling fireworks.

But, I also love visiting kid-free — trips for work, solo trips, with friends, and as a multi-day date with my best friend.

My husband and I bundled up for a late January visit and four days of experiences geared toward adults.

The Swan Reserve was the perfect resort for cocktails, late nights, and strolls to the parks

One of the newest hotels at Walt Disney World, the Swan Reserve is bright, airy, and very kid-friendly.


Swan Reserve room

The one-bedroom signature suite at the Swan Reserve was quiet and spacious. 

Courtesy of the author



Though run by Marriott, it has a lot of Disney perks, including bus and boat transportation, early entry, and an on-site Cast Member to help with all things Disney Parks. There’s even complimentary childcare when dining at specific restaurants.

It’s a beautiful walk to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios. The rooms are huge, flooded with natural light, and pretty much Disney-theme free.

The best part is the lobby lounge, Stir. Anyone who has tried to find food or a relaxing cocktail after braving the post-fireworks crowd at Magic Kingdom knows how hard it can be to find late-night food at Disney.

Almost every night, we visited Stir for a snack and cocktails like the fruity and delicious Garden Party cocktail for me, and the whimsical Banana Hands for my husband.

Our top priority was the Disney magic we love, the food

In just four days, we ate at 10 different spots — artsy bites and sips at EPCOT International Festival of the Arts Food Studios, brunch at Art Smith Homecomin’, dinner with stunning firework views at California Grill, and cocktails with pirates at The Beak and Barrel.


The author and her husband dining at The Beak and Barrel.

We had prime seating in front of the fireplace at The Beak and Barrel. 

Courtesy of the author



There is finally a lounge at Magic Kingdom. I felt like I needed an eyepatch, a parrot, and the lyrics to “Yo Ho” memorized when stepping into the immersive world of The Beak and Barrel.

We had prime seating in front of the fireplace with battling ships-in-a-bottle above us. The Beak and Barrel is not a spot for lounging — there are special effects, a two-drink limit, and a maximum of 45 minutes.

Dinner at EPCOT’s Takumi-Tei was elegant, and for guests ages 8 and up

The complete opposite of the noise and rushed feeling of The Beak and Barrel was the tranquil, soothing Takumi-Tei at EPCOT.

Takumi-Tei is tucked away in the Japan pavilion with subtle signs leading to the heavy wooden doors. Once inside, we were transported down a tranquil hallway, away from the hustle and bustle of EPCOT.


tableside tea service at Takumi-Tei

The tableside tea service at Takumi-Tei is a highlight of the meal. 

Courtesy of the author



There are five different dining rooms, and we were in the washi paper room. Pink cherry blossoms, softly lit from behind, lined the walls.

Takumi-Tei is omakase — or “leave it up to the chef” — style. There’s no kids’ menu.

Every dish was beautifully plated, and each course was creatively and carefully prepared. Our elegant and knowledgeable server, Sakura, was soft-spoken, adding to the tranquil, exquisite ambiance.

A visit to the adults-only GEO-82 lounge was magical

Disney World is adding more experiences for grown-ups, like the adult-exclusive EPCOT lounge GEO-82.

There are no strollers, no kids’ menu, and no lack-of-a-nap meltdowns. What it does have is sophisticated homages to Spaceship Earth, stunning views, a stellar cocktail menu, and delicious bites.


Woman at Epcot restaurant

My favorite dining experience was GEO-82, an adults-only lounge at EPCOT. 

Courtesy of the author



There was no time limit at GEO-82. We relaxed and took in the details like the Spaceship Earth on the ice cube in the Brown Butter Old Fashioned. I took my time sipping my Peach Shrub Whisky Smash, savoring the accompanying cookie. The only cocktail that comes with a cookie!

We were out late every night

With just the two of us, there was no one dragging behind and sighing. No one was falling apart because they were over-tired.


Disney Starlight parade

The castle provides a stunning backdrop for the 10 p.m. Starlight parade. 

Courtesy of the author



We did late-night dinners, raced onto rides right before the park closed, and saw the 10 p.m. Disney Starlight nighttime parade. Cast Members directed us to one of the best spots to watch the parade — in Liberty Square near Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe.

I had the time to find magical Disney details I usually miss

We walked right onto Star Tours and meandered slowly through the queue to warm up from the frigid mid-30s temps. Finding Disney easter eggs in the baggage screening area — like Genie’s lamp and a Buzz Lightyear toy — were a bonus of taking our time, finding details we’re usually rushing past.


easter eggs in the Star Tours queue

We had time to find hidden details like easter eggs in the Star Tours queue. 

Courtesy of the author



With no one to amuse while waiting in line, we made spontaneous attraction decisions. A pre-dinner journey on “It’s a Small World” was perfectly timed, and we were under the clock when it struck 7 p.m. — a new experience for us both.

It was finally a Disney vacation, so I didn’t make a ton of plans, book Lightning Lanes, or have a specific schedule for each day. We weren’t rushing from one reservation to another or stalking the My Disney Experience App wait times. We lingered over meals, had new experiences, and enjoyed the magic our way.




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I thought traveling with toddlers was impossible. Now we live in Spain for 2 months at a time — and it’s cheaper than Disney.

by with No Comment Xpandfy

When I was in junior high, I had a family history project. I didn’t know it then, but that project would spark a lifelong interest in my heritage.

In 2018, my wife (who is Cuban with Spanish ancestry) and I took a road trip through snow-capped Spanish mountains, meeting new family members that I never knew existed. When we met these relatives, we all grew close.

My wife and I then wanted to reconnect with our Spanish heritage in a whole new way. We decided that the best way to do so would be to travel to Spain for long stretches, with our toddlers.

For the past three years, we’ve spent two-month stints in Europe as a growing family.

At first, we thought long-term travel sounded impractical — and expensive

When my daughter was 2 years old, she had a 45-minute meltdown at the Miami International Airport. While we were resolving a ticketing issue for our baby boy, our daughter was throwing a loud tantrum. We endured many side-eyes from soon-to-be passengers (one of them snapped at us), and eventually, an airline employee frantically asked us to make it stop.

I thought we would never travel again, but the idea of an extended trip kept lingering in our minds.

On shorter trips, we pushed through and learned tricks that made travel easier, like using inflatable beds that rest on plane seats, small trinkets to play with, and plenty of snacks. With time, we knew we had a shot.


John Paul Hernandez's toddlers sitting on a wall in spain

The author’s toddlers love traveling in Spain.

Courtesy of John Paul Hernandez



We now stay in Spain for 2 months at a time

Thanks to the flexibility of freelancing and some practice in penny pinching, we learned we could travel to Spain for two months for about the cost of a typical family Disney trip.

A trip to Disney for a family of four can cost $6,000 to $10,000 a week. An extended trip to Spain, I quickly learned, ranged from $4,220 to $4,900 for an apartment in the central parts of major cities.

When we book an apartment for a month or two in Spain, for example, we get rates much lower than for a shorter trip because Airbnb offers discounts on longer stays.

To get the family to Europe, we collect airline miles from credit card offers and fly mostly for free.

While on the trip, we rely on public transportation and shift our stay from a “tourist” experience to living like a local to continue saving money.

This worked for our trips in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

We lived like locals in Spain

When we transitioned from visiting to living in Spain, we focused on the town we were in and the people around us. We didn’t eat out for every meal, but cooked traditional dishes with local ingredients.

Our neighbors became friends, and our kids played at parks with familiar faces. Eventually, these friends invited us to their homes, and we stayed in touch after our trips.

To explore the country, we focused on different regions. For example, in year one we stayed in the Comunidad Valenciana, then on other trips in the País Vasco and Andalucía.

Once we were in these regions, we focused mainly on our home base and explored the nearby cities on weekend trips.

Our kids have gained a lot so far

Our toddlers are now willing to try different foods without hesitation, no matter where we are. They understand and use words they normally wouldn’t hear at home in the US.

As they get older in school, some of the places and events they learn about will be personal because they’ve been there and touched the stones.

My son learned to walk in Spain and has had all of his birthdays there. Spain also became a base for exploring other countries thanks to cheap, short flights.

More families can do this than you’d think

Our experiences in Spain have inspired many of our friends and family. I’m helping a cousin and a neighbor plan similar trips with their children.

With budgeting and smart planning, it’s much more affordable than two-week vacations in many parts of the US.

I’m not sure how long we’ll be able to do extended stays like this, but I do know these memories will be ingrained in our family.

They’ve helped shape my kids’ lives (our third child is on the way), and they continue to inspire us even at home in the US — by cooking Spanish meals, enjoying the present through walks, and lingering over late-night, hourslong dinners.

John Paul Hernandez is a marketing writer for tech companies. He’s based in Florida’s Treasure Coast. Connect with him on LinkedIn.




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How Disney picks its AI copyright battles depends on who’s ripping it off

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No, Disney did not release footage of a never-before-seen fight sequence between Marvel’s Wolverine and Thanos (spoiler: Thanos won).

That clip, which amassed over 142,000 views on X over 48 hours, was created using Seedance 2.0, an AI video generation model that ByteDance debuted last week. The tool created a buzz on social media, where one user made a hyperrealistic AI video of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting over Jeffrey Epstein.

ByteDance’s decision to let users create content based on Disney’s IP without permission isn’t all that surprising given the AI industry’s well-established strategy to “ask for forgiveness, not permission.”

Disney, which is infamous for aggressively protecting its intellectual property, isn’t having it — though how it responds to the threats is not always the same.

On Friday, the entertainment company sent ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns Seedance and TikTok, a cease-and-desist letter, a source familiar with the matter confirmed for Business Insider.

In the letter, Disney accused ByteDance of supplying Seedance 2.0 with “a pirated library of Disney’s copyrighted characters from Star Wars, Marvel, and other Disney franchises, as if Disney’s coveted intellectual property were free public domain clip art.”

“Over Disney’s well-publicized objections, ByteDance is hijacking Disney’s characters by reproducing, distributing, and creating derivative works featuring those characters,” the letter said.

Seedance is only the latest AI company Disney says is ripping it off.

Disney and NBCUniversal sued Midjourney, an AI image generator, in June last year. In the lawsuit, the companies compared Midjourney’s tech to “a virtual vending machine, generating endless unauthorized copies of Disney’s and Universal’s copyrighted works.”

Then Disney accused Character.AI of copyright infringement in a September cease-and-desist letter last September. In December, it sent one to Google in response to the AI image generator Nano Banana Pro and its other AI models, accusing the Big Tech giant of stealing its IP on a “massive scale.” Both companies have since removed Disney characters from their platforms.

Disney is not anti-AI, however, and its strategy is not one-size-fits-all. The company took a much less adversarial approach with OpenAI, the world’s leading AI startup.

When OpenAI debuted Sora 2, an AI-powered text-to-video platform, in September, users began uploading IP-heavy content featuring Disney characters to social media. Instead of a cease-and-desist letter or legal action, though, Disney negotiated a deal.

By December, Disney and OpenAI had announced a three-year licensing agreement that gives Sora users, with some guardrails, access to 200 Disney characters. As part of the deal, Disney would also invest $1 billion in OpenAI.

Although Disney hasn’t shared plans to develop its own AI model or video generator, Disney CEO Bob Iger said the company ultimately sees the tech not as a threat but as a new path to connect with audiences.

During an earnings call late last year, he said AI would “provide users of Disney+ with a much more engaged experience, including the ability for them to create user-generated content, and to consume user-generated content, mostly short form, from others.”




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How we spent $1,600 on a 2-day trip to Disney World — and what we’d do differently next time

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I’ve been to Disney World many times, and I like to think I know how to do it on a “budget” … at least, a loose one.

Recently, my partner and I planned a last-minute trip to the theme park on our way to visit family in Southern Florida for the holidays.

Between flights, transportation to and from the airport, lodging, park tickets, food, and souvenirs, we spent about $1,600, or $800 each … for about 48 hours in the Disney bubble.

Here’s a look at what we spent, ways we saved, and what we might do differently next time.

We stuck with a value resort since we wouldn’t be spending much time in our room


Author and their partner with suitcases in front of All-Star music hotel

All-Star Music is a value resort at Disney.

Jordyn Bradley



We spent $237 on our flights from Fort Myers, Florida, to Orlando and landed a few hours before we planned to visit Disney World.

By the time we arrived at our value resort, All-Star Music, our room was ready for check-in ($319 for two nights).

We tend to choose value resorts because they are the cheapest hotels on Disney property. Plus, stays come with complimentary bus transportation to the parks and Disney Springs.

All-Star Music was the cheapest of the five Disney value resorts when we booked, and our room provided us with enough space for our short stay.

After grabbing some snacks at the hotel food court ($25), we took a much-needed nap and got ready to visit Magic Kingdom.

Since we attended a seasonal event, we didn’t need buy separate park tickets


Author and their partner smiling with Mickey and Minnie in festive outfits

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party was fun.

Jordyn Bradley



Fortunately, past me unknowingly helped me save during the trip.

I had two unused tickets to last year’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party — an additional ticketed event held at Magic Kingdom — that I was able to put toward a new party date. I just had to pay the difference, which was $21 for both tickets.

These tickets typically run $169 to $209 per person, and they felt virtually free since I’d already paid for them in the past.

We also didn’t need to buy a park ticket because we were able to enter Magic Kingdom at 4 p.m. on our event day — and we could stay until midnight.

Several drinks and treats were included with our ticket


Author Jordyn Bradley and partner at magic kingdom at night

Our Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets came with some freebies.

Jordyn Bradley



When we arrived at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, we each got an ornament and a Mickey-shaped peppermint marshmallow.

Our ticket also included festive treats and drinks, like cookies and hot chocolate, that we picked up throughout the evening. I’d estimate we consumed at least $30 worth of treats.

We got our sugar fill with those and purchased a few savory bites, like my favorite meal at Magic Kingdom, the ham-and-Gruyère croissant sandwich with chips ($11) at Gaston’s Tavern.

We also got popcorn for only $2.50 because we got a refill in our reusable popcorn bucket — it’s a must-pack item for every Disney trip.

I kept my souvenir purchases to a pair of mix-and-match character ears ($46 for a headband and two characters to go on it) and a commemorative event pin ($23).

The party also included performances, a holiday parade, fireworks, character meet and greets, and access to classic rides (which sometimes have shorter waits than a normal park day).

We got to ride all the Magic Kingdom rides we wanted to (some multiple times) without having to pay extra for line-skipping Lightning Lane passes.

A Magic Kingdom ticket on its own can run upwards of $200 depending on the day, so the special event add-ons, like unique character meet and greets and complimentary snacks, definitely make the ticket price worth it.

These events are my hack to a cheaper Disney day if you’re down to have a late night and stay in one park instead of opting for a flexible-but-pricier park-hopper pass.

If it’s your first time at Magic Kingdom and you can get a one-day ticket for the same price or less than the party ticket, I’d stick with the former so you can go at your own pace.

Our second day was focused on eating around the world at Epcot, and we didn’t spare any expense


piece of carrot cake on plate

I don’t regret buying the carrot cake.

Jordyn Bradley



We purchased two single-day tickets to Epcot for our second day, which cost us $381.

On longer trips, we normally opt for the flexibility of park-hoppers, but we didn’t want to spend our limited time traveling between parks. Plus, the flexible multi-park ticket would’ve cost over $70 more per person.

Since we were staying in Epcot, we didn’t buy Lightning Lane passes.

I don’t think they’re worth it here because the park doesn’t have many rides — plus, we could use single-rider lanes to skip large waits at both Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Test Track.

Most of our money was spent at on food and drinks from booths at Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.


Flauta de Barbacoa and Strawberry-Pomegranate in Epcot

We got a lot of drinks and bites during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.

Jordyn Bradley



We revisited festival classics, like the filet mignon with mashed potatoes ($20 for two orders) from the Canada pavilion, and tried some new favorites, like the flauta de barbacoa ($9) from the booth in Mexico. We loved the latter so much we got it twice.

Other favorites included the warm carrot cake with cream-cheese icing ($5), which I get every year, and my favorite drink, the Ottawa Apple ($16.50).


Drink and chicken and dumplings in Epcot

The chicken dumplings we had were just OK.

Jordyn Bradley



Some bites were just OK, like the chicken dumplings ($6) in the China pavilion.

However, I’m glad we looked into festival menus in advance to plan which booths we wanted to prioritize. This helped us save time and money while getting me more excited about our trip.

I shelled out the most money on collectible pins


Author and their parter with Rafiki at Disney

I often meet characters and trade pins when I visit Disney.

Jordyn Bradley



Every time I go to Disney, I know I’m going to put most of my souvenir budget toward collectible enamel pins, and this trip was no exception.

Many of these pins can only be purchased at Disney parks, and collecting and trading them is a popular hobby.

On this trip, I was trying to complete a set and only needed one more pin, so I bought multiple mystery two-packs at about $23 each.

Ultimately, I spent $165 on mystery packs, which is more than my share of the hotel. I didn’t complete my set and I ended up with way more pins than I wanted (or needed).

Next time, I’ll buy one or two pins that I can pick out myself instead of mystery packs. I also plan to hold off on buying more until I can swap the ones I don’t want at one of the trading stations in the parks.

We ended our trip with a free activity

After our full Epcot day, our last afternoon was spent walking around Disney Springs.

The shopping and dining spot has free parking and is a nice place to wander if you’re wanting to be part of the Disney bubble without forking over hundreds for tickets.

Then, we headed to the airport for our flights home ($197).

All in all, we enjoyed ourselves and made the most of our 48 hours


Author Jordyn Bradley hugging Donald Duck

I didn’t calculate what I spent until I got home, but I didn’t shy away from lots of snacks and mystery pin packs, so it’s not surprising how we got there.

Jordyn Bradley



Many people could spend what we did on our two-day trip and stay at resorts with nicer amenities or have more park days and sit-down meals.

However, because this trip was last-minute, we were happy with anything we made the time for, and since it was shorter, we felt better about having a higher food and souvenir budget.

Those were our priorities, especially since we never spend enough time at our hotel to justify booking a nicer one at a higher nightly rate.

We could’ve made the trip more affordable by spending less on souvenirs, which we will likely do next time. However, now I have more pins to trade for my next trip — and a way to remember one of our favorites.




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Read the memo Disney sent employees as it said Josh D’Amaro would be its next CEO

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Disney just made it official: Josh D’Amaro is its next CEO.

D’Amaro, the experiences chairman who’s been at the Mouse House since 1998, will take over for longtime CEO Bob Iger on March 18, Disney announced on Tuesday morning.

“Josh possesses that rare combination of inspiring leadership and innovation with a keen eye for strategic growth opportunities and a deep passion for the Disney brand and its people — all of which make him the right person to take the reins as Disney’s next CEO,” wrote James Gorman, Disney’s board chairman, in a memo to employees, which was viewed by Business Insider.

Read the full memo from Gorman below:

Dear Disney Employees and Cast Members,

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce that Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, will be the next Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, effective at the Annual Meeting on March 18. Josh possesses that rare combination of inspiring leadership and innovation with a keen eye for strategic growth opportunities and a deep passion for the Disney brand and its people — all of which make him the right person to take the reins as Disney’s next CEO.

This is wonderful news for all of us at Disney and I know you will join me in congratulating Josh on this well-deserved appointment.

Over the past three years, the Disney Board has undertaken an exhaustive and disciplined process to identify and prepare the right leader for Disney’s next chapter. Josh demonstrated a strong vision for the company’s future and a deep understanding of what makes Disney unique in an ever-changing marketplace. He has collaborated with some of the biggest names in entertainment to bring their stories to life in our parks, advancing the power of immersive, human storytelling with cutting-edge technology. The Board believes he is exceptionally well prepared to guide this global company forward.

Bob Iger, who has led Disney to unprecedented success during his nearly two decades as CEO, has provided extensive mentorship to Josh throughout the succession process, and will continue to serve as Senior Advisor until his retirement from the company at the end of the year. Bob returned from retirement in 2022 at the Board’s request to stabilize the company and make it fit for purpose, and to prepare Disney for this moment with a strong leadership bench, including potential successors. He has achieved all of this and more, and the Board and I are deeply grateful to Bob for his longstanding dedication to Disney.

We also announced today that Dana Walden will assume the role of President and Chief Creative Officer of The Walt Disney Company, also effective at the Annual Meeting. Dana is one of the most accomplished creative leaders in entertainment, and has done an outstanding job as Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment since its formation in 2023. In this new role, she will report to Josh and work with him in ensuring that storytelling and creative expression across every audience touchpoint consistently reflect the brand, engage audiences at scale, and advance core business objectives — while driving enterprise-wide initiatives and translating vision into action.

Over the past century since Walt and Roy founded this company, Disney has had a remarkable and storied history, built on creativity, imagination, and a unique ability to touch people’s lives around the world. As we look to the future, we are lucky to have someone like Josh ready to guide this global company forward as CEO. We are also fortunate to have a deeply experienced management team in place, including Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman, ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro, and Disney executive officers. Their experience, judgment, and continuity will be an important asset to Josh as he begins this next chapter in Disney’s history.

And finally, allow me to thank you, our Disney Board, I am also confident that this company’s greatest strength is its people — the employees and Cast Members whose creativity, talent, and dedication bring the magic of Disney to life every day. On behalf of the Board and myself, I want to thank you for all you do as we prepare for this company’s exciting next chapter. We are deeply honored to serve as your Directors.

Warmly,

James Gorman

Chairman of the Board

The Walt Disney Company




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Even Disney can’t outrun the international travel slowdown

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Looks like even “The Most Magical Place on Earth” isn’t enough to entice foreign travelers who are skipping the US.

Disney is facing some “international visitation headwinds” at its parks in the US, which include Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California, the Walt Disney Company said in its first-quarter earnings report on Monday.

Despite the slowdown in international visitors, the company reported growth in its experiences segment, with visitation at its domestic parks up 1% in the most recent quarter.

Hugh Johnston, Disney CFO, told analysts on a call that the company has less visibility into international visitor trends than domestic because foreign travelers tend to stay in non-Disney hotels, but that there were other indicators international visitation was down.

“As a result of that, we pivoted our marketing and sales efforts, promotional as well as marketing efforts to a more domestic audience, and we’re able to keep attendance rates high from that perspective,” he said.

Disney’s just the latest American company to feel the slowdown in foreigners traveling to the US.

International visitation was down for the eighth straight month in December, according to data from the National Travel and Tourism Office. As of October, the number of international visitors to the US was down 5.5% in 2025 compared to a year prior.

Amir Eylon, president and CEO of Longwoods International, a market research consultancy that specializes in the travel tourism industry, said visits from Canada especially declined, but that there were also significant declines in visits from countries like Germany, France, and India.

Canadian visits to the US were down 22% year-to-date as of October compared to a year prior, according to NTTO data.

“We have an image problem right now with our Canadian neighbors to the North and, as evidenced with some other countries, we have an image problem in some of our key international feeder markets as well,” Eylon told Business Insider.

His firm’s research has found a majority of Canadians say American trade policies and political rhetoric are deterring them from visiting the US in the next 12 months. Many also say they do not feel like the US is a safe place to visit.

Canadians also typically make up a significant portion of international travel to Florida, so Eylon said Disney likely isn’t the only destination in the Sunshine State feeling the slowdown.

Travelers seeking to avoid the US also have other options when it comes to experiencing Disney. Disneyland Paris is fully owned by the Walt Disney Company, while the company has minority ownership in the Disney resorts in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Disney has no ownership in Tokyo Disneyland, which operates under a licensing agreement.

Disney also benefited from consistent demand in domestic leisure travel, with Americans continuing to prioritize travel, Eylon said.

Are you an international traveler who had or has plans to visit a Disney park in the United States? If so, take our quiz below.

Have a story to share about travel to the US? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@businessinsider.com.




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Disney has 13 new movies coming out in theaters in 2026 — here they all are

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  • Disney has a packed 2026 film slate.
  • Key releases include “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” “Toy Story 5,” and “Avengers: Doomsday.”
  • There are also original movies starring Rachel McAdams and Jacob Elordi.

Walt Disney Studios had an impressive 2025, and it’s possible that 2026 will be even better for the Mouse House.

The studio took in $6 billion at the global box office in 2025, marking the first time since the pandemic that any studio has hit that benchmark. And Disney, along with the money-making studios under it — Walt Disney Animation, Marvel Studios, Pixar, Lucasfilm, 20th Century, and Searchlight — have geared up for an exciting 2026.

The Mandalorian (along with Grogu) is getting the big screen treatment. So are Buzz Lightyear and Woody in a fifth “Toy Story.” Plus, Miranda Priestly is returning to dish out withering burns in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”

Here’s everything Disney is releasing in theaters in 2026.

“Send Help” — January 30

Rachel McAdams in “Send Help.”

Disney/20th Century Studios

Looking for something that isn’t based on existing IP? Here you go!

Director Sam Raimi’s first original movie since 2009’s “Drag Me to Hell,” this survival thriller stars Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien as work colleagues who try to survive on a deserted island after they become the lone survivors of a plane crash.

“Psycho Killer” — February 20


Man in mask holding hands in the air in Psycho Killer movie

“Psycho Killer.”

Disney/20th Century Studios

“Psycho Killer” has the potential to be the first horror hit of 2026. The film follows a female cop on the hunt for the serial killer known as “The Satanic Slasher,” who murdered her husband.

“Hoppers” — March 6


Beaver running through a room

Pixar’s “Hoppers.”

Pixar

Pixar gets trippy for the movie to follow the disappointing release of “Elio” in 2025.

The film follows an animal-loving young girl named Mabel (Piper Curda) who transfers her consciousness into a robot beaver to go undercover in the animal kingdom.

“Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” — March 27


Kathryn Newton and Samara Weaving hiding

Kathryn Newton and Samara Weaving in “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.”

Disney/Searchlight Pictures

In this sequel to the hit 2019 horror comedy, “Ready or Not,” Samara Weaving returns in the lead role as the sole survivor of her husband and in-laws’ deadly devil-whorshipping game.

Now she and her sister (Kathryn Newton) are marked for death in another gruesome game.

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elijah Wood, and legendary director David Cronenberg also star.

“The Devil Wears Prada 2” — May 1


Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway wearing dark sunglasses

Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”

Disney/20th Century Studios

Get ready for Anne Hathaway sporting high fashion and Meryl Streep giving cold looks: “The Devil Wears Prada” is back! Fellow cast members from the original 2006 movie, including Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt, also return for this look inside the elite world of fashion publishing.

“The Mandalorian and Grogu” — May 22


Mando and Grogu hiding behind a sane dune

“The Mandalorian and Grogu.”

Disney/Lucasfilm

“The Mandalorian” showrunner Jon Favreau will direct the next chapter in the “Star Wars” bounty hunter story, which will be on the big screen and feature his lovable companion, Grogu (aka Baby Yoda). Pedro Pascal will return to play Mando.

“Toy Story 5” — June 19


child looking at tablet in toy story 5

“Toy Story 5.”

Disney/Pixar

“Finding Nemo” director Andrew Stanton will direct the next “Toy Story” film, which will feature Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), and the gang up against their biggest foe yet: technology.

“Moana” — July 10


Moana live action holding onto sail

Catherine Laga’aia in “Moana.”

Disney

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will play the live-action version of Maui, whom he voiced in the animated series.

“Super Troopers 3” — August 7


super troopers 2

Broken Lizard in “Super Troopers 2.”

Fox Searchlight

The Broken Lizard comedy team (Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, and Erik Stolhanske) is once more donning their state trooper uniforms for a third movie stemming from their hit 2001 comedy, which stars the group as dim-witted Vermont troopers.

Brian Cox will return as their cranky commander.

“The Dog Stars” — August 28


Ridley Scott is shown smilling in front of a red white and blue blurred background.

Ridley Scott.

Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Ridley Scott’s next movie is set in a world dealing with the aftermath of a crippling flu that nearly wiped out humanity.

Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce, and Benedict Wong play characters searching for a better life.

“Whalefall” — October 16


Austin Abrams in a brown jacket

Austin Abrams.

Gilbert Flores/Getty

Based on the Daniel Kraus book, Austin Abrams (“Weapons”) plays a scuba driver who, while in search of his father’s remains in the ocean, is swallowed by a large whale and struggles to find a way to escape.

“Hexed” — November 25


Disney Hexed title logo

“Hexed.”

Disney

This animated movie follows a teen who discovers that he has magical powers, which takes him and his mother on a remarkable journey.

“Avengers: Doomsday” — December 18


Chris Evans holding a baby in the Avengers Doomsday teaser

Chris Evans in “Avengers: Doomsday.”

Disney/Marvel Studios

Robert Downey Jr. will play the Marvel villain Doctor Doom in the next MCU blockbuster that will feature a star-studded cast, including Chris Evans returning as Captain America.

Disney will get everyone in the Mavel mood by re-releasing the box office sensation “Avengers: Endgame” on September 25.




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Chris Hemsworth looking up in Marvel Doomsday

Disney has over 40 movies coming to theaters through 2031 — here they all are

by with No Comment Xpandfy

Chris Hemsworth in “Avengers: Doomsday.”

Disney/Marvel Studios

  • In 2026, Walt Disney Studios is full of big releases from “Avengers: Doomsday” to “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”
  • Beyond 2026, expect movies from “Bluey” and “The Simpsons” as well as “Frozen 3.”
  • “Star Wars: Starfighter,” Pixar’s “Gatto,” and two more “Avatar” movies are also on the Disney slate.

Disney showed its dominance at the movie theater in 2025, with the live-action “Lilo & Stitch” becoming a box-office sensation and “Zootopia 2” becoming the fastest PG-rated movie ever to make $1 billion. Disney’s slate is set to go from strength to strength in 2026, with even more sequels and iconic TV shows coming to the big screen in the year ahead.

If you’ve lost track of the multiple Disney projects in the works, here’s a list of big releases coming from the Mouse House through 2031.

“Hoppers” — March 6
Beaver running through a room
Pixar’s “Hoppers.”

Pixar

At 2024’s D23 event, Disney’s biennial fan event, Pixar announced that Daniel Chong, the storyboard artist on “Bolt” and “Minions,” would direct a new original movie called “Hoppers.”

The film follows a young girl, Mabel (Piper Curda), who transfers her consciousness into a robot beaver to go undercover in the animal kingdom. Variety reported that Mabel will unite the animals against a real estate developer.

Essentially, it’s “Avatar” with beavers.

Jon Hamm and Bobby Moynihan will also star in the movie.

“The Devil Wears Prada 2” — May 1
Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway wearing dark sunglasses
“The Devil Wears Prada 2.”

Disney/20th Century Studios

Get ready for Anne Hathaway sporting high fashion and Meryl Streep giving cold looks: “The Devil Wears Prada” is back! Fellow cast members from the original 2006 movie, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt, also return for this look inside the elite publishing and fashion world.

“The Mandalorian and Grogu” — May 22
The Mandalorian season 3, Grogu

Lucasfilm

Pedro Pascal’s Mandalorian is finally coming to the big screen, and he’s bringing Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) with him.

“The Mandalorian,” which follows a bounty hunter who finds a young alien (Grogu) and decides to raise him, is Lucasfilm’s most successful “Star Wars” Disney+ series, winning 15 Emmys across three seasons.

“The Mandalorian” showrunner Jon Favreau will direct the movie.

“Toy Story 5” — June 19
child looking at tablet in toy story 5
“Toy Story 5.”

Disney/Pixar

“Finding Nemo” director Andrew Stanton is directing the next “Toy Story” film.

This time, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the gang compete against a digital threat for children’s attention.

Live-action “Moana” remake — July 10
Moana live action holding onto sail
Catherine Laga’aia in “Moana.”

Disney

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson announced the live-action adaptation during a prerecorded video for a shareholders meeting in April 2023.

Johnson will reprise his role from the hit 2016 movie as Maui, but the original Moana actor Auli’i Cravalho announced on Instagram she won’t reprise her role as the Disney princess.

Instead, she’ll serve as an executive producer, while Catherine Laga’aia, a 17-year-old actor, will play Moana. John Tui, Frankie Adams, and Rena Owen will play Moana’s family members.

“The Dog Stars” — August 28
Ridley Scott is shown smilling in front of a red white and blue blurred background.
Ridley Scott attends the “Napoleon” UK Premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on November 16, 2023 in London, England.

Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Ridley Scott’s next movie is set in a world dealing with the aftermath of a crippling flu that nearly wiped out humanity.

Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce, and Benedict Wong play characters searching for a better life.

“Avengers: Endgame” re-release — September 25
Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, holding up a gauntlet with six stones, in
Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man in “Avengers: Endgame.”

Marvel Studios

One of the biggest box-office earners of all time is going to get some more coin.

To set up the release of “Avengers: Doomsday” at the end of the year, Disney will re-release “Endgame” in the fall.

“Hexed” — November 25
Disney Hexed title logo
“Hexed.”

Disney

This animated movie follows a teen who discovers that he has magical powers, which takes him and his mother on a remarkable journey.

“Avengers: Doomsday” — December 18
Chris Evans holding a baby in the Avengers Doomsday teaser
“Avengers: Doomsday.”

Disney/Marvel Studios

In July 2024, Marvel announced at the San Diego Comic-Con that “Iron Man” star Robert Downey Jr. would return to the MCU as the main villain of “Avengers 5,” Doctor Doom.

This will be Downey Jr.’s first Marvel project since Iron Man died in 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.” Chris Hemsworth will return as Thor and Chris Evans as Captain America.

The Russo Brothers, who directed “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Endgame,” are also returning to direct the film.

“Ice Age 6” — February 5, 2027
an animated sloth, woolly mammoth, and saber toothed tiger, in Ice Age. the sloth is sticking its tongue out as if it's tasted something bad, while the mammoth and the tiger look at each other with concerned expressions.
Sid, Manny, and Diego in “Ice Age.”

20th Century Fox

In November 2024, Disney announced that “Ice Age” would be getting another sequel, which is in production.

Disney said some of the franchise’s main voice cast are returning, including Ray Romano and Queen Latifah, who play the mammoth couple, Manny and Ellie.

John Leguizamo and Denis Leary will return to voice sidekicks Sid the Sloth and Diego the Sabretooth Tiger. And finally, Simon Pegg will voice Buck, a reckless weasel who joined the franchise in the third film.

“Star Wars: A New Hope” re-release — February 19, 2027
Star Wars a new hope
American actors Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

Marking the 50th anniversary of George Lucas’ landmark sci-fi movie, the original will get a re-release.

This will also get audiences prepared to return to a galaxy far, far away with “Star Wars: Starfighter” opening in theaters three months later.

“Gatto” — March 5, 2027
Cat walking in Venice
Pixar’s “Gatto.”

Pixar

At the 2025 Annecy Film Festival in June, Pixar’s CCO Pete Docter announced the next project from “Luca” director Enrico Casarosa.

It’s titled “Gatto” and follows the antics of a black cat named Nero as it maneuvers through Venice, Italy.

“Star Wars: Starfighter” — May 28, 2027
Ryan Gosling leaning on a handle
Ryan Gosling in “Star Wars: Starfighter.”

Disney/Lucasfilm

Not much has been revealed yet about the next “Star Wars” movie.

What we know for sure is Ryan Gosling is its star, the story is set five years after the events of “The Rise of Skywalker,” and it will be directed by Shawn Levy (“Stranger Things,” “Free Guy,” “Deadpool & Wolverine”).

“Bluey: The Movie” — August 6, 2027
bluey

ABC

In December 2024, Disney and the BBC announced that “Bluey,” the hit children’s show about an anthropomorphic puppy, would be made into a theatrical movie.

The animated film will be written and directed by Joe Brumm, who created the show. It will continue the adventures of Bluey and her family rather than reboot the story.

“The Simpsons” movie sequel — September 3, 2027
the simpsons renewed seasons 31 32
“The Simpsons.”

Fox

20 years after its first big screen release, the sequel to the iconic TV series is finally coming.

“Frozen 3” — November 24, 2027
Anna Olaf Frozen 2 opening song Disney
Anna and Olaf at the start of “Frozen 2.”

Disney

At 2024’s D23, Disney confirmed they will make a third and fourth “Frozen” movie.

Disney also revealed concept art that depicted Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and the shadow of a horned person who could be the film’s villain.

“Avengers: Secret Wars” — December 17, 2027
Joe Russo, Robert Downey Jr. with a fist raised up and Anthony Russo stand together at San Diego Comic Con in July 2024.
Joe (L) and Anthony (R) Russo return to direct the next “Avengers” films while Robert Downey Jr. returns as the major villain.

Jesse Grant / Getty Images for Disney

This will be the follow-up to “Avengers: Doomsday” and will also be directed by the Russo Brothers.

Disney has 19 other untitled Disney, Marvel, and Pixar projects set for release in 2027 and beyond
Disney castle logo

Disney

April 2, 2027 — untitled Disney film

June 18, 2027 — untitled Disney film

September 17, 2027 — untitled Disney film

October 8, 2027 — untitled Disney film

November 5, 2027 — untitled Disney film

January 14, 2028 — untitled Disney film

February 18, 2028 — untitled Marvel film

March 10, 2028 — untitled Pixar film

March 31, 2028 — untitled Disney film

May 5, 2028 — untitled Marvel film

May 26, 2028 — untitled Disney film

June 16, 2028 — untitled Pixar film

July 7, 2028 — untitled Disney film

July 28, 2028 — untitled Disney film

August 11, 2028 — untitled Disney film

October 6, 2028 — untitled Disney film

November 10, 2028 — untitled Marvel film

November 22, 2028 — untitled Disney animation

December 15, 2028 — untitled Marvel film

“Avatar 4” — December 21, 2029
Avatar looking over fire
“Avatar: Fire & Ash.”

Disney/20 Century Studios

Following the box office success of “Avatar: Fire & Ash,” Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña are set to star in two more “Avatar” movies.

This film was pushed back from a 2026 release date.

“Avatar 5” — December 19, 2031
neytiri zoe saldana avatar
Neytiri the Na’vi in 2009’s “Avatar.”

20th Century Fox; Media Magik Entertainment/YouTube

James Cameron had ideas for “Avatar 2” and “Avatar 3” in 2010. He originally announced “Avatar 4” in 2012, before revealing in 2015 that he also planned for a fifth film.

Cameron told Entertainment Weekly that he’ll hold a press conference and explain how the franchise ends if the franchise doesn’t get to parts 4 and 5.

“Coco 2” — TBD
Coco Disney Pixar

Disney/Pixar

In March, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced during the company’s annual meeting of shareholders that “Coco 2” is in the works.

The original co-directors, Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina, will be returning.

The 2017 film, which grossed $814 million, featured an aspiring musician who journeyed to the land of the dead to discover why his family had banned music.

“Incredibles 3” — TBD
incredibles 2

Disney/Pixar

At the D23 event in 2024, Pixar announced another “Incredibles” sequel.

“Incredibles 2,” which premiered in 2018, was the highest-grossing animated film for six years until “Inside Out 2” overtook it.

Brad Bird, the director of the film series, will helm the new project.

“Monster Jam” — TBD
Dwayne Johnson at the Walt Disney Studios CinemaCon Presentation.
Dwayne Johnson at the Walt Disney Studios CinemaCon Presentation.

Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images

At 2024’s D23, Dwayne Johnson announced that he was working with Disney to produce a film about the monster truck competition known as Monster Jam.

Kirsten Acuna, Caralynn Matassa, and Ayomikun Adekaiyero contributed to previous versions of this post.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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Streamers like Disney+ and HBO Max have a key problem with no clear solution

by with No Comment Xpandfy

Free streaming services are having success, and it may be coming at the expense of their paid peers.

YouTube and other free ad-supported services, such as The Roku Channel and Fox-owned Tubi, have become increasingly popular over the last two years, according to Nielsen’s viewership data.

“For consumers, cost sensitivity is often a more important deciding factor than user experience,” said Brandon Katz, a media analyst at entertainment data provider Greenlight Analytics. “Saving money outweighs the annoyance of terrible insurance commercials.”

As these free streamers eat up a larger chunk of viewership time on US smart TVs, they may be holding back the growth of services like Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max.

Free-to-access services YouTube, Tubi, and The Roku Channel have grown their viewership by 53% from December 2023 through November, according to a Business Insider analysis of Nielsen data. Those three free streamers make up nearly 18% of all watch time on US TVs, and that doesn’t include Paramount’s Pluto TV, which Nielsen broke out individually until March.

In that span, major paid streamers’ collective watch time is only up 5%. That includes Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, and HBO Max, formerly known as Max. (Paramount+ was included until March, when Nielsen stopped reporting its individual share. And HBO Max’s viewership includes sister streamer Discovery+.)

That means free streamers are growing more than 10 times faster than their paid counterparts, though the bulk of that growth is driven by YouTube, which has become a force in Hollywood.

Slower engagement growth is a troubling sign for paid streamers. Viewership is positively tied to pricing power and inversely correlated with cancellations, meaning that people who watch a streamer more often are less likely to cancel.

“Engagement drives churn down,” said Hernan Lopez, founder of media consulting firm Owl & Co.

“It’s not just about hours spent,” he added, but also the frequency that viewers return to an app and the breadth of content that they watch.

Engaged streaming subscribers are also usually more receptive to price hikes, Katz said, since they likely place a higher value on the service than inactive users.

“The goal is to offer customers enough attractive content that opening the app becomes a regular occurrence,” Katz said. “At that habitual usage point, streamers are able to reasonably raise prices without fear of a mass exodus of customers.”

For customers on ad-supported plans, higher engagement also translates to more ad revenue.

It’s not all bad news for paid streamers. Streaming is an increasingly profitable business, thanks in large part to price hikes, which every major service (except for Prime Video) has implemented or announced in the past 12 months.

Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max have also continued to add customers this year. However, Peacock hasn’t grown its subscriber base since the first quarter of 2025, and Netflix no longer reports its subscriber count on a quarterly basis.

The large gap between free and paid streamer viewership growth rates suggests that so-called stream-flation could be taking a toll. Media giants must walk a tightrope between pleasing Wall Street and pushing consumers toward free streamers, or apps like Instagram and TikTok.

Streaming giants Netflix and Disney each have creative ideas for driving engagement in 2026.

Netflix is turning to video podcasts in hopes of adding lean-back content that keeps subscribers engaged throughout the day. It’s also been trying to use games as a way to create daily habits among its users.

Disney is taking a different tack by betting on AI-generated video through a new partnership with OpenAI. This AI initiative will enable fans to create short clips of Disney characters, such as Mickey Mouse or Darth Vader, eventually within the Disney+ app.




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