August is a fun time at Disney World because many summer offerings are still happening but Halloween is starting too! You can pick and choose what season you want to be in at the parks in August. We’ve got all the details here for you here in our Disney World News August 2024 update. Whether you’re planning your next vacation or want to be inspired to book one, we hope this Walt Disney World news and updates roundup helps keep you in the know.

Disney World News August 2024 Dates to Remember

Here we have some dates related to Disney World news August 2024 and beyond.

May 24 - September 2 | Disney Springs Drone Show Dreams That Soar

June 10 - September 6 | ¡Celebración Encanto! show at Epcot (More Encanto at Disney World)

June 10 - September 6 | Animal Kingdom celebrates 30 years of The Lion King

July 8 - August 20 | Peter Pan's Flight closed for refurbishment

July 22 - August 24 | DVC Welcome Home Weeks

August 9 | First Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

August 29 - November 3 | EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival

November 8 | First Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

November 9 | First Disney Jollywood Nights event

November 29 - December 30 | EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays

What's New at Disney World August 2024

Disney Springs DVC Lounge Now Open

The Disney Springs DVC Member lounge is now open. It has complimentary drinks and snacks, similar to what the Epcot DVC lounge usually has. The second floor Member lounge space also has an outdoor balcony with seating that provides pretty views of the Disney Springs Town Center area.

See more in our Disney Vacation Club Lounge Guide.

New Disney World Fast Pass: Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass

Another Disney World Fast Pass replacement has debuted, taking over the spot of Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes. The Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass debuted at the end of July. The main difference is it works more like FastPass+ by offering advance purchase and planning options. Resort guests can purchase and plan 7 days out. Everyone else can purchase and plan 3 days out.

See more about Disney World Lightning Lane.

Country Bears are Back!

The Country Bear Jamboree is now playing again in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. The long running show has some changes including a new name. It's now the Country Bear Musical Jamboree. You can expect to see the same great characters but now they sing Disney songs! Disney worked with Nashville music artists to produce authentic sounding country style music. The new Disney song line up now includes:

• Try Everything from Zootopia
• Kiss the Girl from The Little Mermaid
• A Whole New World from Aladdin
• Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Mary Poppins
• Fixer Upper from Frozen
• Remember Me from Coco
• You’ve Got A Friend In Me from Toy Story
• Bare Necessities from The Jungle Book

Country Bear Jamboree is an opening day attraction at Magic Kingdom park. It has had some different versions over the years including seasonal overlays. This updated show welcomes a new younger audience, with positive music families can enjoy together. 

Plus, the bears have totally new or refreshed outfits and they are looking good! Trixie dazzles in a hot pink and silver glitter ensemble that looks fit for Dolly Parton.

To visit Country Bear Musical Jamboree, just get in line. There is only standby for this sit down, indoor and air conditioned show. Country Bear Musical Jamboree is around ten or so minutes long.

Star Wars Rise of the Resistance Testing Single Rider Line

Mid July started testing for a single rider line for one of Disney World's most popular attractions. The single rider line at Rise of the Resistance launched with an entrance near the ride's exit. Look for a cast member with a single rider sign near the exit. Experiencing the attraction this way doesn't include the pre-shows. Remember single rider lines do not guarantee you'll sit with your party or even in the same ride vehicle. It is possible that you could be sat in different rows in the same vehicle. I wouldn't expect it or ask for it to happen though. Single rider lines will usually be much faster than the regular line.

There are a few different ways to ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. When it opened it there was no standby but a virtual queue instead. Now Rise has a standby line or an upcharge to access the Lightning Lane which requires an individual purchase. 

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Starts

August means Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom and pumpkins on Main Street! This year's dates are:

• August 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30
• September 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29
• October 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31

Not So Scary, No Virtual Queues

We got some really exciting news about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party in 2024. Virtual queues will not be in use at the event. Tiana‘s Bayou Adventure and Tron Light Cycle/Run will both have a standby queue at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

Disney recently updated how the new Fast Pass line system works. Lightning Lane Single Pass is like the new Individual Lightning Lane where you must purchase a single entry for an attraction.

Virtual queues are included with your ticket. It’s an extra step you must take at 7:00 a.m. from anywhere or from 1:00 p.m. in the park. 

How to Ride Tron and Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Mickey's Halloween Party

This gives visitors the option to ride Tron during the day using complementary virtual queue or paid Lightning Lane Single pass during regular day visits. 

For Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, guests can enjoy a virtual queue or Lightning Lane Multi Pass during regular day visits.

At Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, both of these tricky to ride attractions will offer the treat of a standby queue. We expect lower wait times at special events like these. Popular rides will still probably have a decent wait. 

This is really a game changer because you don’t have to plan what you’re going to ride in advance before going to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party. You don’t have to research what time to sign up for a virtual queue or be in a place where you have good reception in order to do it. 

Simplicity is something that’s been missing from the Disney Parks experience for years. Some may prefer virtual queue or Lightning Lane opportunities. They still are able to do that during a regular day visit for these popular attractions. It’s nice to have the option to just stroll up to the ride for a special ticket event.

While we do not have confirmation about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, we might expect these to work the same way. We should find that information out in the coming weeks or months.

Ichabod Crane Now Appears in a Liberty Square Window

Ichabod, from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, is now appearing as a projection in a window in Liberty Square. The 1949 old time animated short features the voice of crooner Bing Crosby. Now you can see the character's silhouette above Ye Old Christmas Shoppe in Magic Kingdom. His signature profile can't be mistaken. 

Epcot Food and Wine Concert Schedule - Eat to the Beat Concert Dates

Starting August 29th, delicious food and music will fill World Showcase. Food and wine ends November 23rd this year. The Eat to the Beat Concert Series is a big part of Epcot's popular fall event. See more in our Epcot Food and Wine Festival Guide 2024.

The bands at Epcot Food and Wine Festival 2024 include:

• August 30-31 The Fray
• September 1-2 Sugar Ray
• September 6-7 Hoobastank
• September 8-9 Yellowcard (New this year)
• September 13-14 Tiffany
• September 15-16 MercyMe
• September 20-21 Sheila E.
• September 22-23 The Wanted (New this year)
• September 27 Luis Figueroa
• September 28-29 Mau Y Ricky (New this year)
• September 30 Jesse & Joy (New this year)
• October 4-5 Aloe Blacc (New this year)
• October 6-7 Joey Fatone & Friends
• October 11-12 We The Kings
• October 13-14 Switchfoot
• October 18-19 David Archuleta (New this year)
• October 20-21 Billy Ocean
• October 25-28 Hanson
• November 1-2 Haley Reinhart featuring Emily Estefan, Casey Abrams and Janel Parrish (NEW)
• November 3-4 Boyz II Men
• November 8-9 Magic! (New this year)
• November 10-11 Parmalee (New this year)
• November 15-16 Smash Mouth
• November 17-18 98 Degrees

Recent Disney World News to Remember

• Country Bear Musical Jamboree is open at Magic Kingdom and now features Disney songs.
• Test Track is closed for refurbishment. A reopening date has not been shared.
• Tiana's Bayou Adventure is now open using a virtual queue and Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
• 1900 Park Fare has reopened with new characters: Aladdin, Tiana, Mirabel and Cinderella.
• Peter Pan's Flight closed for refurbishment and scheduled to reopen August 20th.

Continued Reopenings at Walt Disney World Resort

We’ve been covering Disney World's pandemic closure reopening come back for years. Disney World reopened in 2020 running a very lean operation. So many things have returned to the parks and resorts but many have not. There are still many temporarily unavailable closures. Some of which may greatly impact your trips. We want to help you set expectations and plan your trip based on what is available.

What's not back at Disney World?

• The tea room at the Grand Floridian is still closed but resort construction has reached the lobby.
• The Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage has not returned to Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
• The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques at the Grand Floridian and Disney Springs are still not open.
• It's A Wonderful Shop, Stage 1 Company Store, In Character and Disney Studio Store are still closed at Hollywood Studios.
• Disney says DVC pool hopping is still suspended.
• Saratoga Springs Senses Spa and Beach Club's Ship Shape Massage Salon Fitness are still closed.
• Services like having your purchases delivered to the front of the park or to your room are paused.
• Disney Annual Passholders still need park reservations to visit parks for a full day.
• Many shows have not reopened like: Citizens of Hollywood, Jedi Training, Citizens of Main Street, Main Street Trolley Show, Move It! Shake It! Street Party, Once Upon a Time, The Jeweled Dragon Acrobats, Serveur Amusant, Swotu Waya Pandora Drummers, Pandora Utility Suit Pilot and more.

We do our best to continue to share things as they come back.

The Disney World news August 2024 update did not bring any returns that we saw. The most recent notable things to come back are probably the in person character meet and greets at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

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