It has been a BIG year for Disney World!

Entertainment options have returned, restaurants have opened, and we’ve also gotten new rides and even resorts! But the excitement isn’t over yet. This fall is set to be a busy time in the parks, and there are quite a few new things you need to know if you’re traveling soon. Here’s everything you need to know about Disney World in August!

The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is Here

Let’s start things out with one of the BIG events this fall — the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival! The latest fest kicked off halfway through July and is going strong all the way into November, so you’ve got many more months to enjoy it. We were there on opening day to check out all the delicious new eats and drinks, and we have some thoughts!

If you’re visiting soon, make sure to check out our list of must-try items for 2022, as well as the entertainment options, new merchandise collections, and fun activities like the scavenger hunt.

Click Here to See All of Our Festival Booth Reviews!

The Festival is Getting Upgraded!

And speaking of the festival, that’s not all of the news! On August 15th, MORE Food & Wine booths will be opening, so there will be even more food (and drinks!) to test out.

Coastal Eats, Hawai’i, Mac & Eats, and The Noodle Exchange will open to the public on that day. Brew-Wing was originally on that list as well, but it opened as a surprise on the first day of the festival and has been operating ever since. Of course, we’ll be trying out the menus at these four booths, so stay tuned!

Click Here for Our Review of Brew-Wing from the Festival!

MagicBand+ Has Arrived

If you’ve been following along with Disney World news the past few days, then you know that the brand new MagicBand+ version of MagicBands has arrived in the parks, and it’s ready for action. These new bands have all the same features of regular MagicBands, except they also interact with Disney Fab 50 statues and nighttime spectaculars, plus they allow you to play the new Batuu Bounty Hunters game in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

We tested them out when they launched and tried all the new interactive features. There are some glitches with the technology, as well as quite a few things you need to know before buying one, so make sure to check out our full guide.

MagicBand+ in Disney World: The Good, the Bad, and the Glitchy — Click Here!

Halloween is About to Begin!

The big news won’t stop! August is also the official start of the Halloween season in Disney World, which means that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is coming back! The event’s first night is on August 12th, and we’ll be covering all the excitement that evening, including special entertainment, exclusive snacks, ride overlays, and more.

Tickets are already available for the event, so make sure to purchase them before your trip. Keep in mind that Magic Kingdom closes early (at 6PM) on nights when this party takes place, so you’ll want to take that into consideration when scheduling your park days for your vacation this fall.

Click Here for Everything Returning to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

There’s a New Gift Shop

Another big change that happened in Disney World last month was the grand opening of Jessie’s Trading Post in Toy Story Land! This new gift shop is located at the end of Toy Story Mania and has been under construction for several months.

The store is much bigger than the merchandise location that was here before, and you can find all kinds of Toy Story essentials inside. Make sure to check it out on your next visit!

Click Here to See Inside the New Store!

Two Iconic Locations Have Reopened

July was a big month for reopenings, as two iconic Disney spots came back into business for the first time since the pandemic. Harmony Barber Shop in Magic Kingdom reopened on July 31st, offering services for guests who want to get a haircut INSIDE the Most Magical Place on Earth. 

Also, the legendary Victoria & Albert’s restaurant reopened last month. It’s famously known as Disney World’s most expensive restaurant, and it’s award-winning, with a AAA Five Diamond designation. It’s a great spot to visit if you’re planning a special celebration, but keep in mind that reservations are hard to come by!

Click Here to Check Out the Victoria & Albert’s Reopening Details!

Another Location is Reopening Soon

In even more magical news, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, the designated spot for those royal makeovers, is reopening this month. On August 25th, little ones will once again be able to dress up in stunning gowns and get their hair and makeup done inside the Magic Kingdom location.

Reservations for this experience will open up in the early part of this month. We’ll be on the lookout for more details!

Click Here to Get All the Reopening Details!

Showtimes Are Changing for the Parade

One of the must-see things when you’re visiting Magic Kingdom is the Festival of Fantasy Parade. If you’re visiting this month, you might want to be aware that showtimes for the parade are changing on select dates. On August 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th, the calendar shows that Festival of Fantasy will only happen at 3PM.

On the other dates listed for August, the two-show 12PM and 3PM schedule remains, but we’ll be watching to see if that changes in the future. As a reminder, it’s a good idea to check the showtimes before your park visits.

Click Here to See What Festival of Fantasy is Like Now!

A New Restaurant Might Open

And finally, let’s talk about the possibility of a new restaurant! Last month, BoardWalk Bakery closed down to make way for the new BoardWalk Deli set to open this summer. While no official opening date has been announced yet, it’s possible that the new location could open on August 15th.

Why August 15th? On that date, the Disney World website has listed hours for the new restaurant. From that point forward, hours are listed for 7AM-10PM daily. Disney hasn’t confirmed this date yet, but we’ll be checking to see if it opens!

Click Here for the New Deli Menu!

That’s everything big you need to know about Disney World in August! With all these changes and updates, we’ll be sharing a lot of big news, so make sure that you stay tuned to DFB.

On top of these happenings, we’ll be following along with all the construction projects that are currently taking place in Disney World. We’re watching for updates on the TRON coaster, the EPCOT transformation, and the multiple changes coming to the Disney hotels. We’ll keep you in the loop with all of it!

Click Here to See Terrible Changes Disney World Hoped You Wouldn’t Notice!

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Are you visiting Disney World in August? Tell us in the comments!

The post 9 Things You Need to Know About Disney World in August first appeared on the disney food blog.