By Astro’s Theme Park News Team
As the spooky season hits full swing, theme parks around the world are making headlines with price changes, Halloween spectacles, and new attraction reveals. Here’s your roundup of the biggest stories from this past week in theme parks.
💸 Disney Raises Prices Across the Board
Disney fans were hit with a wave of price increases this week. Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World announced hikes on:
• Park tickets (some now over $200)
• Parking fees
• Lightning Lane Multi Passes (up to $45 at Magic Kingdom)
• Magic Key annual passes
These changes are effective immediately, but discounted tickets are still available through select partners until October 20.
🎭 Halloween Events Heat Up Across the UK
Spooky season is in full swing, and UK parks are delivering:
🧛 Chessington’s Howl’O’ween 2025
Running daily from October 18 to November 2, this year’s lineup includes:
• Enchanted Hollow: Trick or Treat – a magical underground town for kids
• Rising Flame: Shadows of the Tomb – a fiery dance show with mummified monsters
• Stone Watchers: The Vampire’s Lair – a scare experience beneath the Vampire ride
• Spelltacular! – a chaotic magic show
• Barnyard Boogie! – light-hearted Halloween fun for all ages
👻 Thorpe Park Fright Nights 2025
This year’s event is being hailed as the strongest yet, with revamped mazes like:
• Survival Games – now a linear, high-intensity experience
• Trailers – featuring two new horror-themed rooms
• Stitches – still terrifying, but showing its age
🆕 New Attractions Announced
• Frozen Ever After at EPCOT will receive upgraded animatronics in early 20264
• Zootopia: Better Zoogether! opens November 7 at Animal Kingdom, featuring a new Clawhauser animatronic
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets confirmed for Summer 2026
🏁 Closures & Refurbishments
Disney World is undergoing several refurbishments:
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed until 2026
• Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin – closed for upgrades
• Spaceship Earth – reopening October 25
• Kali River Rapids – closed until December
Meanwhile, Oakwood Theme Park in Wales has officially closed for the 2025 season due to financial challenges.
🧟♂️ TPWITP Quick Hits
• 🎃 Alton Towers Scarefest adds Edge of the Forest and Dark Hollow to its scare maze lineup7
• 🧙♀️ Adventure Wonderland transforms its hedge maze into a Grimm’s fairytale experience
• 🏰 LEGOLAND Windsor hosts Brick or Treat with LEGO Monsters and spooky builds
That’s your frightfully fun update for the week. Whether you’re braving scare mazes or planning your next Disney trip, Theme Park News has you covered.