Every week is a busy week when it comes to Disney news. To help you keep up with all the updates coming out of Walt Disney World and other Disney resorts, here’s WDWNT’s weekly recap of the Disney news from June 1 – 7, 2020 .

Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World Reopening Announcement Updates & Guest Information

• It was revealed that resort reservations would not guarantee entry to the parks upon reopening, meaning that a park reservation would still be required alongside admission for all guests
• Plans were revealed for transportation and parking around the resort upon reopening, letting us know that bus transportation will be available (although with possible delays due to social distancing requirements), the Minnie Vans will not be running, and self-parking only will be available. Disney’s Magical Express airport service will resume for resort guests
• Limited edition merchandise releases have been canceled for the foreseeable future, however, Disney Pin Trading will still continue
• On Saturday, after these announcements had been made, guests with existing reservations were asked to confirm, modify or cancel their plans by June 12th, giving a very small window for decision-making. However, change and cancellation fees have been waivered through October 3rd, offering some reassurance for guests, and ticket expiration dates impacted by the closures have been extended until September 2021

Parks

•  Spaceship Earth will reopen on July 15th at EPCOT, with its planned large-scale refurbishment postponed indefinitely
• Pyrotechnic barges from IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at EPCOT are up for auction
• We spotted that progress has recommenced on the Cinderella Castle makeover and TRON Lightcycle Run construction in the Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

• To help with social distancing precautions upon reopening, Walt Disney World resorts will offer a virtual chat system for Guest Services
• A list of resort activities and amenities which will be available upon the resort’s reopening was released, which included information about pools and special experiences. The Electrical Water Pageant will not be operating
• Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort will be the only location for character dining upon the resort reopening

Disney Springs

• Check out this week’s photo report for Disney Springs, including new pins, more reopenings, and more!
• Due to the temporary curfew in Orange County, Disney Springs will be closing at 7 pm nightly
• Select restaurants across Disney Springs are now offering advanced reservations through My Disney Experience
• Even more snack kiosks have reopened across Disney Springs
• Check out the construction progress on the new canopy at City Works Eatery & Pour House, which is set to reopen on June 10th
• In solidarity for Blackout Tuesday, Anthropologie and Free People closed their doors this week
• Amorette’s Patisserie has finally reopened at Disney Springs, with new physical distancing measures and lots of cake
• The House of Blues is now selling face masks
• Take a look at the newly-reopened Once Upon a Toy and the new precautions in place
• Pearl Factory has permanently closed at Disney Springs

Around Walt Disney World

• It has been confirmed that the 2019-2020 NBA season will be finished at Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. However, players have been told that they will not be allowed to visit the parks during their stay
• It has also been reported that the MLS League are set to resume their 2020 season at the ESPN complex.

Other Walt Disney World News

• Walt Disney World is now retroactively refunding monthly payments for their Annual Passholders
• Thousands of furloughed cast members are being scheduled for a return to work in the upcoming weeks
• A trespass warning was issued to a man caught illegally flying a drone over the Magic Kindom
• A plot of land west of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is reportedly under development for a resort-type accommodation project
• Applications are being accepted for Disney’s Cultural Representative Program for EPCOT’s Mexico pavilion, for a 2021 start

Disneyland Resort

• Disneyland Resort is now only accepting reservations for July 15th onwards
• Cooper Howell, an actor who portrayed Prince Hans in “Frozen: Live at the Hyperion” has spoken out about his experiences with race inequality behind the stage

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

• Social distancing signage has been added across the resort, in preparation for reopening
• Coaster tracks have been spotted arriving for the Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs attraction

Shanghai Disneyland

• Guests with general park admission tickets are now able to apply for reservations to the park, not just holders of date-specific tickets
• A new “Disney Standby Pass” virtual queue system has been introduced this week

Tokyo Disney Resort

• Tokyo Disney Resort have announced that their park closure has been extended until ‘external and internal conditions have been readied’
• We spotted new social distancing measures being tested at the entrance to the parks, including ground markings and more
• Ikspiari has now reopened, with new social distancing measures in place
• The Disney Easter banner has now been removed at the entrance to Tokyo DisneySea, while the repaving work around the AquaSphere Plaza has been completed
• Monorail Yellow has now retired on the Disney Resort Line

Disney Cruise Line

• Disney Cruise Line has extended their future cruise credit offer for guests to use on sailings through March 2022
• Sailings aboard the Disney Wonder have been canceled through September 14th, 2020

New Merchandise

•  Dress dreamy in this new “Inside Out” Rainbow Unicorn romper
• Update your home with this colorful new collection of “Mousewares” merchandise, including these fun new kitchen magnets
• Sport your favorite snack with this Mickey Main Street Popcorn phone case, or perhaps this Mickey Waffle phone case design
• Celebrate Pride Month with this new Rainbow Mickey collection of merchandise
• Decorate your space with these new, limited-edition EPCOT Canada, China, Germany, and Japan pavilion serigraph posters
• Get creative in this new Neon Splatter Walt Disney World Spirit Jersey
• Fall in love with this scarily cute new Jack Skellington and Zero plush

• Add flair to your keys with these new Mickey, Minnie and Stitch Koosh Ball keychains
• Make waves with this new Moana lanyard, featuring Pua and HeiHei
• Be a worthless worm with these Hercules-inspired Pain and Panic socks
• Enjoy summer with this new Minnie Mouse Donut pool float and matching mini Mickey and Minnie beverage donut floats
• Pack for a day in the parks with these new Loungefly canvas backpacks, one featuring Mickey balloons and the other Tiki Room birds

• Drink up from these fun new light up Toy Story and Disney Princess sipper tumblers
• Add to your collection with this open-edition Magenta MagicBand
• Brighten up your style with these adorable new Winnie the Pooh PatcheD patches
• Be bold and bright with this new Neon Summer Loungefly mini backpack
• Spell out fun with these new ABCDisney Letters phone case designs from D-Tech on Demand
• Dress for tea in this new “Alice in Wonderland” dress by Her Universe
• Display your PEZ dispensers win this fun new Monorail holder

Entertainment and Media

Disney+

•  “Frozen 2” will be coming to Disney+ in the UK and Ireland on July 3rd, two weeks earlier than previously announced

Other Disney News

• In a recent call to unions, it was revealed that the Disney College Program is not likely to resume soon, with Walt Disney World and Disneyland relying on permanent cast members to staff the resorts
• Disney released a statement on the killing of George Floyd and racial disparity, and took a stand against racism using their social media channels in light of the protests. As well, Disney pledged $5 million to nonprofit organizations, including $2 million to the NAACP

WDW News Today

Make sure you catch up on the News Today episodes from this week!

Spaceship Earth Returning With EPCOT on July 15th, Refurbishment Suspended – NewsToday 6/1

That’s all the Disney news for this past week folks! Make sure you check back at the end of each week for our weekly recaps!