Heading to a Disney park soon? Not planning a trip but still seeking to get a bit of the magic at home? Exhausted and just trying to make it through to the weekend? We get you. We feel that. We’re here for ya. 
Heading to Disney Soon? Don’t Go Without Reading These Updates!
Why not take a 5-minute break with us to get a little escape from the real world, see what’s happening in the Disney parks, and learn about all kinds of updates? Are you ready for a little fun? Let’s go!
BIG 100th Anniversary Updates
The Walt Disney Company is celebrating its 100th anniversary starting right at the beginning of 2023! While we’ve already seen some ways to prepare for the anniversary with merch on Amazon, and other details have been shared about when the celebration will officially start, we’ve now gotten even MORE info.
First, Disney has revealed that the 100th Anniversary will kick off in Disneyland on January 27th, 2023! Special limited-time offerings will be available all year long. There will be new costumes for Mickey and Minnie, special snacks, unique merchandise, and MUCH more.
©Disney
At Disneyland, Sleeping Beauty Castle will also get a new look with some special decorations!
©Disney
©Disney
For more details about what the 100th anniversary celebrations will feature in Disneyland, click here. Or you can click here for our full page ALL about the 100th anniversary in general.
Just be warned — if you’re planning to go to Disneyland for the start of the 100th anniversary, Park Pass availability for Disneyland Resort has been temporarily PAUSED for all dates past January 8th, 2023. Disney has said, however, that availability will resume in the coming weeks.
©Disney
We’ll be on the lookout for updates.
Click here to see more details about the 100th anniversary celebration in Disneyland!
Hotel News
Hoping over to Disney World, this week brought with it a big update for one Disney World hotel. Disney has announced that NEW themed rooms are coming to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort!
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
According to Disney, some rooms in the Trinidad area are the ones that’ll get updated. They’ll feature nods to characters from under the sea, and will have space to accommodate more guests. The rooms are expected to be open in 2023.
Click here for a full list of changes announced for Disney World’s hotels
SO. MUCH. FOOD.
If you thought Disney had a lot of specialty snacks already, you ain’t seen NOTHING yet. This week we got the chance to try SO, SO, SOOOOOO many new Disney snacks and meals. For starters, a lot of the Halloween snacks announced for Disney World are now available.
We’ve checked out the Pumpkin Lunch Box Tart…
Pumpkin Tart
Black Widow Tart
MORE Halloween treats, please?
So pretty!
Candy Corn Milkshake
Cupcake was meh
We Cannot Get Over It
…and MORE! Some treats surprised us in not-so-good ways, but others were totally delish!
Click here to see our photos and reviews of ALL of the 2022 fall and Halloween treats in Disney World
This week we also learned the confirmed reopening date for Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Reservations are now available online.
Kona Cafe is closed
But wait…there’s MORE. A whole bunch of new food items have also arrived (or are on their way) to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. We actually stopped by Territory Lounge to check some of them out!
Territory Lounge Eats
During our trip, we tried a bunch of eats (and a drink too!) including a S’mores Old Fashioned, a Popcorn Sampler, Bacon on the Wire, and more.
Click here for our full review of the eats at Territory Lounge!
Recently, we also grabbed some new drinks at Skipper Canteen in Magic Kingdom. And we stopped by our local McDonald’s to get one of their NEW adult Happy Meals — click here to see our thoughts!
Cactus Buddy
Character Dining Updates
If you’re wondering what character dining is like right now at Disney World, many character dining locations have returned to “normal” but that process has slowly been rolled out at various spots.
Recently, characters returned to breakfast at ‘Ohana. But with the return of characters came a BIG price increase. Click here to see our full review and our thoughts on whether this spot is worth it.
Stitch!
Minnie’s Beach Bash character breakfast is also BACK in Disney World, over at Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Here, you can meet some Disney friends in adorable beachy looks.
Hey Donald!
Keep in mind that some character meals have not yet returned, but we’re on the lookout for updates.
EPCOT 40th
EPCOT celebrated its 40th Anniversary on October 1st, 2022 and we brought you along for all the fun! There were special snacks, a unique Spaceship Earth look, and all kinds of merchandise, including a Figment head bag?!
It’s Figment’s head!
If you couldn’t make it to the park, don’t worry! Click here to see ALL of the EPCOT 40th Anniversary merchandise you can get online!
Target Deal Days
And finally, whether you’re looking for birthday presents, Christmas presents, or just-because gifts, NOW is a good time to do some shopping! Why? Well, because THOUSANDS of items are on sale at Target thanks to Target Deal Days! There are board game deals…
©Target
…deals even the DFB editors are adding to their carts…
©Target
©Target
…and all kinds of underrated products to pick up!
©Target
Deal Days only last through October 8th, so be sure to act quickly!
Of course, other news was also shared this week. Click our links below to learn more:
- Alcohol has been REMOVED from one Disney Springs bar
- Click here to see how you can help those who have been impacted by Hurricane Ian
- After Hours tickets are now on sale
- Guided tours are returning to Disneyland
- Reservations are now open for Candlelight Processional dining packages in EPCOT
Hold up for a sec! Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, you’re going to need this discount code – WDW2022. Use it to save 25% when you buy our DFB Guide Everything Bundle here.
You can take our ebook with you!
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.
Click here to grab the bundle!
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Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!
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With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
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What Disney-related questions do you have? Tell us in the comments.
The post BIG 100th Anniversary Updates, Character Dining News, and MORE Disney Stories You Can’t Miss first appeared on the disney food blog.