Online check-in in My Disney Experience now offers two room request slots. Plus, Spaceship Earth’s exterior refresh is done, and a $95 holiday tea opens Nov. 18.
Getting the hotel room you want at Walt Disney World just got a little easier.
There’s a new way to ask for things like a ground-floor room or a certain section of your resort. And there’s news from EPCOT, Disneyland and runDisney, too.
Here are seven Disney parks updates to know this week.
How do you make a room request at Disney World?
During online check-in in the My Disney Experience app, KennythePirate reported Wednesday. Guests now see two optional fields, Room Request 1 and Room Request 2.
For one All-Star resort reservation, the choices included a ground floor, a higher floor, a king bed and specific themed sections of the resort, KennythePirate said. Using both slots lets you ask for a floor and a section at the same time.
There’s a third choice, too. You can tell Disney to prioritize having your room ready early instead of meeting your requests.
Disney doesn’t guarantee any request will be honored, KennythePirate noted. You still can’t request one specific room.
Is Spaceship Earth’s exterior done?
Yes. Crews have replaced the last few exterior panels around Project Tomorrow, the post-show area at EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth, WDW News Today reported. That finishes a refresh that started near the sphere in August 2025.
Most of the panels were done by April 2026, but a handful stayed untouched until now. The new panels have a shiny blue-gray finish that looks like a gradient in the sun, WDWNT said.
Bigger changes are coming. Disney announced a Spaceship Earth reimagining at D23 in August, and a Spaceship Earth TV series is in the works, as PNP reported.
Here’s a full ride-through from WDW News Today:
What is the ‘Tis the Season Afternoon Tea?
A holiday tea service at The Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s BoardWalk, running Nov. 18, 2026, through Jan. 6, 2027, MickeyBlog reported. Reservations are open now.
It includes endless pots of custom-blended Dammann Freres tea, scones, finger sandwiches and holiday desserts. You can add a signature cocktail or a glass of Rose Bubbles.
Seatings run daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prices start at $95 for adults and $65 for kids, according to MickeyBlog.
Is the Haunted Mansion Holiday tiki mug out?
Yes. The Haunted Mansion Holiday 25th Anniversary Tiki Mug went on sale Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel, MickeyBlog reported.
It cost $75, with a limit of two per person, per transaction. Artist Tim Wollweber designed it.
The mug shows Jack Skellington dressed as Sandy Claws, popping out of a red present bag with spooky presents and ghosts. Zero makes an appearance, too.
What are the new RSVLTS Disneyland shirts?
Four button-up shirts from the fashion brand RSVLTS, now at Disney Clothiers on Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland, WDW News Today reported. Each one is $80.
The designs are “it’s a small world,” Pirates of the Caribbean, Disneyland attraction vehicles and Disneyland transportation. The Pirates shirt includes Redd and the prison dog, and the vehicles shirt shows Pluto in a Doom Buggy.
Some of the shirts are also sold at Walt Disney World, WDWNT said.
What’s happening at The Little Mermaid ride in Disney California Adventure?
An exterior refurbishment. The themed scrim that covered the scaffolding at The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure has been rolled up, WDW News Today reported.
The ride is still open, with gaps in the construction walls so guests can reach the queue. The work began in August, and it’s believed to include maintenance and repainting, WDWNT said.
What are the new runDisney Brooks shoes?
The Ghost 18 Minnie Mouse will debut at the 2027 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in January for $170, KennythePirate reported. Brooks makes runDisney’s official shirts and themed running shoes.
The Ghost 18 Goofy will be at this weekend’s Wine & Dine expo, which runs Oct. 22 to 24. But a delivery disruption means quantities will be limited, Disney said, per KennythePirate.
If you’re going to the expo’s first day for runDisney merchandise or the Brooks shoes, you need to join a virtual queue.
So if you’re checking in for a trip soon, take a second look at that room request screen. It might get you the view you wanted.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
KennythePirate, Donna Farmer (Oct. 21, 2026), the new room request options
KennythePirate, Heather Alosa (Oct. 21, 2026), the runDisney Brooks shoes
WDW News Today, Shannen Ace (Oct. 21, 2026), the Spaceship Earth exterior panels
WDW News Today, Arica Conrad (Oct. 21, 2026), the RSVLTS shirts
WDW News Today, Ashley Gale (Oct. 21, 2026), The Little Mermaid refurbishment
MickeyBlog (Oct. 21, 2026), the ‘Tis the Season Afternoon Tea and the tiki mug
WDW News Today on YouTube (Sept. 7, 2024), the Spaceship Earth ride video
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