Every week is a busy week when it comes to Disney news. To help you keep up with all the updates coming out of Walt Disney World and other Disney resorts, here’s WDWNT’s weekly recap of the Disney news from July 20-26, 2020.

Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom

• Read our Complete Guide to the Reopening of Magic Kingdom, including all you need to know about the new park policies, attraction modifications and more since the park closures
• Check out this week’s photo report for the Magic Kingdom, featuring rainy day crowd levels, construction updates and more
• The final makeover touches are being made on Cinderella Castle, as we noticed work has moved to painting the rock work under the moat
• The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover is still closed at the Magic Kingdom
• Watch as The Royal Princess Processional & Fantasyland Friends “Rainy Day Cavalcade” debuts
• Construction on TRON Lightcycle Run has been charging on

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Following last week’s announcement that the ride has closed for good, we noticed that the ride vehicles from Primeval Whirl have been removed from their tracks
• The Cheeseburger Pod meal has returned to Satu’li Canteen in Pandora – The World of Avatar. We also visited the reopened Mr Kamal’s and Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes
• The new “Feathered Friends in Flight” show has ruffled some feathers with the Actors’ Equity Association in a new dispute

EPCOT

• Read our Complete Guide to the Reopening of EPCOT, including all you need to know about new park policies, attraction modifications and more since the historic park closures
• Check out this week’s photo report for EPCOT, featuring the lack of Project Tomorrow, a socially-distanced Winnie the Pooh and more
• The Morocco pavilion has reopened with very few social distancing modifications
• In the Germany pavilion, lots of stores have reopened, including Arribas Brothers, and Karamell-Kuche are offering Annual Passholders a 30% discount on Werther’s Original Caramel Popcorn
• In the France pavilion, construction is nearing completion for the area expansion and façade of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie has reopened
• In the Land pavilion, a one-way guest system has been implemented, and new plastic dividers have been added to the ride boats over at Living with the Land
• At Test Track, the Chevrolet showroom has reopened with roped-off cars
• A mother has been arrested after two guns and a stash of marijuana was found in a diaper bag
• Winnie the Pooh has been adorably chasing butterflies in this new socially-distanced character experience
• Project Tomorrow is now entirely shut down at EPCOT, with all the screens turned off
• Following a disastrous malfunction this week, the Jose Carioca animatronic has been removed completely from the Gran Fiesta Tour attraction
• A new “Mask Enforcement Squad” was dispatched to EPCOT this week to ensure that guests weren’t removing their face masks while eating or drinking and walking
• Palmas Restaurant Group have laid off an undisclosed number of employees from EPCOT’s Mexico pavilion

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Read our Complete Guide to the Reopening of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including all you need to know about new park policies, attraction modifications and more since the historic park closures
• First Order Cargo has reopened with limited capacity
• We visited 50’s Prime Time Café for lunch following its reopening
• Starting this week, the virtual queue booking windows were reduced for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Disney Springs

• Check out this week’s photo report for Disney Springs, including construction updates, new Minnie Ears, and more
• A bright neon sign has debuted at the new Chef Art Smith’s Shine Bar & Social
• Walt Disney World Cast Members have been blocked out through October 2020 for theme park access
• AMC Theaters have postponed their reopening back to August, in the wake of many film release date delays
• The Disney Ticket Center has reopened with new health and safety measures in place
• Construction has been pushing on at the upcoming M&M’s retail store
• Ample Hills Creamery will no longer be operating at any Walt Disney World locations, including at Disney Springs
• POP Gallery are holding a big clearance sale ahead of their permanent closure at Disney Springs at the end of this month

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

• Public showers are now unavailable at resort hotels, due to the government’s current health and safety guidelines
• Florida residents are being offered up to 35% discounts on resort hotel rooms through September

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

• Construction is nearing completion on the walkway connecting the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom

Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

• Boat transportation has resumed to the Magic Kingdom from Fort Wilderness, with new social distancing measures onboard

Four Seasons Resort Orlando

• The Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy & His Pals has returned to Ravello at the Four Seasons

Other Walt Disney World News

• Updated signage and park announcements have been installed, to remind guests to wear their face masks unless eating and drinking whilst stationary throughout the resort
• Walt Disney World have been issuing surveys to guests asking about their interest in attractions, including the Country Bear Jamboree in the Magic Kingdom
• An additional one-month extension has been issued for Annual Passholders
• A new Florida Resident Disney Magic Flex ticket option has been announced for 2020
• A new “Up!”-themed eco-coach has debuted this week at the resort
• The Actors’ Equity Association has released  a video, targeting Walt Disney World’s lack of COVID-19 testing and face masks for performers
• A GoFundMe has been launched to help Disney Cultural Representatives who are still stranded in Orlando following the COVID-19 pandemic
• A Florida man has been formally charged with trespassing, following a camping incident at Discovery Island
• The first look at the NBA restart court inside Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports was tweeted this week, featuring a “Black Lives Matter” tribute

Disneyland Resort

• Check out this week’s photo report for the Disneyland Resort, including new merchandise, reopenings at Downtown Disney, and more
• The Oogie Boogie Bash events have been canceled at Disneyland Resort, due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns
• The Disneyland Resort has updated their face mask policy, stating that guests must remain stationary whilst eating or drinking to avoid guests walking around with masks off
• Guests with reservations through August 22 have now received cancellation emails from Disney
• California Sole has kicked off it’s opening in Downtown Disney District, and Ballast Point and Tortilla Jo’s have also both reopened for serving
• The site plans for the new Disney Vacation Club tower have received their final approval from the City of Anaheim Planning Commission

Disneyland Paris

• The dates have been announced for the return of the hit summer shows “The Lion King: Rhythm of the Pridelands” and “The Jungle Book Jive” this season
• A loophole is allowing some guests with disabilities to go face mask-free at Disneyland Paris
• Construction has begun on a solar energy site over a guest parking lot, which will be completed by 2023

Tokyo Disney Resort

• Check out this week’s photo report for Tokyo Disneyland, including social distancing, the completed Cinderella Castle and more
• A new “Believe! Sea of Dreams” nighttime show will be coming to Tokyo DisneySea in 2021
• A new automated ordering system has debuted at Pan Galactic Pizza Port in Tokyo Disneyland
• Watch the new, socially-distanced Fab Five character greeting at Tokyo Disneyland
• The most adorable new Baymax “Lucky Cat Café” vending machines have been spotted at the resort
• Read our guide on how to enter the Tokyo Disney Resort Annual Passport lottery

Shanghai Disneyland

• The Mickey’s Storybook Express daytime parade has resumed operation at the resort, the first full parade to resume

Adventures By Disney & Disney Cruise Line

• Adventures by Disney have canceled all their trips to Iceland, plus their Arizona and Utah itineraries through September 30
• The full-length recorded performance of “Tangled: The Musical” aboard Disney Cruise Line is now available for virtual viewing
• Disney Cruise Line has canceled all their sailings through September 30

New Merchandise

• Add to your bracelet with these new Disney Parks Pandora charms, including Cinderella Castle and more
• Show national pride with this new Norway Spirit Jersey and selection of Canada merchandise from EPCOT
• Make a statement in these new Walt Disney World slogan tees, and get vacation-ready with these new tropical Mickey Mouse hoodie and shorts
• Be colorful in this new youth Neon Splatter tie-dye Spirit Jersey
• Stay hydrated with this selection of new water bottles, including Mickey balloon, park life, and tropical designs
• Celebrate the 65^th anniversary of Disneyland with this new collection of Funko POP! figures, featuring Alice in Wonderland, characters riding the Matterhorn Bobsleds, and more!
• In celebration of Christmas in July, the Disney Parks shared a preview of the holiday merchandise collection which will be coming to the parks this festive season
• Jazz up your things with these new Disney Parks stickers
• Go the distance with this new collection of “Hercules” apparel, or represent your favorite movie with these bright new t-shirts featuring “Tarzan”, “Pocahontas”, “A Bug’s Life” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
• Drop into Tower of Terror with these new Bellhop Minnie Ears, go classic with these Minnie Mouse sequin ears or celebrate Pride with these new Glitter Rainbow Mickey Ears
• Make your fireplace extra creepy with this “Nightmare Before Christmas” Oogie Boogie stocking

• Go adventuring with these new “Up” socks
• Solve a sinister mystery with this new Disney Villains edition of Clue
• Chug along with these new Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway-themed magnets, phone cases and more
• Pre-order “The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge”, the newly-announced hardcover book
• Show off your love for “Jungle Cruise” with these new coin purses and totes by Harveys, “The Backside of Water” magnet, and new t-shirts for the whole family
• Take your flight of passage in this new Pandora – The World of Avatar apparel from Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Get puzzling with this new 1000-piece “Frozen” puzzle, and this Pee-Wee Herman 1000-piece puzzle
• In Pin Trading news, this new “Winnie the Pooh” pin trading starter set is now available, as are these new “Ink & Paint” collection mystery pin jars and “Happiness Is…” mystery pin sets
• Blast off with these new Mission: SPACE Mickey Ear Hat ornaments, or decorate with these new “The Lion King” and Mickey & Friends safari ornament sets
• Over in Disneyland Paris, this dazzling new collection of Mulan and Mushu jewelry by Arribas France is now on sale
• Extra large character face masks are now available on shopDisney
• Decorate your kitchen with even more new releases in the “Mousewares” collection
• Carry around your hunny in this adorable new “Winnie the Pooh” patterned Loungefly canvas backpack
• Accessorise with this adorably charming ‘My Happy Place’ bracelet
• Fall in love with this adorable Baby Yoda talking plush from “The Mandalorian”, this mini shoulder plush version of “The Child”, or this Yoda Big Feet plush
• Hit the beach with these new Monorail, “Alice in Wonderland” and “Toy Story” beach towels
• Adopt the cutest little fire spirit with this new “Frozen 2” Bruni Shoulder Plush

Entertainment and Media

• The next “Star Wars” trilogy, “Avatar” sequels and more Disney films have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the live-action “Mulan”, whose release date has now been postponed indefinitely
•  A trailer has been released for “The New Mutants”, which will hit theaters in August 2020
• Pre-registration is now open for the “Disney Wonderful Worlds” mobile app game, which will release in early 2021
• Disney is surveying ideas for a new “Disney Cloudfall Village” simulation game, which is currently in development

Disney+

• The latest episode of “One Day at Disney” has given us a closer look at the upcoming Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction in EPCOT
• Watch a sneak peek for the new Marvel docuseries “Marvel’s 616”
• The single “Such a Beautiful Day” has been released from the soundtrack of “Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe”
• Rumor has it that Donald Glover will be returning as Lando Calrissian in  a new “Star Wars” series for Disney+
• A trailer has been released for “The One and Only Ivan”

Other Disney News

• We were sorry to hear of the passing of legendary television host Regis Philbin this week
• A previously-dismissed copyright infringement case against “Pirates of the Caribbean” has been reopened
• Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa remains closed in Hawaii due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
• The Walt Disney Company are reportedly ‘slashing’ advertising spending on social media in the wake of an advertising boycott
• In a recent speech, United States Attorney General William Barr accused The Walt Disney Company of “kowtowing” to China, as 300 of Shanghai Disneyland’s Cast Members are active members of the communist party

Editorials & Other Fun Stuff from WDWNT

• EDITORIAL: 10 Tips for Social Distancing at Disney Parks You’ve Not Been Told

WDW News Today

Make sure you catch up on the News Today episodes from this week!

Guest Brings Guns and Marijuana Into EPCOT – NewsToday 7/25

Jose Carioca Removed from Gran Fiesta Tour at EPCOT – NewsToday 7/22

Disney World Prohibits Guests From Eating or Drinking with Mask Down While Walking – NewsToday 7/20

That’s all the Disney news for this past week folks! Make sure you check back at the end of each week for our weekly recaps!

Madeleine