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 October 4 to October 11, 2020.

Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom

• Take a spin around Magic Kingdom in our October 6, October 7, and October 9 photo reports
• The Magic Kingdom toll plaza refurbishment moved to the Cast Member toll booths
• Minnie’s dog Fifi popped up on “it’s a small world”
• Rose gold was added to elements of the Magic Kingdom toll plaza
• Tom Sawyer Island and Liberty Square Riverboat closed for a three-month refurbishment, and later Rivers of America began to be drained
• Progress is being made on TRON Lightcycle / Run in Tomorrowland
• Palm trees and canopy coverings were added at the resort launch dock in front of Magic Kingdom
• Even more rose gold was added to the toll plaza
• The Lunching Pad reopened in Tomorrowland with social distancing
• A new sign warns guests that they will be asked to leave if they are not properly wearing their face mask
• More scrims were added to the facade of “it’s a small world” amidst refurbishment
• As the weekend began, wait times picked up and crowds increased at Magic Kingdom
• Adventureland debuted a brand new background music loop
• A projection scene featuring Br’er Rabbit, Fox, and Bear has been restored in HD
• Operating hours extended on October 11 and 12 for Columbus Day weekend to give guests more time to enjoy the park

EPCOT

• Tour EPCOT via our October 4 and October 6 photo reports
• Jeff Blyth, director of EPCOT’s CircleVision film “Wonders of China”, released a memoir about the making of the film
• Construction walls have appeared next to the Italy Pavilion
• Frozen Ever After will be closing for refurbishment for five days in November
• The interior of the Electric Umbrella has been almost completely destroyed
• Fences were removed from around the upcoming Space 220 restaurant
• The marimba player animatronics are once again operational on Gran Fiesta Tour
• Demolition continued at Electric Umbrella and Innoventions West
• We reviewed Chefs de France on its reopening day
• FastPass+, single-rider, and standby queue signs were added to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the France Pavilion
• We spotted the future centerpiece for EPCOT’s “Harmonious”
• The lucite pylons are once again visible as some of the scaffolding and scrims surrounding it have been taken down
• Belgium returned to the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival as “Waffles”

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Follow along a trip to Hollywood Studios in our October 6 and October 8 photo reports
• Keystone Clothiers reopened on Hollywood Boulevard
• For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration reopened
• Ronto Wraps are available in the evenings at Docking Bay 7 in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge while Ronto Roasters closes early
• ABC Commissary released a new menu ahead of its October 8 reopening
• ABC Commissary reopened and we reviewed their menu changes
• After weeks of issues, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance was operating with no technical glitches
• Mira, Royal Detective joined the Disney Junior Stars Motorcade for this weekend only

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Visit the park virtually with our October 4 photo report
• A safari truck was added to the upcoming goat exhibit on Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Operating hours extended on October 11 and 12 for Columbus Day weekend to provide more time for park enjoyment during the holiday

Disney Springs

• Live music is returning to some areas of Disney Springs

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

• Mickey and friends will be returning to Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in December, and new menu items will be added
• We reviewed the Pop’s Potion Cocktail at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• We visited and reviewed Narcoosee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for its reopening
• Join us on a tour of an ADA accessible room at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• A new cake pop is scary good at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
• We also reviewed several new The Nightmare Before Christmas treats at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Hotel suites are available to book again, but Club level remains unavailable
• Disney Vacation Club will be offering a credit card auto-pay option starting in 2021
• We learned which shops, restaurants, and activities would be reopening at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort on October 14
• Tour a theme park view main tower room at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Lampposts have been installed and the ramp was removed on the walkway connecting Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa to Magic Kingdom

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

• Crossbeams on the resort’s roof began being removed amidst refurbishment
• More crossbeams were removed a few days later
• A portion of the structure’s horizontal support beam was then removed

Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge

• A new permit for temporary parking possibly means construction will start up again on Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

• A new permit was filed for the upcoming Star Wars resort

The Walt Disney World Swan Reserve

• Construction continues on the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve

Other Walt Disney World News

• Orange County, Florida is reopening the CARES Act due to the layoffs
• The Florida man caught camping on Discovery Island plead no contest
• The New Yorker released a documentary about the pros and cons of visiting the parks during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Josh D’Amaro visited Cast Members at multiple theme parks to apologize for the layoffs
• Winter Summerland mini-golf will be reopening in November, while Fantasia Gardens closes
• 560 third-party Baggage Airline Guest services Cast Members were laid off
• Service Trades Council Union released details on Cast Member layoffs, including 8,800 part-time Cast Members who have now been laid off
• Walt Disney World plans to layoff 184 union carpenters and mechanics
• Annual Passholders were asked to confirm pass extensions in an email
• Read our update on park pass availability through the rest of the year, including holidays
• Park hours were released through December 26 and park hours were extended at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• The Maingate Complex COVID-19 testing site switched from drive-thru to walk-up testing
• Seasonal Cast Members are receiving Notices of Separation

Disneyland Resort

• We learned early in the week that Stage 17 in Disney California Adventure would be opening with Downtown Disney District access as the Backlot Premiere Shop
• Governor Newsom ignored a question about Disneyland Resort reopening in a press conference
• Disneyland Resort is laying off 2,800 union Cast Members, including restaurant and Club 33 staff
• Orange County Health Care officials recommended reopening Disneyland parks
• A permit was filed for new illuminated signage in “Golden State Expansion” at Disney California Adventure
• Disneyland Resort Backlot Premiere Shop opened as a larger space for World of Disney merchandise
• California’s Secretary of Health and Human Services said there’s “no promise of a specific date” for theme park reopening guidelines
• 1,800 union security guards, attractions operators, and meet-and-greet character performers are being laid off at Disneyland Resort
• Governor Newsom said he’s in “no hurry” to release theme park reopening guidelines
• Disney Parks Chief Medical Officer Pamela Hymel fired back at the Governor in a statement
• Disneyland canceled reservations through October 24
• Orange County Health Care officials visited the parks and Disneyland then adopted new health and safety protocols following their recommendations
• Disneyland has informed performers that “Mickey and the Magical Map” and “Frozen: Live at the Hyperion” will not return
• We reviewed several special Halloween flavors at Salt & Straw
• Disneyland safeguards local Cast Members’ health by providing free COVID-19 testing
• We reviewed the Magic Mirror Crispy Treat Pop and the Churro Marshmallow Wand at Marceline’s Confectionery in Downtown Disney District

Tokyo Disney Resort

• The Japan government may soon lift the travel ban on foreign tourists
• “Hello, New York!” and other atmospheric entertainment has been cut
• Tokyo Disney Resort revealed their upcoming Christmas offerings

Tokyo Disneyland

• We visited the new La Taverne de Gaston restaurant in New Fantasyland

Disneyland Paris

• Disneyland Paris is introducing a new tiered pricing system for Annual Passholder privilege tickets

Shanghai Disney Resort

New Merchandise

• There are new Marie, Cheshire Cat, Stitch, and Dug mugs at Disneyland
• New The Mandalorian merchandise will be released on “Mando Mondays” weekly through December 21
• A bunch of new Christmas face masks and Spirit Jerseys arrived on shopDisney
• A Twilight Zone Tower of Terror transforming mug dropped into Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Dooney & Bourke introduced some new animal print Mickey Mouse bags
• Pandora jewelry launched a new Star Wars collection
• shopDisney released another round of EPCOT attraction posters featuring Kitchen Kabaret, Soarin’ Around the World, and The Land
• Disney shared details about registering for their first virtual pin event celebrating 20 years of pin trading
• Kay Jewelers released a The Nightmare Before Christmas collection
• Two new limited release glow-in-the-dark The Haunted Mansion pins were released at Walt Disney World
• New Snow White and Sleeping Beauty shirts arrived at Disney Springs
• Two new Max Bone dog sweaters arrived at Disney Springs
• A Jungle Cruise skipper hat sailed into the new Backlot Premiere Shop at Disneyland
• Several new lounge pants appeared at Walt Disney World
• The “Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction” Big Thunder Mountain Railroad series was restocked on shopDisney
• New Disney Villains apparel arrived at Downtown Disney District
• “Happiful Duffy” souvenir bottles are now available in Tokyo DisneySea
• Simba, Little Green Man, and 101 Dalmatians fan caps are coming soon to Tokyo Disney Resort
• New retro-style Mickey & Co. sweatshirts arrived at Walt Disney World
• A pre-arrival exclusive “Rivers of Light” MagicBand is now available
• Are you Team Lime or Team Orange? Decide with our exclusive new magnets
• Tokyo Disney Resort released new Toy Story pass cases
• New big feet plushes of Pua, Sven, Nick Wilde, and Judy Hopps arrived at Disneyland Resort
• The 2020 Minnie Mouse ear headband is buy one, get one free and half-off
• Disneyland Resort released a new Peter Pan costume hat
• A 65th anniversary sipper is available at World of Disney in Downtown Disney District
• Several new t-shirt designs are now available on MaDe kiosks at Walt Disney World
• A Madame Leota tombstone pillow arrived at Disneyland Resort
• New keychains remind you to “wish” and “dream” at Walt Disney World
• You can shop for new Fantasia-themed apparel at H&M stores and their online shop

Entertainment and Media

• Several Disney film locations and theme park locations are in the latest round of proposed LEGO Product Ideas
• Disney added films in 4K HDR to iTunes, including Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel films
• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: A Crash of Fate was available as a free ebook for Star Wars Reads month
• A plot summary was released for Cruella, Disney’s upcoming live-action film inspired by One Hundred And One Dalmations
• Voctave, featuring members EPCOT’s Voices of Liberty, released “The Corner of Broadway and Main Street, Vol. 2” now streaming
• Benedict Cumberbatch will be reprising his role as Doctor Strange in Spider-Man 3
• A Space Mountain movie is in development for a theatrical release

Disney+

• The Hocus Pocus sequel is reportedly coming to Disney+ sometime in the future
• “High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special” is coming to Disney+ this December
• Pixar’s Soul will be streaming exclusively on Disney+ starting Christmas day

The Walt Disney Company

• Of the previously announced 28,000 Cast Member layoffs, 25% are in Walt Disney World
• Executives will be discussing the fiscal full year and Q4 financial results via a November 12 webcast
• Disney is contacting furloughed Cast Members not affected by the layoffs to let them know they haven’t been impacted

WDW News Today

Blogger Couple Starts Second Harvest Food Bank Drive to Help Laid Off Cast Members – NewsToday 10/5

Demolition Begins on Classic Elements of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – NewsToday 10/7

Park Hours Extended at Walt Disney World for Remainder of 2020 – NewsToday 10/9

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!