Every week is a busy week when it comes to Disney news. To help you keep up with all of the updates coming out of Walt Disney World and other Disney resorts, here’s WDWNT’s weekly recap of the Disney news from June 3-9!

Walt Disney World

• Christmas is coming, apparently, as Walt Disney World has revealed the events scheduled for all four parks and Disney springs this 2019 holiday season

Magic Kingdom

• We learned that a brand-new firework spectacular will be coming to the 2019 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, titled ‘Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks’
• Read our review of the excellent Disney Villains After Hours events, which kicked off this week in the Magic Kingdom
• At the Villainous event, we reviewed every spooky treat offering, and did a roundup of all the merchandise available
• As part of the Villains After Hours event, a live actor Captain Barbossa has joined Pirates of the Caribbean, adding a fun and exclusive overlay to the attraction
• Watch our full video of the “Villains Unite the Night!” show at the Disney Villains After Hours event
• This week, we sadly reported that the Tony’s Town Square is still the worst restaurant at Walt Disney World, despite the updated menu
• Castle Couture has officially transitioned into an extension of the Magic Kingdom Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo salon
• Even more track has been installed for the TRON Lightcycle Power Run coaster in Tomorrowland, along with some huge new supports
• Read our review of the mostly enchanting new lunch menu offerings at Be Our Guest

Hollywood Studios

• Check out this week’s photo report for Hollywood Studios, featuring Galaxy’s Edge updates, renovations and more
• With Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening at the end of August in Hollywood Studios, the FastPass+ tier system is changing to accommodate more Tier 1 attractions
• We spotted the Disney Skyliner signage is now exposed over at the Hollywood Studios station
• Read our full review of the new reservation system at ABC Commissary, including their new pot roast offering
• As you may have noticed, Forky is taking over in Hollywood Studios! Read our review of the Forky’s Hazelnut Éclair from Backlot Express here
• Bo Peep is now out meeting & greeting guests in Toy Story Land
• Read our review of Hamm’s Sweet ‘n’ Tart Cookie from The Trolley Car Cafe
• A brand-new Toy Story merchandise shop has opened at the exit to Toy Story Mania
• Woody’s Lunch Box is now offering this seasonal Lemon-Blueberry Tart

Epcot

• The huge news of the week is that a Brazil pavilion will be opening in 2022 in the Epcot World Showcase
• It has been announced that Takumi-Tei, the upcoming Signature restaurant in the Japan pavilion will be the second restaurant in Epcot to have a dress code
• Construction is continuing on over at the International Gateway, take a look at our photo report of the progress here
• The first group of narrators has been announced for the 2019 Candlelight Processional, with packages available to book from next month
• The rose walk pathway connecting Future World and the World Showcase has now been closed for a widening project

Disney Springs

• Check out this week’s photo report fro Disney Springs, including new merchandise, the patio for Frontera Cocina and more
• We reviewed the life-changing new Dole Whip Frozcato Sugar Cookie Sandwich from The Basket at Wine Bar George
• A selection of “Flavors of Florida” specialty menu items have been announced for Disney Springs restaurants this summer
• A special pop-up experience is coming to Disney Springs on June 11, in celebration of the game “Toy Story Drop”
• A V.I.Passholder Imagination Pink and Magic Mirror shopping event will be taking place in Disney Springs on June 14th

Walt Disney World Resorts

Coronado Springs Resort

• Three Annual Passholder and DVC member-exclusive tasting events have been announced, offering guests a chance to try the menu coming to Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Check out the new menu board for the Three Bridges Bar & Grill restaurant at Coronado Springs

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort

• We reviewed the new Bayou Lasagna from Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at Port Orleans French Quarter
• We also tried the new Bo Peep Cupcake from Riverside Mill Food Court at Port Orleans Riverside

Disney’s Riviera Resort

• Check out our construction update for the Riviera resort, with a look at the Skyliner station, window details, a pool slide and more

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

• Read our review of the sparkly Imagination Pink Minnie Macaron from Roaring Fork in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge resort

Disneyland Resort

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

For all our coverage of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, make sure you check out the WDWNT Galaxy’s Edge landing page right here. Included on that page is our Black Spire 101 series which has all the basics for newcomers. In the meantime, here is a recap of everything Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge we posted about this week…

• Take a nighttime tour of Galaxy’s Edge in this video we took once the sun went down in Black Spire Outpost
• Read our full review of breakfast at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
• You can also check out our full review of breakfast from Ronto Roasters, including all the beverages
• Check out our full roundup of every merchandise item, including photos and prices, available at Droid Depot, Jewels of Bith, Black Spire Outfitters, Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities,
• You can also catch our video of the fun droid building experience over at Droid Depot, including the whole process and our full review
• Watch our video and review of the incredible custom lightsaber building experience at Savi’s Workshop
• Walt Disney Imagineering has released this new video, taking us behind the scenes of the creation of the landscape of Galaxy’s Edge
• Kylo Ren and the First Order have been patrolling Galaxy’s Edge in this new interactive show

Disneyland Park

• We learned that a new “Magic Happens” parade will be debuting in the Disneyland Park in 2020, the first new daytime parade in the park in almost 9 years!
• The Alien Pizza Planet restaurant renovation is complete, with a new sign now installed

Disney California Adventure

• The all-new “Tale of the Lion King” outdoor show debuted this week, officially kicking off “The Lion King” celebration at Disney California Adventure
• Check out this week’s photo report for Disney California Adventure, featuring low crowds, the return of Soarin’ Over California and more
• Read our review of the spicy Red’s Hot Chicken Cone and the sweet Sally’s Summer Churro, both from Cozy Cone Motel
• The ride vehicles for the Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind attraction are now undergoing testing
• We reviewed the seasonal lava dog, lava fries and Sorcerer Mickey funnel cake fries from Award Wieners
• Permits have been filed for a “Spider-Man Merchandise Store” across from the Web-Slinger ride which will be a part of the upcoming Marvel Land in Disney California Adventure

Downtown Disney District

• Check out this week’s photo report for the Downtown Disney District, including the opening of Sugarboo & Co.

Disneyland Resort Hotels

Grand Californian Hotel

• These new Star Wars donuts over at White Water Snacks look very impressive but failed to make the landing when we tried them this week

Shanghai Disney Resort

• Shanghai Disney Resort has been celebrating Donald Duck’s 85th birthday this month with a range of magical extras around the park

New Merchandise

• Check out this most magical Rainbow Unicorn Loungefly backpack which we spotted in the parks
• This new Disney Parks double decker character bus shortbread cookie tin has pulled up in the parks
• An adorable new Disney Parks Minis collection has been released by Loungefly
• New merchandise was made available this week in the Disney Store and on shopDisney in celebration of 85 years of Donald Duck
• These Disney Park Snack ornaments have been spotted in the park

  

• There’s also these Mickey Ear Hat-themed ornaments, representing some of our favorite characters
• New Toy Story talking action figures have arrived on shopDisney
• There’s a bunch of new keychains in the Disneyland resort, featuring park snacks, attractions and quotes
• This new Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room Pandora Charm is now available at the Magic Kingdom
• This cute new Dopey open edition MagicBand is now available in Disney Springs
• The adorable new Little Mermaid series in the Disney Park Wishables collection has arrived to the Disney Parks and on shopDisney
• This incredible The Haunted Mansion 50th Anniversary LEGO IDEAS set has been created, but needs your votes to get it produced!
• This cool new line of adidas x Disney Toy Story 4 capsule collection footwear will be released this summer
• These new The Lion King souvenir popcorn buckets have stampeded their way into Disney California Adventure, as part of the “The Lion King Celebration” event

Entertainment & Media

• A new sneak peek has been released for The Lion King, featuring Simba returning to Pride Rock
• We also got a new sneak peek from Toy Story 4, featuring some creepy new toys
• Dark Phoenix, the final installment of the X-Men franchise was released this week – check out our review of the disappointing movie here
• EA has shown us the first look at gameplay from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

D23 Expo 2019

• Schedules have been announced for the headlining presentations at the D23 Expo
• The Walt Disney Archives will be presenting an all-new exhibit at the 2019 D23 Expo: “Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume“

That’s all of the Disney news for this past week! Make sure you check back at the end of each week for our weekly recaps!

Madeleine