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 September 16-22!

Walt Disney World

• In a video released earlier this week, Disney revealed the first official look at the Disney Skyliner vistas across Walt Disney World, along with the operating hours for each line
• More new bus wraps have been popping up across the resort, including this new Pandora – World of Avatar design
• runDisney have made some changes to the 2020 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, with course alterations, a new start time and new packages
• Earlier in the week, a monorail lost power on the way to Epcot, leaving 100 people stuck and in need of evacuation

Magic Kingdom

• Check out this week’s photo report for the Magic Kingdom, including a look at the construction across the main entrance, Peoplemover and TRON Lightcycle Run
• The support beams on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover are currently under refurbishment
• A sleek new Tomorrowland entrance marquee has been installed
• The Astro Orbiter has finally reopened after its lenghty and unplanned refurbishment
• Starting October 1st, there will be some changes to the character meet & greets around Magic Kingdom, with characters moving, changing, and roaming about the park
• Automatic PhotoPass cameras have now also been installed at Princess Fairytale Hall
• Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom in October and November may benefit from extended opening hours on select dates

Animal Kingdom

• Rumor has it that the popular Burudika Band which performs in Harambe Village is set to end on October 13th
• It was confirmed that Primeval Whirl is to become a seasonal attraction only, and we noticed the ride vehicles being tested for this earlier in the week
• Check out our construction update for the Animal Kingdom Club 33 location
• A revamped “UP! A Great Bird Adventure” show has debuted this week, with a bumbling Wilderness Explorer Troop Leader replacing the host
• Check out the construction progress on the Animal Kingdom tram loop
• We tried the grassy Frozen Matcha Green Tea from Joffrey’s

Epcot

• Disney has revealed a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming Epcot Forever nighttime spectacular
• In the France pavilion, La Creperie de Paris has gone vertical, adjacent to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, which now has a teaser sign displayed on the construction walls around the attraction
• The newly-remodeled International Gateway entrance has now opened at the back of the park, with expanded security and access from the Epcot Skyliner station
• Lots of new details have been revealed for the 2019 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, including the full menus for the Holiday Kitchens, and that Marlee Matlin and Isabella Rossellini have joined the lineup of narrators for the Candlelight Processional

• Take a look at the photos we took of the latest updates on the tram loop and entrance construction at the front of the park
• Check out our construction update on the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction
• The Taste Track kiosk has been removed and replaced with The Donut Box in Future World East
• Read our review of our recent visit to Le Cellier in the Canada pavilion
• Winnie the Pooh has returned to his rightful meet & greet location in the United Kingdom pavilion
• We tried the delicious seasonal Pumpkin Spice Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich from L’Artisan des Glaces in the France pavilion
• We were disappointed to hear that those pesky entertainment cuts have hit Epcot, with the popular “Mariachi Cobre Presents… The Story of Coco” ending this week in the Mexico pavilion, and the JAMMitors and Matsuriza performance hours now reduced to just five days a week 
• Disney announced that water collected from the Fountain of Nations ahead of its demolition will be used in future water features in the park
• Automated PhotoPass cameras have now also been installed at Royal Sommerhus in the Norway pavilion

Hollywood Studios

• This week, a cast member preview was held for the upcoming attraction Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and photos from the preview show us the current state of the indoor queue area. Outside the attraction, new construction walls have gone up and more Great Movie Ride Relics were removed.

Disney Springs

• Check out this week’s photo report for Disney Springs, featuring new Duck Tales apparel, red poison apple glow cubes and more
• Amazing Pictures has closed its doors this week to make way for a new Ample Hills location
• The menus for the WonderFall Flavors event across Disney Springs have been announced

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

• Mobile ordering has reached more resort restaurants, whist a couple of the pools are to close soon for refurbishment
• This new pre-arrival Cinderella Castle MagicBand is now available exclusively for resort guests

Caribbean Beach Resort

• A new Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. kiosk location is coming to the Disney Skyliner Station at Caribbean Beach

Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

• We tried the disaster that was the Arendelle Aqua Cotton Candy Eclair from Gasparilla Island Grill

Polynesian Village Resort

• We reviewed the Arendelle Aqua Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake from Kona Island

Pop Century Resort

• We reviewed the new Marshmallow and Cotton Candy Buttercream Arendelle Aqua Cupcake

Port Orleans Resort

• We reviewed the new Salted Caramel Chocolate Arendelle Aqua Sparkle Cupcake from Sassagoula Floatworks over at French Quarter
• Scat Cat’s Club will soon be expanding into a cafe and lounge at French Quarter

Disneyland Resort

• The peanut brittle, toffee and clusters across the Disneyland Resort have been given new packaging but hit with price increases

Disneyland Park

• We learned that new entertainment, including a magician and dueling piano players, will be coming to Frontierland and The Golden Horseshoe from next week

Disney California Adventure

• We visited the first-ever Oogie Boogie Bash this year at Disney California Adventure. Watch the all-new “Villainous!” World of Color nighttime spectacular from the event, and the amazing Frightfully Fun Parade. Take a walk through Villains Grove, and the Mad Hatter, Dr Facilier and Oogie Boogie character Treat Trails across the park, and stop to meet Kingdom Hearts Donald and Goofy! You can also check out every piece of amazing merchandise from the event (with prices), including this Oogie Boogie Light-Up Sipper and this sparkly Ear Headband, and take a look at the map for the party here
• The Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission – Breakout! FastPass distribution area is open once more after its construction

Downtown Disney Resort

• In honor of Wednesday’s National Cheeseburger Day, Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes were giving away free cheeseburgers

Disneyland Resort Hotels

• We reviewed the new breakfast menu at Tangaroa Terrace over at the Disneyland Hotel

Disneyland Paris

• Check out this week’s photo report for Disneyland Paris, featuring a look at crowd levels, closed attractions and more
• Concept art has been revealed for the upcoming Iron Man Roller Coaster coming to the Walt Disney Studios Park

Tokyo Disney Resort

• Check out this week’s photo report for Tokyo Disneyland, including a look at the Halloween decor, guest costumes and more
• The opening date has officially been set for the Tokyo Disneyland expansion, which is April 15th, 2020. This expansion will feature the Beauty and the Beast e-ticket attraction, The Happy Ride with Baymax and more
• Continuing our reviews of all the delicious treats available across Tokyo Disney Resort for Disney Halloween, we tried the Special Set from the Plaza Pavilion, the Chocolate & Pumpkin Swirl Soft Serve, and the Creamy Scallop Croquette on a Chinese Bun from Huey, Dewey & Louie’s Good Time Cafe
• The Christmas food items have been revealed for Disney Christmas 2019 at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, including this adorable Christmas Gift popcorn bucket
• The recent tax increase in Japan has lead to a ticket price increase for Tokyo Disney Resort, effective from October 1st

New Merchandise

• shopDisney have launched a new pajama and storybook monthly subscription box named Disney Bedtime Adventure
• This cute new Mickey Mouse Club apparel has arrived at the Magic Kingdom this week, and this new DuckTales apparel has hit Disney Springs
• The September collection of the Disney Wisdom series is now available, featuring some wise words from Merlin of The Sword in the Stone
• A new collection of Trader Sam’s merchandise has debuted at the Art of Disney, including a shirt, tumbler, art and more
• A new Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark shirt and Vyloo plush have dropped into Disney California Adventure this week
• New Donald Duck “Three Caballeros”, Mr Toad and Splash Mountain big figurines are now available in the parks
• More fan-inspired buttons have arrived at Walt Disney World, featuring the Dapper Dans and the castle
• This gorgeous new “it’s a small world” Danielle Nicole bag has arrived at Disney Springs

• New attraction posters are now available at Art on Demand Kiosks across the parks, including Spaceship Earth, Haunted Mansion, Flight of Passage and more
• In MagicBand news, the next in the series of Annual Passholder exclusive bands are set to be released on October 1st at Walt Disney World
• We found four new Alex and Ani bangles in the parks this week, featuring Beauty and the Beast and Disney Villains
• This new ombre Disney Vacation Club Member Spirit Jersey has arrived at Walt Disney World
• Adorable new Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween merchandise has arrived in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, whilst the Disney Parks Dia de los Muertos Celebracion collection has arrived on shopDisney

Entertainment & Media

• Rumor has it that a Solo: A Star Wars Story spinoff series may be heading to Disney+
• A brand-new special look at Maleficent: Mistress of Evil was released this week
• Disney has released a new book celebrating the beauty and intricacy behind Disney movie costumes, titled “The Art of Disney Costuming: Heroes, Villains and Spaces Between”
• The Beta Test for Disney+ has begun in The Netherlands, unveiling the full library of content which is to be available on the service

Other Disney News

• The Disney Bedtime Hotline service is back, with which you can have your favorite characters wish you goodnight in a special message

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