Things are ALWAYS changing in Disney World! Projects like Villains Land, Piston Peak, Monsters Inc. Land, and Pueblo Esperanza are taking center stage when it comes to changes, but they aren’t the only ones going on.

Each week, it feels like Disney is constantly dropping new information, details, and more for upcoming projects. That’s why we like to do a weekly wrap-up of the biggest news so you don’t miss a single thing. Let’s dive into this week’s latest and greatest Disney news.

This week was a BIG one for EPCOT festivals, new lands, and more! If you’re ready for some seriously exciting news, this week was for you.

A NEW Hollywood Studios Land Soft Opened

Arguably the biggest news this week was that the Magic of Disney Animation officially soft opened this week! The second half of the newest Hollywood Studios land soft opened on September 11th ahead of its official openin date on September 14th.

We got to check out the new area, including Off The Page, Olaf Draws, The Once Upon A Studio Theater, and the Drawn to Wonderland Playground. This family-friendly area has been highly anticipated since it was announced in 2025, and fans can finally explore the new area.

Fans can meet characters in this new area, learn to draw like Disney animators, catch a show, and more. This soft opening also finalized the land’s completion since it was opening in two phases.

FIRST LOOK Inside the NEW Attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Candlelight Celebrity Narrators Were Announced

Over in EPCOT, we got lots of festival news, including the announcement of the celebrity narrators for the Candlelight Processional. This is one of EPCOT’s most highly anticipated events during Festival of the Holidays each year.

Different celebrities stop by the park to tell the story of Christmas and its traditions. We’ve seen people in lines to spot their favorite actors, athletes, singers, and more! This year, the lineup includes:

• Nov. 27 & 28 – Auli‘i Cravalho
• Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 – Gary Sinise
• Dec. 2 & 3 – To Be Announced
• Dec. 4 & 5 – Whoopi Goldberg
• Dec. 6 & 7 – Robin Roberts (NEW)
• Dec. 8 & 9 – Jason Kelce (NEW)
• Dec. 10 – 12 – Neil Patrick Harris
• Dec. 13 & 14 – To Be Announced
• Dec. 15 & 16 – Lauren Daigle
• Dec. 17 – 19 – Ralph Macchio
• Dec. 20 & 21 – Henry Winkler
• Dec. 22 & 23 – Lacey Chabert (NEW)
• Dec. 24 & 25 – Jodi Benson
• Dec. 26 & 27 – Simu Liu
• Dec. 28 – 30 – Eva Longoria

Festival of the Holidays kicks off annually the day after Thanksgiving, and it really feels like the start of the Christmas season to us! The narrators are joined by a choir of Cast Members singing traditional holiday songs, which makes the event even more special.

We can’t wait to see new and returning narrators take the spotlight! Disney also confirmed Candlelight Processional Dining Package information, which you can find right here.

Disney Announces Celebrity Narrators for Candlelight Processional 2026 at EPCOT!

We Got TWO EPCOT Festival Start Dates

EPCOT didn’t stop with just the celebrities, though! They also confirmed not one, but TWO dates for EPCOT festivals in 2027. First, EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts will officially kick off on January 15th, 2027.

This artistic festival (which is easily one of our favorites) will run until March 1st, 2027, which is seriously exciting! In 2026, this festival ran until February 23rd, so that’s even more time to get creative, paint, and more in the park. That’s not all, though!

EPCOT also confirmed the dates for the 2027 Flower and Garden Festival! This floral fest will kick off on March 10th, and it will run until May 31st, 2027. This festival brings tons of color and life to the parks thanks to those gorgeous topiaries, fresh food, and more.

We especially love how short the turnaround time is between these two festivals, so there will be no shortage of excitement. EPCOT is keeping us fed with news and food, literally, in 2027!

DATES ANNOUNCED for the 2027 EPCOT Festival of the Arts

After Hours Details Confirmed For 2027

Finally, Disney also confirmed After Hours event information for 2027! If you love going into the parks after dark, these special events should be on your radar. In 2027, Disney confirmed EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom will all host these special ticketed events for you to enjoy.

These events give you access to the parks after they close, so you get low crowds, short lines, free snacks, and more! These events take place on select nights and will sell out, so don’t hesitate to grab your tickets if you’re interested. Tickets are on sale NOW for select Disney World hotel guests. Tickets for everyone else go on sale starting on September 22nd.

DATES ANNOUNCED for 2027 After Hours Events in Disney World

We can’t wait for these major events, new lands, and more throughout Disney World. As always, be sure to keep following DisneyFoodBlog for more Disney news, updates, details, and more.

4 Changes Coming to Magic Kingdom Next Month

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