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 June 15-21, 2020.
Walt Disney World
Parks
- Walt Disney World finally released information this week on the new reservation system required for park access upon reopening. This Park Pass Reservations system for guests to request their visitation windows is live tomorrow, with the first pick of parks and dates going to resort guests, followed by passholders, then other ticket holders. Unfortunately, a clause of this system will mean that park hopping will no longer exist for now, due to a one-park-a-day policy.
- Annual Passholder previews have been announced for the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom on July 9-10, whilst Cast Member previews will take place from July 7-14
- It has been confirmed that character processions will be replacing the standard entertainment offerings within the parks, as offerings such as parades, nighttime spectacular, and meet & greets have been suspended. You can read the full list of all the attractions, entertainment and other offerings set to be available upon the park reopenings here. It is also worth noting that no virtual queue systems or single rider lines will be utilized for ride entry, including for the new Rise of the Resistance attraction
- The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival will be kicking off for the July 15 reopening of the park
- All Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties and H20 Glow Nights have been canceled for 2020, and information regarding ticket refunds can be found here. This full list of canceled tours, dessert parties and special experiences was also published. Looking ahead, it was shared that plans for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2020 are being monitored, with no confirmed schedule changes yet
- Temporary changes to the Disney PhotoPass service have been announced, including that photographers won’t be allowed to take photos on guests’ personal devices
- Check out the latest progress on the Cinderella Castle repainting, and construction on the walkway connecting the Magic Kingdom to the Grand Floridian from these aerial images
- Disney confirmed this week that the refurbishment on Spaceship Earth in EPCOT will still happen
Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
- It was reported that guests with hotel reservations for around July 11th were being asked to upgrade to Disney Vacation Club resorts at full price
- The online check-in service has been updated to reflect the changes in Mousekeeping at resorts, telling us that a “light cleaning” service will take place every other day
- Complimentary MagicBands for Walt Disney World guests are to be discontinued
- Disney released a first look inside the new Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground this week, where a baby foal named Violet has been born
- Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of the restaurants set to reopen as a “family style” dining location, as opposed to its usual buffet format
- Disney Vacation Club has confirmed that Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House will be closed during its initial reopening period, with reservations to be switched to Kidani Village
Disney Springs
- Check out this week’s photo report for Disney Springs, including new face masks, merchandise rainbows, construction updates, and more
- Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin‘ reopened this week, debuting its new Shine Bar + Social patio area, and the Coca-Cola Store also reopened with new social distancing measures in place
- Construction has been coming along quickly on the new M&M’s retail store
- We reviewed the new Bourbon on the Rocks Chocolate Chip Cookie from The Polite Pig
- Although AMC Theaters have announced they will be reopening on July 15, the Disney Springs Dine-In location is still listed as closed
- Preliminary social distancing markers have been added to the queue area for resort boat transportation from Disney Springs, while a new temperature screening area has been set up for guests arriving by bus
- An employee at T-Rex Cafe in Disney Springs has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19
- We spotted Disney buses staged at the Disney Springs bus stations this week, ahead of the resort reopenings
- Gideon’s Bakehouse will be opening an all-new location at The Landing later this year

Other Walt Disney World Reopening Announcement Updates & Guest Information
- Annual Passholders will be allowed to hold only three Disney Park Pass reservations at a time under the new system. One month will be added to Annual Passes or partial refunds and cancellations will be offered, in order to make up for these limitations
- Annual Passholders will be receiving their next exclusive magnet in the post this summer
- Bookings will reopen for 2021 vacations on June 28, with tickets and hotels for the remainder of 2020 to go on sale later this summer
- Dining reservations are now available for booking by phone, exclusively for resort guests. A mobile dining check-in feature will be coming to My Disney Experience for dining to enable social distancing in the restaurants. Bear in mind that numerous resort restaurants have been hit with price and menu changes ahead of the reopening
Around Walt Disney World
- Many theme park and resort cast members are being called in to return to work ahead of the July reopenings
- Disney Parks has launched a new Health and Safety campaign themed to “The Incredibles” and, from this, a newly-established team of “Social Distancing” cast members have now been renamed “THE INCREDI-CREW“, and given themed masks to wear
- New details have been revealed about the resumed NBA season at Walt Disney World, including possible after-hours private access for players, exclusive movie screenings, MagicBands, and more. The teams will be staying at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Yacht Club Resort, and Gran Destino Tower throughout the season, with each team allowed to reserve up to 17 rooms
- The Speedway gas station across from Disney Springs has just reopened, with new safety measures implemented inside

Other Walt Disney World News
- This week, the Orange County Mayor issued an executive order, requiring face masks to be worn in any public space from June 20
- A college athlete claiming he lost his basketball season after being run over by a scooter in Disney’s Hollywood Studios has filed a lawsuit against the resort
- Two Walt Disney World cast members have been arrested for possession of child pornography
Disneyland Resort
- The phased reopening of Downtown Disney has been approved for July 9, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel on July 23
- Enhanced Health & Safety measures have been announced for Disneyland ahead of its proposed reopening, with the requirement of face masks for all guests
- Disneyland Union members have been demanding that the Disneyland resort does not reopen on July 17, due to safety concerns for cast members
- Salt & Straw have been the first to announce their reopening at Downtown Disney District on July 9th
- The Star Wars Celebration 2020 has been canceled, with replacement 2022 dates revealed with an exclusive pin offer for all transferred tickets, and the Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite has also been postponed
Disneyland Paris
- Rumor has it that Disneyland Paris will be announcing their plans for reopening on June 22, stay tuned to WDWNT for more as it comes!
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
- Hong Kong Disneyland reopened this week after its unprecedented closure, with the grand reopening ceremony live-streamed from the park. It’s reopening was only announced on Sunday last week
- Blog images showed a view of the new Castle of Magical Dreams in the reopened park
- Take a look at how characters are making their socially distant appearances at the newly-reopened Hong Kong Disneyland
- Ride vehicles for the Frozen Ever After attraction have been spotted backstage at the resort

Shanghai Disneyland
- The pass system used at Shanghai Disneyland has now been expanded for attractions including the “Disney Color-Fest” show, TRON Lightcycle Power Run, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and more

Disney Cruise Line & Adventures by Disney
- The Disney Dream has now returned to Barbados to repatriate 268 international crew members
- All trips through August have been canceled by Adventures by Disney
New Merchandise
- Monthly releases of the “Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction” collection has been temporarily suspended on shopDisney, at least throughout the summer, but we still got a sneak peek at the new King Arthur Carousel collection for the series 7 release
- There have been some great new releases of bags, backpacks, and purses this week! Rock out with this new “Muppets” Animal purse by Loungefly, Stitch and Green Alien wristlets by Loungefly, Remy bag by Danielle Nicole and this Mickey Mouse bag by Dooney & Bourke
- Feel the force with this new collection of Star War apparel
- Count down to July 4 with this new Americana Minnie Mouse sequin backpack by Loungefly and Americana Minnie Mouse Ear headband

- Over in Hong Kong Disneyland, there are some amazing new merchandise collections featuring ‘Olu Mel and the Castle of Magical Dreams
- A collection of new Princess-inspired Allure Bridal dresses debut as part of the Disney Fairy Tale Weddings collection
- Watch out for this new LEGO Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance I-TS Transport set, including Vi Moradi and Lieutenant Bek figures, which will be released this September
- Also in LEGO news, these new Mickey & Minnie Mouse buildable character sets are now available for pre-order
- Say “Oh, Boy!” to this new Disney Youth sock pack
- Be evil with this new “Snow White” color-changing poisoned apple mug
- Match up in these new “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” matching Toy Story tees
- Show your pride with even more of the Rainbow Mickey merchandise collection
- Get ready for take-off with this cute Soarin’ Around the World Mickey Ear Hat ornament

- Show off your pin collection with these new cork Minnie Mouse Ears
- Adopt a new “Child” with this new Baby Yoda toy doll
- In MagicBand news, we spotted a Stitch birthday MagicBand, Donald Duck 2020 Annual Passholder MagicBand, and Mickey Mouse Summertime Fun MagicBand
- Brighten up your kitchen with these new character aprons and potholders, featuring characters from Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast and Toy Story
- In face mask news, new Disney Character and Rainbow Mickey Pride face mask designs are now on sale at Disney Springs

Entertainment and Media
- Walt Disney Animation Studios are reportedly in production on a new movie called “Encanto“, from Byron Howard and Jared Bush, with music by Lin-Manuel Miranda
- Following its delayed release, the “Kingdom Hearts: Dark Road” app will be launching on June 22, while a new “Kingdom Hears: Melody of Memories” rhythm game has been announced for later this year
- EA have released a trailer for their new “Star Wars: Squadrons” video game
Disney+
- Take a look at the list of every new release coming to Disney+ in July, including “Hamilton” and more
- Free trials are no longer being offered for Disney+, ahead of the release of Hamilton next month
- The original soundtrack for “The Imagineering Story” has now been released digitally in Japan
Other Disney News
- Disney Stores are set to reopen in England with a mandatory face-covering rule, despite face masks not being used or required in any other high-street stores
- We were saddened to hear that the firefighter from the iconic “Mickey and the Fireman” portrait has been hospitalized due to COVID-19
- Barbra Streisand has gifted her shares in Disney stock to George Floyd’s daughter
WDW News Today
Make sure you catch up on the News Today episodes from this week!
Park Reservation Details for Walt Disney World Released, Resort Guests Pick First – NewsToday 6/19
Disney Springs Server Reportedly Tests Positive for COVID-19, New Frozen Ride Boats – NewsToday 6/17
New Security Screening Testing at Walt Disney World Ahead of Theme Parks Reopening – NewsToday 6/15
That’s all the Disney news for this past week folks! Make sure you check back at the end of each week for our weekly recaps!