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 26 – September 1!

Walt Disney World

• We’ve been closely following the unpredictable path of Hurricane Dorian this week, which was at one point set to make landfall as a Category 4 hurricane. While the path of the hurricane keeps changing, the most recent report we have is that Orlando International Airport lifted its planned closure on Monday September 2nd. In the parks, check out the preparations which were undergone ready for the storm, in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. We also reported that Disney Vacation Club waived its cancellation penalty for guests ahead of the hurricane.
• Out and about this week, we spotted new character bus wraps on the Disney Transportation Fleet, featuring Dumbo, Groot and Rocket

Magic Kingdom

• Check out this week’s photo report for the Magic Kingdom, including a look at hurricane preparations, low crowds and more
• We reviewed the new Billy’s Worms & Dirt Dessert available at Pecos Bill during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Epcot

• Check out this week’s photo report for Epcot, including the start of the Food & Wine festival, construction updates, a touching tribute to Buzzy and more
• We went to take a look at the construction over at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the France pavilion, and the progress on Space 220 Restaurant in Future World
• Also, the new International Gateway entrance structure has gone vertical this week
• The pavilion repainting efforts are continuing at Epcot, with The Odyssey now sporting a bright pink and blue look

NOW ON: Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2019

• Earlier on in the week, new food photos, booth locations and details were revealed for the festival, which kicked off on Thursday
• Of course, we visited every booth for the festival this year, bringing you reviews of the good, the bad and the tasty. Read all our booth reviews here: from France, Hawaii, Morocco, Belgium, Japan, Canada, Africa, Spain, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Ireland, Thailand, India, China, Germany, Italy, The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar, Sunshine Seasons, craft beers at Block & Hans, cocktails and nitro cold brew from Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co., beers at Fife & Drum, more beers at Brewer’s Collection, Islands of the Caribbean, The Chocolate Studio and the contrasting The Cheese Studio, wine, cider and popcorn at Appleseed Orchard, fresh and healthy Active Eats, German food in Sommerfest, Wine & Dine Studio, spicy Flavors From Fire, a taste of New England at Hops & Barley, the Funnel Cake Kiosk, European-inspired food at The Alps, the colorful and fun offerings from Shimmering Sips Mimosa Bar, fresh, plant-based dishes from Earth Eats, seafood from Coastal Eats, and refreshing beverages at Refreshment Outpost and Refreshment Port
• Check out all the marketplace booth menus around the World Showcase

• The Disney du Jour dance party has moved to a new stage for the festival this year, in a new home near the Innoventions East entrance
• Check out the exclusive Annual Passholder and Limited Release Pins which will be available during the festival
• In merch news, these new Chef Minnie limited-edition MagicBand, Pandora Charms and Dooney & Bourke items arrived for the festival, as did the new “Taste Your Way Around the World” line of homeware and apparel. In fact, you can check out a full list of every piece of festival merchandise – with prices – here! Buy it all with this new souvenir Chef Remy Disney gift card, or this passholder-exclusive Chef Minnie gift card with a $10 digital bonus!

Animal Kingdom

• Check out this week’s photo report for Animal Kingdom, including crowd levels for those Extra, Extra Magic Hours, limited-time characters, passholder perks and more

Hollywood Studios

• Hollywood Studios upped its food game for the opening of Galaxy’s Edge this week! We reviewed the new Rebel Shake at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater – a refreshing combination of Dole Whip and Citrus Swirl, the bright Two Suns Hummus from Backlot Express, the new Galactic Funnel Cake from Epic Eats, new French Toast Pretzels, the delicious Bantha Skewers from Catalina Eddie’s, the Beer Cheese and Crispy Onion Hot Dogs from The Market, and the limited-time A Galaxy Far, Far Away Espress Mousse from ABC Commissary and PizzeRizzo
• This new Disney Parks Star Wars Popcorn Bucket arrived in Hollywood Studios this week
• Keystone Clothiers reopened its doors this week after its refurbishment, packed full of Galaxy’s Edge merchandise
• The new Oasis Canteen Beverage Kiosk is also now open, serving some very brightly-colored drinks!

NOW OPEN: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

• Disney revealed a first official look inside the Rise of the Resistance attraction
• A new themed Coca-Cola stand with a droid has debuted at Galaxy’s Edge

• This Disney Parks Exclusive Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge “Landing 2019” Hondo Ohnaka Funko Pop! figure launched this week at Hollywood Studios
• There’s amazing and exclusive new PhotoPass opportunities and Magic Shots available at Galaxy’s Edge – so look out for those!
• We reviewed the new Oga’s Cantina Secret Menu Charcuterie Board, and the new Tugg’s Morning Oats from Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
• Check out our full list of every piece of merchandise – with prices – which was available from the grand opening of Galaxy’s Edge
• This interesting Batuuan Spira Metal Coin Disney gift card is being sold at Galaxy’s Edge
• There was a bit of a to-do this week when the Thermal Detonator Coca-Cola bottles sold in Galaxy’s Edge were banned by the TSA for flight travel, however this issue was later resolved

Disney Springs

• These new Purple Poison Apple Glow Cubes are now lighting up drinks at AristoCrepes

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

• New Halloween-themed refillable mugs have appeared across the resorts

All-Star Resorts

• We reviewed the four new Fall desserts from across the All-Star resorts: Jack’s Hallow-Lime Cupcake, Posion Apple Tart, Chai Tea Cupcake and Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake
• A temporary pop-up pool bar is now open at All-Star Movies

Beach Club Resort

• A new temporary Beaches & Cream Soda Shop location has now opened, allowing you to still get your ice cream fix during the main store’s refurb

Caribbean Beach Resort

• Check out the progress on the Skyliner station construction at Caribbean Beach, including a new kiosk, bus stop and more

Polynesian Village Resort

• We tried the unimpressive new limited-time Yoda Dole Whip Lime Cone from Pineapple Lanai
• A lawsuit has been filed, claiming that four guests staying at the Polynesian were served lettuce wraps containing live bugs

Pop Century Resort

• The resort airline check-in area at Pop Century is currently under refurbishment

Disneyland Resort

• Performances by the Pixarmonic Orchestra in Disney California Adventure and the Laughing Stock Company in Disneyland have been cancelled due to entertainment cutbacks at the Disneyland resort
• We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of a construction worker during a HVAC construction accident in Disneyland

Disneyland Park

• Check out this week’s photo report for the Disneyland Park, including the Adventureland Refurbishment, Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and more
• A new audition posting has revealed a list of characters to be featured in the upcoming Magic Happens parade in 2020

Disney California Adventure

• The new entrance to Sunset Showcase Theater has opened, with an eye-catching digital marquee

Downtown Disney District

• Check out this week’s photo report for the Downtown Disney District, including progress on the pedestrian bridge construction, a look at the Halloween display in World of Disney, and more

Disneyland Paris

• Take a look at the construction progress on Marvel Land at the Walt Disney Studios Park
• A new Animation Celebration featuring a Frozen interactive musical show and meet & greet is due to debut at the Walt Disney Studios Park this November

Tokyo Disney Resort

• Check out this week’s photo report for Tokyo Disneyland, featuring the bicycling pianist, unique new merchandise and more
• Some very sad news came out of Tokyo when it was revealed that Fantasmic! at DisneySea is due to end on March 25, 2020, with several other entertainment offerings ending March 31st too – including Ariel’s Greeting Grotto, the Jungle Rhythms drum group and Lilo’s Luau and Fun
• New park ticket vending machines have been installed at Tokyo Disneyland

New Merchandise

• The literary accompaniment to the much-hyped “One Day at Disney” project: the One Day at Disney hardcover book is now available for pre-order on shopDisney
• In Ear Headgear news, these new limited release Disney Parks Designer collection Enchanted Tiki Room ear hats designed by SHAG are now available in the parks and on shopDisney, the Disney Parks Designer Collection Hipster Mickey Ear Hat by Jerrod Maruyama were spotted in the Magic Kingdom, and these Haunted Mansion Lace Bow Minnie Ears have materialized at Memento Mori in the Magic Kingdom

• Take a look at the beautiful new jewelry by Rebecca Hook, which was on sale during a trunk show in Epcot this week. Also in jewelry are these new Star Wars “May The Force Be With You” Pandora Charms available in the parks, this new double-sided Princess and the Frog Alex and Ani bangle, and these new sterling silver pendant necklaces in the Disney Parks Jewelry Collection
• These loud new Mike and Sulley backpacks by Loungefly are now scaring over at Hollywood Studios. Also scaring are these limited-edition Disney Villains x OtterBox phone cases
• If you’re a Haunted Mansion fan, you’ll love this new Hitchiking Ghost Doom Buggy Figure by Jim Shore from the Magic Kingdom
• Over in Tokyo Disneyland Resort, this adorable line of Duffy’s Delightful Autumn Woods merchandise is now available
• In pin news, the September pin releases for Walt Disney World and Disneyland have been revealed, featuring DuckTales, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Disney Skyliner and Galaxy’s Edge

Entertainment & Media

• If you haven’t seen this amazing new teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker yet… where have you been? Has Rey gone to the Dark Side? So many questions!
• The first poster for Marvel Studios’ Black Widow was also revealed this week
• It was announced that Disney Movie Rewards will become Disney Movie Insiders, with a new app launching on September 26th

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