Walt Disney World's week of July 26 brought a leadership transition, a long-anticipated food opening, and a Halloween Party that's filling up faster than many guests may realize. Jeff Vahle's 36-year Disney career officially concluded on July 31, with Joe Schott set to step into the resort president role on August 6 — right as some of the biggest expansion projects in Magic Kingdom history are underway alongside new lands in development at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.
The Haunted Mansion is back to looking its best after a significant exterior refurbishment. With the scrim removed, guests can now see a fully repainted and largely replaced facade, including brickwork, stonework, chimneys, and a new atrium designed to closely match the attraction's original opening-day appearance. Disney expects remaining landscaping and perimeter work to finish within a week, ahead of the first Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party night on August 7 — and the attraction stayed open throughout the entire process.
Speaking of that party: eight dates for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2026 are already sold out, with September 4 (priced at $154) the most recent to go. The 2025 season sold out entirely by September 24, and 2026 is tracking at a similar or slightly quicker pace. Guests eyeing lower-priced nights in the $139–$154 range should act soon. Annual Passholders attending any party night between August 7 and October 31 will also have access to exclusive merchandise — a t-shirt and pin — available only at the Emporium, with a valid Annual Pass ID and government-issued photo ID required at purchase.
On the food front, Six Ravens — the hand pie concept from the Gideon's Bakehouse team — soft opens at Disney Springs on Monday, August 3, in the former Art of Shaving space near the existing Gideon's location. The menu features Coffyns, house-made yeast rolls with sandwich-style fillings priced at $10.96 each, in six varieties at launch, with dipping sauces developed in collaboration with Central Florida restaurants including Pizza Bruno, Smoke & Donuts, and Red Panda Noodle. Meanwhile, Gideon's itself kicks off August with the limited Peanut Butter Cold Brew cookie and a new merchandise drop that includes a Gilbert pin, a bat tumbler, and a chrome gargoyle magnet.
And perhaps most unexpectedly, the week's single most-read story involved a novelty cup: FØØD by Swedish Chef is now offering Pink Le-moi-nade and Pond Water Limeade in an Erlenmeyer flask-style cup featuring Electric Mayhem artwork tied to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, available while supplies last. This recap is based on reporting by WDWMAGIC.
