From the halted Boarding Passes to the canceled Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Disney World won’t be the same place we’ve grown up with when the parks reopen.

However, Disney still has many of the same experiences, attractions, and food that our hearts are oh so fond of (and that we’ll be able to experience again soon).

As you start booking your Disney Park Passes and making Advance Dining Reservations sometime soon, you’ll want to keep track of all the things that, even in this sea of change, will be exactly the SAME during your next Disney World vacation.

Seasonal Merchandise and Treats

Although we’ve been able to spot returning merchandise in Disney World (Minnie Ears, MagicBands, Disney Plushes, oh my!), we’ve also seen some must-have items that are new to the parks. From the Mickey Balloons Loungefly Backpacks that are flying off the shelves to the Disney Character Face Masks, Disney really makes us want to burn through our wallets whenever we’re at the resorts or Disney Springs.

Disney World also tends to roll out themed merchandise and treats around the holidays that you can collect. Recently, Disney has continued the trend with Father’s Day and the Fourth of July (and we keep having to resist buying all the stuff we find).

During Father’s Day, we spotted specific LovePop cards for all the cool dads out there, fancy Baby Yoda cuff links, and an entire array of shirts featuring our favorite Star Wars fathers! Plus, there were feasts galore throughout Disney Springs at spots like Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill, STK Orlando, and Wine Bar George.

Even though we won’t be able to watch patriotic fireworks in the parks this year, Disney World is still adding a pop to your summer with Fourth of July eats too! We’ve seen an entire Americana line of merch (we’re talking bags, hats, shirts, and even fanny packs) and Fourth of July Cupcakes at Goofy’s Candy Co.

And, while it may not be an official holiday, Disney World also featured snacks around the resorts to celebrate Experiment 626 himself on Stitch Day (or June 26th)! In the past, Disney has made a Stitch Cake and a Stitch Cone.

And, this year Captain Cook’s welcomed everyone back to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort with the Stitch Cupcakes to celebrate Experiment 626’s special day!

Read the details about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party’s cancellation here!

The Most Helpful Cast Members Around

Cast Members have always been incredibly helpful in making guests’ vacations magical. They go above and beyond to welcome everyone into the parks, make guests’ days even better, and fix problems that may come up (and even issue No-Strings Attached Passes when they can)!

Since Disney Springs and the Disney Resorts have reopened, Cast Members have been just as helpful as always. The Guest Service teams in Disney Springs are available to notify people about the health and safety regulations, provide answers to everyone’s questions since vacations aren’t going to be the same, and help guests take health and safety precautions that are needed.

Cast Members in the resorts have also been consistently helpful in directing guests around the hotels, informing them about the guidelines that are being followed on property, and greeting everyone with a smile (even if it’s through a mask!).

And believe us, it hasn’t been easy. We’ve heard numerous stories about difficult guests — especially in these recent weeks — and our hearts go out to Cast Members who are keeping their smiles firmly in place.

Although the parks haven’t reopened yet, we are sure that the Cast Members will be just as wonderfully helpful when we return back!

These are the Cast Members we have missed the most during Disney’s closure!

All That Amazing Disney Food!

Oh, Disney food — how we’ve missed you! We’ve already stopped by places like Topolino’s Terrace, Whispering Canyon Cafe, Grand Floridian Cafe, and Kona Cafe at the resorts. And, we are even more excited to head back to all the restaurants in the parks when they reopen on July 11th and July 15th!

Although Disney World may not be opening every spot around the parks, we can still expect that the food will be as tasty as ever. (Note, at this time, restaurants have had to limit their menus and a few items won’t be available initially.)

We’ve been able to have returning favorites like the Reggie’s Revenge (before Jock Lindsey’s had to close) and try new treats like the SERIOUSLY good updated Gold Rush Sundae.

While there are all sorts of changes happening all around Disney World, the overall quality of the food is still wonderful.

We shockingly miss these Disney World restaurants the most!

The Restrooms Throughout the Property

Although Disney has been keeping up with sanitation and health standards, the bathrooms haven’t seen too much change. Unlike the restrooms at Universal Orlando, there aren’t many signs in the restrooms or around the area detailing the new guidelines or how Disney will be keeping guests safe.

While there have been plenty of distancing and health notices in Disney Springs and the Disney Resorts, the bathrooms practically look the same. The same pull-down towel dispensers and air-blowing hand dryers are in Disney (even though the sanitary procedures are still extensive by Cast Members).

We aren’t sure if Disney World will be incorporating more signs or changes in the restrooms when the parks reopen (we all know how crowded those bathrooms get).

But we will be sure to check it out and let you know.

These are the biggest changes in Disney World that could stick around for good!

Disney World’s Aspiration for Change

Even before the parks closed, Disney World was making HUGE changes all around the parks and resorts. We’ve been waiting and watching the Epcot Transformation and the construction on TRON Lightcycle Run, checking in on brand new restaurants and the Grand Floridian Walkway, and seeing more start to take shape.

Construction began on multiple projects before the parks closed and was paused temporarily during the closure. However, some of them have started up again and others may continue to pick back up when Disney World reopens.

However, Disney also has been introducing even more new experiences coming to the parks since they’ve been closed. We’ve seen the Cinderella Castle makeover start to make a very pink appearance in Magic Kingdom and heard the news of The Princess and the Frog re-design of Splash Mountain.

While new sanitation measures, entertainment, and other changes have also been implemented in the parks to keep things progressing forward as well, Disney also continues to strive for ways to truly make the parks the Most Magical Place on Earth.

Find out how you’ll be able to actually USE THE FORCE in the Disney Parks soon!

As Disney starts to update the parks according to their new guidelines to keep everyone safe, they are also doing whatever they can to make everyone happy with their magical experiences during their trips. Even though we are super excited about all the changes arriving soon, we’re also happy to see so many of our favorite parts of Disney World coming back when the parks reopen.

Ready to head back into the parks ASAP? Here’s everything you need to know about the Annual Passholder Previews!

What are you looking forward to seeing the most again in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below!