Jessica Figueroa, Author at WDW News Today

Officials Seeing "Clear, Sustained Deceleration of the Pandemic" Across Orange County; No Outbreaks Tied to Walt Disney World

August 11, 2020August 11, 2020

Disney Parks fans eager to return to Walt Disney World can begin to plan with some assurance that COVID-19 rates are finally decreasing after a sudden spike earlier this summer. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Orange County officials are tracking declining positivity and hospitalization rates, with six consecutive weeks of a marked decline in new … Read more

PHOTOS: New '90s Retro Logo Cap Now Available at Walt Disney World

August 11, 2020

If you took Disneyland’s Videopolis and old-school Pleasure Island, and turned them into an accessory, you’d have this new Walt Disney World cap, now available at the Magic Kingdom. The flat-bill cap features a black background with an ’80s and ’90s style confetti pattern along the top, including hidden park icons such as Cinderella Castle, … Read more

PHOTOS: Retro Lucite Pylons Installed on New EPCOT Entrance Fountain

August 11, 2020August 11, 2020

Earlier today, we got a first look at the iconic EPCOT lucite pylons that were finally installed at the park’s entrance fountain, thanks to Imagineer Zach Riddley. Now, we’re on the ground at the park to see the pylons up close and in person—or rather, as close as we can get given the construction walls … Read more

PHOTOS: New Limited Release Jungle Cruise Wishables Sail Into the Magic Kingdom

August 11, 2020

Welcome to the world-famous Jungle Cruise! Now, I’d like to point out some of my favorite plush here in the Magic Kingdom: That’s right, new Limited Release Jungle Cruise Wishables have arrived at the Magic Kingdom, and they’re currently available at The Emporium, however before we get into the details of these plush, it’s important … Read more

PHOTOS: Cinderella Castle Moat Refilled After Completion of Repainting Project at the Magic Kingdom

August 11, 2020August 11, 2020

The Cinderella Castle moat has been refilled at the Magic Kingdom following the completion of the castle repainting project. Now covered in hues of rose pink, royal blue, and gold trim, the castle shimmers brightly as the beacon of the Most Magical Place on Earth. The water levels surrounding the castle walls have now begun … Read more

PHOTOS: Stitch’s Great Escape Signage Removed at the Magic Kingdom

August 11, 2020August 11, 2020

Stitch has left the building, as attraction signage for Stitch’s Great Escape at the Magic Kingdom has been removed following the announcement of the attractions’s official closure. Today, we trekked over to Tomorrowland to check on the current scene outside of the former attraction. As you approach the former site of Stitch’s Great Escape (and, up … Read more

FIRST LOOK: Classic EPCOT Logo Pylons Installed on Entrance Fountain Near Spaceship Earth

August 11, 2020August 11, 2020

Last night, the iconic EPCOT lucite pylons were finally installed at the park’s entrance fountain, and thanks to Imagineer Zach Riddley, we have a grand and miraculous first look: Zach wrote a special caption on his Instagram to commemorate this milestone for the park’s grand reimagining: I’m excited to share a first look at the … Read more

VIDEO: Massive Lightning Bolt Strikes Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney World

August 11, 2020August 10, 2020

It seems Emperor Palpatine is back at it again. Nightly lightning shows have become a regular occurrence at Walt Disney World lately due to summer storms rolling in every evening, and a new video on social media shows the sheer power of nature—even on Batuu. A video by Twitter user @Austin_Cop_17 shows a massive lightning … Read more

PHOTOS: Structure in Place for Installation of New Lucite Fountain Pillars at EPCOT

August 10, 2020

Despite closures, pandemics, and storms, EPCOT trudges on through its reimagining one project at a time, and thanks to Project Gamma, we’re going back in time, having the former fountain replaced with one that looks very much like the original one from EPCOT Center. Today at the park, a new structure was erected for the … Read more

PHOTOS: Installation of Solar Panel Mounts Continues at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT

August 10, 2020

Soon enough, guests at EPCOT will be walking through the Xandar Gallery at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and getting launched backwards in space as they get into some interplanetary mischief with Rocket, Groot, and the whole Guardians gang. But before that, we need to start seeing some solar panels on the roof of … Read more

California State Officials Reviewing How and When to Reopen Disneyland Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood

August 11, 2020August 10, 2020

With theme parks in Florida open, California residents are eager to see theme parks reopen once it is safe enough to do so. In a new report by the The Orange County Register, California state officials are reviewing how and when to reopen parks such as Disneyland Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. In a statement … Read more

Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge Removed from D23 Expo 2019 Announcements Page

August 11, 2020August 10, 2020

With project cancellation rumors circulating regarding DVC’s planned Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge, a new update from Scott Gustin on Twitter shows a recent change to an old Disney Parks Blog post from August 2019 outlining all of the announcements made during last year’s D23 Expo. The announcement for Reflections – A Disney Lakeside … Read more

Walt Disney World Files Permit for "Project Nugget" Construction on Magic Kingdom Fireworks Launch Site

August 10, 2020

While all fireworks and nighttime spectaculars at the Magic Kingdom are temporarily suspended due to new health and safety regulations across Walt Disney World, a new permit has been filed pertaining to a so-called “Project Nugget”, with the address located at the park’s fireworks launch site. The Notice of Commencement lists the following description: “MK … Read more

Stitch's Great Escape Sign Removed at the Magic Kingdom Following Closure Announcement

August 11, 2020August 10, 2020

Attraction signage for Stitch’s Great Escape at the Magic Kingdom has been removed following the announcement of the attractions’s official closure. All signage related to the attraction has been removed, with a grey tarp draped over any remaining signs related to the attraction, and a grey box over the former hanging sign base. Stitch’s Great … Read more

PHOTOS: New Universal Studios Florida 30th Anniversary Passholder Exclusive Raglan Tee Now Available at Universal Orlando Resort

August 10, 2020

The 30th Anniversary celebration continues at Universal Studios Florida with new merchandise available just for Passholders at the UOAP Lounge. Just in today is a new raglan tee featuring some classic park icons, like the Universal Studios Florida archway, Mel’s Drive-In neon sign, and Bruce the Shark from the extinct JAWS attraction. The black tee … Read more

SHOP: NEW "The Haunted Mansion" Merchandise Collection (Spirit Jerseys, Loungefly, Crocs, and More) Materializes on shopDisney

August 10, 2020

Goblins and ghoulies from last Halloween, awaken your wallets for new shopDisney arrivals! First previewed back in May, a whole new collection of The Haunted Mansion merchandise has materialized on shopDisney ahead of its full arrival at the Disney Parks. Just in are new black velvet Minnie Ears, glow-in-the-dark Spirit Jerseys for both Walt Disney … Read more