Halloween Horror Nights 35, Disney Cruise & EPCOT News

This week's episode covers new construction detail on Magic Kingdom's biggest upcoming lands, the opening of Halloween Horror Nights 35 at Universal Orlando, a major Disney Cruise Line announcement, and the start of EPCOT's Food & Wine Festival. Walt Disney Imagineering has released new balloon-test footage showing how tall Villains Land and Piston Peak National Park will actually be once built, including a first indication of just how much Maleficent's fortress will tower over the rest of Magic Kingdom. Elsewhere, Halloween Horror Nights has kicked off its longest and earliest-ever run at Universal Orlando, Disney Cruise Line has confirmed the Disney Wish will sail from New York City for the first time, and EPCOT's Food & Wine Festival has opened for its 31st year with a brand new cheese-themed exhibit on the way.

- Walt Disney Imagineering's new balloon-test footage for Villains Land and Piston Peak National Park - Halloween Horror Nights 35 opens at Universal Orlando — longest and earliest run in the event's history - Disney Cruise Line confirms the Disney Wish will sail from New York City from autumn 2027 - New Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 Disney Cruise Line itineraries revealed - EPCOT's International Food & Wine Festival opens for its 31st year - New "Cheers to Cheese!" exhibit coming to EPCOT in September

Walt Disney Imagineering has released a new episode of its documentary series We Call It Imagineering, focused on the construction of Villains Land and Piston Peak National Park at Magic Kingdom. It includes footage of balloon tests, where large balloons are floated up to the proposed height of new structures so Imagineers can check how visible they'll be from other parts of the park. The footage revealed that an early Piston Peak test failed, as the planned structures were too tall and would have been visible from neighbouring lands, meaning they had to be shortened and tested again. For Villains Land, the results suggest Maleficent's fortress could reach close to 200 feet, making it one of the tallest themed elements in Magic Kingdom.

Halloween Horror Nights 35 has opened at Universal Orlando and runs for 48 select nights until 1st November, the longest run in the event's history. 28th August also marks the earliest the event has ever started in its 35 years. This year's theme is the Infernal Carnival of Nightmares, with returning icons Jack the Clown and Dr Oddfellow as twisted ringmasters. There are 10 brand new haunted houses, including ones based on Hellraiser, Stranger Things 5 and Sinners, along with four scare zones and two live shows. Early reviews from opening night have called it one of the strongest line-ups the event has had in years.

Disney Cruise Line has confirmed the Disney Wish will sail from New York City for the first time, starting in autumn 2027. The announcement came on 25th August, a day after Disney teased it with a cryptic graphic of six coordinates. Alongside the New York return, Disney Cruise Line has revealed new Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 itineraries across the fleet, including seven new sailings ranging from four to seven nights, departing New York for Bermuda, Canada and New England. Castaway Club members get early booking access from 31st August, with general bookings opening on 8th September.

EPCOT's International Food & Wine Festival has opened for its 31st year, running from 27th August through to 21st November. The headline addition is "Cheers to Cheese!", a new interactive exhibit opening in CommuniCore Hall on 18th September, exploring the history and culture of cheese through hands-on displays. The Eat to the Beat concert series is also back, running nightly at the America Gardens Theatre with three showtimes an evening. This year's line-up adds eight new acts, including Grammy-nominated The War and Treaty and indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums. If you're thinking about building a trip around the festival, your Orlando Guru can help you plan it in.

Host (Martin): Walt Disney Imagineering has just given fans their most detailed look yet at exactly how big these new lands at Magic Kingdom are actually going to be. In a new episode of their documentary series We Call It Imagineering, the team focused on "parkitecture" and shared footage of balloon tests being carried out for both Villains Land and Piston Peak National Park. For anyone not familiar, a balloon test involves floating large balloons up to the exact proposed height of new structures, so Imagineers can walk around the park and check how visible they'll be from other areas. The video revealed that the first Piston Peak test, done over a year ago, actually failed — the planned elevations were too tall and would have been visible from neighbouring lands, so Imagineers had to shorten the structures and test again. For Villains Land, the results suggest Maleficent's fortress could rise close to 200 feet, making it one of the tallest themed elements anywhere in Magic Kingdom. It's a proper behind-the-scenes look at just how much planning goes into these expansions before a single wall goes up. Halloween Horror Nights 35 has officially opened at Universal Orlando, and it's making history while it's at it. This year's event runs for 48 select nights until 1st November, the longest run in Halloween Horror Nights history, and 28th August also marks the earliest the event has ever started in its 35 years. The theme this year is the Infernal Carnival of Nightmares, with returning icons Jack the Clown and Dr Oddfellow going head to head as twisted ringmasters. There are 10 brand new haunted houses, including ones based on Hellraiser, Stranger Things 5 and Sinners, plus four scare zones and two live shows. Early reviews from opening night have been glowing, with critics calling it one of the strongest line-ups Halloween Horror Nights has put together in years. If you're heading to Universal this Halloween season, we've just put a full video on our YouTube channel on how to survive Halloween Horror Nights — link's in the show notes. Disney Cruise Line has confirmed a return that fans have been asking for years — the Disney Wish will sail from New York City starting in autumn 2027, marking the first time this particular ship has departed from the port. The announcement came on 25th August after Disney teased it the day before with a cryptic graphic of six coordinates. Alongside the New York return, Disney Cruise Line has also revealed new Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 itineraries across the fleet, including seven new sailings ranging from four to seven nights departing New York for Bermuda, Canada and New England. Booking dates are already set too — Castaway Club members get early access starting 31st August, with general bookings opening a week later on 8th September. It's a proper win for anyone who's been wanting an East Coast departure point without flying down to Florida. If you fancy exploring a Disney cruise, head to orlandoinsider.co.uk and your Orlando Guru can talk you through the options. EPCOT's International Food & Wine Festival has kicked off for its 31st year, running from 27th August through to 21st November. The headline addition this year is "Cheers to Cheese!", an all-new interactive exhibit opening in CommuniCore Hall on 18th September, exploring the history and culture of cheese through a series of hands-on displays. The Eat to the Beat concert series is back too, running nightly at the America Gardens Theatre with three showtimes an evening. This year's line-up brings in eight new acts, including Grammy-nominated The War and Treaty and indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums. With over thirty global marketplace booths dotted around World Showcase, it's one of the best times of year to visit EPCOT — just maybe not for the August heat. If you want help planning a trip around the festival, head to orlandoinsider.co.uk and your Orlando Guru can build it into your holiday.