It’s another one of those weeks when we’re almost overwhelmed by all of the new updates we got at Disney World this week. Yes, it’s true.

We’re here to chat about all things NEW!

I’m back again with another game of WHAT’S NEW AT DISNEY WORLD and I have a feeling that a lot of you will really love this one. We got news on a new Magic Kingdom Attraction, an EPCOT festival, and even a potential ride update. Are y’all ready? Okay, let’s go!

We’ll start in Magic Kingdom!

We got an update on a bizarre new attraction!

Over in Storybook Circus, Smellephants on Parade is finally coming to life! This is a family-friendly “search and sniff” adventure that is presented by Scentsy. About the new attraction, Disney said, “When entering Storybook Circus, guests will stumble upon a casting call posted by Timothy Q. Mouse, seeking out a ‘Whiff-sistant’ to join Dumbo’s newest act.” You’ll need to stop by a ticket booth near Big Top Souvenirs to get a guided map of the new attraction.

Cotton Candy Elephant

We’ve been watching Disney prepare this area for a while now, but now we’re FINALLY seeing some real movement! Take a look at this popcorn-themed elephant that has arrived near the Dumbo ride! We saw the first elephant arrive a few days ago, and now there’s a ticket booth in front of Big Top Souvenirs! 

Ticket booth!

This is where you’ll stop by to get an illustrated map of Storybook Circus along with a sticker sheet, which will guide you through the attraction. Wait…this actually sounds SO FUN!

Click here to see what else is new! 

Disney announced DATES for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! 

We got some BIG news about this year’s Food and Wine Festival. In 2024, EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival runs through May 27th, but Disney is already getting prepared for the NEXT festival that’ll hit the park — the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival! Complete with outdoor food kitchens, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, and much more, this is one of the BIGGEST Disney World events of the year. This year, the 2024 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival will officially begin on August 29th and run through November 23rd, 2024! 

Nitro Cake Pop at the 2023 Food and Wine Festival

This is a later start than the past few years, y’all! For example, in 2023, the festival dates were July 27th through November 18th. This year, the Food and Wine festival is starting over a month LATER. This festival timeline is more consistent with the timeline from before the COVID-19 related closures. In 2019, the Food and Wine Festival ran from August 29th through November 23rd, after the Flower and Garden Festival ran from March 6th to June 3rd.

Meat Assorti at Char & Chop

You’ll notice the dates for this year are exactly the same as 2019! When the Food and Wine Festival returned after the COVID 19-related closures, Disney moved the dates up to a July start. Why? Well, probably because festivals are Disney’s way of bringing in people during slower times in EPCOT, and it took awhile for the travel industry to bounce back after everyone was told to stay home. Over the past year, we’ve seen a return to normalcy in Disney World — the seasons we used to expect to be busy are the busiest, and we see lulls in the crowds when we used to. So it seems Disney is returning back to its normal calendar, as well

Click here to see what else is new at EPCOT

Disney filed a permit for a popular attraction! 

We’re always on the hunt for the latest permits filed by Disney to get an idea of what sort of changes might be coming to the parks, and this latest one took us by surprise! A new permit has been filed for work on the Imagination Pavilion in EPCOT, which is home to the Journey Into Imagination with Figment ride. It’s surprising because Disney hasn’t announced any sort of refurbishments or closures for this attraction.

Imagination Pavilion

The address on the permit matches up with the Imagination Pavilion as a whole, so while it’s possible that this construction doesn’t have anything to do with the ride — there are a few reasons why we think that isn’t the case.

Journey into Imagination with Figment

First, the description is for “general construction,” which can technically be minor or major work, but it’s likely not just simple electrical or plumbing as permits usually list that type of work specifically. Not only that, but the contractor listed on the permit is Poli Construction, Inc., and that company has done work for Disney World and Universal Orlando in the past including the recent Trail’s End improvements at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

Journey into Imagination

But, perhaps the most interesting thing about this permit is the expiration date. Typically, permits automatically expire one year from the date filed unless otherwise specified — but this one has a specific expiration date of November 28th, 2025. This is interesting because it likely means whatever work Disney has planned for this space will take longer than a year to complete. Of course, the Imagination Pavilion is also home to the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival, so it’s entirely possible this permit is for that theater as well.

Click here to see what else is new at EPCOT

Of course, that’s not all that happened! There are plenty of things that happen every single day at Disney World. Check out EVERYTHING by clicking through the links below! Our reporters and writers keep these pages updated with all the latest things that take place in the parks — from merchandise drops to new menu items. See for yourself!

We’ll be sure to keep you updated with more Disney news, so make sure to follow along so that you don’t miss a thing.

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What do you think of these big Disney World updates? Let us know in the comments!