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 August 23-30, 2020.

Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom

• Social distancing markers for the character cavalcades have officially come to the park, running all the way up Main Street, U.S.A. along each side of the road, ending at Casey’s Corner on one side and Plaza Ice Cream Parlor on the other
• Caricature, silhouette and parasol artists return to the park with new social distancing protocols

• The Space Ranger Slushy has returned to the park!
• Since we last checked on TRON Lightcycle / Run’s construction, progress has been made on the illuminated canopy that will eventually shade the ride, and work continues on the back of the show building as well
• Mysterious netting has been installed above the Country Bear Jamboree
• With the upcoming walkway and bridge to the Magic Kingdom from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa nearly completed, new directional signage has been added to the entrance of the park
• A second canopy has risen as construction continues on the new dock outside the park entrance
• Halloween decor, a special cavalcade, and more is coming to the park on September 15 in celebration of the fall season
• Check out this week’s photo reports from August 23, August 24, August 27 and August 28. We document the new character cavalcade social distancing markers, looked at new signage for the Grand Floridian Walkway and so much more
• The temperature screening tent has been expanded at the nearly-completed Grand Floridian Walkway to the Magic Kingdom

EPCOT

• Like a grand and miraculous waterfall, it seems Spaceship Earth is still having problems at EPCOT with constant leaking affecting the entrance to the iconic attraction
• Let’s take a look at the current state of construction at the upcoming Play! Pavilion as the roof replacement continues
• Check out our full review of Teppan Edo as it returns to EPCOT!
• The show must go on at EPCOT, as construction is officially resuming on barges for “HarmonioUS”, the park’s future nighttime spectacular
• Permits filed for “Project Gamma” indicate work has resumed on the new restaurant replacing Electric Umbrella at EPCOT
• The iconic Gateway Gifts sign has been replaced after nearly 38 years
• Construction of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has reached another milestone at EPCOT, as work has begun to move into the attraction’s interior
• Florida Man accused of hitting, threatening to kill an EPCOT security guard due to issues with face mask rules
• Demolition continues over at Innoventions West as construction resumes
• Check out this week’s photo reports from August 23 and August 29 which include our report on crowds and wait times, new food booths, capacity issues at the Mexico Pavilion, and more!

• The facade work in the upcoming France Pavilion expansion is nearly complete
• New special edition seasonal macarons come to Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie
• We noticed The Alps preparing to open as an addition to the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, and got into some cheesy goodness with a review when it did finally open
• The solar panel mount installation for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has been completed
• Exterior painting has continued on the restrooms near Mouse Gear
• We reviewed the new seasonal macaron ice cream sandwiches at L’Artisan des Glaces
• Spain also opened at the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival that same day
• La Cava del Tequila celebrated their eleventh anniversary with special offerings, including a mezcal featuring Cast Members on the bottle

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• The theater used for “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!” reopens as an additional wait area for guests who placed mobile orders at Backlot Express
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios reservations are fully booked for Passholders on weekends through November 7th
• Refurbishment on the Legends of Hollywood neon marquee continues
• Check out this week’s photo reports from August 24, August 25 and August 26 where we document the crowd levels, a new Onward popcorn bucket, and more!
• R5 can vamp with the best of them as he stretches for time during a delay on Star Wars: Rise of Resistance
• Star Wars: Rise of Resistance ran into some more difficulties when boarding groups failed to distribute at 10AM

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Construction continues on the structure we reported on two weeks ago at the end of Kilimanjaro Safaris in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and it’s since received some considerable improvements

Disney Springs

• The VOID, a popular virtual reality experience hub at Disney Springs, is now permanently closed

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

• Construction continues on The Walt Disney World Swan Reserve hotel, which recently underwent a name change from The Cove
• The NBA referees began their march against racism in support of the NBA players from within Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Disney’s Beach Club Resort

• Join us on a tour of the current state of the Beach Club Marketplace, which is now closed for refurbishment, plus its makeshift replacement inside the Solarium
• French fry lovers are in for a shock at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop in Disney’s Beach Club Resort, as the fan-favorite steak fries are currently unavailable

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

• Disney’s Yacht Club reopens as the only Walt Disney World Resort to featuring in-room dining
• Check out our review of Ale & Compass Restaurant as it makes its grand reopening!
• The Market at Ale & Compass, a small quick-service shop at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, has reopened with new social distancing measures

Disney’s Old Key West Resort

• Take a tour of a one-bedroom villa at Disney’s Old Key West Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

• The lime-flavored Dole Whip is back at Pineapple Lanai in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and it is as refreshing as ever

Other Walt Disney World News

• Park hours have been added through November 14, but there has been no update about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party or EPCOT Festival of the Holidays
• Blockout dates have been lifted through September 10th for Cast Members

• D-Tech on Demand kiosks have been removed from the Magic Kingdom, MaDe is now the only merchandise personalization service at Walt Disney World
• Cast Members have been notified that the furloughs at Walt Disney World have been extended
• Despite entertainment actors being allowed to return back to Walt Disney World, entertainment options will remain dark due to the Cast Member furloughs being extended
• California Grill, Chef Mickey’s, Beaches & Cream and more restaurants have been added to the Mobile Dine waitlist service on My Disney Experience
• Buzzfeed featured a story roundup of the Craziest Things to Happen in Florida in 2020, and among those craziest things was the man who was caught camping on Discovery Island which we first covered back in April
• During a “One Goal, One Florida” theme park roundtable, Governor Ron DeSantis stated that the state of Florida is “comfortable” with expanding capacity at the Central Florida theme parks, including Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort
• The Milwaukee Bucks have boycotted the August 26th NBA Playoffs game in protest of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin by police officers
• Bob Iger calls change in CDC Guidelines on COVID-19 Testing “Horrifying”
• Following the boycott, NBA players have elected to continue the playoffs at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
• A Disney fan has built his own MagicBand scanners themed to Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion and more
• Disney has quietly added availability at all four parks for Annual Passholders in September, October, and November
• Disney has filed a new patent involving drones that could take their stage shows and nighttime spectaculars to the next level
• Walt Disney World Annual Passholder Tinker Bell “Thank You” magnets are now arriving by mail

Disneyland Resort

• The Disneyland Resort has introduced a shopping reservation system for items expected to be in high demand, such as the 65th-anniversary limited edition pins
• Cast Member furloughs have been extended indefinitely at Disneyland Resort
• Disney has posted two new online auditions for performers at Avengers Campus, the upcoming land at Disney California Adventure Park

• “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” song has been quietly removed from the Disneyland Resort music loops ahead of the Splash Mountain closure, and later Disney made an official comment on the removal
• Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro says that Disney is “ready” to reopen the parks of the Disneyland Resort as soon as California guidelines allow in a recent interview
• The Disneyland Resort landscaping team is ready to “roll out the green carpet” for fall flower displays
• Disneyland Resort lights illuminate Anaheim once again in preparation for imminent resort reopening
• In a press conference held August 28th, California Governor Gavin Newsom outlined new COVID-19 reopening guidelines, including a four-tier color-coded system representing various risk levels and what business operations can continue at those levels

Disneyland Paris

• “The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands” performances have suddenly been suspended, with the reason given for the cancellations being “technical difficulties”
• Starting September 14, Disneyland Paris will be cutting hours at its two parks, with both Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park reduced to a 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM schedule
• An announcement has been made by the resort that includes all of the special offerings coming for “Disney’s Halloween Festival” 2020

Tokyo Disney Resort

• A crowd estimate chart has been released for the shops, to help guests avoid congestion at the resort’s most popular stores.
• Reportedly, Cast Member previews for the new attraction “The Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast” will be happening September 7-10

New Merchandise

• Carry some of Disney’s Animal Kingdom with you everywhere you go with this new leopard print belt bag
• New Disney Parks attractions and Mickey face masks have come to shopDisney
• Check out every piece (with prices!) of the new 2020 NBA Playoff merchandise available at Walt Disney World
• The new Disney Christmas 2020 Collection including sleepwear, mugs, and tumblers arrive on shopDisney
• New Pandora charms featuring Mickey balloons, Disney Park snacks and more come to shopDisney
• We got a first look at the new merchandise items coming to the Taste of EPCOT Food and Wine Festival 2020

• A new “Onward” themed popcorn bucket has arrived at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Limited edition Splash Mountain sculptures, hand-carved from giant sequoia wood, have arrived at the Magic Kingdom
• Behold the eighth wonders of the world: new limited release Jungle Cruise pins, perfect for any skipper or skipper-in-training
• A new light-up “Happily Ever After” Cinderella Castle Cup is now available at Walt Disney World
• Joffrey’s newest Disney Specialty Coffee Collection blend – the Riviera Resort Blend, is now available online!
• New Beauty and the Beast and Baymax-themed snacks debut at Tokyo Disneyland
• The next round of shopDisney’s collectible keys are celebrating two major animated anniversaries: Pluto’s 90th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of Toy Story
• In case you hadn’t heard (or smelled), pumpkin spice season has returned, and even Mickey Mouse is getting in on the act with a new scented Halloween candle on shopDisney

• The force is strong with this mug. Baby Yoda, a.k.a. “The Child”, is on a new mug shaped like his floating pod crib from Walt Disney World
• Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. is offering a free Limited Edition Riviera Resort Tumbler with the purchase of three Disney Specialty coffee flavors
• Want to blast off to a galaxy far, far away but stuck close to home? Bring Batuu to you with this new collection of talking plush at Target featuring animals from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge shops
• New Halloween 2020 pins arrive at Disneyland Resort
• Additional villainous statues featuring the Evil Queen’s Poisoned Apple, “Poor Unfortunate Souls” and more come to Walt Disney World
• With pumpkin spice season upon us, it only makes “scents” that the new scented Mickey Mouse Halloween candle would show up at Walt Disney World
• Several items from the “Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction” have been given a “re-entry pass” and are back in stock on shopDisney
• A new Disney Pirates Summer Figure Set & Tomica Boat sail into Tokyo DisneySea
• A limited-edition set of 24 NBA MagicBands with Gold Finals Champion band, along with the other playoff merchandise, is now available online

• We got a first look at the Madame Leota sipper that is coming to the parks on September 8th
• A new dandelion yellow Minnie Mouse Ear Headband arrives at the Disneyland Resort
• A new Halloween Ear Headband, apron, candy bowl, and pumpkin spice candle arrives at Disneyland Resort
• Get spooked by this new Oogie Boogie Dress by The Dress Shop from Walt Disney World, and these new Oogie Boogie Light-Up Ears from Disneyland Resort
• Rep your favorite character every time you pull your ID with these new Character Card Holder Wallets we found at Disney Parks on both coasts, including this new “The Haunted Mansion” card holder wallet from the Disneyland Resort
• New Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. luggage tags rolled into Tokyo Disneyland Resort

• Dandelion yellow and orange flannel Minnie Mouse Ear Headbands arrived at Walt Disney World
• A Pain and Panic figure has been added to the Disney Villains figure lineup
• Spread “holiday cheer” with a new serving plate featuring Mickey and friends
• The Canada Pavilion added a light-up Mickey keychain to their new merchandise line, as well as a new ornament and cowbell
• King Arthur Carrousel ears from the Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction collection unexpectedly showed up at EPCOT
• A new Chuuby keychain and plush flew into Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• The Disney Parks exclusive edition of the new Jungle Cruise board game sailed into the Disneyland Resort
• Put a spell on your friends and neighbors in this cool new “Hocus Pocus” spirit jersey
• Keep those tootsies all warm and toasty with these two new sets of socks featuring Baby Yoda “The Child”
• The Hoth, Bespin and Dagobah mugs from the Starbucks “Been There” series came back in stock on shopDisney

• We have a closeup look at the whole line of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Trading Outpost merch available now in Target, with prices!
• A new Mickey Mouse glove headband waves hello at the Disneyland Resort
• A collection of fun and functional Mickey-Mouse-print bags by Herschel Supply Co. are coming to Lazada on September 9
• Some new Nightmare Before Christmas merch was scared up at the Disneyland Resort
• A new Baby Yoda “The Child” hat from World of Disney at Disneyland Resort lets you become the bounty

Entertainment and Media

• After introducing the game to Play Disney Parks in May of 2019, Disney has quietly removed the Splash Mountain-themed interactive game, The Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah-Day, from the app
• As Disney continues to reckon with its past, Hallmark has canceled the release of a Mickey Mouse ornament that was supposed to play “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”
• Kelly Marie Tran has been named the new star of “Rayla and the Last Dragon” and a new look for the film has been shared for the movie by Entertainment Weekly
• Now, you can Journey to Batuu from the comfort of your own home planet thanks to a new game pack for The Sims 4
• Disney’s 2023 Theatrical Film release schedule has been revealed, which includes four Marvel Studios films
• A deluxe new vinyl soundtrack boxset for “The Mandalorian” by Mondo is now available for pre-order
• Disney is breathing new life into The Haunted Mansion by developing yet another live-action film
• Sadly, Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman passed away from colon cancer. Friends, fans, and colleagues shared tributes to the late actor. A special planned for ABC will honor Boseman
• Three animated shorts were released to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Christina Aguilera performs an updated, totally epic new version of her classic song, “Reflection” from “Mulan”

Disney+

• International pricing for the live-action Mulan, coming to Disney+ at an additional price of $29.99 for Premier Access in the United States, has been revealed for various countries
• It was announced that Mulan will be made available to all Disney+ subscribers in the UK on December 4. It was later updated that all subscribers worldwide will have access on December 4
• A new Group Watch feature is being developed for Disney+ to watch movies and shows with friends elsewhere

The Walt Disney Company

• Following the “One Goal, One Florida” theme park roundtable that took place August 26th, Governor Ron DeSantis thanked both Universal Orlando Resort and the Vice President of Disney’s Hollywood Studios Jackie Swisher for their participation

WDW News Today

Disneyland Resort Prepares for Possible Reopening as Cases Fall – NewsToday 8/24

Disneyland Theme Parks Illuminated at Night as Reopening Preparations Continue – NewsToday 8/28

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!

Alicia