What a week it has been!!

Over the past week or so we’ve gotten some MASSIVE updates about temperature checks in Disney World, the Star Wars hotel, lots of restaurants in Disney World that will be reopening (and one that’ll be closing), and much more! Now, sit down, relax, and let us take you through all of the insane amount of Disney news that was shared this week!

1. Temperature Checks are Changing at Disney World

First, we got a big update about temperature checks in Disney World. Right now, temperature checks are required for all guests before they enter the Disney World theme parks, restaurants at Disney World’s hotels, Disney Springs, and other places on property.

Later this month, however, temperature checks will be phased out for both guests and Cast Members in Disney World.

Click here to learn more about the changes coming to temperature checks.

2. HUGE Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser News

This week we also got some big news about Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser — also known as the Star Wars hotel experience.

The hotel was previously scheduled to open in 2021, but Disney has now announced that Galactic Starcruiser will not open until 2022!

Click here to read more about the Galactic Starcruiser’s new opening timeline.

This week, we also got a look at the SUPER realistic looking lightsaber, which fans will be able to see at the Star Wars hotel when it opens!

If you haven’t seen this video already, you NEED to see it!

Click here to see the video of the “REAL” lightsaber!

We also got an updated name for the lounge that will be at the Star Wars hotel, a peek at a NEW restaurant coming to the hotel, and a look at hiring posts that reveal a LOT about the experiences coming to the hotel (including some very special Star Wars characters).

We also got to check out a book that shares more details and photos for the Star Wars hotel. 2022 can’t come soon enough!

Click here to see how you can get a peek at the Star Wars hotel ship in Disney World for a limited time!

3. A New Hotel Deal Could Save You Big $$ in Disney World

This week, Disney also released a NEW hotel deal that could help you save lots of money for your upcoming trip!

Guests at select Disney World hotels can save up to 25% on rooms most nights July 11 – September 29, 2021. 

Click here to read more about this deal!

4. Big COVID-19 Updates

Recently, Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, issued an Executive Order suspending all local COVID-19 restrictions. This Executive Order is meant as a sort-of gap-filler until the law he also signed providing some of the same restrictions on local COVID-19 orders goes into effect.

Essentially, mask and social distancing regulations created by local governments, like those that were in place in Orange County, Florida, including the phased requirements that had been recently announced, have been suspended by this executive order.

Keep in mind, however, that this executive order and the bill that was signed into law with similar provisions generally apply to government rules and restrictions regarding COVID-19. Disney, which is a private company, can continue to require guests to wear masks and make other COVID-19 related restrictions and requirements.

Click here to read more about this executive order.

Disney did in fact respond to the changes being made by the Governor and stated that at this time their existing COVID-19 regulations (including mask requirements and social distancing requirements) will remain in place.

Orlando International Airport has also responded and indicated that their mask requirement will remain in place as the TSA recently extended their mask requirement for all planes and other forms of public transportation through part of September.

Click here to see more about Disney’s response to the Governor’s executive order.

5. All the Restaurant News

Hope you’re hungry because this week was full of restaurant news as well! First, Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort will be reopening soon for both breakfast and dinner.

The breakfast and dinner menus, both of which will be served family-style, and pricing have already been shared, and you can start making reservations on May 7th!

Click here to see the menus and pricing for Cape May Cafe!

Over at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Chef Mickey’s has been open for breakfast for a while. But, soon it will offer a character dining option at DINNER as well!

You can already get a look at the family-style dinner menu and pricing, and you can start making reservations on May 7th.

Click here to see Chef Mickey’s dinner menu and pricing!

While Chef Mickey’s will start offering more meals, another restaurant at the Contemporary will actually be temporarily closing. The Wave…of American Flavors will be temporarily closing in a few months for a LONG refurbishment ahead of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary.

Disney hasn’t yet shared when the Wave will reopen or what the refurbishment will entail exactly, but we’re on the lookout for more details.

Click here to see more about The Wave closing!

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, character dining will be coming back soon with the reopening of Tusker House Restaurant!

The restaurant will be reopening this summer with a modified character experience featuring Donald and friends and a family-style meal.

Click here to see more about the reopening of Tusker House!

And finally in food news, the NEW Gelateria Toscana gelato stand in EPCOT’s Italy pavilion has opened!

We got a first look at this spot recently and got to try a whole host of different items from there!

Click here to see our review of the items from Gelateria Toscana!

6. Disney World’s College Program is Coming Back

The big news just didn’t stop this week! Disney’s College Program got suspended when the parks closed due to the pandemic last year. The program was then canceled for the fall of 2020 and its fate was unknown for a while.

But this week Disney shared that Disney World’s College Program will be coming back this summer!

Click here to see more about the return of the College Program!

7. Disneyland Hotel News

This week we also got some pretty big Disneyland news. Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel will soon reopen at Disneyland Resort and you can already start making your reservations!

Just keep in mind that Paradise Pier guests will NOT have food or beverage options in the hotel when it first reopens. Instead, they’ll have to visit Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel or Downtown Disney to grab some grub.

Soon, 2 more restaurants at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel will also be reopening for hotel guests to enjoy! And the back entrance to Disney California Adventure Park from the Grand Californian will also be reopening soon. If you’ll be heading to Disneyland Resort soon, you’ll have quite a few new/returning things to enjoy.

Click here to read more about what the food situation will be like at Paradise Pier when the hotel first reopens!

8. HALLOWEEN!!!!

And finally, we end our list of huge news with…Halloween news?! Yes, we are halfway to Halloween and to celebrate, Disney has made some huge park announcements.

First, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party for this year has been canceled. But don’t worry, you’ll still have a special Halloween event to go to! This year, Mickey-s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is being replaced by the Disney After Hours BOO BASH!

There will be spooktacular characters, cavalcades, party music, candy, special sweet and savory treats, and more. The event will start taking place in August and will last through Halloween. Tickets will be on sale next month!

Click here to learn more about BOO BASH!

But, you don’t have to wait for BOO BASH to enjoy some Halloween festivities! NEW treats will be coming soon to Disneyland and Disney World to celebrate Halloween early.

These new treats include Gideon’s Hand Pies, a Cauldron Cocoa Bomb, and other delights.

Click here to see all the Halloween goodies coming soon!

You can also cook up some Halloween items at home with these NEW Disney recipes. This fall we’ll all get to enjoy a NEW Disney+ special — Muppets Haunted Mansion! And we’ve gotten a peek at some of the NEW Halloween merchandise coming soon!

Looks like we’ve got a whole bunch of boo-tiful things to look forward to.

Click here to check out that new Halloween merchandise coming soon!

But wait, there’s more! Want a look at some of the other news or cool stories that were shared this week? Check them out below:

• The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention have shared updated regulations for the return to cruising
• Asian Pacific American Heritage month celebrations have begun in Disney World with new treats and more
• Take a photo tour of Avengers Campus
• Valet parking has started to return to some Disney World hotels
• The Face Scanning Securing Testing has ended in Disney World

• New food is coming to a booth at EPCOT’s International Flower & Garden Festival
• We got some BIG Marvel news about Black Panther 2, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the Captain Marvel sequel, Eternals, the Fantastic Four, and Loki
• The White Castle near Disney World opened with HUGE sales
• Los Angeles County in California has reached the yellow tier and select theme parks can increase capacity

• You can see 4 real life Disney princesses sing live!
• There has been a big change when it comes to our favorite way to get to Magic Kingdom
• You could win a free flight to Disney World!

And that’s our big news round-up for this week! We’ll keep an eye out for more updates all throughout the next week and let you know what we find.

Click here to see the official reopening date for Broadway in New York City!

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What Disney news are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments!

The post WHAT. A. WEEK. See All the HUGE Star Wars Hotel, Halloween, and a Disney World Hotel Deal News! first appeared on the disney food blog.