You’ve got a LOT to catch up on when it comes to Disney news, and we can help.

EPCOT’s 40th Anniversary is almost here, and a NEW restaurant is coming to Disney World — a lot of news was shared this week and we’ve got it all here, conveniently in one place for you, so you can stay up-to-date. What do you say? Ready to become a Disney expert? Let’s dive into this week’s biggest Disney news stories!

1 — EPCOT 40th News

We start with news about EPCOT’s upcoming 40th Anniversary, which will be celebrated on October 1st! On October 1st, D23 Gold Members will have the chance to celebrate with a special event that includes a continental breakfast, priority entrance to Living with the Land, and more. Registration for that event opened up recently and has already sold out.

But don’t fret, all guests will get the chance to celebrate EPCOT’s anniversary with special merchandise! Disney shared a sneak peek at the EPCOT 40th merchandise earlier this week, and then revealed a full look at the collection!

The collection will include shirts, a spirit jersey, a baseball tee, a Corkcicle water bottle, new Minnie ears, a Loungefly backpack, and MORE.

Some items will be released on shopDisney, but you’ll also find them in EPCOT on October 1st. Plus, those who visit EPCOT on its anniversary will get the chance to pick up some limited-edition 40th Anniversary day-of collection items.

We’re still on the lookout for more news about this anniversary, so stay tuned!

Click here for a FULL LOOK at the EPCOT 40th Anniversary collection

2 — Character Dining Updates

Next, we turn to some exciting character dining updates! Over in Magic Kingdom, The Crystal Palace has officially welcomed back Winnie the Pooh and his friends for character meals during lunch and dinner! 

You can once again hug Pooh, share a laugh with Tigger, and say “hello” to other friends from the Hundred Acre Wood here!

We stopped by to check out the updated character experience AND share our thoughts on the food.

Click here to see if the return of characters here justifies the HUGE price increase

But wait, there’s MORE. While characters have already returned for lunch and dinner, they’ll also soon be returning to BREAKFAST at The Crystal Place! Winnie the Pooh and friends will be back for breakfast meals at The Crystal Palace starting October 25th.

Reservations are now open, so grab your table quickly!

3 — New Restaurant Coming to Disney World

Keeping in the theme of food news, we have an exciting update for those who love to try new restaurants. A brand NEW restaurant is on its way to the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel.

The restaurant is called Rosa Mexicano. This will be Rosa Mexicano’s first Orlando-area location and it is set to open in 2023.

This new restaurant will replace the current Fresh Mediterranean Market and will offer an “elevated fiesta dining experience” with signature dishes and award-winning margaritas.

The restaurant is meant to serve up a contemporary interpretation of authentic Mexican cuisine and will feature dishes that pay tribute to Mexico’s varied culinary regions, over 100 varieties of tequila and agave-based spirits, and a signature frozen pomegranate margarita (which was named the best in New York City!).

If you want to get a taste of this new spot, you can stop by the Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic event, where Rosa Mexicano will have a tasting station.

See more details about the NEW restaurant here!

4 — Terminal C Is Now OPEN at the Orlando International Airport

From food, we move to the airport with an important update! Orlando International Airport’s brand new Terminal C is now OPEN!

The new terminal features an upgraded security process, NEW restaurants (including spots from the folks behind Homecomin’, The Polite Pig, and Wine Bar George), a new luggage system, art displays, and more.

Even before you get to security, you’ll find lots of open and airy spaces, art displays, and other details to look at.

Within the new terminal, you’ll also get to enjoy a NEW Disney store! It has a giant castle, some gorgeous light fixtures, and Disney merchandise (of course), so you can get that last taste of magic before you leave or a first taste of the magic as soon as you step off that plane.

Only a limited number of airlines will fly into and out of Terminal C. JetBlue will soon arrive at Terminal C.

For more details about Terminal C, click here to join for a look INSIDE the terminal!

Go inside Terminal C by clicking here!

5 — Nighttime Shows and Parade Updates

And finally, in terms of big updates, some entertainment changes are coming to Disney World. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, some nighttime shows will be returning soon! Both the Tree of Like Awakenings and the Beacon of Magic offerings are set to return in the evening starting October 1st.

Select dates after that may not have showings of these nighttime experiences though, depending on park hours, so check the My Disney Experience app for showtime updates.

Click here for updates on these shows

Over at Magic Kingdom, some things are changing too. Starting October 9th, the Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade will get an extra showtime (this is the cavalcade that features Mickey and friends in their 50th Anniversary outfits). Due to that change, the Festival of Fantasy parade will drop to just 1 showtime starting October 9th.

Keep in mind that showtimes for the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade can change quite a bit due to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party being offered in the park. On nights when the Halloween Party is offered, there are fewer showtimes available for this cavalcade.

Click here for full details about the entertainment changes at Magic Kingdom

And that’s it for this week’s biggest news. Of course, other news was also shared this week. Check the links below for those stories:

• NEW MagicBand+ designs have arrived online
• There’s a secret drink for Annual Passholders in Disney World
• What’s coming to Disney World in 2024 and how that’ll affect your trip
• Special perks are coming for Disney World Annual Passholders in October
• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is starting to sell out
• A new breakfast with Santa event is coming to Disney World

• McDonald’s has new Disney Happy Meal toys
• Eudora’s Chic Boutique — a NEW Tiana-themed store — has opened in Disneyland
• A NEW Chef’s special is available at The Polite Pig in Disney Springs
• New documentary will focus on “wrongdoing and debauchery” at Disney World
• Magicband+ release timeline announced for Disneyland Resort

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You will get ALL of our best-selling eBooks with details on Disney World Dining, EPCOT Festivals, the BEST snacks in each park, and soooooo many tips and tricks we’ve learned over decades of visiting our happy place.

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And stay tuned for more Disney news!

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

The post A NEW Restaurant, Returning Nighttime Shows, and More BIG Disney News first appeared on the disney food blog.