This week at Walt Disney World, Disney makes a major change to their rider switch system, over a dozen nights of the After Hours Boo Bash are now sold out, plus the Epcot Food and Wine Festival is set to kick off this week! 

Outside Walt Disney World, SeaWorld brings back free beer, introduces a new shark-focused event, plus Universal confirms a new haunted house for this year's Halloween Horror Nights! 

1. Changes come to rider switch policy at Walt Disney World 

Families visiting Walt Disney World with young children are no doubt aware of the resort's rider switch system, which allows one adult to wait with non-riders in a party while the rest of the party enjoys an attraction. When this party returns, they can supervise the non-riding guests, and the original waiting adult can board the attraction using the FastPass queue so they don't have to wait a second time. Previously, multiple party members could experience the attraction with rider switch, but under Disney's updated policy, only one other guest can use the FastPass line to accompany the person who initially sat the ride out.  

2. New behind-the-scenes Jungle Cruise video released

Disney has shared a backstage look at creating the new props, characters and story for the updated Jungle Cruise, which includes fun tidbits about both the Disneyland version (which has been completed) and the Magic Kingdom version, which should complete its transformation later this year. Check it out above! 

3. Final hotel reopenings schedule set 

Though Walt Disney World reopened last July, it only opened select hotels at first, opening additional locations as capacity increased. However, now that it looks like things are back to normal in terms of capacity at the resort, Disney has set reopening dates for its final four resort hotels:

• Disney's All-Star Music Resort: September 16 2021
• Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside: October 14 2021
• Disney's Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter: October 28 2021
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort: December 9 2021

Reservations for these hotels are now available at Walt Disney World's official website here.