Disney World News: Test Track Reopening, Epcot Food & Wine Lineup, New Lands & More!

Epcot Food & Wine Festival 2025

• 🗓️ The 2025 Epcot Food and Wine Festival will run from August 28th to November 22nd, featuring exclusive snacks, drinks, and live performances.
• 🎶 The Eat to the Beat concert series returns with artists like Joey Fetone and Friends, Sheila Eve, Ben Rector, Baja Men, Smashmouth, and Boys to Men.
• 🍽️ Eat to the Beat dining packages, offering reserved seating, will be available for purchase starting July 16th.

Test Track Updates and Previews

• 🚗 Test Track reopens with a new look on July 22nd, 2025, operating with a standby line and Lightning Lane.
• 🎟️ It will be a Tier 1 attraction for the Lightning Lane Multipass, while Soarin' moves to Tier 2.
• 🚫 There will be no virtual queue for Test Track upon reopening.
• 🌟 Special previews for Annual Passholders, DVC members, Golden Oak residents, and Club 33 members will occur from July 11th-19th, with some using a virtual queue system.

New Monsters Inc. Land and Attractions

• 🎢 A new Monsters Inc. land is coming to Hollywood Studios, replacing the Muppets Courtyard.
• 🎡 The land will feature Disney's first-ever suspended coaster based on the iconic doors scene from the film.
• 🏗️ Construction is underway, with a large space cleared for the new attraction.
• 🚀 Astro Orbiter and the Hall of Presidents have reopened at Magic Kingdom after refurbishments.

Disney Cruise Line Safety Incident

• 🚢 A child fell overboard on the Disney Dream cruise ship on June 29th and was quickly rescued along with their father.
• 🚨 The "Man Overboard" emergency code was activated, leading to a swift crew response.
• ⚠️ While safety protocols were effective, the exact cause of the child going overboard is still unclear due to safety barriers.

New Food and Drink Offerings

• 🍹 The Poptail Margarita (mango margarita with a strawberry ice pop) is a new, photogenic drink at Epcot.
• 🥐 Epcot's Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe now offers a cinnamon roll with orange cream cheese icing.
• 🥜 Woody's Lunchbox has a new PB&J lunchbox tart.
• ✈️ Disney Springs features a frozen drink flight at The Basket (Wine Bar George) and an Oreo tiramisu at Vivoli il Gelato.
• 🍔 Flavors of Florida event at Disney Springs includes items like the Eighth Street Freda Burger and Devil Crab Croquettes.
• 🥗 Hollywood Studios' Rosy's All-American Cafe offers a Hot Honey Buffalo Chicken Chef Salad.

Merchandise and Store Updates

• 🎃 Halloween merchandise has arrived early at Creations Shop in Epcot, including shirts featuring villains and classic Halloween themes.
• 🧢 A new hat store, Prairie Outpost, has opened in Magic Kingdom, offering customizable hats and accessories.
• 🥤 Disney has partnered with Coca-Cola for 30 special Star Wars-themed cans and bottles, with three exclusive designs at Disneyland and Disney World, featuring an AR experience.

Other Park News

• 🚢 Disney Cruise Line ships are equipped with overboard detection systems and require mandatory muster drills.
• 📚 The author's book, "Disney Adults," is set for release on August 5th, with a live event on July 7th offering signed copies.
• 🚢 The Liberty Square River Boat and Tom Sawyer Island will close permanently on July 6th for new land developments.
• 👕 A new PeopleMover fan club t-shirt is available, celebrating the attraction's 50th anniversary.