DISNEY NEWS ROUNDUP: Full Garden Rocks Concert Lineup; New 2026 Merch Lines Revealed; New Menu for Harambe Market; Wine & Dine Race Themes Announced; Princess Weekend Merch Preview; Refurbs & More

Chad & Cindy NykampJanuary 31, 2026Last Updated: January 31, 2026

The first month of the year is officially in the books and there has been a lot going on at Disney. The lineup for the Garden Rocks Concert series at the 2026 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is set. We got reveals of the Princess Half Marathon Weekend and new 2026 merchandise lineups. runDisney announced the character themes of the Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend races, and Disney announced some special offerings during February to celebrate Black History month. Also, don’t miss the big sale Disney Cruise Line just launched. All this and more below in this week’s Disney news roundup.

1 – 2026 Garden Rocks Concert Series – Full Lineup & Details

I know you’re not supposed to have favorites, but if you’ve been following us for a while you probably know that the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is at the top of our list. Of course, there is the amazing show that the Disney World horticultural team puts on. Then there’s the dozens of festival kitchens serving up delicious bites and drinks. But high on the list is the Garden Rock Concert Series. This year’s concert lineup features many Flower & Garden Festival favorites along with six brand new acts.

Full Concert lineup and details here.

More details on the Flower and Garden Festival here.

2 – Disney Launches New Merch Lines for 2026

There are plenty of reasons to love January. Writing the wrong year on everything for at least a month, resolutions broken after five days, insane crowds at the gym, or the knowledge that it will be another eleven months before we can put up the Christmas decorations without annoying the neighbors are just a handful of our favorite things. But seriously, the best part of January is it’s the month that Disney typically introduces new merchandise lines and we get to start making our wish lists.

2026 is no exception. Disney has unveiled four new lines of merchandise that are sure to offer something for everyone. For us, we love the new Four Park Collection. What’s your favorite?

Check out the new 2026 merch here.

3 – New Menu Revealed for Harambe Market in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Harambe Market has been closed for refurbishment since October 2025. It has now reopened a month ahead of schedule with a brand-new menu. We’re glad to have another food option at Animal Kingdom, especially with Restaurantosaurus closing, but this change is probably going to disappoint a lot of people.

Get a look at the new Harambe Market food offerings here.

4 – runDisney Reveals 2026 Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend Themes

We’ve been participating in runDisney events for years and have loved every mile of magic. One of our favorite runDisney events combines two of our favorite things, runDisney and the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, into one amazing weekend. The 2026 edition of the Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend will run from October 23-25, 2026, and we now know the character themes of each race.

Get the full details here.

5 – Princess Half Marathon Weekend Merch Revealed

Let’s be honest, when it comes to runDisney events, the merchandise is half the fun. When you’ve accomplished something that big, you deserve to show off a little! The Princess Half Marathon Weekend is right around the corner, and runDisney has posted a preview of some of the awesome merch available this year.

See the Princess Half Marathon Weekend merch here.

6 – How to ‘Celebrate Soulfully’ During Black History Month at Disney World

February is Black History Month, and Walt Disney World is celebrating with special offerings and experiences that honor Black heritage and culture. Learn more below.

Check out the details here.

7 – Frozen Ever After Now Closed for Refurbishment

Frozen Ever After in the Norway pavilion at EPCOT is now closed for refurbishment. This is not an extensive refurbishment, and the attraction is expected to reopen at some point in February. During this short refurbishment, the characters will be upgraded to the current generation of animatronic currently featured in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The new animatronics will feature more expressive facial movements, more fluid body movements, and will more closely resemble the film characters.

8 – Exterior Refurbishment Work Begins at Haunted Mansion

Scaffolding and scrim have been erected near the entrance to the Haunted Mansion. Work on the interactive queue area is also expected. For now, work should have no impact on the actual attraction or ride experience.

9 – Disney Cruise Line Launches New Sale

Disney Cruise Line has announced a new sale featuring fare discounts up to 20% in addition to $250 in onboard credit on select 2026 spring and summer sailings. Onboard credit can be used for all onboard expenses incurred during your voyage including merchandise, drinks and dining, spa services and shore excursions.

For a no obligation, FREE Quote on a Disney vacation package, please contact our travel partner Magical Vacation Planner at 407-442-0227 (407-442-0215 for Spanish). You can also request a FREE quote online by Clicking HERE.