Disney World never ceases to surprise us, and that’s all part of the fun, right?
Can you get more classic than a Mickey Pretzel?
EPCOT’s newest restaurant unexpectedly opened and some major construction walls came down, and Disney also updated their mask policy. Find out all the surprising and unexpected news from Disney World right here!
Connections Cafe and Eatery Soft Opening
EPCOT’s newest restaurant, Connections Cafe and Eatery, had a soft opening! This new restaurant is half Starbucks and half quick service dining, and we got to experience both sides of the restaurant today.
It’s OPEN!
Connections Cafe is the new location of Starbucks in EPCOT (the old location closed a few days ago) and you can also grab quick service eats like burgers, salads, and more. The grand opening is currently scheduled for April 27th, so you might want to mark your calendar if you’re hoping to get some of EPCOT’s newest food!
Take a FULL tour of Connections Cafe here!
Guardians of the Galaxy Construction Update
The construction walls have come DOWN around Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT! The indoor roller coaster is currently scheduled to open on May 27th, and with special previews coming up for select Disney World guests soon it looks like they’re getting ready for that big opening day.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
We couldn’t get super close yet, but it was fun to see the Nova Corps Starblaster without those pesky walls. It’s only a few weeks until opening day!
Check out more pics of the Guardians of the Galaxy construction walls down!
Festival of Fantasy Couples Are BACK
Now that traditional character meet-and-greets have returned to Disney World, couples are back on Festival of Fantasy Parade floats! We saw Belle and the Beast, Cinderella and Prince Charming, Tiana and Prince Naveen, and even Mickey and Minnie.
Festival of Fantasy Parade in Magic Kingdom
And it wasn’t just romantic couples either — Anna and Elsa were also reunited! You can catch the Festival of Fantasy Parade twice a day in Magic Kingdom.
Check out more photos of the reunited Festival of Fantasy couples here!
Disney World Mask Policy Update
After a judge in Florida struck down the federal mask mandate in the United States, Disney updated their transportation mask policy to be optional for fully vaccinated guests. Masks were already optional on the Skyliner, but they are now no longer required on the Monorail or on buses.
No signs
Mask signage was removed across Disney World, and now the only Disney World spots where masks may still be required are the First Aid Centers in Disney Parks.
Read more about the updated transportation mask policy here.
And that’s all the surprising and unexpected news straight from Disney World this week! Keep following DFB for more Disney news.
Do you know what it takes to CHANGE a Disney World ride?!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!
Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
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.
Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today!
Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 
Have you visited Disney World recently? Tell us in the comments!
The post An Updated Mask Policy, a Restaurant Soft-Opening, and Other Unexpected Disney World News! first appeared on the disney food blog.