WHEW! It’s been a BIG week in Disney World when it comes to news, that’s for sure!

Fortunately, this week’s announcements help us plan for our future trips, instead of having announcements that affect us in the next week (those are much harder to plan for, but they DO happen!). No, we didn’t get any major, massive updates on the new additions coming to the parks, like Villains Land, Piston Peak, or Monsters, Inc. (though we did hear about some new permits for that last one), but if you’re planning a trip for the later part of this year, trust us when we say that these announcements will be a BIG help when it comes to planning!

Specifically, if you’re planning to spend time in Disney World during the Halloween season (which, for Disney World, is August-October), these announcements are for YOU!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Disney dropped TONS of news about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this year, to give us a really good idea of what to expect for this season. This year, the event will take place on select nights from August 7th through October 31st, 2026, and tickets range in price from $119 to $229.

The party will still take place from 7 PM to midnight, and ticketed guests can still enter at 4 PM to make the most of their ticket. Disney Resort hotel guests may purchase tickets starting May 5th, 2026, while all other guests can make their purchases beginning on May 12th. It’s also been confirmed that entertainment such as the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular, and Boo-To-You Halloween Parade will be returning, and a new event, called A Masquerade with Stitch, will also be available.

We’re so looking forward to hearing more about what the event this year will offer, such as the new snacks on the way. We’ll be sure to keep you updated every step of the way!

Everything We Know About Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party This Year!

EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival

Disney also announced dates for the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, which is many guests’ favorite! This year, the festival will take place every day from August 27th through November 21st, 2026, and we know that Remy’s Ratatouille Hide ‘n’ Squeak Scavenger Hunt and  Emile’s Fromage Montage will be returning this year.

We also already know about three returning menu items that will be available!

• Street Corn-style Dumplings: Chicken Dumplings with Tomatillo Salsa Verde, Street Corn Salad, Cotija, Lime Crema, and Cilantro (Gyozas of the Galaxy)

• Grilled Bushberry-spiced Shrimp Skewer with Sweet-and-Sour Vegetables and Coconut-Chili Sauce (Australia)

• Kirschwasser Torte with Cherry-Brandy Buttercream, Fondant, Sugared Almonds, and Cherry Compote (The Alps)

We’ll be sure to keep you updated as we hear more and more about this festival, so stay tuned!

Everything CONFIRMED for the 2026 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival

An Interesting New Patent

Finally, Disney released a new patent that could, and we’re not being dramatic here, change Disney World rides forever. There’s no saying it’ll be used, and if it is, when it’ll take effect, but this new patent, which was filed on April 23, 2026, is officially known as US Patent Application US 2026/0109316 A1 and details a new AI system that could help verify passengers’ restraints are properly in place.

Currently, Cast Members check each and every seat belt/restraint personally, which takes time during loading. If this new system were to be used, it could drastically cut down on the amount of time it takes to load a ride and get it moving. The technology would work by capturing continuous video of each passenger seat during the loading process, and then a restraint verification platform would analyze that footage using multiple machine learning models trained to detect the rider’s body position and size, if the restraint is being used, and if it’s properly locked.

Disney Files NEW Permit That Could Change Park Rides Forever

We told you it was a big week! We’re so excited for what’s ahead, and we’ll continue to keep you updated with all the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB!

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