Aerial views revealed the parking locations for the Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island rafts, construction walls are up near the Toy Story Land entrance, and all DVC members can preview Test Track without a hotel reservation — all this and more in today’s daily recap for Saturday, July 12, 2025.
Daily Recap (7/12/25)
Walt Disney World
Magic Kingdom
- In a series of new aerial photos from bioreconstruct, we can see the now-closed Liberty Square Riverboat and the rafts for Tom Sawyer Island parked in a service canal toward the back of Magic Kingdom.
- Some additional foundation and plumbing work has occurred at the former Cool Ship location in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom.
EPCOT
- In a recent update, Disney is now allowing all current Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Members the opportunity to experience the recently-updated Test Track without making a hotel reservation.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- The Toy Story Land sign has been removed and colorful construction walls have been built near the entrance to the land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
New Merchandise
- During your next trip to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, stop in BouTiki to get new Trader Sam’s merchandise.
- The latest intergalactic creature plush to arrive at Walt Disney World is a Merqaal, as seen in Star Wars Outlaws.
- Represent Monsters University with new collegiate apparel available at Walt Disney World Resort.
- A few new Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster apparel items have made their way into Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disneyland Resort
- Vice President JD Vance has been seen at Disneyland Resort, with his visit requiring enhanced security and drawing some protests.
- Ahead of the Disneyland Resort 70th Anniversary in just a few days, a themed hot air balloon has been making its way across the U.S.A., with a recent stop in San Francisco.
Disney California Adventure
- The Avengers Jeep has been moved to a new location as more construction walls extend into Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure.
Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris
- In a post on Instagram, Disneyland Paris has announced the reopening of Pirates of the Caribbean with some updates and refreshed scenes, including a new costume piece inspired by Imagineer Marc Davis.
Universal Orlando Resort
Epic Universe
- Signage and posters have been added around Darkmoor to advertise the Monster Makeup Experience in Dark Universe at Epic Universe.
- New headbands themed to two Fantastic Beasts are now available in Epic Universe.
Universal Studios Japan
- With the opening of Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast, a new Minion meet and greet has debuted at Universal Studios Japan.
Entertainment and Media
- A long-term Muppet performer, Tony Basilicato, has passed away.
WDW News Today
That’s it for today; we hope you enjoyed this Daily Recap. Thanks for stopping by, and we’ll see you tomorrow!
The post Vice President JD Vance Visiting Disneyland Resort, Draws Protests and Increased Security & More: Daily Recap (7/12/25) appeared first on WDW News Today.
