Cool Kid Summer Is Back for 2026 at Walt Disney World
- Jan 5
- 4 min read
After a positive response to Cool Kid Summer last year, this family-friendly event will return again in 2026! Here's what to expect if you are planning a Walt Disney World vacation for your summer vacation between May 26th to September 8th:
Fun Character Greetings at the Parks and Walt Disney World Resorts
Character meetings can be the highlight of any child's Disney World vacation. Well, there are even more opportunities to see favorite characters, and there are NEW experiences this summer:
Toy Story Pals at Magic Kingdom: Jessie, Woody, and friends will be available for crafts, dancing, and more. Diamond Horseshoe is a table service restaurant at Magic Kingdom in Liberty Square. Whether you need a reservation for this experience is unclear, so stay tuned for more information.
GoofyCore at EPCOT: In CommuniCore Hall in EPCOT's World Celebration, there is an open indoor space where families can cool off and kids can dance and play games with Goofy.
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! at Hollywood Studios: A NEW stage show will be available once the reimagined "Walt Disney Studios" courtyard is complete some time this year.
Bluey and Bingo at Animal Kingdom: A very, exciting new addition to Walt Disney World this year to many young families who enjoy watching the award-winning Bluey animated show. Children can meet these new characters after riding the train to Conservation Station in Animal Kingdom.
Character Appearances at Walt Disney World Resorts: Select resorts will have scheduled meet-and-greets. These resorts include Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, and Port Orleans - Riverside.
There will also be character appearances during Early Entry* at four theme parks. These are not scheduled or announced, so they can be hard to plan in advanced. Be prepared to enjoy some attractions, and if you happen to see some characters, then it is a bonus magical moment!
*Early Entry is available only to Walt Disney World Resort guests and other select resorts.
Special Discounts and Experiences for Walt Disney World Guests
There are several perks to staying at one of the 20+ Walt Disney World Resorts this summer. Starting January 6th through February 19th, when guests book a room and ticket package for 4 nights and 4 days (or longer) through Walt Disney World, they will have an additional two nights and two theme park days (free!) tacked onto their package.
Starting January 6th, guests can save up to 30% on select rooms for most nights from May 1st to October 4th. Florida residents and Annual Passholders can also receive room discounts up to 35% and 40%, respectively.
Free water park admission on check-in day is back! This is a fantastic perk for Walt Disney World guests to experience a water park day at either Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon at no additional cost!
HOT TIP: If families are traveling far, the best way to use this is to stay at any hotel for a night, and then use your free water park day on Day 2 of the trip when you're checking into your Walt Disney World Resort. Families can also decide to do a split-stay (staying at 2 Walt Disney World Resorts in the same trip) and use the free water park admission when checking into the second resort.
Also, booking a room through Walt Disney World includes FREE Dining Plans for Children ages 3-9. Keep in mind, that if you opt to go this route, ALL guests staying in the room have to be a part of the Dining Plan of your choice. If a family consists of two parents and two children ages 3-9, then the two children will have a free dining plan and the two parents will need to pay for their dining plans. More information about Dining Plans you can find on the Walt Disney World Resort website.
More Exciting NEW Things Coming To Disney World This Summer
Despite all the closures and goodbyes of fan-favorite attractions last year, there are plenty of NEW attractions to explore this summer at each of the four theme parks:
Magic Kingdom: Newly renovated Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin are expected to reopen Spring 2026!
EPCOT: Soarin' will have all new scenes through America celebrating the country's 250th anniversary this summer.
Hollywood Studios: Rock n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will debut this summer, and the Mandalorian and Grogu will be hopping on the Millennium Falcon starting May 22nd coordinating with the movie premiere date.
Animal Kingdom: Zootopia: Better Zoogether is just premiered in November and is a kid-friendly attraction that replaced the somewhat terrifying It's Tough To Be A Bug at the Tree of Life.
Are you ready to make the jump for a Walt Disney World vacation?
Cool Kid Summer could be the answer you've been looking for that next vacation! Subscribe for the latest updates about Walt Disney World straight to your inbox!
Comments