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 October 4 to October 11, 2020.

Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom

Take a spin around Magic Kingdom in our October 6, October 7, and October 9 photo reports
The Magic Kingdom toll plaza refurbishment moved to the Cast Member toll booths
Minnie’s dog Fifi popped up on “it’s a small world”
Rose gold was added to elements of the Magic Kingdom toll plaza
Tom Sawyer Island and Liberty Square Riverboat closed for a three-month refurbishment, and later Rivers of America began to be drained
Progress is being made on TRON Lightcycle / Run in Tomorrowland
Palm trees and canopy coverings were added at the resort launch dock in front of Magic Kingdom
Even more rose gold was added to the toll plaza
The Lunching Pad reopened in Tomorrowland with social distancing
A new sign warns guests that they will be asked to leave if they are not properly wearing their face mask
More scrims were added to the facade of “it’s a small world” amidst refurbishment
As the weekend began, wait times picked up and crowds increased at Magic Kingdom
Adventureland debuted a brand new background music loop
A projection scene featuring Br’er Rabbit, Fox, and Bear has been restored in HD
Operating hours extended on October 11 and 12 for Columbus Day weekend to give guests more time to enjoy the park

EPCOT

Tour EPCOT via our October 4 and October 6 photo reports
Jeff Blyth, director of EPCOT’s CircleVision film “Wonders of China”, released a memoir about the making of the film
Construction walls have appeared next to the Italy Pavilion
Frozen Ever After will be closing for refurbishment for five days in November
The interior of the Electric Umbrella has been almost completely destroyed
Fences were removed from around the upcoming Space 220 restaurant
The marimba player animatronics are once again operational on Gran Fiesta Tour
Demolition continued at Electric Umbrella and Innoventions West
We reviewed Chefs de France on its reopening day
FastPass+, single-rider, and standby queue signs were added to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the France Pavilion
We spotted the future centerpiece for EPCOT’s “Harmonious”
The lucite pylons are once again visible as some of the scaffolding and scrims surrounding it have been taken down
Belgium returned to the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival as “Waffles”

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Follow along a trip to Hollywood Studios in our October 6 and October 8 photo reports
Keystone Clothiers reopened on Hollywood Boulevard
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration reopened
Ronto Wraps are available in the evenings at Docking Bay 7 in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge while Ronto Roasters closes early
ABC Commissary released a new menu ahead of its October 8 reopening
ABC Commissary reopened and we reviewed their menu changes
After weeks of issues, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance was operating with no technical glitches
Mira, Royal Detective joined the Disney Junior Stars Motorcade for this weekend only

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Visit the park virtually with our October 4 photo report
A safari truck was added to the upcoming goat exhibit on Kilimanjaro Safaris
Operating hours extended on October 11 and 12 for Columbus Day weekend to provide more time for park enjoyment during the holiday

Disney Springs

Live music is returning to some areas of Disney Springs

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

Mickey and friends will be returning to Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in December, and new menu items will be added
We reviewed the Pop’s Potion Cocktail at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
We visited and reviewed Narcoosee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for its reopening
Join us on a tour of an ADA accessible room at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
A new cake pop is scary good at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
We also reviewed several new The Nightmare Before Christmas treats at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Hotel suites are available to book again, but Club level remains unavailable
Disney Vacation Club will be offering a credit card auto-pay option starting in 2021
We learned which shops, restaurants, and activities would be reopening at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort on October 14
Tour a theme park view main tower room at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Lampposts have been installed and the ramp was removed on the walkway connecting Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa to Magic Kingdom

Other Walt Disney World News

Orange County, Florida is reopening the CARES Act due to the layoffs
The Florida man caught camping on Discovery Island plead no contest
The New Yorker released a documentary about the pros and cons of visiting the parks during the COVID-19 pandemic
Josh D’Amaro visited Cast Members at multiple theme parks to apologize for the layoffs
Winter Summerland mini-golf will be reopening in November, while Fantasia Gardens closes
560 third-party Baggage Airline Guest services Cast Members were laid off
Service Trades Council Union released details on Cast Member layoffs, including 8,800 part-time Cast Members who have now been laid off
Walt Disney World plans to layoff 184 union carpenters and mechanics
Annual Passholders were asked to confirm pass extensions in an email
Read our update on park pass availability through the rest of the year, including holidays
Park hours were released through December 26 and park hours were extended at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom
The Maingate Complex COVID-19 testing site switched from drive-thru to walk-up testing
Seasonal Cast Members are receiving Notices of Separation

Disneyland Resort

We learned early in the week that Stage 17 in Disney California Adventure would be opening with Downtown Disney District access as the Backlot Premiere Shop
Governor Newsom ignored a question about Disneyland Resort reopening in a press conference
Disneyland Resort is laying off 2,800 union Cast Members, including restaurant and Club 33 staff
Orange County Health Care officials recommended reopening Disneyland parks
A permit was filed for new illuminated signage in “Golden State Expansion” at Disney California Adventure
Disneyland Resort Backlot Premiere Shop opened as a larger space for World of Disney merchandise
California’s Secretary of Health and Human Services said there’s “no promise of a specific date” for theme park reopening guidelines
1,800 union security guards, attractions operators, and meet-and-greet character performers are being laid off at Disneyland Resort
Governor Newsom said he’s in “no hurry” to release theme park reopening guidelines
Disney Parks Chief Medical Officer Pamela Hymel fired back at the Governor in a statement
Disneyland canceled reservations through October 24
Orange County Health Care officials visited the parks and Disneyland then adopted new health and safety protocols following their recommendations
Disneyland has informed performers that “Mickey and the Magical Map” and “Frozen: Live at the Hyperion” will not return
We reviewed several special Halloween flavors at Salt & Straw
Disneyland safeguards local Cast Members’ health by providing free COVID-19 testing
We reviewed the Magic Mirror Crispy Treat Pop and the Churro Marshmallow Wand at Marceline’s Confectionery in Downtown Disney District

Tokyo Disney Resort

Tokyo Disneyland

We visited the new La Taverne de Gaston restaurant in New Fantasyland

Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris is introducing a new tiered pricing system for Annual Passholder privilege tickets

Shanghai Disney Resort

New Merchandise

There are new Marie, Cheshire Cat, Stitch, and Dug mugs at Disneyland
New The Mandalorian merchandise will be released on “Mando Mondays” weekly through December 21
A bunch of new Christmas face masks and Spirit Jerseys arrived on shopDisney
A Twilight Zone Tower of Terror transforming mug dropped into Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Dooney & Bourke introduced some new animal print Mickey Mouse bags
Pandora jewelry launched a new Star Wars collection
shopDisney released another round of EPCOT attraction posters featuring Kitchen Kabaret, Soarin’ Around the World, and The Land
Disney shared details about registering for their first virtual pin event celebrating 20 years of pin trading
Kay Jewelers released a The Nightmare Before Christmas collection
Two new limited release glow-in-the-dark The Haunted Mansion pins were released at Walt Disney World
New Snow White and Sleeping Beauty shirts arrived at Disney Springs
Two new Max Bone dog sweaters arrived at Disney Springs
A Jungle Cruise skipper hat sailed into the new Backlot Premiere Shop at Disneyland
Several new lounge pants appeared at Walt Disney World
The “Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction” Big Thunder Mountain Railroad series was restocked on shopDisney
New Disney Villains apparel arrived at Downtown Disney District
“Happiful Duffy” souvenir bottles are now available in Tokyo DisneySea
Simba, Little Green Man, and 101 Dalmatians fan caps are coming soon to Tokyo Disney Resort
New retro-style Mickey & Co. sweatshirts arrived at Walt Disney World
A pre-arrival exclusive “Rivers of Light” MagicBand is now available
Are you Team Lime or Team Orange? Decide with our exclusive new magnets
Tokyo Disney Resort released new Toy Story pass cases
New big feet plushes of Pua, Sven, Nick Wilde, and Judy Hopps arrived at Disneyland Resort
The 2020 Minnie Mouse ear headband is buy one, get one free and half-off
Disneyland Resort released a new Peter Pan costume hat
A 65th anniversary sipper is available at World of Disney in Downtown Disney District
Several new t-shirt designs are now available on MaDe kiosks at Walt Disney World
A Madame Leota tombstone pillow arrived at Disneyland Resort
New keychains remind you to “wish” and “dream” at Walt Disney World
You can shop for new Fantasia-themed apparel at H&M stores and their online shop

Entertainment and Media

Several Disney film locations and theme park locations are in the latest round of proposed LEGO Product Ideas
Disney added films in 4K HDR to iTunes, including Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel films
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: A Crash of Fate was available as a free ebook for Star Wars Reads month
A plot summary was released for Cruella, Disney’s upcoming live-action film inspired by One Hundred And One Dalmations
Voctave, featuring members EPCOT’s Voices of Liberty, released “The Corner of Broadway and Main Street, Vol. 2” now streaming
Benedict Cumberbatch will be reprising his role as Doctor Strange in Spider-Man 3
A Space Mountain movie is in development for a theatrical release

Disney+

The Hocus Pocus sequel is reportedly coming to Disney+ sometime in the future
“High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special” is coming to Disney+ this December
Pixar’s Soul will be streaming exclusively on Disney+ starting Christmas day

The Walt Disney Company

Of the previously announced 28,000 Cast Member layoffs, 25% are in Walt Disney World
Executives will be discussing the fiscal full year and Q4 financial results via a November 12 webcast
Disney is contacting furloughed Cast Members not affected by the layoffs to let them know they haven’t been impacted

WDW News Today

Blogger Couple Starts Second Harvest Food Bank Drive to Help Laid Off Cast Members – NewsToday 10/5

Demolition Begins on Classic Elements of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – NewsToday 10/7

Park Hours Extended at Walt Disney World for Remainder of 2020 – NewsToday 10/9

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!

WDWNT Weekly Recap: “it’s a small world” Refurbishment, FastPass+ and Single Rider at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Additional Layoffs, and Still No Reopening Date for Disneyland