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 2 – 8!
Walt Disney World
- With the continuing concerns surrounding the Coronavirus outbreak, and a public health emergency declared in the state of Florida, Walt Disney World released an official statement regarding the risks and protective measures they are taking to reduce the spread of the virus. Cast members have been sanitizing the MagicBand touchpoints and finger scanners between each guest arrival at park entrances
- There was evidently a rumor going around cast members, suggesting that the complimentary bread served at table service restaurants across the resort was set to be discontinued and charged for. Disney released a statement on these claims this weekend, however, and it looks like the rolls are safe after all
Magic Kingdom
- Check out this week’s photo report for Magic Kingdom, featuring the closed Haunted Mansion, new merchandise, Castle makeover progress, and more
- The schedule for the Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire show has been reduced ahead of the Cinderella Castle makeover project
- Due to rumored technical issues with the Doom Buggies, The Haunted Mansion spent a lot of this week unexpectedly closed, until reopening after four days on Saturday
- The Emporium has had a re-jig, with an adjusted store layout
- Construction scaffolding has been erected in Adventureland, whilst pillars for the illuminated canopy of TRON Lightcycle Run have risen up in Tomorrowland
- Instagrammers beware, as the now-iconic Purple Wall photo op has been impacted by the ongoing re-theme in Tomorrowland
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Take a look at the latest construction progress on the new plaza and security screening area at the park entrance
- Primeval Whirl will be open on select dates through March
- Animal Kingdom welcomed an adorable baby Sitatunga Antelope and Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra to their family this week
- The “A Path Less Traveled” tour will be returning to Animal Kingdom for the 50th anniversary celebration of Earth Day
EPCOT
- Check out this week’s photo report for EPCOT, featuring Flower & Garden preparations, topiaries, a new construction wall, and more
- The 2020 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is now in full bloom! This week, we took your on a full tour of every beautiful topiary, the Goodness Garden Butterfly House, the floral gift cards on offer, the map and prizes from the “Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration” trail, the Garden Graze trail, every piece of new merchandise for the event, and – of course – every tasty treat and drink available at the marketplace booths. Read up on our full food and menu reviews using the links below…
- We noticed that the France pavilion expansion – including Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure – has been added to the EPCOT festival park map, suggesting it might be open by June 1st
- New seating areas, complete with charging stations, have launched at the Mission: SPACE Advanced Training Lab
- The uncertain Space 220 Restaurant has now been slated to open in April
- The new East parking lot security screening area has now opened
- In construction news across EPCOT, take a look at the progress and updates on Future World, and the park entrance
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Check out this week’s photo report for Hollywood Studios, including the Chinese Theatre red carpet, Minnie’s Springtime Dine, and more
- The big news at Hollywood Studios this week was the opening of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. If you’ve not ridden it yet, you can read our full, opening-day review of the screen-based ride here. As with every notable ride opening, a bunch of new Opening Day merchandise was released, including this Disney Parks Designer Collection ear hat and Imagineer-designed artist series t-shirts. The catchy theme from the ride: “Nothing Can Stop Us Now!” is now available to download, and you can sing-along as you check out our full attraction photo tour, and our full POV ridethrough video! If you are planning on riding the attraction and haven’t been successful in getting a FastPass, do note that the attraction has been announced as excluded from the Hollywood Studios Extra Magic Hours offerings
- As an extension of the fun of Runaway Railway, the new Mickey Shorts Theater has debuted with an exclusive “Vacation Fun” cartoon, a “Potatoland” photo op, and more
- The 8am park opening of Hollywood Studios has been extended though April 4
Disney Springs
- We reviewed the unimpressive “Onward” Lightfoot Dole Whip from Marketplace Snacks, and these limited-time Thin Mint Churros with Ghirardelli Chocolate Fudge
- A new Hot Diggity Dogs food truck will be pulling into Disney Springs this month
- A new behind-the-scenes performance video has been released for “Drawn to Life” by Cirque du Soleil, revealing the storyline for the show
Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resorts
- We reviewed the super Baymax Cupcake from All-Star Sports
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- On Wednesday, a guest was reportedly seen falling from the Contemporary, and a police presence was on-site
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- We reviewed the beautiful Seasonal Butterfly Buttercream Cupcake from Gasparilla Island Grill
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Take a look at this stunning “Moana”-themed carpet which has sailed into ‘Ohana… it calls me
- We tried the seasonal Chocolate-Dipped Pineapple Coconut Bacon from Kona Island Coffee
Disneyland Resort
- Due to concerns around Coronavirus, automated hand sanitizer stations have been added to nearly every counter service restaurant at the resort
Disneyland Park
- We reviewed the disappointing new “Magic Happens” Plaza Inn parade dining package
- last Sunday saw the return of the hugely popular fan event “Adventureland Day” – check out the photos here!
- We tried the tasty “Indiana Jones Adventure” 25th Anniversary Specialty (Dole) Whip from Tropical Hideaway, the disappointing Char Siu Pork Rib Rice Bowl from Bengal Barbeque, and the unimpressive Peanut Butter and Jelly Slush from Maurice’s Treats
Disney California Adventure
- Ian and Barley from “Onward” have pulled into Disney California Adventure for an all-new meet & greet opportunity
- Jessie’s Critter Carousel has reopened after its refurbishment, whilst the Cozy Cone Motel has now fully closed for its refurb
- We reviewed the Nutella Cheesecake from Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta
Tokyo Disney Resort
- Now that Tokyo Disney Resort has been temporarily closed due to the Coronavirus outbreak, we took you on an eerie video tour of the deserted resort grounds
- Scrim has come down, revealing the top tower on Cinderella Castle in Tokyo Disneyland
Disneyland Paris
- A behind-the-scenes video look at the Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast refurbishment has been released
- Martin Garrix will be headlining the Villainous-themed Electroland festival, and tickets are on sale now
New Merchandise
- Treat your smallest pals with these adorable graphic tees for pets from DisneyTails
- Dress for springtime in this gorgeous pale pink Minnie “The World in Bloom” dress
- In MagicBand news, we found these retro Dreamfinder and Figment & Orange Bird MagicBands available at D-Tech on Demand
- In pin news, check out the March 2020 pin releases for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris, and carry around your collection in these stylish pin trading bags
- Celebrate the anniversary of a favorite Disneyland ride with these “Indiana Jones Adventure 25th Anniversary” tees
- Carry along this Mushu shoulder plush as your travel-sized companion
- Keep wishing with this Mickey Mouse Wishables pocket necklace, and the new Wishables Disney Snacks plush collection
- Unleash your inner artist with this coloring mat from the Disney Ink & Paint collection
- Show off your love of “The Child” with this new Baby Yoda Pandora charm
- Go fetch with these new Disney Dogs & Cats mini backpacks by Loungefly
- Stay cool in the sun with these Disney Parks sunglasses
- Personalise your outfits with this Kermit the Frog “Patched” patch
- Float around Walt Disney World in the light-up Mickey Balloon Ear Headband
- Light the way with these Disney Parks monorail, castle and Mickey Mouse nightlights
- Move forward in style with this Tomorrowland PeopleMover tee
- Stay snap-happy with this Mickey Mouse camera-shaped phone case and strap, or go for these new Mad Tea Party and Stitch purse phone cases instead
Entertainment and Media
- This week saw the release of Disney/Pixar’s “Onward” – read our full review here. The movie hit theaters complete with a new “The Simpsons” short film shown before it
- In the run-up to the movie’s release later this month, a special look at “Mulan” was released, featuring the new song “Loyal Brave True” by Christina Aguilera
- It looks like “The Call of the Wild” will go down as a box office loss for Disney
- The official trailer was released for Disney’s “Artemis Fowl”
Disney+
- It was reported that a live-action “Beauty and the Beast” prequel series about LeFou and Gaston is in development for Disney+, with Luke Evans and Josh Gad set to reprise their roles
Other Disney News
- The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco closed temporarily this week due to Coronavirus fears
- D23 have revealed the limited edition “Year of the Mouse” Train Conductor Mickey Mouse plush for March, and changed their procedures for purchasing
WDW News Today
Make sure you catch up on the News Today episodes from this week!
Day 4 of Haunted Mansion Closure, Turnstiles Being Disinfected, Figment Magicband- NewsToday 3/6
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Opens at Walt Disney World, EPCOT Flower & Garden-News Today 3/4
Runaway Railway Animatronics Preview, The Seas Scavenger Hunt, Milk Stand Breakfast – NewsToday 3/2
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!
