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 November 1st to November 8, 2020.

Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom

• Read our November 1, November 4, and November 5 photo reports
• Toy Soldiers and Christmas merchandise have made their way into the Magic Kingdom for the 2020 holiday season!
• Rivers of America has almost been completely drained in the Magic Kingdom ahead of upcoming refurbishment
• Check out our updated photos and video of the latest construction progress for the canopy installation for TRON Lightcycle Run
• Mysterious stages were built in front of Cinderella Castle, and later slides and rope bridges were added to them

• Primer was added to the last section of the Magic Kingdom toll plaza for the 50th-anniversary refurbishment, before quickly being painted royal blue
• A section of the monorail station has been wrapped in scrim while construction continues on the resort launch dock nearby
• Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and several rare characters appeared at the Main Street, U.S.A. train station to kick off the holiday season
• The Dapper Dans can be seen serenading guests with Christmas carols from the Main Street trolley
• The Muppets made a surprise return to Liberty Square for a photo-op

• Mickey’s Holiday Cavalcade, featuring many rare characters, debuted and just a few days later, some of the characters switched holiday outfits
• Goofy’s Scrumptious Cavalcade, with gingerbread floats and friends, also debuted
• Finally, Santa Claus also has a cavalcade, waving to guests from his sleigh
• Jiminy Cricket waved to guests from Pinocchio Village Haus
• The Royal Princess Processional has received a holiday makeover, including decorations and winter costumes for the Princesses
• We reviewed the new Carousel of Progress “Just a Dream Away” milkshake
• We then tried the pistachio chai tea float at Aloha Isle
• The new “Spice Up Your Holiday” chicken sandwich at Cosmic Ray’s tasted just like a Wendy’s chicken sandwich
• Chip and Dale dressed up for winter to greet guests in Frontierland
• We reviewed the salted caramel “Let it Snow” cookie taco at Pecos Bill
• Some churros are worth melting for, like this new treat inspired by Olaf
• On the other hand, the new Chip ‘n’ Dale churros were a stale disappointment
• Check out the hidden Mickey in this new Christmas tree cupcake we reviewed
• Cinderella Castle debuted holiday projections in place of Cinderella Castle Dream Lights
• The Main Street Philharmonic and toy soldiers are marching through the park
• We later recapped all of the new holiday experiences at Magic Kingdom in one post
• The Hall of Presidents will most likely be updated soon with Joe Biden announced as the country’s President-Elect
• “An Orange Bird Christmas” white chocolate mousse returned
•  Mickey’s Holiday Cavalcade features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy dressed in new Christmas outfits

EPCOT

• As construction continues for the upcoming “Harmonious” nighttime show, we noticed a barge arm has been raised
• The Michelangelo audio-animatronic is once again seen painting in Spaceship Earth
• On November 2nd, Frozen Ever After closed for a small refurbishment
• Permits have been filed for “Project Gamma”
• Ticket booths are receiving new logo detailing
• A permit has been filed for a new food location in the Italy Pavilion
• Living With the Land is getting ready for the holidays with Christmas lights
• Holiday Kitchen menus were released for the upcoming Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
• We got our first look at the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride vehicles
• Frozen Ever After reopened after refurbishment with technical glitches
• Construction workers were testing the Remy fountain in the France Pavilion expansion, and new Metro signage has been added
• We won’t get lost anymore because the Imagination! Pavilion’s directory sign is back
• Plexiglass dividers have been added to Frozen Ever After boats
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends began loading guests into every “clamobile” today
• Join our tour of EPCOT in our photo report from November 4

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• The new Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Boarding Group procedure debuted with glitches and the virtual queue was filled in seconds
• “The Majestic” neon lettering has been added above the Legends of Hollywood marquee
• Plexiglass dividers have been added to the ride vehicles for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Min & Bill’s Dockside Diner Steamboat whistle has finally been repaired
• Hollywood Studios has been decked out in holiday decorations, including Santa Gertie at Echo Lake
• Holiday projections returned to Hollywood Studios with the “Hollywood Holiday Tower Hotel” show
• Santa Claus drove down Hollywood Boulevard in his personal Christmas car
• The new “frozen” salted caramel hot chocolate melted before our eyes
• We also reviewed Mickey’s Holiday Butter Cookie
• And Olaf’s Snow Flurry Cupcake with light-up Olaf
• We also tried to sweet new red velvet whoopie pie
• And wrapped up a treat-filled day with Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine

• Olaf made a surprise return to “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration”
• We later recapped all of Hollywood Studios’ holiday experiences in one post
• Num Num Cookies return as The Market reopens

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• Check out our review of the new Pumpkin Cookie Ice Cream sandwich available at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Goofy and Reindeer Chip ‘n’ Dale are now appearing in a Festive Flotilla on Discovery River

• Santa Claus can also be seen on Discovery River in his own sleigh-like boat
• We reviewed a new Tree of Life pumpkin spice cupcake
• Donald, Daisy, and Scrooge McDuck appeared on Donald’s Dino Bash Festive Flotilla
• We later recapped all of the Festive Flotillas in one post
• The Tree of Life Awakenings projection show returned for the holidays
• Construction is still moving on the new goat exhibit at Kilimanjaro Safaris
• The Fossil Fueler water gun carnival game reopened in DinoLand U.S.A.

Disney Springs

• Ahead of their upcoming opening at Disney Springs, Everglazed Donuts is now hiring

• For Mando Mondays, a new “The Child” Baby Yoda LEGO creation has appeared outside the LEGO Store
• For Christmas 2020 at Disney Springs Santa is to appear aboard a pontoon boat for a “Winter Watercade”
• Take a bite out of Baby Yoda with this new cookies & cream mousse available from Amorette’s Patisserie
• TUMI at Disney Springs has permanently closed
• The opening of the M&M’s Store has been delayed to 2021
• Disney Springs is now using contactless security scanners
• Follow along as we take a look at the socially distanced Christmas Tree Trail
• The Orange and Lime parking garages hit capacity on Saturday

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

• We reviewed the new salted caramel pumpkin pie milkshake at Beaches & Cream in Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Join us on a tour of a remodeled Cars room at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

• The Monorail station at the resort has officially been closed as work continues on the resort’s refurbishment
• While the Monorail station is closed, the Polynesian Village Resort has resumed their boat service to the Magic Kingdom
• Check out our review of the Fall Mickey Pumpkin Rocky Road cupcake from Capt. Cook’s
• Construction began on the new crossbeam structure atop the Great Ceremonial House
• Later, the first crossbeams themselves were installed

Other Walt Disney World News

• Coming soon to US McDonald’s locations are Walt Disney World ride vehicle toys!
• Disney face mask pricing has been raised to $3.99
• Friendship Boat Service has returned, bringing guests once again across Crescent Lake
• On November 3rd it appeared capacity at table service restaurants was increased with dining reservations available all over the property. Later, the reservations guests were able to book were removed from their My Disney Experience, citing the reservation availability was a technical issue
• Guests who had a reservation canceled due to this glitch are receiving $25 Disney gift cards
• After technical issues were resolved, dining reservations were once again available to be made at Walt Disney World on the evening of November 3rd
• The flags have been removed, and the royal blue painting continues at Walt Disney World Western Way entrance ahead of the 50th-anniversary makeover
• Walt Disney World is now surveying guests on modified New Year’s Eve celebrations
• Cinderella Castle and the “Where Dreams Come True” tagline were removed from the Walt Disney World Western Way entrance
• Tropical Storm Eta was expected to make landfall in Florida this weekend, but later slowed down, and Central Florida was placed under Tropical Storm Watch
• New signage and announcements indicate eating and drinking is no longer allowed in Walt Disney World queues
• The world’s largest White Castle will be breaking ground near Walt Disney World soon

Disneyland Resort

• The Big City Mayor’s Coalition, which represents some of the largest cities in California, like Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Diego, and more, has issued a letter to Governor Newsom regarding the detrimental impacts of the extended closure of Disneyland Resort has on the local economies

• As reopening preparations begin on Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure, the Red Car Trolley makes a surprise return
• An Annual Passholder shopping event for Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar will be happening soon
• Buena Vista Street will be reopening on November 19
• Disneyland Resort has sent out cancellation emails for reservations through November 21
• A $10 parking fee will be coming to Downtown Disney District with the reopening of Buena Vista Street
• We reviewed the new Christmas-themed sugar cookie and pecan pie rice crispy treat
• Preparations for reopening showed up at Disneyland entrance and on Buena Vista Street at Disney’s California Adventure

Tokyo Disney Resort

• We got to meet Ariel at her new socially distanced meet-and-greet
• Check out our photo report from Tokyo DisneySea on November 4
• A new pink type-c monorail arrived at the resort

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

• Castle of Magical Dreams will be opening November 21
• Michael Moriarty was named the resort’s new Managing Director, effective December 27

Disney Cruise Line

• Disney Cruise Line has canceled all sailings through December 2020

New Merchandise

• New “Disney Wonderables” themed attraction poster mystery boxes are coming to Tokyo Disney Resort on December 2nd
• An interactive talking Groot and Bluetooth speaker have arrived at Walt Disney World
• New Limited Edition United Kingdom Pavilion, Mexico Pavilion, and Gran Fiesta Tour serigraph posters are now available on shopDisney
• “The Haunted Mansion” Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction merchandise collection was released at Disney Springs

• Check out this new “But Daddy, I Love Him!” Ariel themed hat from Walt Disney World
• A new interactive “Guardians of the Galaxy” talking Groot and Bluetooth speaker has arrived at Disneyland Resort
• New leggings, socks and, greetings cards for Christmas 2020 have arrived at Walt Disney World
• Lightspeed to Endor in this new Spirit Jersey themed to Endor, now available at Walt Disney World
• New Disney Park Holiday tumbler ornaments have come to Walt Disney World
• A new Marvel “Black Widow” dress, tank, jackets, and Loungefly Backpack have come to Walt Disney World
• Check out this new “The Mandalorian” Christmas themed phone cases featuring Baby Yoda from Walt Disney World
• New Country Bear Jamboree, Tower of Terror, and Haunted Mansion ornaments have come to Walt Disney World
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort has a new gingerbread house kit
• A Count Dooku Legacy Lightsaber is now available at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Walt Disney World

• These new “Buon Appetito” pizza Minnie Mouse ears are good enough to eat
• Disneyland is getting ready for winter with new winter caps and gloves
• The Ratatouille Chef Remy dress arrived at Disneyland Resort
• May the Force be with you while wearing this new Star Wars face mask
• There are two new “The Mandalorian” Spirit Jerseys and a Baby Yoda wristlet by Loungefly at Disneyland Resort
• Walt Disney World has several new retro-style sweatshirts featuring classic characters, and similar designs were later released at Disneyland
• Your Christmas tree can be super sweet with these new gingerbread character ornaments
• Tokyo Disney Resort has new Winnie-the-Pooh, 101 Dalmatians, and Toy Story lunch bags
• New Disney Citizen Eco-Drive watches featuring Cinderella Castle and Tomorrowland arrived at Magic Kingdom
• There’s also a new Disney Citizen Eco-Drive watch for Marvel’s Iron Man
• A retro-style Walt Disney World logo shirt with a Santa hat was released
• We got a look at all of the Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar merchandise that will be available at Disneyland Resort’s upcoming Annual Passholder shopping event
• New Duffy and Friends merchandise joined ‘Olu Mel merchandise at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• A cute Germany Pavilion MagicBand was released at EPCOT
• Disneyland Resort guests can get cozy in this new Forest Friends Spirit Jersey
• Holiday face masks have arrived at Disneyland Resort
• Mickey is going skiing in this new Norway Pavilion MagicBand at EPCOT
• Several new Annual Passholder-exclusive Christmas items were released at EPCOT
• There’s a cute new Christmas tree popcorn bucket at Walt Disney World

• This year’s jingle bell Mickey sipper is emerald green
• A grand and miraculous Spaceship Earth cookie jar is now available at Walt Disney World
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom has a cute new light-up Mickey peppermint bottle topper
• There’s a new Mickey snow globe sipper exclusive to Walt Disney World Annual Passholders
• Walt Disney World released a gingerbread Mickey Mouse baseball cap
• We found out a new holiday Dooney & Bourke collection would be coming to Disney Springs
• Retro rose gold loungewear arrived at EPCOT
• Decorate your phone case with a new Mickey, Minnie, or Stitch pop socket

Entertainment and Media

• Alex Trebek, beloved “Jeopardy!” host who was also featured in Ellen’s Energy Adventure at EPCOT, died of cancer at 80 years old

WDW News Today

Disney World Toys Coming to McDonald’s, Christmas Arrives at Theme Parks – NewsToday 11/2

Red Car Trolley Returns to DCA, WDW Surveying Guests About New Year’s Eve 2020 – NewsToday 11/4

The Muppets Return to Magic Kingdom, Christmas Surprises at Walt Disney World – NewsToday 11/6

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