Pull up a chair folks, this has been a BIG week for Disney!

With the holidays approaching there are some important fireworks changes taking place. Plus, buffets are returning to one restaurant, princesses are returning to another, and we’ve got a massive update about the Walt Disney World Railroad. Join us now as we recap the BIGGEST news from this past week!

HUGE UPDATE on the Walt Disney World Railroad

For years, the Walt Disney World Railroad has been closed due to the construction that is ongoing with the TRON Lightcycle Run attraction. We’ve seen the train testing and heard about some of the refurbishments going on with the tracks and so forth, but now we have some seriously HUGE news.

Disney has announced that the Walt Disney World Railroad will reopen this holiday season! In fact, the train fully reopened today — December 23rd — to all guests!

But wait…there’s MORE! Not only is train back, but it has a “completely refreshed track” and “another new surprise for fans.” The train now features “an all-new voice to bring guests into the beloved stories they encounter as they travel from one magical land to the next.”

That is a massive change for those who might have been emotionally attached to the old narration.

For our FULL train posts, check out the links below:

• See (and hear) the CHANGES made to the train
• What happens inside the TRON train tunnel? We have video!
• HOURS posted for the train
• We rode the train for the first time in years — join us!
• Get a closer look at TRON through the train

Nearby, we’ve seen TRON music testing near the new TRON ride. Progress is steadily being made there and we’re excited to see how the dynamic of this area changes with the train’s reopening and TRON’s eventual opening in 2023.

Click here to hear the TRON music being tested in the area!

Big Restaurant CHANGES

If you’re planning to eat at a Disney World character restaurant soon, get ready for some changes! For a while, Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom has only featured a small meet-and-greet with Cinderella prior to your meal. But soon that’ll be different!

Disney Princesses will be coming back to Cinderella’s Royal Table starting February 28th, 2023! So take a look at your upcoming trips and see if you’ll need to make any adjustments in your dining plans.

In addition to that change, some updates are coming to Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. For a while, this spot has been offering family-style meals, but buffets are returning starting March 1st, 2023!

So if you love buffets and were waiting to visit this spot until the buffet came back, it’ll soon be time to grab those reservations! Remember dining reservations can be made 60 days in advance at this time (and hotel guests can make reservations for the entire length of their stay up to 10 days 60 days in advance).

Click here to learn about all of Disney’s character meals!

Fireworks CHANGES and Freezing Temperatures!

This weekend is Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so you’ll want to be prepared for some big crowds in the parks! We’ve been keeping an eye on the Christmas week crowds in Disney World and they’ve been…confusing!

Some days/areas have been packed, while others have felt much more empty. Still, we advise you to go in with the mindset that you’ll encounter some huge crowds so you’re at least mentally prepared. View our full post to get a look at the crowds we’ve seen this week.

Along with the crowds, expect a few changes this weekend and potentially a bit further as the New Year’s Eve holiday approaches. Right now, you may not be able to park at the Disney World hotels without a hotel reservation or table service dining reservation as the hotels begin to more strictly enforce parking restrictions.

On top of dining changes, there are fireworks and parade changes on the way. Starting December 23rd, 2022, select entertainment that is normally exclusive to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will be available during the day/night for ALL guests to enjoy (no party ticket needed)!

That includes the popular Christmas parade and the Christmas fireworks too! Click here for the full entertainment details and schedule.

But if you’ll be going to Orlando, don’t forget to pack those sweaters! Some FREEZING temperatures are coming to the Disney World area and you’ll need to be prepared!

Coldest air in 5 years arrives this weekend.

Last time we got to 32 or below was back in January of 2018… it’s going to happen twice this weekend.

Be ready for the chill friends! pic.twitter.com/XSSunN1UBc

— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) December 22, 2022

We have a few other WARNINGS for you if you’ll be visiting Disney World during the holidays, especially when it comes to mobile order times, lines and waits, unexpected menu changes, and more. Click here to read ALL of our warnings.

And click here to see a holiday message from Bob Iger, where he notes that Disney will do its best to “exceed your highest expectations”

MORE Food News

And finally, we’ve got some more food news for you! Over at Satu’li Canteen in Pandora — The World of Avatar (in Animal Kingdom), some limited-time eats inspired by Avatar: The Way of Water are now available and they’re STUNNING. Click here for our full review of the new tuna bowl, flourless chocolate cake with chocolate mousse, and kiwi drink!

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to eat at EPCOT’s most expensive restaurant, we’ve got some thoughts for you there too! We stopped by Takumi-Tei in the Japan pavilion for a full meal with their updated omakase menus and we’ve got a review for you right here!

And finally, over at Magic Kingdom, we went on an emotional rollercoaster thanks to some new eats at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. The new food includes a Sully Slush (which didn’t have the purple whipped cream), a grilled chicken sandwich (solid flavors but very messy), and a sweet-and-sour shrimp salad (sweet and tangy with a good crunch). If you’re looking for some new eats, click here to see our full review and find out if these are things you’ll enjoy.

Over at the BoardWalk, a NEW coffee spot — Carousel Coffee — will be opening soon and now we’ve got the FULL menu! This spot will offer up some pastries (including a crunchy raspberry danish), snacks (like cereal with milk), coffee (including a caramel macchiato and frozen blended coffee), and more. See the menu here.

And that’s it for the big stories this week!

For more news, check out the posts below:

• An important warning has been added to the Disney World website
• Kali River Rapids will close for refurbishment soon
• EPCOT’s new scavenger hunt is now open — check it out with us here!
• Get an update on the Brightline Train Service in Florida
• Get a first look at Loki Season 2

• A pool slide is closing at a Disney World hotel
• Get a first look at the NEW 50th Anniversary collection coming soon
• More Anastasia merchandise is becoming available online and in the parks
• There are NEW ticket designs in Disney World
• “Chapek Screwed Up” But DeSantis Won’t Back Down on Disney’s Reedy Creek District

Hold up for a sec! Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, check out 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. 

Click here to grab the ebook bundle!

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

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

The post Big Train CHANGES, Critical Princess Restaurant News, and Other Massive Disney Updates first appeared on the disney food blog.