Are YOU ready for all the big changes being made in Disney World?

If you haven’t kept up with all the latest news, you might not know some critical information about upcoming reopening dates, the latest snacks, or what’s going on with the Park Pass reservation system. So what are you waiting for? Join us now as we take a look at ALL of the biggest Disney news from the past week so you can stay up-to-date and be prepared for any and all future trips to the parks!

Fantasmic! Reopening Date

It’s finally happening! The much-beloved Fantasmic! show finally has a reopening date for Disney World! Fantasmic! will reopen in Disney’s Hollywood Studios on November 3rd, so mark those calendars! The show will feature a new segment, updated technology, and more.

If you want to add some more magic to your Fantasmic! experience, consider booking a Fantasmic! dining package. Reservations open up on October 26th for dates from November 30th on, and they come with reserved seating for the show!

Click here to see dining package pricing and information!

Character Dining News

If you’ve been wanting to have a meal with more Disney princesses, you’re in luck! Akershus Royal Banquet Hall will be reopening in EPCOT on November 4th, 2022! This spot features Norwegian eats coupled with some of your favorite Disney princesses.

Reservations for Akershus open on October 24th, so that’s another date you’ll want to mark down now! Ahead of the restaurant’s reopening, we’ve spotted some menu changes and price increases — click here for the full breakdown.

See all the menu changes for Akershus!

More Restaurant and Snack News

But wait, there’s more food news where that came from!

At EPCOT, one of the fanciest dining experiences has reopened (with a hefty price tag). Monsieur Paul is now open in the France pavilion with a prix fixe meal that’ll cost you $195 per person. Is the meal worth it? We went to find out. Click here for our FULL review!

Over in Disney Springs, you can try some new menu items at Paddlefish, so don’t miss out on those! Also at Disney Springs, Wine Bar George has released a new pumpkin spice horchata, so you can pick that up after you’ve finished your Paddlefish meal!

Want to grab a new pizza that packs a punch? Hop on over to Magic Kingdom to try the NEW Berbere Chickpea Flatbread!

Feeling spooky? Halloween Happy Meals are back in McDonald’s — click here to see what it’s like to grab one of these!

If you’re heading to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, dessert party and special dining reservations are now open, so be sure to grab those before they fill up.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be getting a NEW restaurant soon — Roundup Rodeo BBQ. And while a lot has yet to be revealed, we did get a first look at what you can expect to find in this new restaurant. Click here to get a full look at some of the plates and other details that will be in this restaurant!

And finally, over at EPCOT, Cool Wash seems to have transformed into a spot with a NEW name — Refreshment Station!

The spot still isn’t open, but we’ll be on the lookout for more updates there.

Click here to see our review of a new “secret” treat in Disney Springs!

MagicBand+ Lands at Disneyland (and There’s SNOW?!)

Now, let’s take a little trip over to the west coast to see what’s going on at Disneyland! While MagicBand+ won’t officially release to the public until October 26th, 2022, Magic Key Pass Holders, Cast Members, and Disney Vacation Club members got early access to this new tech and we got to check it out.

There are several MagicBand+ designs that are unique to Disneyland, and we got to experience the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge bounty hunter game (which we’ve already played in Disney World) on the west coast.

Click here to see our FULL MagicBand+ experience in Disneyland!

Also at Disneyland, there’s…snow?! That’s right folks! Halloween might not even be here yet, but “snow” has already appeared on the tops of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland, marking the start of holiday decorations in the park!

Staying on the topic of Disneyland quickly, a Black Panther: Wakanda Forever celebration is coming to Disney California Adventure Park and will feature special food and drinks and a new GAUNTLET collectible!

If you’re a fan of Black Panther, you won’t want to miss these special offerings!

Click here for full details about the Black Panther celebration

Park Pass Lawsuit

And finally, we end with details about a lawsuit brought against Disney by some Disney World Annual Passholders about the Park Pass system. A very similar lawsuit has already been brought against Disney by Magic Key passholders from Disneyland.

This Annual Passholder lawsuit claims that by using the Park Pass system, Disney has essentially blocked out Passholders in the highest tiers even though those passes were supposed to have “unlimited access.”

The lawsuit also claims that Disney has been “unfairly favoring” guests who are not Passholders (guests with single or multi-day tickets) through the Park Pass system so that Disney can make a larger profit. The case is still in its early stages. Disney has responded by saying that Passholders are some of their most loyal guests and biggest fans, and that the lawsuit “mischaracterizes the program and its history.” We’ll continue to watch for updates.

Speaking of Park Passes, some passes are starting to SELL OUT (for some guests and some parks) for big dates coming up, including Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and the reopening of Fantasmic! Don’t want to get your Park Passes for any busy periods coming up in the next few months.

Click here for more news about the lawsuit

For more news, check out our posts below:

• Check out some Disney holiday items you can get from Costco!
• Check out everything coming to Disney+ this November
• The FULL menus have been released for the Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic
• Supply issues are impacting certain Mickey ears
• A 2023 Disney World discount has been announced
• A 100th Anniversary Disney credit card design is coming in 2023

That’s all the big news for this week! But wait…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 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. 

We planned the CHEAPEST trip in Disney World history — click here for the details!

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What news from this week are you most surprised by? Tell us in the comments.

The post Fantasmic! Reopening Date, Character Dining News, and More HUGE Disney Updates first appeared on the disney food blog.