Welcome to your first weekly briefing of 2026! Things are moving fast in Central Florida this week as the holiday decorations come down and "Refurbishment Season" kicks into high gear. Every week, we bring you the four most interesting stories from Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando to help you stay ahead of the curve.

This week’s highlights:

• Epic Universe Park-Hopping: Multi-day tickets now allow you to hop between all three Universal parks in a single day.
• Cinderella Castle Transformation: Disney has officially begun stripping the "anniversary pink" to return to a classic palette.
• The Refurbishment Rush: Major updates on the year-long closures of Big Thunder Mountain and Buzz Lightyear.
• Jurassic Park’s Long Sleep: Why the River Adventure is closing until late 2026 and what the rumours say about its future.

Don't leave your holiday to chance! Navigating these weekly changes is easier with an expert. Contact Orlando Insider to get your very own Orlando Guru who will turn a good trip into an amazing one. You'll get free planning calls and access to our exclusive Park Planner App, showing you the best days to visit and the perfect order for every ride.

Start planning your 2026 getaway at: www.orlandoinsider.co.uk

Data analysis reveals a shocking truth about Disney World wait times: queues actually drop by up to 41% immediately after a ride reopens following a breakdown. But there is a catch—you only have a 17-minute window before the "Drop & Spike" pattern kicks in and lines shoot back up.

In this episode, we review RideAlert.net, the SMS-based tool designed to catch these fleeting opportunities so you don't have to be glued to your phone. We also dive into fascinating Disney ride reliability data, revealing which attractions break down the most and the best strategies to maximize your day.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The "Drop & Spike" Pattern: Why guests avoid reopened rides, causing wait times for attractions like Tiana's Bayou Adventure to plummet by 41.6%.
• The 17-Minute Window: Data shows that 87.1% of the time, the wait time recovers or spikes within just 17 minutes.
• RideAlert.net Review: How to get SMS wait time alerts to save battery and international data.
• Pricing & Value: How to start tracking queues for as little as £3.26 per day.
• Reliability Rankings: Why Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is the reliability champion (99.71% uptime) while Seven Dwarfs Mine Train struggles.

• Pro Tip: Why you should never trust posted wait times in the last 35 minutes of the park day.

⏳ Queue less and do MORE in Orlando when you book your holiday with Orlando Insider

Featured Tools & Resources:

• Track Wait Times: Get instant text alerts for drops with RideAlert.net.
• Plan Your Trip: Contact the Orlando travel experts to plan your 2026 adventure.
• Stay Updated: Follow us for daily tips on Instagram and Facebook.

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Thinking of heading to Florida in 2026? It’s going to be one of the most transformative years in theme park history! In this episode, the team from Orlando Insider dives into the massive updates coming to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. From the much-anticipated Muppets take-over of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster to the first-ever multi-day tickets for Epic Universe, we’ve got the full scoop. Plus, we break down the lengthy refurbishment schedule (including a year-long closure for a Jurassic Park favorite) so you can plan your trip without the stress.

In This Episode:

• Universal Orlando 2026: Key refurbishments for Revenge of the Mummy, Hogwarts Express, and the massive Jurassic Park River Adventure closure.
• Epic Universe Ticket News: How to get unlimited park-to-park access to all four Universal parks through Orlando Insider.
• Disney World Expansions: Mandalorian missions on Smugglers Run, the Muppets rockin' new coaster, and the Soarin' Across America debut.
• Character News: "For real life!" — Bluey and Bingo are coming to Animal Kingdom!
• Disney Springs: A first look at LEVEL99, the massive new challenge-room experience.

⏳ Queue less and do MORE in Orlando when you book your holiday with Orlando Insider - https://www.orlandoinsider.co.uk/do-more-lando

Links & Resources:

• Book Your 2026 Adventure: Orlando Insider Travel – Expert agents, zero stress.
• Subscribe on YouTube: Orlando Insider TV – See the construction and news in 4K.
• Follow Us: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/orlandoinsideruk Instagram https://instagram.com/orlandoinsideruk

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