It certainly seems like there’s never a shortage of news when it comes to Disney World!

May brought us so much news and information about the parks! We got to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT, saw the release of the Disney Pride Collection (with 100% of profits donated), and saw some exciting (and not so exciting) food updates! These are the most important things we learned in Disney World in the month of May!

Festival News

EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival

May was a big month when it came to Food and Wine Festival news! The EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival begins on July 14th and runs until November 19th. It includes over 25 food booths, and a concert series!

In May month, we got details about what performers will be coming to the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, as well as more details about Eat to the Beat Concert Series dining packages (for which reservations are already open, by the way!). We’ve also seen what food booths will be coming to the festival this year, and gotten more details about Emile’s Fromage Montage which is the Food and Wine Festival cheese crawl (not that we need an excuse to eat more cheese).

Click here to read more about the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival!

Food News

Nutella Waffle Sandwich

In exciting food news, we are now able to order the Nutella Waffle Sandwich from Sleepy Hollow Refreshments in Magic Kingdom ALL. DAY. LONG.

It had previously only been served with breakfast, but now it is back on the all-day menu — and we are very grateful for that!

Click here to read about our Nutella Waffle Sandwich HACK!

Peanut Butter Recall

There is currently a recall on certain Jif peanut butter products, which has made it tricky to get some peanut butter items in Disney World. For example, all of the May flavor of the month items at Gideon’s Bakehouse had peanut butter as an ingredient, and they were all made unavailable due to the shortage.

All peanut butter sauces have been pulled from the menu at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor in Magic Kingdom, as well, though some peanut butter items are available.

Click here to read more about the peanut butter recall in Disney World!

Fuzzy Tauntaun

The Fuzzy Tauntaun is a drink that you can get from Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios (you can get it in Disneyland, as well).

The Fuzzy Tauntaun is a cocktail at Oga’s which has foam that will make your mouth go numb. It would seem that the drink may be in jeopardy as the Fuzzy Tauntaun has been removed from the cantina menu in Disneyland, but the Disney World menu still has it. When we spoke with a Cast Member, they were able to tell us that it is not going to be removed, but the ingredients they use to make the numbing foam are changing. These changes have not yet taken place.

Click here for instructions on how to make the Fuzzy Tauntaun at home!

Gingerbread Cookie Sandwich

If you’re a fan of the Gingerbread Salted Caramel Buttercream Cookie Sandwich from Karamell-Küche, then get ready to thank us because in May, we headed to our test kitchen and prepared a recipe for this treat.

Unfortunately, however, we recently noticed that this cookie was missing from the case! When we asked a Cast Member, they told us that it was going to be replaced by something new. So I guess for now, we have to say goodbye to our beloved cookie. According to the Cast Member, it will be a seasonal once again.

Click here for step-by-step instructions for the Gingerbread Salted Caramel Buttercream Cookie Sandwich!

Reopening News

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

At long last, we finally got some details about the reopening of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in both Disney World and Disneyland!

Disney did not share specific details about a reopening timeline, but we do know that it will be reopening sometime this year!

Read more about the reopening of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique here!

Harmony Barber Shop

Another Magic Kingdom location we’d been waiting to hear reopening news from was the Harmony Barber Shop!

Now, we know that it will be reopening its doors on July 31st for both child and adult haircuts, including the “My First Haircut” package where kids can get their hair cut along with some special memorabilia, including a lock of their hair.

Click here for more information about Harmony Barber Shop!

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

We already knew that the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue would be returning on June 23rd with reservations opening up for the experience on May 26th, but we also got more information about pricing and showtimes!

Pricing varies depending on where you’re sitting (the main floor or on either of the balconies), and there are three showtimes per evening.

Click here to learn more about pricing and showtimes for Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue!

Disney World Shows News

Fantasmic! Updates

Last year, Disney announced that Fantasmic! would be returning to Hollywood Studios, but they did not provide many details.

In early May, we got more details about what the show will look like when it finally makes its return! There will be new scenes and updates to the show, as well as the addition of a new show sequence that features characters like Anna, Elsa, Mulan, and Pocahontas! Disney still has not provided details about when the show will return officially.

Click here to read all of the details about the new aspects coming to Fantasmic!

A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King

When the fan-favorite The Lion King show reopened in Disney World following the COVID-19 closure, it reopened in a muted version as A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King. This new version had fewer features and was essentially a watered down version of the original show.

We knew that the tumble monkeys (an iconic part of the original show) would be returning this summer, and now, we know when! A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King will be unavailable from July 5th-July 15th and when it reopens on July 16th, the tumble monkeys and more will be back!

You can read more about A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King closure by clicking here!

EPCOT Transformation Updates

CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza

May was a huge month for news regarding the EPCOT transformation! Last month, we got a bunch of information about two new things coming to EPCOT, CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza.

CommuniCore Plaza is a huge outdoor area where guests can watch concerts on the outdoor performance stage or take a stroll through some gardens. CommuniCore Hall is located within the plaza and will be the new festival center, offering multi-functional spaces that will make EPCOT’s festivals more interactive and exciting.

Click here for more details about CommuniCore Plaza and CommuniCore Hall!

Mickey and Friends Meet-And-Greet

One thing that was removed when construction began in EPCOT was the EPCOT Character Spot. The Character Spot (just as the name implies) is where guests were able to meet the classic Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy.

As part of the EPCOT Transformation, a new character meet-and-greet spot is coming in the form of Mickey and Friends! It will be nice to have the gang all back in one place again!

Click here to read more about the Mickey and Friends meet-and-greet coming to EPCOT!

Glowing Sidewalks

Okay, we admit it, this one may seem minor compared to all of the other MAJOR announcements coming to EPCOT, but we’re so happy that the glowing sidewalks will be returning!

If you don’t know what the glowing sidewalks are, they’re lights that were embedded in the pavement that would come on each night in EPCOT, and they will be returning in an enhanced way.

Click here to see what Imagineer Zach Riddley had to say about EPCOT’s glowing sidewalks!

Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana

Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana is a new walkthrough attraction coming to EPCOT, and we finally got some more details about it this month!

The attraction will take the form of a lush exploration trail where guests will quite literally get to see the journey of water and learn about the water cycle! The attraction will also be interactive giving guests the opportunity to play with the water while they learn about it.

Click here to learn more about Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana!

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Updates

Virtual Queue

In May, we learned that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will not be offering a traditional standby line, but will instead be using a virtual queue the same way Rise of the Resistance and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure did when they first opened.

The virtual queue will open twice per day for regular guests, once at 7AM, and once at 2PM, and a third time at 6PM only for those eligible for Extended Evening Hours.

Click here to read more about the virtual queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!

Individual Lightning Lane

Securing a spot in the virtual queue will not be the only way guests can experience Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. They will also be able to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane for it (aka, pay-per-ride).

You can purchase a Lightning Lane for this ride beginning at 7AM each morning.

Click here to learn more about Lightning Lane for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!

Disney Genie+ Updates

Changes to Genie+

Disney recently announced a MAJOR change to the way Genie+ is purchased. Previously, guests could purchase Genie+ for multiple days at a time as an add-on when they purchased their tickets.

Beginning June 8th, all guests will have to purchase Genie+ on each day they wish to use it. You will have to purchase Genie+ on the day you plan to use it, and the ability to purchase it will begin at midnight. This change is only going to affect in Disney World, Disneyland’s Genie+ process will remain the same at this time.

Click here to read more about the change in how you purchase Genie+ here!

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Beginning May 31st, for a limited time, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will no longer be an Individual Lightning Lane purchase. 

Until August 7th, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will be included in the regular Genie+ (the one that you pay a flat $15 for).

Click here for more details about the change to Genie+

Technology Updates

MagicBand+ News

Following an accidental release of the new MagicBand+ bands in early May, Disney released some more details about what MagicBand+ will look like in action when it is finally released for real.

MagicBand+ will work as your park ticket (as the traditional MagicBands do) and will also interact with features around the Disney World parks, like the 50th Anniversary gold statues found in each of the parks!

Click here for a first look at MagicBand+ in Disney World!

“Hey, Disney!”

May also brought us more details about the new Amazon Alexa Voice Assistant, Hey, Disney! that will soon be available in all Disney World and Disneyland hotel rooms.

Hey, Disney! will be able to help you with various aspects of your stay. For example, if you need something brought to your room, you can request it through Hey, Disney! and you can ask it questions like what time a park opens or what the weather will be like that day. You can also set alarms with it and interact with some of your favorite characters.

Click here for all the details about Hey, Disney!

Miscellaneous Updates

Changes to Annual Passholder Discounts

Annual Passholders are eligible for up to 20% discounts on things like shopping and dining in Disney World. The way passholders used to prove their eligibility was by showing their physical Annual Pass card, but that process has now changed.

Now, Annual Passholders will need to produce some form of identification along with showing the Cast Member the area of the My Disney Experience app that proves they are a Passholder.

Click here to read more about how to get your Annual Passholder discount in Disney World!

Early Theme Park Entry Extended

Early Theme Park Entry was the perk Disney introduced as part of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary that allows Disney World hotel guests access to the park 30 minutes before it opens. It was rolled out as a replacement for the now-defunct Extra Magic Hours.

Disney announced in May that Early Theme Park Entry would be continued at least through the end of 2023, meaning that it will still continue even once the 50th Anniversary has ended.

Click here to read more about Early Theme Park Entry in Disney World!

Animal Kingdom Parking Trams

Parking Lot trams are slowly returning to the Disney World theme parks. They returned to the Magic Kingdom a few months ago and we were told that they would be making their return to the other parks soon.

In the beginning of May, a Cast Member told us that parking trams would be returning to Animal Kingdom on May 27th — and they did! But there is still no word on when they will make their return to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios.

Click here to read more about parking trams returning to Animal Kingdom!

And those are 14 things we learned in Disney World in May! We’re always on the lookout for Disney World news and updates, so make sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest!

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What update are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!

The post The Biggest Disney News Drops From May first appeared on the disney food blog.