This week at Walt Disney World, a new restaurant is announced for Epcot, Disney squashes rumors about the future of two of its fan-favorite attractions, plus Disney's Hollywood Studios pares down its Star Wars experiences ahead of the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

Outside Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort opens a new hotel, plus CityWalk gets a new restaurant, and SeaWorld Orlando announces a freebie for guests who visit the park next week! 

1. New restaurant coming to Epcot

Walt Disney World has announced a new fast-casual barbecue restaurant that will replace the current Liberty Inn quick service restaurant in the American Adventure pavilion. This new location, which will be named Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue will open later this year after the Liberty Inn closes permanently on July 8th. Here's the official description of this new establishment:

The new location will be a modern barbecue smokehouse, with all the accompanying sights, sounds, smells and flavors you love – including a large smoker preparing fine food every day right on the pavilion’s promenade. There will also be a redesigned patio.

2. O Canada to close in a few weeks

There's only a few more weeks to see the O Canada! film at Epcot, as this attraction will close on August 1st. The space will then reopen a few weeks later during the Epcot Food and Wine Festival as an indoor festival marketplace, and then, at some unspecified later date, an upgraded film will debut.

3. Disney squashes rumors about closings of Enchanted Tiki Room and Country Bear Jamboree 

Image: Disney

Though rumors have been flying over the past few weeks about the potential closures of Magic Kingdom attractions The Enchanted Tiki Room and Country Bear Jamboree, Disney set the record straight this week, releasing two blog posts confirming that these attractions aren't going anywhere.