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 3-9, 2020.

Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom

• Check out this week’s photo report for the Magic Kingdom, featuring a castle makeover update, a Raspberry Dole Whip Swirl, and more
• The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover is officially to be closed through Halloween
• Raspberry & Pineapple Dole Whip Swirl Floats are back at Aloha Isle, while a broken machine at Sunshine Tree Terrace led to guests receiving “deconstructed” Citrus Swirls
• The windows have been covered at Splash Mountain Briar Patch, implying the store may be closed for some time
• There was trouble on Splash Mountain this week, as an incident required guests to evacuate a fully submerged log on Monday. The attraction was temporarily closed following this issue but reopened again as normal very soon after. Walt Disney World released an official statement on the incident that day, confirming that there were no injuries
• The popular Peter Pan Float has soared back into Storybook Treats
• The Diamond Horseshoe has now been temporarily converted into overflow seating for the neighboring Liberty Tree Tavern

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• In a new video series titled “The Rohdes, Less Traveled”, Joe Rohde gives fans a mini-masterclass on the design of Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Following the breakdown of the Wildlife Express Train, guests were left waiting for over an hour at Rafiki’s Planet Watch, before being bussed back to the main part of the park

EPCOT

• Check out this week’s photo report for EPCOT, including parking gate woes, new World Showcase merchandise, and more
• Following the announcement that the Executive Chef of the France pavilion, Bruno Vrignon, would be retiring, thus throwing the future of the pavilion restaurants in doubt, it was confirmed that Chefs de France and Monsieur Paul would reopen at an undisclosed date
• Preparations are underway as Eats at the EPCOT Experience is expected to reopen next week
• In construction across EPCOT, we went to check out the progress on what will be the Play! pavilion, noticed work has resumed for the HarmonioUS nighttime show, and saw that the entrance to the upcoming Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is still awaiting signage
• Tangierine Café is now temporarily closed again in the Morocco pavilion
• The Jose Carioca audio-animatronic made his triumphant return to Gran Fiesta Tour this week, following his absence after a malfunction last week
• Following our reports that the screens had been switched off last week, we were surprised to see that the video globe is once more fully functioning at Project Tomorrow
• House of Good Fortune has reopened in the China pavilion
• Teppan Edo is scheduled to reopen on August 24th in the Japan pavilion

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Check out this week’s photo report for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, featuring delayed parking and arrival procedures, low wait times, Baby Yoda in Black Spire, and more
• The DVC Moonlight Magic events scheduled for September and October have been canceled
• A new contactless security screening system is now in use at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney Springs

• Sweet-toothed fans rejoiced as Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop reopened at Disney Springs this week
• Body store Origins reopened this week with every guest receiving a free charcoal mask, and MAC Cosmetics also reopened with new social distancing measures in place
• Sprinkles Cupcakes are once more welcoming guests inside their bakery, with new social distancing measures in place
• Rustic Cuff has reopened in a new kiosk location

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

• The Disney stores located inside the Disney Springs resort area hotels are to close permanently

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

• The walkway connecting the Contemporary and the Magic Kingdom is looking good, as the railings have been completed and new landscaping elements have been added

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

• The reopening of Coronado Springs has been delayed to October 15

Four Seasons Resort Orlando

• Check out this cool Plum wine dispenser, which we found inside our room at the Four Seasons

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

• Preparations are underway for the expected reopening of Tambu Lounge next week

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

• In a bizarre incident this week, a guest got stuck after driving down the entrance steps of Wilderness Lodge

Other Walt Disney World News

• Starting September 8, opening hours for each of the four parks are to be dramatically reduced
• An $18 million lawsuit has been filed against Disney, on behalf of a guest arrested in a CBD oil possession incident at the Magic Kingdom
• Construction has resumed on the Virgin Trains USA Brightline high-seed railway line from Miami to Orlando
• The new Annual Passholder-exclusive Tinker Bell magnet is set to be mailed to guests soon
• Check out our handy guide to where to find face mask vending machines across Walt Disney World

Disneyland Resort

• Check out this week’s photo report for the Disneyland Resort, including weekend crowds, disposable face masks, temperature screenings and more
• Care packages have been provided for all cast members returning to work, containing face masks, hand sanitizer and more
• Guests with reservations through August 29 are now receiving cancellation emails from Disneyland
• Surveys were sent to Downtown Disney District guests this week, asking for opinions on the new health and safety measures, and guests’ likelihood to visit the theme parks

Disneyland Paris

• The Eurostar has resumed their direct train service from London to Disneyland Paris

Tokyo Disney Resort

• Annual Passholders now have the temporary ability to shop through the Tokyo Disney Resort official app

Shanghai Disneyland

• Mickey and Minnie have received a cute new wardrobe update for the “Splash into Magic” event in the resort

Disney Cruise Line

• Disney Cruise Line has canceled all of their sailings through early November, following a suspension of US Cruise Operations order from the CLIA

New Merchandise

• It has been a great week for new Haunted Mansion merchandise! We spotted this cozy woven throw blanket, this smart, patterned dress (with pockets!), a button-down shirt from Her Universe, and these questionably amazing, glow-in-the-dark, Haunted Mansion Crocs
• Ask ‘Why Did it Have to be Snakes?’ in this new Indiana Jones baseball cap
• Prepare for your next race with these “Star Wars” runDisney Spirit Jerseys
• Rock the dots in this new Minnie Mouse dress by The Dress Shop, or let your emotions run free in this “Inside Out” memory orb dress
• Get ready to order this D23 Captain Mickey Mouse plush, for August’s “Year of the Mouse” release on Amazon
• We found a few new magnets from the D-Tech on Demand kiosks this week, including this MLS is Back magnet, and these fun ‘Mandalorian Babysitting Services’ magnets featuring Baby Yoda
• Collectors take note, as a sneak peek was released for the new Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad collections for the upcoming “Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction” series releases, along with the dates they’ll hit shopDisney
• If it’s Splash Mountain merchandise you’re looking for, check out these two new attraction pins, and know that the restocked Funko Pops have arrived at the Magic Kingdom
• Plan for the new year in this 2021 Disney Parks attraction poster calendar
• Commemorate your stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge with this Totem Pole mug, featuring Humphrey the Bear, or this Coconut mug from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• If you’re a Snow White fan, check out this new tee and hoodie
• In MagicBand news, we found a new design featuring Percy, Meeko and Flit from “Pocahontas”, and the limited-release “Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction” Peter Pan’s Flight MagicBand made an appearance in the parks
• Gaming fans take note, as a Disney Parks exclusive version of the Jungle Cruise Adventure Game arrived in Walt Disney World

• In Loungefly news, check out this new Yoda backpack
• Travel around the world in these new pavilion-specific merchandise releases in EPCOT! We found a Mickey maple lead shirt in the Canada pavilion, a Viking Mickey Ear headband at the Norway Pavilion, and collections of “Mademoiselle Minnie”, “Mickey A Paris” and macaron-themed merchandise in the France pavilion
• Beat the heat with these new Stitch and Mickey Donut hats
• Lots of new Walt Disney World apparel has arrived at the resort this week! We found new “Summer Fun” apparel and accessories, Purple Wall leggings and matching top, and new neon tank tops. We even spotted this fun ‘Hub Grass is my Favorite Color’ Magic Kingdom tee! For kids, we found new summer Mickey & Minnie youth apparel, and Test Track t-shirts
• If “UP” is your favorite movie, check out these new Grape Soda socks, mug, and Kevin t-shirt, and this new “Adventure is Out There!” Minnie Ear headband
• You can’t have too many face masks right now, and you’ll love these new The Haunted Mansion, Enchanted Tiki Room, Tomorrowland, and ‘Together Again’ masks, now in Walt Disney World. The classic Mickey masks are also now available in a size XL, too
• Snuggle up with this fun “Coco” Lucha Libre Dante plush
• Match your pets in this new Baby Yoda “The Child” Spirit Jersey, available on shopDisney in both adult and dog sizes
• Make evil plots in this new Disney Villains ‘Up to No Good’ journal
• Celebrate the 65^th anniversary of Disneyland with this new Tervis water bottle and OtterBox phone case
• Collect all of these new limited-release Jungle Cruise Wishables
• Get some help in the kitchen with this “Ratatouille” Chef Remy shoulder plush

Entertainment and Media

• The Disney Parks Moms Panel has now been replaced with “planDisney”, a planning panel featuring a variety of guests both with and without children
• As the original cast of “The Proud Family” reunited for a virtual gathering, it was revealed that Keke Palmer has been added to the cast of “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder”, which is now in development
• It has been reported that Nia DaCosta has been hired to direct “Captain Marvel 2”
• Tom Hanks is reportedly in talks to portray Geppetto in the live-action remake of “Pinocchio”

Disney+

• Following a stream of delayed releases due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced that Disney’s live-action “Mulan” is to be released on Disney+ for a “premium” extra of $29.99
• “The Imagineering Story” has received one nomination for the 2020 Emmy Awards
• A new trailer has been released for “Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe”, which will hit Disney+ this month
• “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” has won at the 2020 GLAAD Media Awards

The Walt Disney Company

• The Walt Disney Company presented its Q3 2020 earnings report this week, revealing historic losses in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a $3 billion loss this quarter in the Parks, Experiences, and Products department. Walt Disney World has reported a strong per capita guest spending during its reopening period despite lower-than-expected attendance, as Bob Chapek claimed he sees greater value in having ‘regular’ visitors than annual passholders
• Disney+ surpassed 60.5 million subscribers within its first nine months, and the success of the platform has raised Disney stock up by 10%

WDW News Today

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

Car Crashes on Steps of Disney World Hotel, New Haunted Mansion Memorabilia Released – NewsToday 8/7

The Briar Patch Boarded Up at the Magic Kingdom – NewsToday 8/5

Splash Mountain Log Sinks with Guests Inside at Magic Kingdom – NewsToday 8/3

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