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Walt Disney World celebrates 10 years of Disney Springs! From more celebrity sightings, a theatrical re-release, a major fantasy series acquisition, streaming platform updates, and new park dining options, there's something magical happening across every corner of the company.
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Parks, Resorts, & Cruising
Disney Springs Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary
Disney Springs marks a major milestone this year, celebrating 10 years since its transformation from Downtown Disney. What began in 1975 as Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village with just 37 restaurants and retail locations has evolved into a 120-acre entertainment district now boasting over 150 venues.
©Disney
The Evolution:
1975-1977: Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village (named after Walt Disney Studios' Burbank address)
1977-1989: Walt Disney World Village (added the Empress Lilly riverboat, now Paddlefish)
1989-1997: Disney Village Marketplace (introduced Rainforest Café, LEGO, and World of Disney)
1997-2015: Downtown Disney (added West Side with Cirque du Soleil and DisneyQuest)
2015-Present: Disney Springs (doubled available venues, created 5,000 construction jobs)
©Disney
The current Disney Springs features four distinct neighborhoods—Town Center, The Landing, Marketplace, and West Side—each reflecting its fictitious time period when it was developed. The transformation includes Florida-based businesses like Joffrey's Coffee, Gideon's Bakehouse, and The Polite Pig.
Remarkably, Disney Springs now attracts more visitors annually than even Magic Kingdom, cementing its status as a premier entertainment destination.
Read More: Disney Parks Blog
13 New Sauced Chicken Strips Debut Today
Walt Disney World is getting saucy! Starting today (October 8), guests can enjoy 13 different varieties of sauced chicken strips across resort locations, ranging from sweet to spicy with unique flavor combinations.
Flavor Highlights:
Waffle Cone Chicken Strips - Available at Beaches Pool Bar (Grand Floridian) and Restaurantosaurus (Animal Kingdom)
Gochujang-glazed Chicken Strips - Korean-inspired glaze at Capt. Cook's (Polynesian Village) and Everything POP (Pop Century)
Jerk BBQ with Pineapple Salsa (pictured) - Island vibes at multiple resort locations
Honey Buffalo with Ranch - Available at Backlot Express (Hollywood Studios)
Citrus-glazed Chicken Strips - Refreshing citrus at Primo Piatto (Riviera Resort)
Additional varieties include Sweet Chili Aïoli, Buffalo, Lemon Pepper-Parmesan, Spicy Aïoli, Roasted Jalapeño-Cheddar, Spicy Ranch, Buffalo Ranch, and Seaside (with crushed pretzels and crispy garlic).
These new offerings provide guests with diverse flavor profiles across quick-service restaurants and resort dining locations throughout Walt Disney World. For more details and where to get them, follow the jump!
Read More: Disney Parks Blog
Media & Entertainment
Disney Acquires 'Impossible Creatures' Book Series
The Walt Disney Studios acquired rights to Katherine Rundell's award-winning fantasy series Impossible Creatures in an expansive deal that includes a first-look relationship with Rundell's production company, Impossible Films.
©Impossible Creatures
The Deal Includes:
Theatrical film and ancillary rights to the series
Rundell adapting the first two books into feature film screenplays
Development under Disney Live Action banner
First-look relationship for all of Rundell's current and upcoming literary properties
Rundell's series, set in the fictional world of the Glimouria Archipelago, has become a publishing phenomenon since debuting in 2023. The Poisoned King made Rundell the first U.K. children's author since J.K. Rowling to simultaneously reach No. 1 on children's book charts in both the U.K. and U.S.
The first two books have sold over one million copies across 34 territories, with Rundell's full body of work totaling more than four million copies worldwide. Originally planned as a trilogy, the series was expanded to five books in two major seven-figure publishing deals earlier this year.
"When I read Impossible Creatures, I knew it belonged here at Disney," said Bob Iger, CEO. "I was immediately drawn into the vibrant world Katherine imagined and the possibilities of what we could do together with this story."
Read More: The Walt Disney Company
Avatar: The Way of Water Returns to Theaters
James Cameron's $2.3 billion blockbuster returns to theaters this week only (October 3 through October 10) for a special engagement, giving audiences a rare opportunity to revisit Pandora in 3D before Avatar: Fire and Ash premieres December 19.
©Disney
Cameron emphasized that while Fire and Ash is "a fully formed storytelling unit on its own," seeing The Way of Water first allows audiences to "experience it fully." The director noted it's been nearly three years since the film was available theatrically, making this "a special opportunity."
Read More: The Walt Disney Company
New Predator: Badlands Trailer
Check out an all-new trailer, poster and stills for 20th Century Studios’ intense, action-packed “Predator: Badlands." The film is helmed by returning director Dan Trachtenberg (“Prey,” “10 Cloverfield Lane”) and marks the franchise’s highly anticipated return to the big screen with a story that expands and redefines the Predator Universe.
Set in the future on a deadly remote planet, “Badlands” follows a young Predator outcast (played by newcomer Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) who finds an unlikely ally in Thia (Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Elle Fanning) as he embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary. Produced by John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt and Brent O’Connor, “Predator: Badlands” opens exclusively in movie theaters on November 7.
Read More: Disney Studios
Merchandise & Licensing
Disney Halloween Merchandise
©Disney
Disney conjured up an extensive collection of Halloween merchandise inspired by iconic witches including Ursula, the Sanderson Sisters, Scarlet Witch, and Agatha Harkness from across Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars properties.
The comprehensive collection allows fans to celebrate the Halloween season across apparel, accessories, cosmetics, toys, books, and home goods.
For a limited time, receive Free Shipping on orders of $85 or more using code: SHIPMAGIC.
More Info: Disney Parks Blog
Before You Disembark
More Magic This Week
Here's more Disney news this past week that we didn't have room to highlight.
Hulu Becomes Global Brand on Disney+ - In a major streaming platform update, Hulu becomes the global General Entertainment brand on Disney+ beginning today, October 8, replacing Star in international markets. This change prepares subscribers for a fully integrated unified app experience launching next year - The Walt Disney Company
Disney Remembers Dr. Jane Goodall - The Walt Disney Company mourns the loss of pioneering conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, who served as a trusted advisor for Disney's Animal Kingdom and consulted on Disneynature films. Disney Conservation Fund provided over $6.5 million to support the Jane Goodall Institute - The Walt Disney Company
Disney's Fall 2025 Theatrical Lineup - Disney is on track to surpass $4 billion at the worldwide box office this year, with fall releases including TRON: Ares (Oct 10), Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (Oct 24), Predator: Badlands (Nov 7), Rental Family (Nov 21), Zootopia 2 (Nov 26), and Avatar: Fire and Ash (Dec 19) - The Walt Disney Company
‘Psycho Killer’ Opens In Theaters February 2026 - From 20th Century Studios and the producers of “Barbarian” and “Weapons” comes “Psycho Killer,” a terrifying cross-country road trip starring Georgina Campbell and James Preston Rogers, directed by Gavin Polone, which opens in theaters February 20, 2026 - Disney Studios
Celebrity Sightings at Disney Parks - Halloween Time brought star-studded visits including Matt Damon, Charli D'Amelio at Disneyland Paris, Ashley Tisdale celebrating daughter Emerson's first birthday, Sarah Hyland, Becky G at Plaza de la Familia, and Anthony Gonzalez celebrating his 21st birthday - Disney Parks Blog
TRON: Ares Director Q&A - Director Joachim Rønning describes TRON: Ares as having "the biggest heart" of the franchise, with a score by Nine Inch Nails that's "a little harder, a little grittier" than Daft Punk's iconic TRON: Legacy soundtrack - D23
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Season 2 - David Henrie returns as Justin Russo training three young wizards for the Family Wizard Competition. All episodes premiere October 8 on Disney+ - D23
Get Reacquainted with Avatar: The Way of Water Characters - D23 shares behind-the-scenes interviews with cast members who played the Na'vi children: Sigourney Weaver (Kiri), Jack Champion (Spider), Trinity Jo-Li Bliss (Tuk), Jamie Flatters (Neteyam), and Bailey Bass (Tsireya) ahead of Avatar: Fire and Ash's December 19 release - D23
D23 Event Lookback: July-September 2025 - D23 recaps summer events including Disneyland's 70th celebration, Pixar Animation Studios tour, Rick Riordan discussion, and Destination D23 in Orlando featuring announcements for Hexed from Walt Disney Animation Studios - D23
We Are Eternally Grateful
You've got a friend in us, and we're grateful you're riding along on this weekly journey through Disney magic!
As we look ahead, Disney's calendar is packed with theatrical premieres, streaming debuts, and park innovations that promise to deliver magic well into the holiday season and 2026. From TRON: Ares hitting theaters this Friday to Zootopia 2 arriving just in time for Thanksgiving, there's no shortage of adventure on the horizon.
As Woody reminds us, "You've got a friend in me", — and we're honored to be your friend bringing you Disney news each week! To infinity and beyond!
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