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 July 8-14!

Walt Disney World

• The Florida Department of Health has issued a rabies alert for the area near Epcot in the Walt Disney World resort
• The Reedy Creek Improvement District recently fell victim to a phishing scam
• We learned that select Disney Skyliner stations are set to open next month across Walt Disney World, just ahead of the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Most of the construction walls have now been removed, revealing the bright and themed new Skyliner stations at the Art of Animation and Pop Century resorts
• The new bus fleet is now on the roads of Walt Disney World, featuring highly eye-catching designs of the “Sensational Six”
• There are multiple limited-time offerings around the Walt Disney World resort which will be ending later this year, including dance parties and more

Magic Kingdom

• Check out this week’s photo report for the Magic Kingdom, featuring the lack of Tomorrowland entrance sign, construction updates, new merchandise and more
• Next up in our spring roll review series are these new Pepperoni Pizza Spring Rolls, from the cart in Adventureland
• Check out our construction report photos on the Cinderella Castle pathway widening project
• The Tomorrowland entrance sign has been removed at the Magic Kingdom, with a newly-designed sign due to be installed soon
• Looking at the recently-updated online Magic Kingdom park map, we can actually see a possible new design for this new Tomorrowland marquee
• The foot long hot dogs have made their return to Casey’s Corner
• Voice actors for the live-action The Lion King appeared as Grand Marshals this Saturday in the Festival of Fantasy Parade

Animal Kingdom

• Check out this week’s photo report for Animal Kingdom, including lunch at Restaurantosaurus, a Lion King merchandise celebration and more
• A Guest Experience team is now available at Animal Kingdom, following successful trails in other parks
• Primeval Whirl remaind closed this week due to that mysterious and unexpected maintenance which is currently ongoing at the attraction
• A construction worker has been hospitalized after falling into a hole near Animal Kingdom
• Rafiki’s Planet Watch has now reopened in Animal Kingdom, featuring a new art attraction called The Animation Experience
• We reviewed the new elephant cupcake which stomped into Restaurantosaurus this week

Epcot

• Check out this week’s photo report for Epcot, featuring construction updates, Takumi-Tei and more
• Construction walls have gone up around the former Liberty Inn restaurant, ready for the upcoming Regal Eagle Smokehouse
• The medals for this year’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon around Epcot have been revealed, featuring cute and colorful character designs
• Check out our construction update for the Epcot tramp loop, which looks to be progressing along nicely yet still just looks like a whole lot of dirt
• The Epcot Skyliner station, however, is nearing completion. More walls have come down, giving us a clearer view of the structure
• Progress on the Rose Walk pathway widening project has called for even more pathways around the area connecting Future World and World Showcase to be closed
• Check out our construction update on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, featuring new roofing details, insulation and wall additions

Hollywood Studios

• Check out this week’s photo report for Hollywood Studios, including construction progress, new merchandise, and the return of the Dockside Diner Water Hose!
• It has been confirmed that the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction will be opening on December 5th at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios
• Cast member previews for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will begin on August 1st, with sign-ups starting on July 22nd

Disney Springs

• Check out this week’s photo report for Disney Springs, featuring designer ear headbands, even more The Lion King merchandise and more
• The NBA Experience Store has opened ahead of the actual NBA Experience this week
• Check out our full roundup of every item of exclusive merchandise – with prices – available at the store
• We reviewed the new Lion King Petit Cake, available now from Amorette’s Patisserie

Blizzard Beach & Typhoon Lagoon

• It has been confirmed that Blizzard Beach will be closing in September for an extended refurbishment until early 2020

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

Beach Club Resort

• A refurbishment scheduled for most of July will see the first-floor rooms at the Beach Club closed, with the work due to include a resort Wi-Fi upgrade

Coronado Springs Resort

• We reviewed the menu at the newly-opened and beautiful Dahlia Lounge in Gran Destino Tower
• We also reviewed the disappointing new restaurant Toledo – Tapas, Steak and Seafood, also in Gran Destino Tower

Grand Floridian Resort

• We took a trip to the Grand Floridian and found that construction is evidently continuing on the upcoming Beauty and the Beast-inspired bar 
• A guest walkway which will connect the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom is finally under development

Polynesian Village Resort

• We reviewed the cute but incredibly blue, new Stitch cake over from Kona Island

Pop Century Resort

• We tried the scarily adorable new JAWS shark cupcake from Everything POP

Riviera Resort

• It was announced that “Mezzanotte at Topolino’s: An Italian Masquerade” New Year’s Eve party will be coming to the Riviera this year when it opens in December

Wilderness Lodge

• Newly remodeled Club Level King rooms are now being tested at Wilderness Lodge

Disneyland Resort

• The spook-tacular Halloween event lineup has been announced for across the Disneyland Resort, including ride overlays, entertainment and more

Disneyland Park

• Check out this week’s photo report for the Disneyland Park, featuring summer crowds, Lion King merchandise and more
• It has been confirmed that the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction will be opening in 2020 at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland
• An image which was leaked online this week shows a possible massive Stormtrooper army in Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• For a limited time this summer, Mickey and Friends Band-Tastic Cavalcade will be replacing Mickey’s Soundsational Parade from July 18th
• Bluetooth “Reputation Scanners” have finally been added in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• We reviewed the new Chile-Mango loaded Dole Whip from Tropical Hideaway

Disney California Adventure

• Check out this week’s photo report for Disney California Adventure, featuring morning crowd levels, refurbishments and more
• We reviewed the disappointing Soul Stone Churro from Hollywood Land
• Disappointingly, the Red Trolley News Boys show will be ending on July 23rd

New Merchandise

• This free Toy Story collectible key was made available to guests on July 13th, aka “Collector’s Day”
• New ID holders, featuring Mickey, Minnie and castle designs, have arrived in the parks
• A line of cool new parks attractions windbreakers is now available in the parks
• You’ll find whosits and whatsits galore with this new The Little Mermaid 30th anniversary collection which splashed into the parks this week, including apparel, accessories and more
• There’s also this new, limited-release The Little Mermaid 30th anniversary MagicBand

• A new jigsaw puzzle celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion has been released, featuring Stitch as the Hatbox Ghost
• New apparel sporting Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel branding has arrived at Acorns Gifts & Goods at the resort
• There’s also even more new resort-branded merchandise over at Fulton’s General Store in Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside resort
• There’s a whole load of new “I am Groot” merchandise now available in Disney California Adventure, including apparel, mugs and more
• Even more jazzy and colorful hair ties have arrived at the Disneyland Resort, featuring fun princess and Mickey Mouse designs
• Disney Parks have officially issued a voluntary recall notice of it’s Forky Plush, due to it being a choking hazard
• There’s new Alex and Ani bangles in the parks this week, featuring The Little Mermaid 30th anniversary designs
• This highly-reminiscent The Lion King phone case has arrived in the parks, cleverly resembling a VHS case

• There’s also new D-Tech and Otterbox phone cases available now in the parks, inspired by Peter Pan, parks snacks and Donald Duck
• There’s a new collection of retro-inspired Walt Disney World hats by Junk Food now available in the parks
• A line of incredibly jazzy new leggings and tops has arrived in the parks, featuring bold park icons designs
• New apparel sporting the Walt Disney World logo was also spotted this week in Animal Kingdom
• This new 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Nautilus magnet has surfaced at D-Tech On Demand
• This fun new Disney Parks exclusive Pixar Luxo Ball bag by Loungefly bounced into the parks this week

Entertainment & Media

• Disney released the first look and teaser trailer for the upcoming, live action Mulan movie
• An animated series featuring Walt Disney’s original superstar, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, will be coming to the Disney+ streaming service
• The official trailer has also been released for Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
• A special exhibit, which will showcase Stormtrooper armor and more, will be coming to the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con

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