Walt Disney World just made a dozen different major announcements for 2026, revealing timelines and details about the reimagined rides, overhauled areas, and enhanced attractions debuting next year. From this, we can narrow reopening dates and closure timing–here’s everything we know, plus our commentary about the big reveals.
This is somewhat similar to the 2026 Full Calendar of Seasonal Events at Disneyland, with the difference being that instead of this just focusing on EPCOT festivals, Halloween, and Christmas, it instead also offers a quasi-refurbishment calendar offering opening & closing seasons (and more along those lines) so that Walt Disney World vacation planners can time their trips accordingly.
With the release of these dates, it’s also worth noting that Walt Disney World has already announced a variety of special offers for the first half of next year. This includes the deeply-discounted Disney+ 3-Day, 3-Park WDW Ticket, the popular Save Up to $250 Per Night at Walt Disney World in Winter to Summer 2026 special offer and the straightforward Save Up to 25% Off WDW Resorts Room-Only Discount for January to Spring Break 2026. There will almost assuredly be another wave of discounts released in early 2026, with some overlap between those travel dates and this Disney+ ticket deal eligibility window. Speaking of which, let’s dig into the official details here…
Best of all, most of these and other upcoming discounts can be combined with the Kids Eat FREE All Year in 2026 at Walt Disney World offer. This can be combined with other select special offers, meaning you may still be eligible to take advantage of other deals released for 2026 in addition to this. The Kids Eat Free offer stacks with all 2026 room-only discounts, from bouncebacks to general public discounts. Even DVC point rental is eligible for the Kids Free Dining Plan!
Here are the basics: Throughout all of 2026, guests staying at one of Walt Disney World’s more than 25 on-site Disney-owned resort hotels will get a FREE Disney Dining Plan for their kids (ages 3 to 9 at the time of travel) when purchasing a Disney Dining Plan as part of their package for the other members of their party (ages 10 and up at the time of travel).
The Free Disney Dining Plan included in this special offer depends on the Disney Dining Plan the adults in the party purchase. The Disney Dining Plan is included for kids ages 3-9 when purchasing a regular Disney Dining Plan for guests ages 10 and older in the party. The Quick-Service Disney Dining Plan is included for kids ages 3-9 when purchasing a Quick-Service Disney Dining Plan for Guests ages 10 and older in the party.
Early 2026 at Walt Disney World
In February 2026, Walt Disney World will welcome newly updated Audio-Animatronics figures of Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff at Frozen Ever After at EPCOT. Announced in 2025, these beloved characters will receive a more true-to-film look, taking inspiration from the advancements seen in figures at World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland.
Walt Disney World has not yet announced closing and reopening dates for Frozen Ever After, but we would expect this to start after January 5, 2026 and take a few weeks to complete. It stands to reason that this closure won’t last multiple months since a closing date has not yet been announced, but the attraction will welcome the Audio Animatronics in February 2026. Our best guess is that it’ll reopen before Presidents’ Day weekend.
Since only the human Audio Animatronics (not Olaf or Sven) need to be upgraded, and it’s a 1:1 swap out, it stands to reason that the project shouldn’t be too lengthy. But it’s entirely possible, that Frozen Ever After needs additional TLC and show scene upgrades. It’s only received brief refurbishments during the last decade. See our post on the Frozen Ever After Enhancements at EPCOT for more details, commentary, and my up-close photos of the AAs at HKDL.
From January 16 to February 23, the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts will transform the park into a creative’s dream, with artisanal dishes, beautiful artwork, and Broadway show tunes from DISNEY ON BROADWAY shows and stars.
This is our favorite EPCOT event of the year. For a look forward at 2026, check out: 2026 EPCOT Festival of Arts Dates, Details & Walt Disney World Winter Crowd Predictions.
Disney After Hours will return on select nights in 2026. The after-park-close separately ticketed event invites guests to go on an adventure at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, explore the world at EPCOT, or be enchanted at Magic Kingdom. Select snacks and beverages are included with purchase of a ticket. Guests can secure their ticket for Disney After Hours now!
Spring 2026 at Walt Disney World
From March 4 to June 1, the 2026 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival will be in full bloom. Guests will be surrounded by whimsical topiaries and lush gardens, savor mouthwatering bites at Outdoor Kitchens, and listen to live tunes at the Garden Rocks Concert Series.
This is new-news with regard to the starting and end date of the 2026 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival, but it’s exactly as we expected. The event shifts one day earlier in 2026, but the duration and everything else we know thus far is identical to this year’s event.
In Spring 2026, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will reopen at Magic Kingdom with touches of new magic and a crevasse-deep to mountain-top refurbishment.
This is the first time Walt Disney World has narrowed the return date of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to a specific season, but it’s precisely what we expected based on construction permits. There have been several of those that have specified end dates right before Central Florida school districts go on break in mid-March 2026.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has accelerated testing during the daytime hours as of this month, so it’s entirely possible that it ends up opening before March 2026. If all goes smoothly and there aren’t still effects or show scenes to install, it wouldn’t surprise us to see BTMRR reopen by Presidents’ Day weekend. This feels like it could be a conservative timeline.
In Spring 2026, the galactic space battle at Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Magic Kingdom will resume. This enhanced attraction will bring new fun with updated ride vehicles, new handheld blasters, and interactive targets.
This is also the first time Walt Disney World has shared an opening season for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. This one was less of a known-quantity before, as there were previously no hints whatsoever as to when it’d reopen. We aren’t surprised by the Spring 2026 timeline, as having as much as possible debut for Spring Break makes sense.
With two major attractions at Magic Kingdom both returning in Spring 2026, we can’t help but wonder: what’s next? There have been rumblings of another major attraction going down for a lengthy refurbishment. It’ll be interesting to see if that happens and, if so, whether minor refurbishments are knocked out beforehand. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure badly needs a brief closure for some TLC.
Summer 2026 at Walt Disney World
Returning in Summer 2026, guests staying at one of the Walt Disney World Resorts Collection hotels can enjoy free Water Park admission on their arrival day, included in their stay. Additional details, including specific dates, will be shared at a later time.
See Free Water Park Day Perk Returns for Walt Disney World Resort Guests in 2026 for predicted dates this on-site perk will be offered, tips & tricks for getting the most out of it, and leveraging split stays to get bonus free days.
If you’d prefer to pay for a water park visit, Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Typhoon Lagoon will return in Summer 2026, offering DJ dance parties, plenty of Disney pals, watery attractions, and complimentary ice cream novelties, popcorn and select beverages – all after the sun goes down and the water park closes.
From May 29-30, 2026, Banana Ball is headed to ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World. The Banana Ball Ticket Lottery List is currently closed, but a limited number of tickets Inclusive of food & beverage will be available for fans to purchase soon.
Beginning in Summer 2026 at Walt Disney World, you’ll be able to take an excursion to Conservation Station in Disney’s Animal Kingdom to play and dance with Bluey and Bingo! Grab the whole family and snap some pictures alongside your Blue Heeler pals to remember this one-of-a-kind adventure. Plus, as part of your wild excursion, step outside to discover an experience with animals native to Bluey’s home country of Australia.
No date has been revealed for Bluey and Bingo to take up residence at Rafiki’s Planet Watch in Animal Kingdom. For more details, see Bluey, Bingo & Australian Critters Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Summer 2026!
Cool Kid Summer will return, offering new and refreshed attractions, plus limited-time fun at Walt Disney World in Summer 2026. Discover high-energy dance experiences at GoofyCore in EPCOT, interactive character-driven games across all four parks, and special ticket offers and other deals.
Walt Disney World indicates that guests can check back in January for details on new ways to save on a vacation to The Most Magical Place On Earth. This is included in the Cool Kid Summer section of the calendar, which suggests that the deals will encompass summer.
That’s good news, as the Cool Kid Summer discounts were released in spring of this year. (There’s always a discount release in early January, but it’s usually for Free Dining and room-only discounts, not general public ticket deals.)
Cool Kid Summer was nothing special this year. It was an “event” that seemed like it was thrown together very quickly as Walt Disney World tried to market to families and combat mainstream media reports that Walt Disney World was “turning its back” on middle class families. Despite this, I saw tons of families partaking in the activities–Animation Courtyard felt like a dead mall that was somewhat-alive for the first time in years.
I’m cautiously optimistic about Cool Kid Summer in 2026. Hopefully the inaugural year was a learning experience, and it returns bigger and better next year. I could see it being a Jollywood Nights kind of scenario, with year two offering a marked improvement over the first.
With more time, I hope more emphasis is placed on the cool aspect of Cool Kid Summer, as there are so many creative ways for Walt Disney World to help guests beat the summer heat. Again, we’ll point to the “Get Wet!” ride enhancements and entertainment Tokyo Disney Resort has done for years.
Debuting in Summer 2026 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!” in the newly-reimagined Walt Disney Studios area at Walt Disney World. Later in the summer, “The Magic of Disney Animation” will debut, as will “Off the Page!,” a character meet & greet space taking place across different departments from the animation studio. See Reimagined Walt Disney Studios Lot at Hollywood Studios Opening Timeline & New Details for more information.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will come speeding into Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Summer 2026. Guests looking to take another ride with Aerosmith before rolling out the red carpet for The Muppets can keep ridin’ and rockin’ (and rollin’) until Spring 2026.
As discussed recently in Walt Disney World Quietly Closes Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith Preshow, Imagineering has already gotten a headstart on transforming the pre-show. This means that it’s already too late to say your goodbyes to the full Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. It also means that the most elaborate aspect of the reimagining is already underway. The rest of the transformation could be accomplished in anywhere between a few days and a few months.
A new mission is touching down in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Walt Disney World on May 22, 2026. The all-new adventure coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is centered around “The Mandalorian and Grogu.”
This opening date is not new-news. This and other details were previously revealed in Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run to Get ‘Choose Your Destination’ & Baby Yoda Babysitter Role. It’s still unclear whether the new Mandalorian mission will necessitate a closure or be done overnight like the added scenes in Star Tours. As a more elaborate attraction, my hope is that Smugglers Run will go down for at least a few weeks for minor changes to make the queue and pre-show mesh with the mission.
My guess is that this will not be the case. That instead, the new mission will be framed in such a way that no pre-show dialogue needs to change, let alone any physical features of the ship. I could see a few easter eggs being added to the queue pulled from the Disney+ series or the movie just to give fans something to look for and talk about, but I wouldn’t count on that.
In Summer 2026, guests can take flight on an all-new immersive journey with Soarin’ Across America, debuting at both EPCOT and Disney California Adventure.
This all-new American adventure at EPCOT showcases breathtaking vistas across the United States and will be featured as part of the United States of America’s 250th anniversary and “Disney Celebrates America,” a company-wide celebration commemorating this historic milestone.
Guests can get ready for takeoff on Soarin’ Across America at Walt Disney World when it opens by Memorial Day 2026! A couple of things to note here: 1) “by” Memorial Day 2026 means it’ll open on or before May 25, 2026; 2) Disneyland’s version opens July 2, 2026, so this will debut before that.
It’s often the case that new attractions opening for Memorial Day weekend actually debut on the Thursday or Friday beforehand, so that would explain the “by” verbiage here. Nevertheless, it’s a pleasant surprise that Soarin’ Across America will open over a full month earlier at Walt Disney World than Disneyland.
It sounds like several of these new and reimagined offerings will debut over Memorial Day weekend. Walt Disney World has not yet revealed a summer marketing campaign or celebration. Maybe it’ll just be Cool Kid Summer and Disney Celebrates America. But we wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a larger event in addition to those. It’s not as if this calendar is exhaustive–Walt Disney World is undoubtedly holding back some announcements for later.
Fall 2026 at Walt Disney World
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival will return in 2026, once again delighting guests with park-wide culinary journey. From Global Marketplaces to the fan-favorite Eat to the Beat concert series and more, the festival offers endless opportunities to celebrate flavors and cultures from around the globe.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will return in 2026 at Magic Kingdom. Boo-gie with fan-favorite eerie entertainment, enjoy spellbinding sips and bites and well-loved mysterious character greetings to celebrate the spooky season with this separately ticketed event on select nights.
Holidays 2026
Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the separately ticketed event that combines holiday cheer and Hollywood glam, will return on select nights in 2026. This event celebrates the season in style with themed entertainment, festive food and beverage offerings, character greetings galore, and of course, all things glitz and glamour.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom will return on select nights in 2026. This separately ticketed event is packed with seasonal entertainment, delicious food and party exclusive merchandise.
The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth will return in 2026. Guests will hear tales from near and far told by Holiday Storytellers, savor in the delicious comfort foods at Holiday Kitchens, and experience the glorious Candlelight Processional – ensuring there’s something for everyone to celebrate.
LEVEL99, opening on the Disney Springs West Side at some point in 2026, will be home to more than 60 themed challenge rooms, duels and art hunts for guests to explore, discover and experience. This is listed at the end because it does not yet have a season (the one entry on this list operated by a third party).
Ultimately, nothing on the Fall or Holidays 2026 calendars is particularly surprising or noteworthy. It’s not as if any of these events were not going to happen, as they’re all among Walt Disney World’s biggest cash-cows; only Jollywood Nights doesn’t sell out every event date with ease (and even that is on pace to outperform last year).
I wish Walt Disney World provided dates for these festivities, a la Disneyland, especially since Halloween is getting longer as Christmas gets shorter in the California parks. A similar trend with the holiday season has been happening at Walt Disney World, and I had hoped that’d be reversed.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about the 2026 calendar for Walt Disney World? Thoughts on any of the additions, closing or reopening dates? Looking forward to riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin again? What about the all-new ‘The Magic of Disney Animation’ coming to Walt Disney World? Any other thoughts or commentary to add? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!