Another week has passed by in Disney World and we’ve gotten some HUGE updates!

Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebrations are getting ready to begin, new Incredibles-themed rooms have opened at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and a beloved fireworks show has ended. Ready to catch up on ALL of the biggest Disney news from this week? Let’s dive in!

1 — BIG Star Wars Hotel News!

Attention all Star Wars fans: get ready to live your own out-of-this-world story aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser! We knew that the Star Wars Hotel was set to open in Spring of 2022, but now Disney has officially announced that the hotel will be open for business on March 1st, 202!

Reservations for the hotel will generally open on October 28th, but select guests will be able to make their reservations early.

Click here to learn more about how select guests can book early!

This week, Disney also shared a sneak peek at the Bridge area aboard the Halcyon!

We can’t wait to see this area once the hotel is complete!

Click here to get a look at the Bridge on the Star Wars hotel!

2 — Guardians of the Galaxy News

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was previously set to reopen in time for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, but was thereafter delayed. We hadn’t heard an updated opening timeline for this ride, until now!

This week, Disney announced that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open in 2022! Get those space suits ready, an out-of-this-world adventure is on its way!

Curious to see what the Guardians of the Galaxy vehicles look like? We got to see them with our own eyes!

This week we also got a first look INSIDE guardians of the galaxy — click here to read about what we saw!

Click here to learn more about Cosmic Rewind!

3 — NEW Interactive MagicBands

If you’re a big fan of MagicBands, you might be thrilled to know that a brand NEW, interactive type of MagicBand, called MagicBand+, will be coming soon to Disney World!

These new MagicBands will have the same functions as the existing ones, PLUS more! They’ll come to life with color-changing lights, feature vibrations, and will CHANGE the way you visit Disney World.

These new bands will be available for purchase starting next year.

Click here to learn more about MagicBand+!

4 — All the 50th Things!

Tomorrow, October 1st, Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebrations officially begin! But, this week we got some early looks at special things coming to the parks for the 50th.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we got a first look at the new daytime show, Disney KiteTails!

Early Theme Park Entry for Disney World’s Resort Hotel guests started early (appropriately), and you can learn more about this hotel perk by clicking here!

We’ve also seen Cast Members wearing their NEW 50th Anniversary name tags…

…and the Disney World hotels released NEW 50th Anniversary room keys!

If you’re a fan of all things retro & Disney World, then you’ll absolutely LOVE the new vintage-looking merchandise displays for Disney World’s Vault Collection.

Seriously, it’s like walking into a time machine, in the very best way possible.

And if you’re a retro-loving fan, then you’ll probably want to pick up 1 or 2 (or 20) of the awesome items released as part of Disney’s Vault Collection. They’re sure to get you feeling extra nostalgic!

This week, we also we got a look at ALL of the treats coming to Disney World for the 50th (hint: it’s a LOT)! Click here to see some photos of the treats coming to EPCOT, and click here to get a first look at the ones coming to Magic Kingdom.

This week we also got a look at some of the refillable hotel mugs coming to Disney World for the 50th Anniversary…

…as well as the new 50th Anniversary popcorn buckets…

…some Disney World 50th anniversary cups…

…and even a peek at some new Disney 50th Anniversary merchandise!

At EPCOT, we got a look at Spaceship Earth’s new nighttime look and let us tell you, it is STUNNING.

But Spaceship Earth isn’t the only thing that got some special lighting in Disney World. Recently, Disney World’s monorails also got some special lights of their own!

There is a LOT going on for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary and we’ll be covering it all, so be sure to stick around for all the latest updates.

Click here for your guide to Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration!

5 — New Incredibles Rooms Debut at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

This week was a big one for Disney’s Contemporary Resort too! Earlier this week, the resort’s NEW Incredibles-themed rooms debuted and we shared a FULL tour of the new room design.

The rooms feature a themed closet complete with images of the Incredibles’ super suits…

…fun details in the nightstand…

…a modern bathroom with a monorail design on the mirror…

…monorail designs on some of the lamp shades…

…and much more!

Click here for a FULL tour of a new Incredibles-themed room!

This week, some construction walls also came down in the Contemporary’s lobby and we got a look at some of the space’s new Mary Blair-inspired designs.

Be sure to stop by this space during your next trip to see how things have changed!

6 — Steakhouse 71

This week we also got a first look at Steakhouse 71, the Contemporary’s NEW restaurant.

Steakhouse 71 is set to open on October 1st, but we got the chance to eat at this spot today!

We got to sample a whole bunch of appetizers…

…entrees…

…desserts…

…and drinks.

We’ll be sharing a full review soon, so be on the lookout for that!

Click here to get a first look at Steakhouse 71!

7 — Disney Genie+ Update

This week, a Disney Cast Member told us that you won’t be able to re-ride Disney World attractions utilizing Genie+.

That means that through Genie+ you will only be able to make 1 Lightning Lane selection per ride during a single day (a.k.a. you’ll only be able to skip the standby line for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin once per day with Genie+). But, this is a fluid situation and it may change.

This week we also got a peek at what Genie+ will look like on your phone.

Click here to see what Genie will look like on your device!

8 — BIG Fireworks News

And finally, in BIG fireworks news — 2 fireworks shows have ENDED in Disney World, and 2 NEW ones have arrived.

Happily Ever After had its final showing on September 29th. Magic Kingdom was full of fans saying goodbye to this fantastic show on its final night.

But, starting October 1st, a BRAND NEW show will take over in Magic Kingdom — Disney Enchantment!

Click here to see how you can livestream Disney Enchantment ahead of its official debut!

The EPCOT Forever fireworks show has also ended in EPCOT. Its replacement, Harmonious, won’t officially debut until October 1st, but the show was presented to guests through a sort-of “soft-opening” on September 29th, and will be available again on September 30th.

And the crowds were there in FULL force to get a look at this brand new show.

Want to see photos & videos from Harmonious’ premiere? Click here!

Click here to listen to some of the music for Harmonious!

9 — Main Street Confectionery Reopens with a NEW Look and NEW Treats

This week, the Main Street Confectionery in Magic Kingdom reopened after some significant refurbishment. The Confectionery now has a brand NEW look that is much more open and spacious!

In this space, you’ll find all kinds of classic treats like cotton candy, packaged goodies, and more. But, you’ll also find some brand NEW items in the bakery case (most of them covered in candy), as well as an area where you can customize your own popcorn creation!

Of course, we had to try some of the spot’s newest sweet treats so we grabbed Skittles Fudge(?!?!), an M&M’S Brownie Pie, and more!

On a return trip, we went for a chocolate overload and grabbed Twix Fudge, a Snickers Cupcake, and a Mickey Marshmallow Topped with M&M’S! If you’ve got a serious sweet tooth, we have a feeling a stop at the updated Confectionery might be in your future!

To get FULL LOOK at the Confectionery’s new features click here!

Of course, more Disney news or news that could impact your next trip was also shared this week. Check out our links below to learn more:

• Be sure to look for Disney’s 50th Anniversary decorations when you arrive at Orlando International Airport!
• Changing your Park Pass reservation for Disney World just got a whole lot easier!
• Canada Far & Wide looks like it may reopen in late November
• You’ve GOT to see the new Starbucks x Disney World 50th Anniversary collection!
• See when EPCOT’s Future World will officially transform into 3 new neighborhoods

• The Spring Roll cart is BACK in business in Magic Kingdom, and it even has a special 50th Anniversary treat!
• Amazon’s Alexa will be getting new Disney features soon! Click here to see how they’ll impact your Disney World hotel stay
• A luxury hotel is in the works near Disney World
• Disney and Southwest have partnered together to create one magical plane!

• Muppets Haunted Mansion has taken over Muppet*Vision 3D
• New 50th Anniversary MagicMobile Designs are available for Disney World
• Get a first look at the new Grand Floridian DVC rooms
• The Birthday Cake Castle is coming BACK…but not in the way you might expect!
• 3 live performing acts are coming back to EPCOT!

Disney World’s 50th Anniversary begins tomorrow (October 1st), so there will be a LOT more news coming soon! Be sure to check back with us for all the latest.

Click here to learn more about what’s happening in Disney World for the 50th Anniversary!

Will you be visiting Disney World soon? Tell us in the comments!

Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of many of the new things coming to Disney World including Genie+, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Steakhouse 71, and more. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ