Disney Believe Homeport & Booking Date, Universal Horror Make-Up Show Featuring Blumhouse, Jurassic Park River Adventure & Tiana's Bayou Adventure Reopening Dates (4–11 October 2026)

This week's episode covers the biggest Disney Cruise Line, Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World news, from the Disney Believe reveal to two popular water rides getting reopening dates.

🚢 Disney Believe Homeport, Maiden Voyage and Booking Date

Disney Cruise Line has revealed the Disney Believe will sail from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, with its maiden voyage on 18th December 2027. After a five-night Bahamian first sailing, the ship moves to four and five-night cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean, and bookings open to the general public on 19th October. New on board are the first ever stage show of Encanto, Oaken's Table: A Frozen Family Feast, the Sea Notes piano lounge and the Gazelle club.

🎃 Universal Horror Make-Up Show Featuring Blumhouse

Universal Orlando has announced the Horror Make-Up Show is returning to Universal Studios Florida as the Universal Horror Make-Up Show featuring Blumhouse. The new version looks at more than 100 years of Hollywood horror special effects and reopens this winter, with no exact date yet.

🌊 Jurassic Park River Adventure and Tiana's Bayou Adventure Reopening Dates

Jurassic Park River Adventure at Islands of Adventure is now due to reopen on 17th December, pushed back from November. At Magic Kingdom, Tiana's Bayou Adventure closes on 2nd November for its first refurbishment since opening in 2024, and Disney's refurbishment calendar shows it reopening on 18th December.

Planning a Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando holiday from the UK?

With so much happening across the parks and Disney Cruise Line, now is a great time to start planning your next trip. At Orlando Insider, every client gets their own personal Orlando Guru, a real UK-based expert who knows these parks inside out, plus our exclusive Ride Alert service and AI-powered Park Planner to help you save time and beat the crowds. Every booking is fully protected under ATOL and trust fund protection, and our team is available 24/7 before, during and after your holiday. It's why we've earned over 19,400 five-star reviews on Trustpilot and are proud to be a multi-award winning Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando specialist

Useful Links:

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Keywords: Disney Believe, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Believe Port Everglades, Disney Believe booking date, Universal Horror Make-Up Show, Blumhouse, Universal Studios Florida, Jurassic Park River Adventure reopening, Tiana's Bayou Adventure reopening, Walt Disney World news, Universal Orlando news, Disney Orlando holidays UK

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First-look details for Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, the Disney Believe. Setting sail on her maiden voyage on 18 December 2027 out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the ship will feature 4- and 5-night Bahamian and Caribbean itineraries.

Tune in as we walk through all the new spaces, dining concepts, and entertainment aboard the vessel:

• Moana-Inspired Grand Hall: Featuring sea-and-sky aesthetic touches, a central Moana statue, and a moving chandelier with the Heart of Te Fiti hidden within.
• New Cafes & Lounges: Enjoy specialty coffee at Cafe Kakamora or Big Hero Sips, relax in the fairy-tale courtyard of the Wishing Well lounge inspired by Snow White, stargaze at the Skygazers pub, or enjoy live music at Cenotes, an underwater Little Mermaid-themed piano lounge.
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• Dining & Sweets: Experience Oaken's Table, a brand-new Frozen family feast in Arendelle featuring live music and character appearances, and stop by Joyful Sweets for treats themed around Inside Out 2 characters like Anxiety and Envy.
• Entertainment & Youth Spaces: Explore Gazelle, a multi-level Zootopia entertainment hub, send kids into the Oceaneer Club through a Monstropolis door entrance, and watch live stage productions of Tangled alongside the all-new Encanto stage musical.
• Accommodations: A peek inside the two-story Magic Kingdom Tower Suite set inside the ship's funnel.

Animal Kingdom Rope Drop Changes, Epic Universe Dark Universe Expansion, Lakeshore Lodge Bookings & Disney Believe Reveal (27 September–4 October 2026)

This week's Orlando Insider episode covers the latest Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and Disney Cruise Line news, from a new rope drop procedure to construction starting on a brand new Epic Universe attraction.

🦁 Animal Kingdom Rope Drop Changes Again

Disney has changed how rope drop works at Animal Kingdom, with the new procedure starting on 27th September. The holding areas have gone, and cast members now check Early Entry eligibility at the ride entrances. Only resort hotel guests with Early Entry can get into Pandora before the park opens at 8am.

🧛 New Dark Universe Attraction Under Construction at Epic Universe

New aerial photos from 4th October show foundation work underway behind Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. It's the first expansion project to start building since Epic Universe opened in May 2025. Permits show a three storey building of more than 93,000 square feet, but Universal hasn't confirmed what the attraction will be.

🏨 Disney's Lakeshore Lodge Booking Dates and First Look at Branch & Brush

Disney has revealed Branch & Brush, the new lounge at Disney's Lakeshore Lodge, with Bay Lake views and a colour-changing chandelier that cycles through the four seasons. The resort opens on 1st July 2027, and bookings open on 6th, 7th and 8th October depending on who you are.

🚢 Disney Believe Reveal Livestream

Disney Cruise Line is revealing more about its newest ship on 7th October, including the homeport, itineraries and entertainment. The Disney Believe is the fourth Wish-class ship and debuts in 2027.

Planning a Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando holiday from the UK?

With so much happening across the parks and Disney Cruise Line, now is a great time to start planning your next trip. At Orlando Insider, every guest gets their own personal Orlando Guru, a real UK-based expert who knows these parks inside out, plus our exclusive Ride Alert service and AI-powered Park Planner to help you save time and beat the crowds. Every booking is fully protected under ATOL and trust fund protection, and our team is available 24/7 before, during and after your holiday. It's why we've earned over 19,400 five-star reviews on Trustpilot and are proud to be a multi-award winning Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando specialist

Useful Links:

🌐 Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando holidays from the UK — Orlando Insider — www.orlandoinsider.co.uk

🔔 Subscribe to Orlando Insider on YouTube for weekly Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando news

Keywords: Animal Kingdom rope drop, Disney Early Entry, Epic Universe Dark Universe, Monsters Unchained, Disney's Lakeshore Lodge, Branch & Brush, Disney Believe, Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney World news, Universal Orlando news, Disney Orlando holidays UK