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 23-29!

If you have been following our news coverage over the past few 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

• Walt Disney World and Disneyland officially announced on Friday that the parks and resorts will remain closed “until further notice”, and that hourly-paid cast members would continue to be paid through April 18th

Parks

• The EPCOT guidemap on My Disney Experience has been updated to show the expanded France pavilion, including Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure 
• An adorable baby zebra and sweet baby porcupine have been born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. An official update on the care of animals at the park during the closures was released by Disney earlier in the week
• The permits have been filed for the demolition of Stitch’s Great Escape at Magic Kingdom, and work is now slated to begin on the rumored “Wreck-It Ralph” attraction
• Check out these aerial images of an empty Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Hotels & Resorts

• The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin are now fully closed
• Check out this aerial update on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Hotel 
• Take a look at this video, showing cast members giving a warm farewell to the final family leaving Walt Disney World after the closure
• The B Resort and Spa in Disney Springs and the Holiday Inn Resort Orlando – Lake Buena Vista have extended their special rates through June to accommodate essential lodgers during the pandemic

Around Walt Disney World

• Shades of Green is temporarily closing due to the pandemic concerns, however they are accepting new reservations starting May 15th
• Walt Disney World Golf courses still, however, remain open through the resort-wide closures

Guest Services & Other Information News

• As of this weekend, Walt Disney World are only accepting resort and dining reservations for June 1st onwards
• The Free Dining Plan offer has been extended to all guests whose bookings have been impacted by the ongoing closures
• Walt Disney World Annual Passholders on monthly payment plans have not been allowed to cancel their payments, despite losing work and taking a financial hit due to the implications of the pandemic

Disneyland Resort

• Walt Disney World and Disneyland officially announced on Friday that the parks and resorts will remain closed “until further notice”, and that hourly-paid cast members would continue to be paid through April 18th
• The Disneyland Dapper Day Expo has been postponed to June
• Rumor has it that the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival 2020 will be extended due to the park closures
• Construction across Disneyland and Disney California Adventure has ceased during the closure
• Take a look at these aerial images of an empty Disneyland and Disney California Adventure

Hong Kong Disneyland

• An update was issued by Hong Kong Disneyland Resort regarding annual passes and park tickets, stating that all tickets through August 30th are now extended through August 31st

Disneyland Paris

• The closure of Disneyland Paris has been officially extended through April 15th, due to the prolonged Coronavirus pandemic lockdown in France
• The Disneyland Paris Princess Run scheduled for early May has been cancelled
• Disneyland Paris have released their free 2019 Heritage Days Celebration Booklet, available now for download

Tokyo Disney Resort

• It was announced on Friday that the hotels across Tokyo Disney would be closing from April 1st through April 20th, as the resort closure was officially extended through April 20th
• An adorable Disney Easter 2020 banner is now in place at the entrance to Tokyo DisneySea, and a full set of adorable character-attraction banners have been revealed at the main entrance to Tokyo Disneyland
• Gorgeous cherry blossoms have started to bloom at the Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta
• You can now watch the full, official video of Fantasmic! at Tokyo DisneySea 
• New digital signage has been installed on Tokyo’s Disney Resort Line monorail stations

Shanghai Disneyland

• Lumiere’s Kitchen has reopened at the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel after its temporary closure

New Merchandise

• A grinning, limited-edition Cheshire Cat Mat Tea Party Funko POP! figure will be released online on April 10th
• Bring honor to your jewelry box with these new Mulan and Mushu Pandora charms
• New Earth Day and Easter tees, featuring Star Wars, Wall-E, Toy Story and more, have sprouted up on shopDisney
• Get ready for summer with this bright new collection of Walt Disney World and Disneyland tie-dye apparel

• This fun new “The Three Caballeros” mini backpack and wallet by Loungefly will be available soon
• This magestic new Disney Princess ceramic dinnerware set is now available online and via Target
• You can now “Build Your Own Dreams” with this new Duffy & Friends merchandise collection at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
• Put a spring in your step with these new Mickey Mouse & Friends colorful garden collection by Vera Bradley

Entertainment and Media

• The classic “Star Wars Episode I: Racer” game is soon to be re-released for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4
• Make sure you check out these Animal Crossing QR codes, which allow you to dress your player up like your favorite Disney characters
• “Avatar” and all four “Avengers” movies are to be re-released in theaters across China
• A new Disney Parks Artist Studio feature has debuted on the My Disney Experience app, allowing users to learn to draw Mickey Mouse
• Meghan Markle will be lending her voice to a new Disneynature documentary “Elephant”, coming to Disney+ on April 3rd

Other Disney News

• A passenger who was aboard one of the last sailings of Disney Cruise Line has tested positive for Coronavirus
• Most trips through May have been cancelled by Adventures by Disney
• There have now been seven TSA Agents at Orlando International Airport who have tested positive for Coronavirus
• Read the latest update shared by Disney Vacation Club regarding extended resort closures and automatic cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• The Walt Disney Company has raised $1.3 billion in Canadian debt offerings 
• Cast Member union workers voiced their concerns over Disney’s continued silence on the extended closure, and later demanded payment and insurance benefits from the company through April 30th

Editorials

• How Disney Magic Can Beat the Quarantine Blues – Part 3
• I Watch All 22 Pixar Films Once a Year and Here’s What I Think of Each One – Part 2

Other Fun Stuff

• Watch this hilarious “World Famous Jungle Cruise: Quarantined Skipper Super Cut” video by Freddy Martin, featuring a spiel compilation by skippers from across the years
• Unearth 25 years of history with this in-depth exploration of the Indiana Jones Adventure, from the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, to the Crystal Skull
• Watch EPCOT’s “Reflections of China” in 360° with a director’s commentary from Jeff Blyth
• Celebrate 5 years of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort with our virtual visit
• Make your own rose gold Mickey macarons with our step-by-step guide
• Have you been playing Animal Crossing? Get involved and show us your Disney-themed islands and creations!
• Watch as Yehaa Bob Jackson from Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside plays a full set from his home during quarantine, and The Disneyland Dapper Dans joined together electronically to do the same
• Joe Rohde has been posting essays on the inspiration behind the Tree of Life and The Adventurers Club on his Instagram

WDW News Today

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

Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Tokyo, Paris All Extend Park Closures – NewsToday 3/27

Permits Filed for New Wreck-it-Ralph Attraction, Latest Closure Information – News Today 3/24

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!