WOW. What a week it has been!

We knew that this week was going to be pretty big with the start of A Touch of Disney at Disney California Adventure Park (giving guests the first time to truly roam the park in over a YEAR), but so much other news was also announced this week. We’ve got updates on Disneyland, Black Widow, an EPCOT restaurant, Disney Cruise Line, and SO MUCH MORE!

Here are some of the BIGGEST Disney news bombs from this week!

1. Disneyland is Reopening SOON!

Disneyland’s theme parks have been closed for over a year at this point (except for a minor reopening of Buena Vista Street and now the “A Touch of Disney” event which gives guests access to some parts of Disney California Adventure Park). But, soon Disneyland and California Adventure will both be able to actually reopen!

This week, Disney announced that its theme parks at Disneyland Resort will reopen on…April 30th!

So far, we’ve gotten information about who will get to visit Disneyland first, how the parks will be limited to California residents for now, what masks guests will need to wear, what character interactions will be like, and more. We’re on the lookout for more updates and will share them with you as the reopening date approaches!

Click here to learn more about Disneyland’s upcoming reopening!

2. A Touch of Disney Has Begun

Ahead of the official reopening, Disney California Adventure Park is letting fans roam around the park, shop, and eat with a special ticketed event called A Touch of Disney.

Yesterday, the event began in California Adventure, and (of course) we were there covering it all! We got the chance to grab some EXCLUSIVE Legacy Passholder items, say hello to our favorite characters again (TEARS. THERE WERE TEARS.)…

…and EAT lots of food from all over Disneyland Resort, including the beloved Monte Cristo, wings from Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, Dole Whips, and SO much more.

It truly was incredible to walk through parts of the park we haven’t had the chance to see in QUITE a while. We’ll keep you updated on any new things we find as this ticketed event continues to be offered.

Click here to see more details about our time at A Touch of Disney and LOTS of food reviews!

3. Will Black Widow Go to Theaters or Disney+?

With Raya and the Last Dragon having been released in theaters and Disney+ simultaneously, but Soul and Mulan having gone directly to Disney+, you might be wondering — what’s going on with Black Widow? Black Widow’s release has been delayed but it is currently set to be released in theaters on May 7th. This week, Disney’s CEO, Bob Chapek, shared a look behind-the-scenes at how they’re deciding whether it goes to theaters or not.

Recently, Disney’s CEO said that Disney is continuing to watch consumer trends as they relate to movie theaters and will make the call on the release of Black Widow “at the last minute.”

Click here to see more about what Disney CEO Bob Chapek had to say about Black Widow and the future of movie releases.

4. The Future of Disney’s Reservation System and Current Demand

But, that’s not all Disney’s CEO had to say this week. Chapek also recently spoke about how Disney will be implementing a NEW reservation system that’s going to enable guests to “have a great time no matter when they choose to come to Disney.”

Of course, a reservation system has been in place in the open parks for quite some time, therefore, Chapek was likely referring to the reservation system coming to Disneyland. Chapek also commented about some other things related to the future of the parks.

You can check out more information about Chapek’s comments here!

Chapek also spoke about demand levels at the parks. He noted that Disney has seen the “enthusiasm, the craving for people to return to [the] parks around the world.”

We have seen some large crowds in Disney World, although we’ve also seen days with lower crowds. The crowd level at Disney World is something we’re constantly looking at. We’ll let you know as we spot more updates.

Click here to read more about Chapek’s comments regarding demand!

5. Part of Hollywood Studios is Getting a New Look

This week we also got to hear about some new things coming to Disney World. Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Chinese Theatre (which houses Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway) will be getting a NEW nighttime look!

The searchlights will be returning to light up the sky and the building will also be getting some unique lighting. We can’t wait to see this new look once it’s all finalized!

Check out photos of the new look coming to the Chinese Theatre here!

6. An EPCOT Restaurant is Reopening

Looking for some British fare while in EPCOT? You could check out the Rose & Crown Pub and Yorkshire County Fish Shop in the United Kingdom pavilion, but soon the Rose & Crown Dining Room will be reopening!

This spot closed for refurbishment back in February. But, it is now set to reopen in just a few days and reservations are already available!

Click here to read more about the reopening of the Rose and Crown Dining Room!

7. Disney Cruise Line Summer 2022, Here We COME!

This week we also got some exciting cruise news. Disney Cruise Line has already said that they hope to resume limited operations later this year. But, if you’re already looking to the future to plan your trip, you’re in luck! Earlier this week, Disney Cruise Line announced their summer 2022 itineraries.

You could sail to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Alaska, and MORE! Want to get some FREE money to spend on your cruise? Check out how you can get an awesome onboard credit here!

Check out the 2022 summer cruise itineraries here!

8. COVID-19 Guidelines Could Be Changing by July 4th

The situation with COVID-19 has been constantly changing, especially recently with vaccinations being distributed, and changes in terms of rules about indoor gatherings for those who have been vaccinated. Recently, President Biden’s Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, noted that we could have more normalcy in the United States by the 4th of July as more Americans get vaccinated.

Dr. Fauci noted that if we get to July and infection levels are sufficiently low, guidelines could be more liberal than they are now. This, of course, is still a developing situation. We’ll be on the lookout for more updates.

Click here to read more about Dr. Fauci’s statements!

And those are just some of the updates from this week! Wondering what other big stories happened this week? Well, recently:

• Disneyland Paris extended their closure again;
• We shared some details about Disney’s anticipation of a return to Broadway;
• Orange County, California (where Disneyland is located) entered the Red Tier; and
• We shared that social distancing guidelines could be lowered to 3 feet.

We’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more news all around Disney World, Disneyland, and more. Be sure to check back with us for the latest updates!

Click here to see what’s going on with the new Disney World projects WITHOUT opening dates.

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Are you planning to visit a Disney theme park soon? Tell us in the comments!

The post Disney News Was All OVER The Place This Week. Here Are the 8 BIGGEST Updates You Missed! first appeared on the disney food blog.