Hold onto your hats and glasses, because August is the wildest ride in the wilderness!

We may be missing Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which has been closed since January, but August is going to be a wild time all on its own! With the biggest fan event of the year and Halloween season kicking off, there’s a LOT to cover. For anyone planning a trip, here are the changes you should watch out for!

Heading to Disney World soon? Be sure to check out our planning worksheets. You can click the image below to get our list and make sure you don’t forget a thing!

Here’s an overview of what you can look forward to in August at Disney World!

2 Popular Rides CLOSING for Refurb

Two beloved rides will close for refurbishment in August! First, as of August 4th, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin will be closing to receive some MAJOR upgrades.

Disney already gave us a sneak peek at what to expect. We’ll be welcoming a new character to the ride, the targets are changing, and our favorite news of all — you’ll be able to pick up the blaster! Learn all about the updates below.

All of the Changes Confirmed for Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin in Magic Kingdom

At the end of the month, Spaceship Earth in EPCOT will close for a routine refurbishment. We’re hoping this won’t last too long since it seems like regular maintenance! Disney did confirm they plan to reopen the ride later this year after closing on August 25th.

Although we’ve secretly been hoping that Disney would bring back the idea to change and upgrade Spaceship Earth, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Maybe one day!

2 Hotel Restaurants Just Permanently Closed in Disney World

Flavors of Florida ENDS in Disney Springs

Flavors of Florida is Disney World’s bonus festival, and it’s become a fan-favorite! It started on June 27th and runs through August 10th, then poof — it’s gone.

Over 45 restaurants are involved with special menu items you can ONLY grab during the event. You’ll spot lots of orange and seafood to honor Florida. Oh, and it also features a FREE Culinary Series hosted by Kroger and special ticketed and bookable Pairing Events!

We reviewed TONS of new food at Flavors of Florida. Read them here!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Kicks Off!

It’s the spookiest time of the year! Halloween season kicks off at Disney World in August, and that means Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is back.

On select nights from August 15th to October 31st, you can have access to Magic Kingdom with exclusive offerings, low wait times at rides, and ride overlays. You will need to purchase a separate ticket to have access to the party. However, you can do more attractions due to low wait times AND this ticket lets you enter the park as early as 4 PM.

Highlights of the event include the specialty food (of course), meeting Jack and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas, and watching the Boo to You Parade! Tickets are on sale now, ranging from $119 to $229 per person, depending on the date.

Everything CONFIRMED to Return to Mickey’s Not So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World

It’s EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Time!

Y’all, this is a BIG DEAL. The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival is back starting August 29th! Every year, it’s full of some of our favorite snacks and drinks, and you already know by the name of this site that we eat it ALL.

You have until November 22nd to try over 35 food booths, complete the cheese crawl, shop for exclusive merchandise, watch Eat to the Beat concerts, and so much more. Speaking of, there are a bunch of new artists performing this year, including The Beach Boys! Dining packages for the concerts are available to book now.

This festival is packed with things to do, and let’s face it — it’s overwhelming. That’s why we put together a guidebook just for you. Check it out if you’re looking for a place to start!

EVERYTHING You Need to Know About This Year’s EPCOT Food & Wine Festival

Destination D23

Destination D23: A Journey Around the Worlds of Disney is an event exclusive for D23 Gold Members held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort from August 29th through the 31st, 2025. With tons of shopping options on Friday and presentations on Saturday and Sunday, it is THE event of the year!

We usually get some HUGE Disney Parks updates at these D23 events. We’ll be listening for news on all of the expansions planned for the parks, including Piston Peak, Villains Land, and Monsters, Inc. Land, as well as updates on the rest of the Disney parks around the world!

For anyone NOT attending the event, you may want to steer clear of Coronado Springs. This is where the weekend’s events will take place, and it is guaranteed to be crowded. Destination D23 is sold out, but there is typically some sort of livestream option. Nothing has been announced for 2025 just yet, so stay tuned to us for updates!

4 Disney World Announcements We Expect To See in August

BONUS: Disney Adults Book Event!

In case you missed it, AJ wrote a book! It’s called “Disney Adults” and officially releases on August 5th. You can pre-order now, and there will also be an in-person event in Florida WITH AJ. Yes, you read that right! You can snag tickets to that event, which takes place on August 4th, below.

Snag tickets here!

If you’re booking a trip to Disney World soon, we’ve got a hack for you! Check out our friends over at Small World Vacations to help you plan the perfect trip — you won’t regret it!