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 August 12-18!

Walt Disney World

• Overnight closures have been scheduled for the Osceola Parkway Intersection through October, near the entrance to Hollywood Studios
• Take a look at the mouthwatering menu of new Fall treats, which will be coming soon to various locations around Walt Disney World
• Disney have brought a new ticket option which enables discounted access to the theme parks after noon
• A video revealing the first look at Disney Skyliner cast member costumes have been revealed

Magic Kingdom

• Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom through select dates in September can benefit from extended park hours
• ESPN’s College GameDay pre-game show will be broadcast live from the Magic Kingdom on August 24
• The unplanned refurbishment of the Astro Orbiter has been extended through September 19 
• A new temporary security screening tent is now being utilized at the Magic Kingdom
• Fall is definitely on the menu at the Magic Kingdom! We reviewed the new Loaded Corn Dog Nuggets over at Casey’s Corner, the Strawberry Minnie Milk Shake from The Plaza Restaurant, the Hocus Pocus Trick or Treat Candy Cupcake from the Main Street Bakery, and the Pumpkin Spice Soft Serve Sundae and Pumpkin Milk Shake from Auntie Gravity’s
• These new Rainbow Mickey Cloud glow cubes are brightening up beverages at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2019

• A new “Party Pass” ticketing option has been announced for the Halloween parties, offering unlimited access to each event on every night, bar Halloween
• The event map was released for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, giving us a full look at the event offerings we can expect. Exciting themed PhotoPass opportunities will be available across the park, with plenty of Magic Shots to look out for. Fans of the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game will have to look out for this event-exclusive game card which will be released at the party, inspired by the brand-new firework show “Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular”
• Watch the full “Mickey’s Boo To You Halloween Parade” at the party, featuring a new Spectral Bride and a Tomorrowland unit, and the incredible, all-new “Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular” fireworks show debut
• During our first visit to the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties, we had to try all of the amazing treats on offer! Read our reviews of the Jack and Sally Cake Push Pops, the For Better of For Worse Wedding Cake, the Headless Horseman Cheesecake and Chocolate Mickey Waffle Sundae from Sleepy Hollow, the Hades Hatred Mocktail from Cool Ship, the Maleficent Waffle Cone from Storybook Treats, the Cinnamon Donuts and Frozen Apple Cider at Golden Oak Outpost, and the Lots-O-Burger and Berry Blaster Mocktail from Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
• A whole host of popcorn buckets and sippers will be available at the events, including this adorable new Mickey Pumpkin Balloon popcorn bucket, and Haunted Mansion Hitchhiking Ghost Phineas bucket
• You can check out a full list of all the merchandise offerings (with prices), available at the parties here
• Watch our video from the new Monster World Treat Trail and attraction overlay at Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor

Epcot

• Check out this week’s photo report for Epcot, featuring a look at finished refurbishments, new Food & Wine festival additions and more
• We noticed that interior construction work has begun on the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster, including what looks like a structure for storage and maintenance for the ride
• The final selection of Leave a Legacy monoliths have now been removed at the entrance to the park
• The fences have now gone up at the former Wonders of Life, festival center building, marking that construction has now begun on the Play Pavilion
• Check out our construction update for the redesigned Rose Walk pathway between Future World and World Showcase, and also take a look at the progress of the Future World East pathway expansion project, where construction walls have just gone up
• We also took a look at the lagging construction over at the International Gateway entrance area
• In Epcot snack news, we reviewed the new Rainbow Popcorn from over at the Imagination Pavilion Gourmet Popcorn Cart
• The Odyssey building at Epcot has had a new paint job, leaving it with a neutral color scheme reflecting it’s gray interiors
• Mission: Space Race interactive area is also under construction at Mission: Space
• Two new marketplaces and additional Eat to the Beat concert performances have been added to the International Food & Wine Festival 2019 lineup

Animal Kingdom

• Check out this week’s photo report for Animal Kingdom, featuring construction updates, a wander through the Maharajah Jungle Trek and more
• We tried the new Rafiki Cupcake over from Restaurantosaurus
• Walt Disney Imagineering’s Executive Director Joe Rohde took to Twitter this week to explain the lack of wheelchair-accessible boats on Na’vi River Journey, and how the queue area for Flight of Passage ultimately affected the design of the boat ride
• The Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight bird show area is currently behind construction walls for a refurbishment

Hollywood Studios

• Check out this week’s photo report for Hollywood Studios, including a look at the progress on the Skyliner station, the start of Galaxy’s Edge previews, new merchandise and more
• Cast outfits themed to different attractions around Hollywood Studios have been replaced with a more generic costume design for the park
• Scrims have started to come down around a new restroom facility which has been constructed in the place of the former Star Wars Speeder Bike photo op area
• The construction walls are also partially down at the Hollywood Studios Skyliner station, giving us a good look at some new signage for the transportation option
• We spotted new Hidden Mickey lanterns peeking over the construction walls in the Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway queue area

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

• Disney have released an amazing, exclusive video showing aerial views of Galaxy’s Edge
• Check out our photos, video and full review of our amazing Lightsaber Building Experience at Savi’s Workshop
• On our visit to Batuu, we of course had to review all the local delicacies on offer. Read our reviews of the breakfast offerings, and the new Alcoholic Takodana Quencher from Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo; the Alcoholic Blue and Green Milk Coolers from the Milk Stand; the Alcoholic Rodian Ration Provision Dessert from Oga’s Cantina; and the revamped Ronto Morning Wrap and Alcoholic Coruscant Cooler from Ronto Roasters
• A load of exclusive Passholder Preview and “Landing 2019” Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge merchandise has arrived around Hollywood Studios

Typhoon Lagoon

• A former Disney cast member has been arrested and charged with multiple crimes after stealing from current cast members backstage at Typhoon Lagoon

Disney Springs

• Check out this week’s photo reporot fro Disney Springs, featuring Halloween merchandise, pins, cakes and more
• The all-new NBA Experience has now opened at Disney Springs, check out our full video tour and photos here
• Changes to the designated smoking areas at Disney Springs are now effective, with the previous area between UNIQLO and T-Rex now removed
• Bongos Cuban Cafe will be closing permanently on August 18th
• We reviewed the new Cookie Dough and Everything Sweet food truck which rolled into Disney Springs West Side this week
• We also tried the new Lime Dole Whip Friezling Wine Slush from The Basket at Wine Bar George

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

• It has been announced that Walt Disney World will be the official host of the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, which will take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

• Even more Walt Disney World resort hotels are now offering mobile ordering, making getting a quick bite even easier

Contemporary Resort

• Test rooms have been built for a PIXAR’s The Incredibles overlay of the Contemporary
• A new Monorail station security screening area has been opened on the fourth floor
• The resort is once again hosting a handful of Fall Chef’s Table dining experiences, exclusively for Tables in Wonderland members
• We reviewed the Rainbow Cereal Pride Cupcake from Contempo Cafe

Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

• Disney has revealed concept art for a new, redesigned Tri-Circle-D Ranch, which will be opening in spring 2020 at Fort Wilderness

Port Orleans: French Quarter

• We reviewed the impressive seasonal Pumpkin Spice Mickey Beignet Sundae from Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory

Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge

• Check out our construction update on Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge, where not much is really happening
• We are, however, starting to get our first look at the organically-designed, bright & airy resort through new concept art. Check out the images for the quick service restaurant and grab & go market, and the resort lobby and Pocahontas statue, and the hotel rooms which will feature inspiration from Bambi, Brother Bear, Fox and the Hound, Pocahontas and more

Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Park

• Check out this week’s photo report for the Disneyland Park, featuring Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge crowds, Frozen pins and more
• The last-ever “Disneyland Forever” fireworks will take place on September 2nd
• We tried the new limited-time Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Raspberry Lemonade Milkshake from Carnation Cafe, in celebration of the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade, the Seasonal Round Up Dog from Refreshment Corner, and the White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Shake from Red Rose Taverne
• A wave of price increases has taken over Toydarian Toymaker in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• The rocks at the entrance to Tomorrowland, lovingly-dubbed the “”French Fry Rocks”, are currently undergoing removal

Disney California Adventure

• We got a video sneak peek of the new World of Color “Villainous!” show and saw new concept art for the Alice in Wonderland immersive treat trails and Villains Grove, all coming to the Oogie Boogie Bash this Halloween season
• Daisy Duck has been out meeting & greeting guests dressed as Marvel’s Black Widow, with Goofy as Iron Man and Pluto with an Avengers Bandana as part of the 80th anniversary of Marvel celebrations
• The Red Car Trolley has extended its refurbishment through 2020
• We reviewed the new menu over at Lucky Fortune Cookery, where the trademark take-out boxes have been tossed out for plates

Tokyo Disney Resort

• Check out this week’s photo report for DisneySea, featuring traditional Japanese apparel, Olympic touch-ups and more
• The “Hello, New York!” stage show has been suspended through November 7th at DisneySea
• The festive offerings, including entertainment, merchandise and snacks, have been revealed for “Disney Christmas” 2019 at  DisneySea

New Merchandise

• There’s a whole bunch of Halloween merchandise starting to haunt the Disney parks and online on shopDisney. Across the parks, we found this adorable Mickey Pumpkin Loungefly backpack, a Halloween Minnie Candy Corn Loungefly backpack, this Candy Corn Mickey Pumpkin Halloween Spirit Jersey, Dia de los Muertos Minnie Ears and Ear Hat, a villainous line of Disney Villains merchandise, limited release Vampire Mickey MagicBand, a “Happy Halloween 2019” popcorn bucket from the Magic Kingdom, the Halloween 2019 pin series, and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary, Disney Villains, Hocus Pocus and Halloween 2019 D-Tech phone cases. Check out the full ranges of Halloween merchandise, with prices, at Mouse Gear at Epcot, and the Main Street Confectionery in the Magic Kingdom, and throughout the Disneyland Resort

• Apparently, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas too, as we’ve spotted these new The Nightmare Before Christmas ornaments
• On a trip to Disney Springs, we came across the “sold out” Haunted Mansion 50th Anniversary event-exclusive merchandise, very much still available
• In jewelry news, new Haunted Mansion necklace designs by Rebecca Hook have materialized in Disneyland, and these “We’re All Mad Here” Cheshire Cat Disney Parks Exclusive charm by Pandora was spotted in Walt Disney World
• Over in Tokyo Disneyland, even more merchandise has appeared in the “Forever” line to celebrate the closure of “One Man’s Dream II: The Magic Lives On”
• An amazing LEGO Disney Parks Train and Station set will be released on September 1st, complete with five exclusive minifigures
• If golfing is more your thing, these impressive new Mickey Mouse golf bags are now available at Disney Gold Pro Shops in Walt Disney World
• A new Rainbow Pride “Love Comes in Every Color” merchandise and apparel collection arrived in the parks this week
• In homeware, a “Fantastico” new Goofy and Donald kitchen collection has debuted at the Italy pavilion in Epcot
• There’s finally a Star Wars Spirit Jersey in our galaxy, spotted in stores in Disneyland
• The August collection from the Disney Wisdom collectable series is now available on shopDisney, this month featuring an adorable Bambi and Thumper
• The newest Disney Parks Designer Collection Minnie Ears are now available, big, puffy and pink and designed by Betsey Johnson
• Following the recall of the unsafe original toy, a new Toy Story 4 Forky plush has arrived at the parks

Entertainment & Media

• Disney has announced a new deal with Charter Communications, bringing a roster of Disney networks to Spectrum customers

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