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 30 to September 6, 2020.

Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom

• We ventured into the Magic Kingdom and you can come along for the ride in our photo report from August 31
• While the Walt Disney World Railroad exhibit didn’t reopen with the rest of the Magic Kingdom, now the train tracks themselves have been hidden from view
• Check out the latest construction progress from TRON Lightcyle / Run in our September 1 and September 5 updates
• The walkway in front of the Riverboat Landing in Liberty Square was recently roped off and covered over for refurbishment
• Cinderella’s Royal Table will be welcoming guests once again on September 24, but without princess visits
• Gaston’s Tavern geared up to reopen on September 4, with social distance markers and new signage, and then reopened with safety measures and The Grey Stuff cupcake
• The entrance to Tomorrowland was exposed once again as scaffolding comes down and vertical supports are finished
• Westward Ho prepared to reopen with markers along the ground outside the window service location, and then reopened with simple snacks like corn dog nuggets

• Nothing says Fall like pumpkin spice and nothing says Disney like a Mickey waffle, so this Pumpkin Spice Mickey Waffle Sundae is the perfect Fall treat in the Magic Kingdom
• The Mickey Monster Mash burger has returned to Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in all its tater-tot-and-sriracha-covered glory
• Another Halloween favorite returned to Cosmic Ray’s as well — the Jack Skellington sipper
• Sunshine Tree Terrace failed to open on Friday, despite having been open with the rest of the park previously
• The Walt Disney World Railroad had some track pieces removed this week for replacement at the Fantasyland Station
• The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover refurbishment has been extended through November
• Celebrate the Halloween season and Constance Hatchaway’s most recent victim… uh, we mean husband… with this special wedding cake from “The Haunted Mansion”

• For a fruitier-yet-still-sweet Halloween treat try the new Dole Whip and Fanta float from Sunshine Tree Terrace, The Headless Horseman Rides Again, with an creepy and cool Headless Horseman light-up keychain

EPCOT

• Check out our photo reports from the week on August 30th, September 1, September 3 and September 5 to see all there is at EPCOT
• Select EPCOT restaurants are joining the Mobile Dine Walk-Up Waitlist service
• In a sad update, “Turtle Talk with Crush” will remain closed through the end of the year
• We have photos and video of the broken waterfall effect finally restored at Gran Fiesta Tour in the Mexico Pavilion

• The Alps and Spain booths only recently opened this past weekend at the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, but now both booths are closed, and will only open “as needed”
• Check out the latest progress on the construction of the roof at the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• A new escargot pastry was announced for the France Pavilion kiosk for Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, and the following day we got to try it
• While in the France Pavilion, we stopped over to the construction site for the new expansion area featuring “Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure” to check on the progress and saw some landscaping going on, and then noticed a new sign going up for La Creperie de Paris
• Foundation work has begun on the Nova Corps ship to be displayed in front of “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind”
• Construction on the Play! Pavilion continues with the replacement of the roof panels atop the dome
• The Frozen Mezzo Mix came back to the Bier Stand in the Germany Pavilion to help guests cool off on these hot End-of-Summer months
• Mozart Chocolate Cream Pumpkin Spice Liqueur came back to the Germany Pavilion, sold by-the-bottle only this year
• And nearby in the France Pavilion, we had a new Pina Colada Sorbet Martini from L’Artisan des Glaces
• Everyone’s favorite purple dragon and mascot of Imagination, Figment, is getting a redesign from Disney StudioLAB for an undisclosed project
• School Bread returned to the Norway Pavilion at EPCOT and we couldn’t be more excited for something with the word “school” in the title

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Ahsoka Tano’s newly-revamped lightsabers from the recent “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” series are coming to Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and they’ll be the first-ever color-changing lightsabers to come to the land
• Hollywood & Vine will reopen September 25 with socially-distant character photo ops
• The ABC Commissary will also be reopening for lunch beginning October 8
• Check out these awesome new neon lights on the Legends of Hollywood sign, and they look great all lit up
• Check out our photo reports from September 2, September 3, and September 4, where we head all over the park in search of what’s new

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Construction continued on the themed structure that popped up at the end of Kilimanjaro Safaris

Disney Springs

• Paddlefish and Terralina Crafted Italian are offering a 35% discount to educators throughout September as the new school year begins
• Lovepop retail store construction continues with the addition of a new sign

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

• Walt Disney World has slowly been replacing food containers and cups at the parks with new Mary Blair-inspired items, and now a foam cup for hot beverages has arrived
• Schools may be closed but Four Seasons Orlando’s new “Schoolcation” offering will allow parents to send their kids off to a supervised schoolwork session while the grownups go play
• The newly-renamed Walt Disney World Swan Reserve hotel construction is coming along with the first of the new themed panels being installed

• If you were looking forward to Walt Disney World’s Halloween 2020 refillable resort mug, then you may be disappointed. Instead of a new mug this year, Disney has opted to bring back 2019’s mug design
• The Walt Disney World Resort hotels are filling up for Labor Day, hitting a post-COVID high of 80% occupancy
• It seems that the reopening of Jellyrolls, the dueling piano bar at Disney’s BoardWalk, “has been pushed back indefinitely”

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

• Walt Disney World has just announced the delayed reopening of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort through Summer 2021, due to a resort-wide retheme to the popular animated film, Moana
• Later, we got a sneak preview at test rooms that could be coming to the resort
• It was also announced that the resort’s Monorail station will be temporarily closing at the beginning of October

Other Walt Disney World News

• Footage was released of a manhunt for the Discovery Island Trespasser at Walt Disney World
• It’s been many months without any outlet reports, but get ready, because Disney’s Character Warehouse is set to reopen soon along with Cast Connection
• A new “Magic Is Here” Vacation Package has debuted for Walt Disney World Resort Reservations through December 25th, and a 40% Annual Passholder room-only offer is also available
• Select Walt Disney World merchandise locations are now offering modified package pick-up where guests return to the location of sale
• Cast Connection, the employee-only store for Cast Members, is set to reopen on September 9
• Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, a favorite of South Florida diners, is looking for a new location in Walt Disney World
• Cast Member blackout dates have been lifted for most dates through September 24

• Walt Disney World has extended the shortened park hours that are currently in place through to November 21, with no word on Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party or the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
• All four parks hit capacity over the Labor Day weekend, with Disney Park Pass reservations all taken. Later that day, Disney Springs hit capacity as well
• These early September days were going fast on the Disney Park pass reservation system, until Disney replenished availability for all guests on Labor Day and for the next several weeks

Disneyland Resort

• Check out our photo report from August 30th, where we cover the nightmare parking situation for Downtown Disney, crowd levels, and more!

• Walt Disney Imagineering has shared a first look at the Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway construction site within Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland Park
• Governor Gavin Newsom updates the public on the reopening of the Calfornia parks, stating that “progress is being made”
• Disneyland Resort is now cancelling reservations through September 19, as stated in an email to reservation holders
• Avengers Campus is seeking super heroes, as Disney holds auditions for Black Widow stunt performers
• New plexiglass barriers were installed at ticket booths and Cast Members were busy at work readying for the eventual reopening of Disney California Adventure
• Guests were warned to expect heavy crowds during the Labor Day weekend at Downtown Disney District

Tokyo Disney Resort

•  “Disney Light the Night” Fireworks & “Nightfall Glow” Nighttime Parade returned to Tokyo Disneyland on September 1st
• The resort has released a schedule for the special character greetings that take place across both parks, along with other entertainment options
• Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Tokyo Disneyland’s Pooh’s Hunny Hunt with our full ride-through video!
• Commemorative monorail passes for Halloween and the 19th anniversary of Tokyo DisneySea have come to the Tokyo Disney Resort
• Tom Corless contributed an editorial on his love for Tokyo DisneySea to celebrate its 19th anniversary

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

• We got a first look at the Hong Kong Disneyland 15th Anniversary Logo featuring the Castle of Magical Dreams

Shanghai Disney Resort

• The Olu Mel costumed character has debuted at Shanghai Disneyland

New Merchandise

• A new silver Batuuan Spira came to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• The limited-edition “65 Years of Disney Parks” pin set by D23 Featuring Spaceship Earth, Mystic Manor, Ratatouille: The Adventure, and more are now available on shopDisney
• New The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror T-Shirts drop into Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• This adorable Sleeping Beauty Castle Sipper makes its debut for Disneyland’s 65th Anniversary
• If you enjoy the fun of Mickey and Friends, the magic of Disney and Pixar animation, or the action of Marvel, there’s plenty of new Loungefly items with character on shopDisney!
•  A special collection of Disneyland 65th Anniversary attraction pins, including incredible designs themed to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, Main Street Cinema, Autopia, and more make their debut at Disneyland Resort
• This new glow in the dark Haunted Mansion t-shirt is frightfully bright at the Magic Kingdom
• Merchandise items from Black Spire Outpost have landed on a most peculiar world… the Magic Kingdom

• The new Limited Release Figment Food & Wine Festival 25th Anniversary MagicBand has debuted at EPCOT
• Check out every piece of merchandise (with prices!) for the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival 2020
• In celebration of Disneyland’s 65th Anniversary, Funko is releasing a full set of special figures, including a Disney Parks-exclusive Walt Disney with Sleeping Beauty Castle
• We found every new Limited Edition Pin available at the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival 2020

• A new Silver Batuuan Spira Disney Gift Card is now available for $5 with $100 minimum charge in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• A “Ratatouille” Chef Remy souvenir Gift Card has arrived at the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival 2020
• The new “Coco” set of Wishables arrived on shopDisney and was sold out very quickly, but then popped up at Magic Kingdom the same day
• Three new sets of Ears — Emerald Green, Rainbow Pride and classic Mickey Mouse — were found at the Disneyland Resort
• A new Main Street Popcorn Company phone case popped up at the Disneyland Resort
• It’s been a while since we’ve had an outlet report, but we finally got back to it with the reopening of the Disney Outlet – California
• Time to look your spookiest with help from this new “The Haunted Mansion” tombstone T-shirt

• A new tiki glass featuring Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto debuted at Disney’s Polynesian Village
• Awesome new Hei Hei, Orange Bird and Mickey print folding fans flew into World of Disney in the Disneyland Resort, soon followed by these cool Villains fans
• The September Pin Trading releases from Disneyland Paris were announced, and they look great
• Cute new Ears alert — new Rainbow Pastel Ears designed by Lily Aldridge came to shopDisney
• A Chef Minnie and Chef Mickey print bag from Dooney & Bourke was seen at the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
• A “Coco”-themed bag shaped like a guitar strummed its way into our hearts at Magic Kingdom
• These Taste of EPCOT Food & Wine Festival magnets and phone cases are the perfect way to remember your trip
• A new mug featuring Mr. Mittens the cat from the upcoming film “Soul” debuted at the Walt Disney World Resort
• Some new Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster T-shirts made it into Disney’s Hollywood Studios just in time for their latest gig

• We found some new Limited Release face masks on shopDisney featuring Mulan, Nightmare Before Christmas and Pumpkin Mickey, and then spotted the Pumpkin Mickey Boo mask in EPCOT
• Spirits beyond rejoiced when we found this Madame Leota sipper at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments a few days early
• Take a look at this super cool “Coco” Papel Picado dress we found, perfect for Dia de Los Muertos season
• Don’t forget to accessorize with this new “Coco” sugar skull Loungefly backpack, perfect to match
• Oogie Boogie’s glowing dice-cubes rolled into drinks at the Magic Kingdom, returning for the Halloween season
• And for Oogie Boogie fans who want even more, we found a nutcracker featuring Halloween Town’s biggest baddie all dressed up as Sandy Claws
• Even more Villain merch — a series of Disney Villain stickers and some new Villain apparel came to Walt Disney World
• Spooky time is in full swing with these new “The Haunted Mansion” items we found in Disney Springs, this long sleeved shirt from Magic Kingdom, and this new Haunted Mansion print dress from the Disneyland Resort
• Dry off after your trip down Splash Mountain with this new full-size towel from Magic Kingdom
• Classy yet magical, these new bangles from Alex and Ani on shopDisney feature Hercules and Baby Pegasus
• A few new apparel items from The Nightmare Before Christmas came to Disney Springs
• Don’t forget your furry friends during tea time with these new Disney Cats and Disney Dogs tea towels

• Look totally boss with this righteous collection of Mickey & Co. T-shirts from Disney Springs
• Keep the retro vibes a-rockin’ with this 90’s retro shirt and shorts
• New Minnie overalls and shorts capture the modern vibes of a classic Mouse
• Complete your Minnie Mouse outfit with this cool new accessory — a Minnie Mouse Otterbox phone case with built-in Pop Socket
• Show your love for Coca-Cola and Walt Disney World with this new hat and magnet from Disney Springs
• Look as cute as Baby Yoda “The Child” with this new headband featuring everyone’s favorite Force-sensitive alien baby
• Meanwhile, in the Norway Pavilion at EPCOT, a new Mickey-shaped ornament featuring the Norway flag turned up
• A cuteness overload was seen with the debut of new Wishables keychains in six different styles
• The annual Halloween popcorn bucket debuted at the Magic Kingdom in the same design as last year

• A snazzy new Limited Edition Animator Mickey Mouse plush was revealed for September release
• A galaxy of new Star Wars shirts was released, featuring Baby Yoda “The Child,” Darth Vader and more
• Some new phone cases came to maDe at Walt Disney World, making a great custom souvenir
• Just in time for Halloween, a new Halloween Mickey sweatshirt and sequined T-shirt came to Walt Disney World
• Even though pumpkins abound at the parks, it’s still hot as all get out in September so cool yourself off with these new Mickey mister fans
• Or better yet, stay inside in the air conditioning and play games like this new theme park edition of Candy Land
• These new Pixar character shirts are sure to delight at the Disneyland Resort
• We caught some new Mousewares bag clips at EPCOT
• Maleficent stirs up trouble with a new figure from WonderGround Gallery at the Disneyland Resort

Entertainment and Media

• Freeform will welcome guests to Halloween Town in their new drive-thru experience in LA as they screen “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Hocus Pocus” and more
• Marvel Studios is “processing its grief” and paying tribute to Chadwick Boseman before figuring out where to head with the character of Black Panther next
• And Boseman’s agent later shared stories of the late actor’s dedication and commitment to community

• Robert Downey, Jr. confirmed he’s “all done” playing Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Disney+

• Finally there will be more Baby Yoda “The Child” coming to Disney+ with season 2 of “The Mandalorian” debuting on October 30
• On the date of its Disney+ release, “Mulan” came under fire when #BoycottMulan trended on Twitter following remarks from the film’s star Liu Yifei

The Walt Disney Company

• Celebrities and fans are asking Disney Parks to build a “Black Panther” Wakanda area at Disneyland and Walt Disney World
• John Boyega, who played Finn in the new Star Wars trilogy, called Disney out for downplaying characters of color in the films
• Judson Green, former President of Walt Disney World, passed away at age 68

WDW News Today

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Closed Until Summer 2021 for Moana Retheme – NewsToday 8/31

Disney World Drops Deep Discounts on Hotels and Tickets – NewsToday 9/2

Cast Members Spend Hours Waiting at Food Banks as Walt Disney World Furloughs Continue – NewsToday 9/4

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