What’s Happening at Walt Disney World in 2026

As clients plan 2026 Walt Disney World Resort vacations, there’s a lot to keep track of, with 10 new and reimagined attractions and experiences, nine festivals and special events and the return of the popular Cool Kids' Summer from May 26 to Sept. 8.

Here’s a guide to what's going on across Walt Disney World Resort this year.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Dec. 4, 2025. It was last updated on May 26, 2026.

New Experiences

Three new family-friendly experiences debuted on May 26: the Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! show and The Walt Disney Studios courtyard at Hollywood Studios, as well as Bluey's Wild World at Animal Kingdom.

Extending beyond summer, Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! is a fun musical stage show starring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Daisy and Pluto and featuring toe-tappin’ tunes, interactive moments and plenty of chances to dance. This is the same lively show that debuted at California Adventure during Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration.

The new Walt Disney Studios Courtyard features landmarks from the company's Burbank studio lot, including the larger-than-life wizard's hat that marks the animation building and "Pluto's Corner." Clients can also spot favorite animal characters relaxing in the park-like setting.

Later in the summer, The Magic of Disney Animation will invite clients inside the magical world of Walt Disney Animation Studios, where animated characters come to life (just like in Disney’s animated short “Once Upon a Studio”). The new interactive experience will also feature "Olaf Draws," where guests will learn to draw from Disney animators along with the adorable snowman from Frozen.

The all-new experience will also include the “Drawn To Wonderland” playground inspired by Disney Legend Mary Blair’s original concept artwork for the classic animated movie “Alice in Wonderland.” And at Off the Page, clients of all ages can meet six characters from favorite Disney stories in areas themed to six animation studio departments: story, layout, hand-drawn animation, computer animation, lighting and effects.

RELATED: Disneyland Is Prioritizing Families This Summer — And There’s Still Time to Book at a Great Value

Each of the areas in Off the Page will offer a unique meet-and-greet opportunity, including Mulan in front of an oversized storyboard panel in the story department and Rapunzel, who’ll meet guests in the layout department on a set inspired by the classic multiplane camera.

The highly-anticipated Bluey’s Wild World has arrived at Conservation Station at Animal Kingdom, welcoming families to sing and play with Bluey and Bingo from the hit animated series "Bluey." Kids can also learn about animals from Bluey’s home country of Australia at Jumping Junction.

Bluey’s Wild World currently uses a virtual queue, but a standby queue is expected to be available at a later date.

Reimagined Attractions

The already-popular Frozen Ever After at Epcot got even better in February 2026, when new, technologically advanced Audio-Animatronics figures of Anna, Elsa and Kristoff were added to the Frozen-themed ride, similar to the figures in the World of Frozen land at Hong Kong Disneyland.

In April 2026, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin reopened in Magic Kingdom with updated ride vehicles, new handheld blasters and interactive targets. Plus, the all-new Star Command support bot character named Buddy was developed exclusively for the attraction in collaboration with Pixar.

“The overarching goal was to make the game play a lot more dynamic and fun,” said Kimberly Alison, the attraction’s producer. “And, you can go higher than ever with your score — to a million and beyond.”

Following a lengthy refurbishment, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened on May 6 in Magic Kingdom, with “touches of new magic” centered around the mysterious Rainbow Caverns hidden deep inside the mountain (a nod to Rainbow Caverns Mine Train, which closed in 1977 to make way for the original Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction at Disneyland).

“It's extremely exciting to come back to the classics in our parks and add some love and magic,” said Wyatt Winter, executive producer at Walt Disney Imagineering. “It’s finding the things that resonate with our guests and keep pushing the story — so, maybe not changing it, but enhancing it. It’s ‘additive storytelling.’”

The fan-favorite coaster’s updated system offers a smoother ride and, as an added bonus, a lower 38-inch height requirement, making it available to more riders than before. 

RELATED: What’s New at Disneyland for 2026

Timed to the May 22 theatrical release of "The Mandalorian and Grogu" movie, an all-new adventure debuted onboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Hollywood Studios, with scenes created for the attraction on the actual movie sets. In addition, the role of the engineers has been enhanced, so they're now responsible for choosing the ship’s destination, as well as communicating with Grogu throughout the mission.

On May 26, the beloved Muppets took over the indoor coaster at Hollywood Studios, which has been reimagined as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets. The updated attraction has kept it’s “we’re late to the big concert” storyline, but now it’s The Electric Mayhem who has to race across Los Angeles in the newest technological advancement from Muppets Labs: a super-powered vehicle known as the Lengthy Immediate Motion Object (L.I.M.O.). 

The attraction also features a randomized soundtrack of five songs recorded by the Electric Mayhem along with music superstars including Kelly Clarkson, Def Leppard, Questlove and Jennifer Hudson — but clients will need to ride over and over to hear them all. 

As part of Disney’s company-wide celebration of America’s 250th birthday, the Soarin’ attraction will debut the same Soarin’ Across America makeover as California Adventure; however, clients can ride at Epcot on May 26 (two months before Anaheim’s July 2 debut). The all-new overlay features iconic landmarks and landscapes from sea to shining sea, including The Kennedy Space Center in Florida (featuring the Artemis II rocket), The Branson Scenic Railway in the Ozark Mountains, Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Diamond Head in Honolulu, Hawaii.

2026 Festivals

Epcot hosts fan-favorite festivals throughout the year, with three festivals still remaining on the 2026 calendar.

International Flower & Garden Festival (March 4 to June 1)

Each spring, colorful, themed gardens bloom across Epcot, featuring whimsical topiaries of Disney characters — many located in the World Showcase pavilion representing the county where their story takes place. The festival also features bites and sips showcasing fruits, vegetables and even edible flowers and live performances by top musical acts at the Garden Rocks Concert Series.

RELATED: A Guide to Epcot's 4 Festivals at Walt Disney World

International Food & Wine Festival (August 27 to November 21)

The popular food-focused festival brings global flavors and the Eat to the Beat concert series to World Showcase. 

International Festival of the Holidays (Winter 2026)

Walt Disney World's Festival of the Holidays includes seasonal flavors and performances that showcase winter celebrations from around the world. The festival also features the Candlelight Processional, an annual Disney holiday tradition in which celebrity narrators tell the biblical story of Christmas, accompanied by a live orchestra and choral singers. Exact dates have yet to be announced.

RELATED: Disney Takes Theme Park Food Seriously — Here’s How

2026 After Hours Events

Separately ticketed Disney After Hours events return to Walt Disney World Resort in 2026, providing opportunities for clients to visit Magic Kingdom (select evenings through July 27), Hollywood Studios (select evenings through Sept. 12) or Epcot (select evenings through Sept. 24) after the park closes — with the added perk of shorter wait times for select attractions.

Clients can also enjoy a Disney water park after hours, during H2O Glow After Hours at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. The separately ticketed event includes a DJ dance party, meet-and-greets with Disney pals, complimentary ice cream and popcorn and access to the park’s watery attractions with shorter queues.

Of course, the popular after-hours Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will also return to Magic Kingdom, along with the snazzy Disney Jollywood Nights event at Hollywood Studios.

RELATED: How Clients Can Visit Theme Parks After Hours

Family Fun in 2026

Following its debut in 2025, Cool Kids’ Summer is back for another year of fun in the sun, including dancing at GoofyCore in Epcot and playing games with favorite characters across the resort. Plus, for the first time, shenanigan-filled Banana Ball will be played at ESPN Wide World of Sports, with the Loco Beach Coconuts taking on the Party Animals on May 29 and 30.

Exclusively during Cool Kids' Summer, Toy Story Pals will take the stage at The Diamond Horseshoe in Magic Kingdom for the interactive musical Jessie’s Roundup western revue, the Western-themed music hall's first live stage show since 2003. 

To help travel advisors promote Cool Kids’ Summer, Disney has added an on-demand webcast in the College of Disney Knowledge section of DisneyTravelAgents.com.

Special Offers

Clients who book a Walt Disney World vacation package can also take advantage of a free dining plan for kids when purchasing a dining plan as part of their package for the other members of their party. Plus, the kids' free dining plan can be combined with the other 2026 special offers.

Guests staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel between May 26 and September 8, 2026, will continue to enjoy the perk of free admission to one of the Walt Disney World water parks on check-in day—but in the summer, both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach will be open. If clients book a split stay, they can take advantage of this benefit when they switch to a different on-site hotel.