Disneyland Paris continued its ambitious Disney Village transformation this week, while Universal Orlando shifted its attention firmly towards Halloween Horror Nights and Epic Universe's growing entertainment line-up.
Although there were no blockbuster coaster announcements over the past seven days, the industry certainly hasn't stood still. Resorts on both sides of the Atlantic have continued investing in guest experiences, seasonal events and destination-wide improvements that could shape future visits.
Here's everything that caught our attention between 20 and 26 July.
Disneyland Paris reveals a new Pathé Cinema for Disney Village
Disneyland Paris unveiled another important piece of its ongoing Disney Village redevelopment with the announcement of a brand-new Pathé Cinema.
The redesigned complex will replace the existing cinema and forms part of Disney's long-term vision to modernise the shopping, dining and entertainment district between the parks and Disney Hotels.
Over the last year we've already seen new restaurants, updated retail locations and improved public spaces arrive at Disney Village. The new cinema represents another significant investment that reinforces Disney's commitment to making the area a destination in its own right rather than simply somewhere guests pass through on their way to the parks.
While new rides often dominate the headlines, projects like this play an important role in improving the overall guest experience and encouraging visitors to spend more time across the wider resort.
Halloween Horror Nights reveals another terrifying addition
Universal Orlando continued building excitement for Halloween Horror Nights this week with another major announcement for this year's event.
The resort confirmed Evil Dead Burn will receive its own haunted house, bringing the latest instalment of the iconic horror franchise to Halloween Horror Nights for its 35th anniversary. Guests will journey through terrifying scenes inspired by the film, facing Deadites and some of the franchise's most gruesome moments along the way.
Universal also confirmed that Fortnite's hugely popular Fortnitemares event will inspire a brand-new scare zone, bringing the Battle Bus, familiar characters and an ever-changing environment into the parks for the first time.
With Halloween Horror Nights now only weeks away, announcements are beginning to arrive at a much faster pace, and the 2026 event is already shaping up to be one of the strongest line-ups in recent years.
Epic Universe continues to build its evening experience
Epic Universe may only have recently opened, but Universal is already expanding what guests can experience after dark.
Following the debut of Universal Celestial Goodnight, guests have continued sharing positive reactions to the park's nighttime spectacular, which combines fountains, lighting effects, projections and fireworks to bring each operating day to a memorable close.
Meanwhile, anticipation continues to grow for Universal Nights, the new limited-capacity evening event arriving later this year. The separately ticketed experience will allow guests to enjoy attractions with lower crowd levels while experiencing Celestial Park in an entirely different atmosphere.
It's a clear sign that Universal sees Epic Universe as much more than a daytime destination, with entertainment becoming an increasingly important part of the park's identity.
Looking ahead
As July draws to a close, attention across the industry is rapidly turning towards Halloween.
Universal still has more Halloween Horror Nights announcements to reveal, while European parks are expected to begin sharing details of their own autumn events over the coming weeks.
Elsewhere, Disneyland Paris' transformation of Disney Village continues at a steady pace, and it will be fascinating to see which part of the redevelopment is unveiled next.
We'll be back next weekend with another roundup of the biggest stories from around the theme park world.
