VIPassholder Days have officially begun at Walt Disney World, and the celebration is already packed with exclusive moments, rare character sightings, and exciting seasonal updates. Greg was on the scene this week to catch the action firsthand—and there’s plenty to cover!
This update is part of the May 14, 2025, edition of This Week at Walt Disney World with Sam and Greg.
Rare Character Sightings at Magic Kingdom
One of the week’s biggest surprises came outside the Country Bear Jamboree, where Romeo first appeared. But Romeo wasn’t the only character stealing the spotlight. A frog we didn’t expect to meet.
Farewell to Mama Melrose and Pizza Rizzo
Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it’s a bittersweet goodbye to two dining staples. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Rizzo has officially closed their doors. In their place, new signage is already going up for two anticipated shows: The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure and Villains: Unfairly Ever After. Both are scheduled to debut May 27, and Disney has now released showtimes.
Halloween and Food & Wine Dates Announced
It’s never too early to get spooky! Tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are now on sale, and Disney has confirmed that The Beak & Barrel, a new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge, will open just in time for the fall festivities. Over at Epcot, we now have official dates for the 2025 Food & Wine Festival—perfect for planning your next Disney visit.
Stay tuned for more VIPassholder updates and weekly Disney news as the countdown continues to summer’s biggest entertainment rollouts.
