Though it may not initially seem like it, Disney parks have truly come into their own in recent years as a real food lover’s paradise. If you count yourself as one of the many who love eating their way around the Disney parks and resorts, there are some big changes taking effect right now you should know about.

For August's dining update, two Fort Wilderness favorites reopen, a new Muppet pop-up appears at the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, plus progress is made on the new restaurant at the Japan pavilion! 

1. Trails End Restaurant and Crockett's Tavern reopen 

The famed Trail’s End Restaurant at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground has reopened as a new quick-service style location with a marketplace concept. This restaurant now serves both individual meals as well as family-style offerings that can be made to-go available for guests. The interior has been newly redecorated with warm wooden furnishings, beamed ceilings, and a casual seating area.

Guests dining in will find salads, wraps, freshly made pizzas and a lineup of desserts on the menu, including the famous strawberry shortcake from Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.

Those wanting to take something back to their campsite to share will find pecan-smoked whole chicken, brisket, pork ribs, fried chicken, macaroni & cheese, plant-based cowboy beans, and mashed potatoes in a hot grab-and-go area. 

Right across the way from Trail's End Restaurant, Crockett's Tavern has also reopened, and is now serving up hand-crafted moonshine-infused cocktails, as well as beer, wine, and other spirits. This location has also reimagined its light bites menu, which now includes sliders, crispy cauliflower, a charcuterie board, and more. 

2. Muppet Labs takes over the Odyssey Center during the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival

Muppet characters Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker have now opened their own limited-time eatery as part of the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, which is now running through November 18. These characters will appear throughout the Odyssey venue, which has been renamed to the "Brew-Wing Lab," via video, welcoming you to their "taste-testing headquarters." Some of their concoctions include Peanut Butter and Jelly Wings, The Unnecessarily Spicy, Yet Extremely Tasty Scotch Bonnet Pepper-Curry Wings, and even a Pickle Milkshake!

This new location is one of several making their debut at this year's festival. You can check out the full lineup of booths at this year's festival here. 

3. 30 new specialty food and beverage option announced for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Mickey's Not-So Scary Halloween Party kicks off in just a few weeks, and it looks like Disney is going all in on new food options this year, adding 30 specialty items to menus around the Magic Kingdom just for this year's event. Items new this year for the party including the following:

• Terrifyin’ Twice-Spiced Chicken Sandwich: Spicy fried chicken breast dipped in hot honey and topped with pepper jack cheese, jalapeño poppers, and bacon
• The Snarling Sub: Meatball sub with spicy marinara, pesto and pearl mozzarella “teeth” served on a black roll 
• Zombie Fingers: Almond cookie fingers, Key lime pie white chocolate ganache, salted caramel crisp pearls, and sugar eyes
• Black Velvet Whoopie Pie: Black velvet cookie with buttercream and sprinkles topped with a sugar spider 
• Cajun Burger: Cajun-spiced all-beef patty topped with fried green tomato, Cajun Andouille dip, and Creole remoulade served on a black bun
• Bowl of Bones: Bone-in piggy wings fried with fresh jalapeños tossed in Coca-Cola Cherry barbecue sauce

Check out a preview of all the new goodies here. 

4. Signage installed at upcoming Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya restaurant

New restaurant Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya is set to open any day now at the Japan pavilion, next to Teppan Edo in the space formerly occupied by Tokyo Dining. Once open, guests at this restaurant will be able to experience rotating themes inspired by Japan’s seasonal festivals. From hanging tanzaku to celebrate Tanabata in July to savoring moon-viewing dumplings in September, a cultural representative from Japan will guide guests through each unique festival experience, one bite at a time. 

This dining location will include both sushi and teppan items, and will also feature an open sushi bar and grill. No specific opening date has been revealed, but signage has been installed signalling that this location will be ready for its first guests in the very near future!