Walt Disney World News & Updates: Disney Animation, Imagineering Updates & Disney Cruise Rumors

Starting at Magic Kingdom, as we always do, there are more dates sold out for the Not So Scary Halloween Party.

Now we know Halloween was the first night to sell out.

Then August 11th and August 14th sold out recently.

And now we can also add August 18th and October 13th to the sold out dates.

So if you have trips around then, just be mindful of that.

And Walt Disney Imagineering has filed a permit, the Carousel of Progress, with a scenic design firm.

So they're wasting no time on this.

And speaking of Imagineering, land has been cleared in preparation for construction of the Imagineering office buildings near Magic Kingdom.

This is, of course, to support the Piston Peak and the Villains Land projects.

Over at Epcot, two Germany Pavilion shops closed for refurbishment at Epcot.

Dirt Teddy Bar and Volkun's Clocks and Crafts at Epcot's Germany Pavilion are closed for refurbishment.

Das Koffels, which has connected to the other two shops, remains open.

And I do apologize for butchering the names of all of those.

And Disney has announced...

Oh, excuse me.

We're over at Hollywood Studios.

Disney has officially announced that the Magic of Disney Animation will open at Hollywood Studios on September 14th.

This brand new experience celebrates the art of Disney animation with interactive attractions including the Olaf Draws, Animation Academy...

the drawn-to-Wonderland indoor play area inspired by Mary Blair's Alice in Wonderland artwork, characters encounter in Off the Page, and a dedicated theater showing Once Upon a Studio.

It's a fresh take on a fan-favorite attraction that originally called Hollywood Studios home for more than 25 years.

Mm-hmm.

Over in Animal Kingdom, this was interesting, Disney's Animal Kingdom began testing new rope drop procedures earlier this week with guests being held on Discovery Island instead of the Oasis area.

Cast members were not sure if this was a permanent thing.

They said it was in testing, but they did not have any further information on that.

Wait,