Every week is a busy week when it comes to Disney news. To help you keep up with all of the updates coming out of Walt Disney World and other Disney resorts, here’s WDWNT’s weekly recap of the Disney news from January 13–19!

Walt Disney World

• A bold, new variable message sign was installed at the Magic Kingdom Toll Plaza
• We reviewed the green and gorgeous Baby Yoda Frappuccino

Magic Kingdom

• Check out this week’s photo report for the Magic Kingdom, featuring an appearance from Suzy and Perla, new merchandise and more!
• We were excited and surprised to spot explorer Jim Hawkins from “Treasure Planet” out meeting guests in Tomorrowland
• A gun was confiscated at the security checkpoint in the Magic Kingdom after a guest forgot he had it in his bag
• Refurbishment of the City Hall facade is now underway, with scrim up around the building
• Adventureland was decked out with a new themed digital tip board installation

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• We tried the new Forbidden Mountain Yeti Cone from the Anandapur Ice Cream Truck
• Guests planning to visit Animal Kingdom in April should be aware that the park’s opening were reduced on select dates through the month

EPCOT

• Check out this week’s photo report for EPCOT, featuring construction on Gateway Gifts, Test Track closing for refurbishment and more
• The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts has returned for 2020! As always, the guidemap showed there is plenty to see, do and taste. We of course had to try it all and write up reviews on all of it. Read our reviews on all of the booth and restaurant festival offerings: Cuisine Classique; Mosaic Canteen; The Artist’s Table; The Painted Panda; The Masterpiece Kitchen; El Artista Hambriento; L’Art de la Cuisine Francaise; L’Arte di Mangiare; Star of Goshiki; The Funnel Cake Kiosk; Fife & Drum; Block & Hans; Decadent Delights; Refreshment Port; Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company; The Deconstructed Dish and Refreshment Outpost
• We also tried the disappointing new brunch over at Le Cellier Steakhouse and the more impressive “Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine” program. We also checked out the new, interactive Glass Art kiosk hosted by Arribas Brothers for the festival
• The new “Beauty and the Beast” Sing-Along debuted this week at the France pavilion, and its similarity to the original means it’s sure to be a hit
• The new “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” film also debuted in the Canada pavilion, and “Awesome Planet” started showing in The Land pavilion
• Gateway Gifts closed for a very brief refurbishment, along with its adjacent entrance walkway area, only to reopen on Sunday
• In construction news across EPCOT, construction has gone vertical on the new security screening structure, new futuristic light fixtures were installed at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, a new Gusteau’s Restaurant sign has gone up at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and new “Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story” art appeared on construction walls. The EPCOT monorail beam will undergo construction starting January 20, with opening times delayed until 10 a.m. on select dates
• Guest Experience Teams will soon come to EPCOT, after successfully being in place through Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Construction walls are now surrounding the entrance of Test Track, which has now closed for refurbishment

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Check out this week’s photo report for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, featuring a roaming R2-D2 droid, Rise of the Resistance boarding groups, new merchandise and more
• Cast Member training and ride testing is now underway for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and a peek at the loading area of the attraction was revealed
• New D-Tech on Demand touch screen kiosks were installed over at Launch Bay Cargo
• Fantasmic! will close for a one-day refurbishment January 22

Disney Springs

• Check out this week’s photo report for Disney Springs, featuring “Cake Boss” Carlo’s Bake Shop treats, updates on City Works, Rock the Dots decor and more
• The indoor seating area at Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop closed for refurbishment
• The construction walls surrounding City Works Eatery & Pour House now feature new artwork, and an entrance to the establishment through The NBA Experience was revealed
• A Rustic Cuff Jewelry pop-up store will soon open at Disney Springs

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

• Tickets are now on sale for this summer’s H2O Glow Nights at Typhoon Lagoon

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

Disney’s Bay Lake Tower

• The interactive water feature at Bay Lake Tower will be closed for refurbishment through February 7

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

• The Caribbean Beach Disney Skyliner station has been decked out in touristy Disney Destination posters

Disney’s Riviera Resort

• Topolino’s Terrace is now accepting Tables in Wonderland discounts

Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Park

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opened this week in Disneyland, and the boarding groups ran out after 45 seconds. This didn’t stop some guests, who actually forged fake passes to cheat their way onboard the ride. We put together a roundup of every piece of merchandise available for the opening and also reviewed the new Toydarian Swirl Green Milk, Galma Garlic Puffed Cheese Chips and Shimmering Black Spire Hot Chocolate
• This new 1950s-style retro Disneyland popcorn box is sure to be a hit, as is this new Kylo Ren TIE Interceptor souvenir french fry bucket
• We reviewed the new White Chocolate Snowflake Hand Pie from Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe
• Snow White’s Scary Adventures is now closed for reimagining, with construction walls now up around the attraction
• In a minor shock at Disneyland, the iconic sword in the stone was temporarily missing after a guest actually pulled it out

Disney California Adventure

• A host of delicious new food offerings arrived in Disney California Adventure in celebration of Lunar New Year. We tried the Smoked Beef Bulgogi and Peach Sojito from Lucky 8 Lantern; Shrimp and Ginger Dumplings and Honey Tea with Bourbon from Red Dragon Spice Traders; Almond Milk Tea, Orange Blossom Cocktail and more from Paradise Garden Grill; Mochi Donuts and Vietnamese Coffee from Longevity Noodle Co.; Mickey Hot Dog and more from Prosperity Bao and Buns; the Dessert Bao Bun from Lucky Fortune Cookery and Pork Belly Egg Rolls from Lamplight Lounge. In celebration of the new year, Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession marched through the park
• We reviewed the new Fluffernutter Churro from Willie’s Churros

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

• We reviewed the new World of Color Dining Package over at Storytellers Cafe

Tokyo Disney Resort

Tokyo Disneyland

• We celebrated the very special Winnie the Pooh Day by taking a virtual ride on Pooh’s Hunny Hunt
• We reviewed the Surprising Special Set for Very Very Minnie over at Plaza Pavilion

Tokyo DisneySea

• The Usapiyos have returned, bringing special food and merchandise for the springtime celebration of Disney Easter 2020 at DisneySea

New Merchandise

• There’s lots of arty new merchandise available at the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, including these limited edition Spaceship Earth and Mission: SPACE attraction serigraph posters, limited-edition commemorative “Figment Color Co.” MagicBand and Mouse Ears and these super-fun Mickey Mouse musical ear hats by Dave Perillo

• Enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossom with this “Sakura Sway” collection, coming soon to Tokyo Disney Resort
• Start your collection with the first installment of the “Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction” merchandise series with this Space Mountain plush, Loungefly backpack and mug, along with this starry MagicBand, pin set and ear headband. You can also plan ahead with the sneak peek of the Pirates of the Caribbean February collection and the Mad Tea Party collection for the March release, and store all your pins from the series in this smart pin collector book
• Take a look at our roundup of every piece of Lunar New Year 2020 merchandise (with prices) available at Disney California Adventure
• Keep chugging along with this Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway toy train whistle
• Celebrate the Year of the Rat with the CNY: Mickey Mouse Shoe Pack by adidas
• Keep your drinks warm and adorable with these Baby Yoda “The Child” Tervis travel tumblers
• Say goodbye to the show with this collection of “Fantasmic! Final Performance” merchandise, coming soon to Tokyo DisneySea
• Check out our roundup of every new piece of Space Mountain and Carousel of Progress merchandise, in celebration of the attractions’ 45th Anniversary in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom. Pandora has also created this new Space Mountain charm in honor of the celebration
• Dress up in this beautiful, hot pink Minnie Mouse “Rock the Dots” dress, which would go great with the Disney Parks Collection Minnie Mouse Mood jewelry
• Pack for your park day with this “Park Life” attraction patch backpack
• Show off your love for movies with Mickey with this classic “Oh Boy!” Mickey Mouse film strip MagicBand and celebrate love with this Valentine’s Day 2020 MagicBand

Entertainment and Media

• The 2020 Oscar nominees were announced this week, with “Frozen 2” shockingly not making the list for Best Animated Feature
• It was reported that Taika Waititi is in talks to direct a new “Star Wars” film
• The first trailer was released for “Stargirl,” which will begin streaming on Disney+ in March
• There was also a trailer revealed for “Black Widow,” introducing us to The Taskmaster
• “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” was knocked out of first place at the box office this week
• Disney is dropping the “Fox” from 20th Century Fox and changing it to 20th Century Studios
• George Lucas met Baby Yoda this week, as documented by Jon Favreau on Twitter

Other Disney News

• Build-A-Bear Workshops across the US will soon stock “The Mandalorian” Baby Yoda plushes
• After reports of record high Disney+ app download numbers, stocks in Disney jumped

WDW News Today

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

News Today 1/15/20 – Guest Pulls Sword from Stone, PeopleMover Goes Back in Time, EPCOT Film Details

That’s all the Disney news for this past week! Make sure you check back at the end of each week for our weekly recaps!