This week at Walt Disney World, Epcot reaches a major project milestone, a Disney Springs mainstay gets ready to reopen, and annual passholders get more opportunities to visit the parks!

Outside Walt Disney World, two hotels at Universal Orlando Resort shut down as the parks extend their hours, plus a popular SeaWorld show gets an expanded schedule as well!  

1. Annual Passholders get expanded availability after cancellation deadline passes

The deadline for annual passholders to cancel their passes was August 11 and though the call centers were very busy this week with guests looking to take advantage of this option, those who opted to keep their passes were rewarded with much greater parks pass availability, with Disney's Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom now available for more dates in September. 

2. Epcot's entrance redesign hits a major milestone

This week Epcot debuted part of its main entrance plaza redesign with the addition of a newly reimagined fountain that pays homage to the original park logo. And though this project is still ongoing, this is an impressive new addition that helps bring a fresh new energy to the park. 

3. Actors to return to Walt Disney World soon after free COVID-19 testing announced for Cast Members

However, earlier this week Disney announced that a new COVID-19 testing site will be opening up  on Walt Disney World property at Disney's Maingate office complex, which is located near Disney's Animal Kingdom, and will provide free tests for Cast Members and their families. And now that Disney is providing testing for all employees, including for Equity actors within Walt Disney World the union has announced that its executive committee has signed off on an agreement with Disney that would allow these Cast Members to  return to work at shows like Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage, Finding Nemo: The Musical, Festival of the Lion King and more. Though a date for the return of these shows hasn't been announced, we expect they will be back in the very near future.