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 March 16-22!
If you have been following our news coverage over the past two weeks, you will be aware that currently all six Disney resorts across the world are closed due to concerns over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Here’s our WDWNT Weekly Recap of all the news we’ve brought you this week, along with some extra fun things to keep Disney spirits high through these difficult times. Stay safe, readers!
Walt Disney World
- Watch this special “See Ya Real Soon” farewell video released by Walt Disney World, in light of the resort-wide closures
Parks
- Take a look at these aerial images of the empty Walt Disney World parks by Twitter user @bioreconstruct
- Cast members have been informed of a further delay in scheduling for the potential reopening of the resort
- Check out this week’s photo reports for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, taken on the final night before the temporary park closures
- The “Film Strip” entrance bridge to Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been completely demolished
- A new app update to My Disney Experience is suggesting that we might be to expect an expanded use of virtual queues across the parks
- Watch as The British Revolution ended their rockin’ run at the UK pavilion in EPCOT, and as Matsuriza took their final Taiko drum performance
Hotels & Resorts
- All Walt Disney World resort hotels are now officially closed to to the Coronavirus pandemic, and are currently not slated to open until April
- Select Disney Springs area hotels will be extending their closure period through April 30th due to pandemic concerns
- Construction has started to go vertical on the new “The Cove” hotel
- Check out our photo report for the EPCOT Area resorts, and Magic Kingdom area resorts, featuring crowd levels and activities around the resorts before the hotel closures began
- Before the resort closures began, guests staying at the Walt Disney World Dolphin were moved over to the Walt Disney World Swan due to pandemic concerns
Around Walt Disney World
- Early on in the week, all construction across Walt Disney World was ceased due to Coronavirus concerns
- The Walt Disney World bus fleet is now stationed at the Magic Kingdom parking lot during the resort closures
- Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC is now open at Disney Springs for a limited time, and pre-orders are available for pick-up, whilst the AMC has temporarily closed
- As Cirque du Soleil laid off 95% of their employees due to the pandemic, the premiere of the Disney Springs “Drawn to Life” has been delayed indefinitely
- Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ and Splitsville have terminated all their employees due to Coronavirus closures, whereas Jaleo by Jose Andres has launched a new employee support fund
- Check out this week’s photo report for Disney Springs, featuring crowds and preparations before the park closures
Guest Services & Other Information News
- runDisney has cancelled the upcoming Star Wars Rival Run Weekend, which was due to take place in April, and will be issuing refunds to guests
- The Sun & Fun 25%-off room discount offer window has been extended through August 31st
- A 34-year-old man has died from Coronavirus, having only recently visited Walt Disney World
- An update on MagicBand orders and cancellations was released, with guests due to collect their bands in-resort due to be refunded
Disneyland Resort
- The Governor of California issued a statewide Stay-at-Home Order “until further notice” this week, although the effects this will have on the Disneyland Resort are still unknown
- A new Disneyland Resort hotel offer hinted at an expected mid-April reopening date
- Take a look at our photo report for Disney California Adventure and the Disneyland Park on their last day of operation before the temporary park closures
- The closure of the Disneyland Resort will represent a $400 million loss for Southern California
Hong Kong Disneyland
- New details were revealed regarding the Magic Access Annual Pass extensions due to the park closures
Tokyo Disney Resort
- We took an appropriate throwback to that time when Meeko showed us how to properly wash our hands in Tokyo Disneyland
- A new attraction poster has been revealed for “The Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast” at Tokyo Disneyland
- Employees at Tokyo Disney Resort have been seeking help from a union to get paid through the resort closures
- The construction on Cinderella Castle has been wrapping up this week
- “It’s Very Minnie”, “Fantasmic” and more are to be released on YouTube by Tokyo Disney Resort for a limited time
- Earlier in the week we spotted sight line balloons above the resort backstage area
Disney Cruise Line
- Select Disney Cruise Line sailings are allowing an extension on final payment deadlines, due to voyage uncertainty
New Merchandise
- The March collection of the “Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction” series is now available on shopDisney, and this month Minnie has taken a spin on the teacups
- There is a new set of collectible LEGO Star Wars helmets available for pre-order on shopDisney, celebrating 40 years of “The Empire Strikes Back”
- The all-new Disney Dogs sketch collection of purses by Dooney & Bourke is now available on shopDisney
- ColorPop have released a warrior-worthy “Mulan” makeup collection
Entertainment and Media
- We reviewed the fifth instalment of the Twisted Tales book series: “Part of Your World” by Liz Braswell
- “The Making of Disney’s Jungle Cruise” will be the title of a new book, promising an in-depth look at the film and the classic attraction, which is available to pre-order now
- A new featurette has been released for Disney’s “Artemis Fowl”
- The release of Marvel’s “Black Widow” has been postponed
Disney+
- Take a look at every new release coming to Disney+ in April!
- Rosario Dawson has been cast as Ahsoka Tano for the second season of “The Mandalorian”
- “Onward” will be available on Disney+ from April 3rd
- An official trailer was released for “A Celebration of the Music from Coco” concert experience, which will premiere on April 10th
- On Deep in the Plus, we reviewed “Kim Possible” on Disney+
Other Disney News
- Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa will be closing due to Coronavirus concerns on March 24, and Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort is now temporarily closed as well
- Three TSA agents at Orlando International Airport have tested positive for Coronavirus this week
- An analyst claimed that Apple could actually acquire The Walt Disney Company due to the recent volatile stock market
- The Walt Disney Company has announced a $6 billion debt offering as revenue diminishes
- Disney Vacation Club have been reassessing their previously-announced point management exceptions in the wake of Coronavirus-related cancellations
- Physical gift cards are temporarily unavailable to purchase via shopDisney
Editorials & Other Fun Stuff
- Test your knowledge in our fun games: Walt Disney World Online Trivia, and “Name That Animated Disney Film in Seven Words”Â
- Editorial: I Watch all 22 Pixar Films Once a Year and Here’s What I Think of Each One – Part 1
- Learn how to play “Nothing Can Stop Us Now” from Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Editorial: Michael Eisner Was the Greatest CEO in the History of The Walt Disney Company
- Editorial: How Disney Magic Can Beat the Quarantine Blues- Part 1
- Why not have a go at recreating your favorite Disney Ride Pre-Show video for a chance to win $50 in Corbucks?
- Celebrate 53 years of Pirates of the Caribbean with 53 Fun Facts
WDW News Today
Make sure you catch up on the News Today episodes from this week!
Layoffs Hit US Parks While Tokyo Disney Continues Construction Projects – News Today 3/20
Walt Disney World Closure Likely to be Extended Until Mid-April – News Today 3/18
Emotional Farewell as Disney Parks Close, Hotel and Disney Springs Closures – NewsToday 3/16
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!
Featured Image: @bioreconstruct