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 17-23!

Walt Disney World

• A whole load of price increases were announced this month across the Walt Disney World resort, affecting Annual Passes (already in effect), the 2020 Dining Plan, overnight resort parking fees and the fairly recent park-specific reusable bags
• A limited-time “Bring a Friend” promotion has been made available, allowing passholders to purchase a 1-day Park Hopper ticket for a special price
• This Summer Splash Pass has also been introduced for Annual Passholders: an unlimited ticket offering for Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon all summer
• Lyft has become the official rideshare of the Disney Parks, celebrating a major milestone of 1 million guests magically transported
• The special “First Responder Rates” offer has returned to the seven Disney Springs resort area hotels, available for stays through September 3rd
• The walls are down at the Skyliner Turn Station, giving us a full view of the grand structure near the Boardwalk Resort

Magic Kingdom

• Check out this week’s photo report for the Magic Kingdom, featuring new hats, the return of PhilharMagic Mickey and even more $1 pressed penny machines
• According to sources, the beloved and classic Country Bear Jamboree in Frontierland is due to be removed, and replaced with a Toy Story Marionette Show for the 50th anniversary of the Magic Kingdom
• Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom on select dates during July and August will benefit from extended park opening hours 
• We reviewed the colossal new Chocolate Extreme Shake from The Plaza
• Benches have been added into the newly-repaved Miner’s Cove area in Frontierland
• Annual passholders will be able to collect a complimentary ornament at the Disney Villains After Hours events, starting from June 27
• A recent permit filed by Disney is pointing towards those rumored digital upgrades on PhilharMagic
• Cruella de Vil will be hosting her own event during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, taking over Tony’s Town Square Restaurant for Cruella’s Halloween Hide-a-Way

Animal Kingdom

• Check out this week’s photo report for Animal Kingdom, featuring new merchandise, Father’s Day snacks and more
• We reviewed the new Spicy Southwestern Plant-Based Burger and Cobb Salad from Restaurantosaurus
• Primeval Whirl has been closed this week due to unexpected, unscheduled maintenance, with no sign of when the ride will reopen
• We reviewed the newly made-over Mo’ara Margarita from Pongu Pongu Refreshments

Hollywood Studios

• Check out this week’s photo report for Hollywood Studios, featuring Galaxy’s Edge construction, Skyliner testing and more
• Passholder previews have been announced for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios, giving passholders the chance to register for a special preview opportunity
• Beloved funnel cake location Oasis Canteen has had a name change and a facelift, now called Epic Eats 

Epcot

• Check out this week’s photo report for Epcot, featuring construction, merchandise, and a trip to The Seas
• The usual hot dogs at Refreshment Outpost have been replaced by Nigerian Meat Pies
• The iconic ImageWorks Rainbow Tunnel is due to return later this year in the new “Epcot Experience Center” inside The Odyssey
• The walls are down, and guests are now able to walk over the graves of the west-side “Leave a Legacy” monoliths at the entrance to Epcot
• A menu board has been installed at Takumi-Tei, the upcoming signature restaurant in the Japan pavilion
• New roofing and facade details have been added to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, making it finally start to look like Paris

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

Coronado Springs

• Check out our resort construction update on Coronado Springs, including a look at Gran Destino Tower at more

Fort Wilderness

• A new “Premium Meadow Campsite” category has been added at Fort Wilderness, offering an upgrade on the “regular” premium pitches

Riviera Resort

• Check out this week’s construction update on the Riviera, featuring the pool slide, Skyliner station and landscaping developments
• The full breakfast and dinner menus have been released for Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera
• Also, reservations are now available for Topolino’s Terrace, with the character breakfast lineup now revealed 

Disneyland Resort

• The new Pixar Pals Parking Structure will not be opening for the June 24th full opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Disneyland Park

• Following the resounding guest backlash after last week’s change, the Main Street Cinema will no longer be used as a shop. In one of the quickest turnarounds we’ve seen, Disney has already removed the merchandise and installed benches instead
• We reviewed the new limited-time Toy Story 4 Carnival Funnel Cake from Stage Door Cafe
• We were also very pleased to see the return of the Pineapple Dole Whip donut at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe
• Read our review of the new limited-time Bonnie’s Boot Float and Loop-de-Loop Sundae from The Golden Horseshoe

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

• Additional information has been released regarding the logistics of the virtual queue system coming to Galaxy’s Edge, with reservations necessary for Savi’s Workshop and Oga’s Cantina from June 24th
• These Bubo Wamba Family Farms “branded” souvenir milk jug sippers have arrived at the Milk Stand

Disney California Adventure

• Check out this week’s photo report for Disney California Adventure, featuring characters, The Lion King and more
• More details and a logo have emerged for the World of Color “Villainous!” show, which will debut at Oogie Boogie Bash this fall
• Soarin’ Over California has been extended through August 31 due to guest popularity
• We tried the disappointing new Power Stone Churro from Hollywood Land
• Award Weiners will benefit from an extension on their seating area, made up of what is now part of the queue of PhilharMagic
• The ride vehicle baskets on the upcoming Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind attraction are now sporting colorful character designs
• Also ready for this month’s opening of the Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind, we got our first look at the fully-lit memory orb wall

Disneyland Resort Hotels

• The Mandara Spa at the Grand Californian is due to close permanently on July 10th, with all reservations after that date now cancelled

Disneyland Paris

• A brand-new show will be coming to Disneyland Paris this Halloween season as the Disney Villains take over

New Merchandise

• This popular Toy Story 4 Forky plush has been pulled from shelves due to a potential choking hazard
• This new Pocahontas MagicBand can be found just around the riverbend at Animal Kingdom
• There’s also this new open edition Toy Story 4 MagicBand available across Walt Disney World, alongside this limited edition Forky MagicBand
• There’s a whole toybox full of Toy Story 4 accessories and apparel by Loungefly, Cakeworthy and The Dress Shop now available in the parks and on shopDisney
• There’s also a whole flock of Bo Peep inspired apparel over in Disneyland

• New attraction-themed fabric headbands have appeared across the Disney Parks this week
• The Disney Parks-exclusive DJ R3X Funko Pop figure is now available in the Disneyland Resort
• There’s a new Toy Story 4 collection by Dooney & Bourke available now on shopDisney
• These beautiful new The Lion King Alex and Ani bangles have arrived in the pride lands (parks)
• A fleet of Steamboat Willie popcorn buckets have sailed into the Magic Kingdom
• These Walt Disney World retro-inspired baseball jerseys have stepped up to the plate in Epcot

• A line of funky new backpacks have arrived in the parks, sporting eye-catching attraction and Mickey-inspired designs, including the Enchanted Tiki Room and Mickey Mouse Club
• Oversized Minnie Mouse Bow headbands have arrived in the parks, surely a new fashion trend expected to follow
• This new Mickey Bubble Baton has blown into the parks
• There’s some new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge phone cases over in Disneyland
• Pandora has released this magical “Happily Ever After” Disney Parks Exclusive charm, available now in Disney Springs
• This Guardians of the Galaxy-Mission: Breakout! Rocket Raccoon Funko Pop! Vinyl figure will be dropping into the parks next week
• This new Toy Story 4 Woody Boot Dole Whip souvenir cup has moseyed over to Marketplace Snacks in Disney Springs
• We put together a roundup of every piece of “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth” farewell merchandise, with prices!

Entertainment & Media

• Read our full review of Toy Story 4, in theatres now!
• We received details about Soul: Disney and Pixar’s newest animation, due to be released in Summer 2020

D23 Expo 2019

• Exclusive vinyl record releases, alongside signings by composers Randy Newman, Tyler Bates and more will be featured at the Disney Music Emporium at the D23 Expo 2019
• These limited-release, must-have Dapper Dans Funko Pop figurines are set to debut at the expo
• You can check out the full range of limited-edition items (with prices) which will be available from the expo here

Other Disney News

• Disney has announced “The Lion King: Protect the Pride”: a global conservation initiative dedicated to support and protect the endangered lion population across Africa
• As part of the campaign, these special-edition Simba and Nala plushes have been released

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