WOW. That’s all we have to say. “WOW.”

Okay, obviously we have more to say than just “wow” or there would be no article! But this week was seriously a BIG one when it comes to Disney news. From huge Halloween announcements to some hotel news you’re not going to want to miss out on — we’ve got it all wrapped up in one, nice little package for you right here! What are you waiting for?! Let’s get on with our summary of the biggest Disney news from this week!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is Coming BACK (& More Halloween News)

We’re officially celebrating Halfway to Halloween with Disney! This week started with some announcements about spooky Halfway to Halloween treats that would be available in the parks (some of which we already tried and are sharing reviews of!) news about a Halfway to Halloween TikTok event, virtual wallpapers, and more.

But then things got REALLY interesting.

Disney then made a HUGE announcement and shared that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will be coming BACK to Magic Kingdom this year! That’s right! The Halloween Party is BACK! GET THOSE PUMPKINS READY!

For a full list of prices and dates for the Not-So-Scary Halloween parties, click here!

The party will feature the return of the Boo-To-You Parade, the Headless Horseman, ride overlays, a stage show featuring the Sanderson Sisters, a Disney Junior dance party, Halloween fireworks, and MORE!

Click here to see everything confirmed to return to the Halloween Party this year!

But wait…there’s MORE. This week Disney also shared a first look at some of the Halloween merchandise guests will get to buy at both Disney World and Disneyland. 

Disneyland will be getting in on the Halloween event fun this year as well. Disney has confirmed that Oogie Boogie Bash will be returning to Disneyland Resort in the fall.

This year, Minnie and Mickey will also be getting NEW Halloween outfits in Disneyland. Get a sneak peek at those outfits here!

On Disney Cruise Line, there’s lots of Halloween fun to be had. In fact, this year you might just find that the Sanderson Sisters have made their way to Disney’s cruises in a very UNEXPECTED way!

Guests will also get to enjoy some Halloween festivities at Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland. When you learn about these events, you might just book your plane ticket to Disney’s international parks A.S.A.P.!

Click here to learn more about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

MagicBand+

You might be very familiar with regular MagicBands (those bracelets that help you pay for things, scan your park ticket, and more in the Disney parks). But soon there will be a NEW form of MagicBand on the scene — MagicBand+.

Disney had announced MagicBand+ a little while ago, but recently we finally got a FIRST LOOK at one of the new devices. This particular MagicBand+ is a Star Wars design and it appears to be held up next to a Bounty Hunter mark.

We actually spotted that same mark on a construction wall in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge later today!

MagicBand+ will debut in Disney World later this year, and will feature some new things like color-changing lights, gesture recognition, and haptic vibrations.

Click here to learn more about MagicBand+

A Pixar Hotel?! And More Disneyland News

Ready for more BIG Disney news? Over at Disneyland, the Paradise Pier Hotel will be getting a PIXAR retheme!

From a Pixar Lamp balancing on a ball in to the lobby to artwork and decor inspired by the Pixar films, it’s going to give the hotel an entirely new feel!

Click here to see more about this big hotel change!

But that’s not the only new thing Disneyland will be getting. Disneyland Resort is also getting some NEW restaurants at Downtown Disney, and some restaurant refurbishments.

One of the new spots that will be opening a location in Downtown Disney is a place that is FAMOUS for its mind-blowing dumplings and multi-hour waits! We’re talking about Din Tai Fung!

This place has quite the following, so we expect it could be verrrrry popular when it opens its location at Disneyland Resort.

Click here to learn more about Din Tai Fung!

Disneyland is also bringing back a special shopping perk — the ability for Disneyland Resort hotel guests to have their purchases sent from the parks to their hotel. That service still hasn’t returned to Disney World, but we’ll be interested to see its return over at Disneyland.

A NEW Grad Nite After Hours event is also coming to Disneyland. The event will feature dancing, cafeteria-inspired dishes, character appearances, and more — all meant to evoke that feeling of nostalgia surrounding being part of a graduating class!

Early Theme Park entry will also be coming soon to Disneyland Resort for hotel guests.

And finally, Mickey’s Toontown is undergoing a MASSIVE overhaul in Disneyland Park. We’ve already seen some concept art and heard a bit about what this space will become, but recently Disney also shared a look INSIDE the refurb.

Click here to check it out.

Learn about the 6 GROUNDBREAKING changes coming to Disneyland Resort!

Refillable Mugs

While it’s not nearly as “groundbreaking” as a brand new restaurant or entire hotel refurb, we know a lot of you out there loooove your Disney World refillable mugs (we can’t blame ya — they’re fun!). Recently, these refillable mugs actually got a bit of an UPGRADE, Mickey style!

The tops of the mugs now feature a Mickey design covering the opening that you drink out of!

We have a feeling this new design will make these refillable mugs even MORE of a collectible for those visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth!

Check out more about this refillable mug change here!

Reedy Creek and Disney’s Inclusivity Program

Finally, we end our summary of big news with some updates from Florida’s government. We’ve shared a number of details about the bill that was introduced in the Florida legislature this year that will dissolve Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District — the district arrangement that essentially lets Disney act as their own county and have a great deal of decision-making power over the land on which they operate in Florida.

Last week, the bill passed the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives, and late in the week it was signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, making it law.

But there might be a major roadblock in attempting to dissolve Reedy Creek which deals with the District’s bondholders.

Essentially, Reedy Creek has made a statement indicating that Florida has essentially pledged to fulfill the terms of agreements made with bondholders. As some put it, Florida basically had a contractual obligation NOT to interfere with Reedy Creek until the bond debt has been paid off. We’ll be sure to keep an eye out for more developments on this.

Click here to see more about this major roadblock and what it could mean

In addition to the situation with Reedy Creek, Disney has been in the news recently due to the passing of Florida’s “Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act” (also termed the Stop WOKE Act). The act prohibits training or teaching on certain things. Governor DeSantis has said that his goal for the bill is to block activism like critical race theory being taught in schools and classrooms.

One of Disney’s employee training programs that is part of its Reimagine Tomorrow campaign has been criticized as potentially “pushing critical race theory on employees.” During the signing of Florida’s Stop WOKE Act, one activist (who was invited to speak at the ceremony by Governor DeSantis) warned Disney that there would be “consequences” if their Reimagine Tomorrow training program for employees continues. 

You can learn more about that situation by clicking here.

Boycotting Disney isn’t new. But does it work?

Of course, other news was also shared this week. Check out those stories by clicking the links below:

• Get a FIRST LOOK at the reimagined Finding Nemo musical coming to Animal Kingdom
• See what the Guardians of the Galaxy ride in EPCOT looks like at night & get a NEW look inside the ride
• One of the most popular nighttime tours in Disney World is at…a hotel?!
• Mask requirements changed for Disneyland transportation

• Disney World’s longest golf course is closing for refurbishment
• See how Netflix is cracking down on password sharing
• EPCOT’s Moana attraction has taken a BIG step forward
• Terry Crews will star in the new Guardians of the Galaxy ride in EPCOT
• Florida residents can get 2 water park tickets for the price of 1

• Face painting is now available at the Star Wars Hotel
• Get an EXCLUSIVE look at Salt & Straw’s upcoming ice cream flavors
• Space Mountain is CLOSING for major refurbishment in Tokyo Disneyland
• Disney is asking guests about their dining and shopping habits in a new survey

• We got PLOT details for Disney’s new Haunted Mansion movie
• Dr. Anthony Fauci has said the U.S. is out of the “full-blown explosive pandemic phase”

And that’s it for big Disney news from this week! WHEW! Be sure to check back with us for all of the latest updates.

How many rides can you get on with Genie+? Disney World guests tell ALL

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What Disney news from this week surprised you the most? Tell us in the comments!

The post The Only Disney News Update You Need to Read This Week first appeared on the disney food blog.

A Disney World housekeeper — who was at least the third employee to be arrested in an ongoing sting at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside —  admitted to a string of thefts across several hotels, court documents show.

Julian Bracero Jimenez, 21, of Davenport, was arrested March 30 and charged with employee theft, which is a third-degree felony, according to Orange Circuit Court Records. He pled not guilty this month.

An Orange County Sheriff’s detective was conducting video surveillance on an empty hotel room that was set up with Disney cash as a decoy room. The detective watched Jimenez enter and look around the room, his arrest affidavit said. Jimenez took money out of a backpack that had been left in the room. He stuffed the cash in his pants pocket and left the room when a detective intercepted him.

“I approached the suspect, placing my hand on his shoulder, and told him I was a Detective to put his hands behind his back,” the law-enforcement official wrote in the report. “The suspect stated that he knew why we were there and he said it was about the money.”

Jimenez was handcuffed and read his Miranda Rights but he kept talking.

He admitted to taking $300 in the decoy room and confessed to other thefts, the report said.

“l asked Julian if he had taken money from any other rooms. He stated that he has taken money from other rooms on a few occasions. He stated that he has never taken more than $200 at a time. He stated that he has taken money from rooms located at Port Orleans, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Caribbean Beach resorts,”  the detective wrote in the arrest report. “He also stated that he has taken small items from rooms like key chains and other small items that guests have left in the rooms.”

Jimenez’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

For the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, it was a busy March at the hotel.

Jimenez is at least the third Disney housekeeper to be arrested at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

On March 9, in the same hotel but a different decoy hotel room, the sheriff’s office was conducting video surveillance in a similar sting that led to two other housekeepers’ arrests.

In addition, a teenager who was wanted back in South Carolina for double homicide charges was arrested at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside on March 11.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post Yet Another Housekeeping Cast Member Arrested for Stealing from Guest Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort appeared first on WDW News Today.

May the 4th is fast approaching, and there are a wide variety of ways for Star Wars fans to celebrate in Disney World!

You could stop by Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and pilot the Millennium Falcon or make a visit to Star Wars: Launch Bay to admire some movie props and artifacts. You could build a lightsaber or meet your favorite character or even try a Star Wars-inspired snack! But there’s one experience that you’ll definitely want to check out…and it’s not even in the theme parks.

In honor of May the 4th, Meta Quest is offering a preview of ILMxLAB’s Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge. You’ll find the preview at the West Side of Disney Springs from May 2nd through July 21st. Guests can stop in daily from 12PM-10PM to “step into Seezelslak’s cantina” and test their skills with Repulsor Darts or play the chromarimba through the power of virtual reality.

If you want a little more adventure within the experience, you can head outside of Black Spire Outpost to explore the “wilds of Batuu,” even facing off against the Guavian Death Gang. Sounds exciting! And if you stop in to try the game for yourself on May the 4th (Star Wars Day), then you’ll receive an exclusive poster. No matter which day you stop by the test it out, you’ll be given a $25 USD store credit for the Quest Store to use on games and experiences like this one.

Throughout the time that this preview is happening at Disney Springs, there will be free giveaways and the offering to purchase a Quest 2 onsite. This is a first-of-its-kind Meta Quest event at Walt Disney World, but a similar offering was available at Downtown Disney in Anaheim last year. We can’t wait to stop by and see what it’s like when this limited-time experience premieres in a few days!

Stay tuned to DFB for more news from Disney World, as well as all the updates about how you can celebrate May the 4th!

Click Here to See How You Can Celebrate May the 4th in Disney World!

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Will you be heading to Disney Springs to try this out? Tell us in the comments!

The post A ‘Star Wars’ Virtual Reality Experience is Coming to Disney World for a Limited Time first appeared on the disney food blog.

We’ve been getting announcements about Disney Cruise Line left and right recently!

Summer 2023 itineraries and booking dates were just announced, and we learned that Halloween on the High Seas cruises will be returning with some seriously exciting new experiences. But now there’s MORE Disney Cruise news to tackle. A select group of Disney fans will have the opportunity to set sail on an exclusive cruise — do YOU qualify?!

Being a Disney Vacation Club Member comes with a multitude of benefits and perks in Disney parks and beyond (you can learn more about it here!). The basics are: members receive a yearly allotment of points which they can then use to book vacations at Disney Resort Hotels and even Disney Cruises. Plus members get perks like discounts on dining and merchandise, and invitations to members-only events.

One such member-only event was just announced — the 2023 DVC Member Cruise to the Bahamas! Sailing out of Port Canaveral on Disney’s newest ship, the Disney Wish, this 4-night cruise will take DVC Members to Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, and Nassau, Bahamas. 

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The DVC Member Cruise will depart from Port Canaveral on September 4th, 2023 and return on September 8th, 2023. According to the DVC website, guests can expect that “some of the best and brightest from the incredible Disney family of studios and storytellers will come together to present amazing shows and experiences—with fun for every member of the family.”

Details on how and when to book have not yet been released for this DVC Member-exclusive cruise, but you can be sure we’ll be keeping an eye out for more information as it becomes available. If you’re a DVC member, be sure to check the website dedicated to this exclusive cruise for more information.

For the latest DVC and Disney Cruise Line news, be sure to stay tuned to DFB!

Here’s Everything You Need to Know Before Going on a European Disney Cruise 

Have you ever been on a Disney Cruise? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The post Do You Qualify to Go on an EXCLUSIVE Disney Cruise?! first appeared on the disney food blog.

Comcast announced that they have beat their first-quarter earnings expectations for 2022, mostly thanks to Universal Orlando Resort.

The Universal theme park business is up more than 151%, posting $120 million more than expected for the first three months of this year.

“We continue to see exceptional demand at our domestic parks,” Comcast Chief Financial Officer Michael Cavanagh said. “Attendance was back at pre-pandemic levels, and we had strong growth in per capita with Orlando generating its highest EBITDA on record for the first quarter.”

EBITDA refers to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

While the number of international visitors to Universal Orlando Resort is about half what it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in domestic visitors has made up for that.

Source: WESH 2

For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT.

The post Universal Orlando Resort Reports Record Earnings in First Quarter of 2022 appeared first on WDW News Today.