Cool Kids’ Summer is returning to Walt Disney World in 2026! This covers the new & returning seasonal entertainment and offerings you can experience in Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom–plus our thoughts on what (and what not) to expect.
Walt Disney World will celebrate Cool Kids’ Summer from May 26 to September 8, 2026. That makes it one week longer than last year’s Cool Kid Summer (note the name change–shades of Astro Orbiter vs. Astro Orbitor). Although the longer duration is probably due to Labor Day falling a week later more than anything else.
According to the company, Walt Disney World is the place to be in Summer 2026! The seasonal event will bring attraction refreshes, new experiences, and limited-time activities designed for the whole family. Walt Disney World is the perfect destination for kids and kids-at-heart with DJ-fueled dance parties, surprise character appearances, hands-on activities and nonstop summer vibes.
Last year’s Cool Kid Summer struck me as an “event” that was thrown together 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. It was not a typical seasonal event, but rather, a mash-up of marketing, discounts, and character offerings.
Despite this, I saw tons of families partaking in the Cool Kid Summer activities. Animation Courtyard felt like a dead mall that was somewhat-alive for the first time in years. The character experiences were fresh and energized a time of year that really needed it.
The offerings punched above their weight, and ended up being way better in actuality than they sounded on paper. We covered this (and more) at length in Walt Disney World Is Finally Starting to Get Character Experiences Right, which was basically about Cool Kid Summer.
I’m cautiously optimistic about Cool Kid(s’) Summer getting a sophomore season. Hopefully the inaugural year was a learning experience, and it returns bigger and better this year. I could see it being a Jollywood Nights kind of scenario, with year two offering a marked improvement over the first. After all, Walt Disney World has now had a full year to plan and refine the event.
Here’s your first look at what’s coming across Walt Disney World for Cool Kids’ Summer 2026…
Bluey and Bingo at Conservation Station
Your favorite blue heeler is on her way to Animal Kingdom! Beginning in Summer 2026, you can play and dance with Bluey and Bingo as they take an excursion over to Conservation Station.
Once you hop off the Wildlife Express Train, get ready for fun. Play special games directly from Bluey episodes, grab a photo with Bluey and Bingo themselves, and even discover animals native to Bluey’s home country, Australia.
Although it’s safe to assume that this will debut by May 26, 2026 for Cool Kids’ Summer, the actual start date is unclear. Walt Disney World has indicated some of these offerings are for Cool Kids’ Summer, whereas others just coincide with the summer season.
Bluey and Bingo fall into the latter bucket, suggesting that they’ll outlast the September 8, 2026 end of Cool Kids’ Summer. That could also mean that they’ll start appearing later–or earlier, for that matter!
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!
Little ones will love to sing and dance with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at Hollywood Studios in a new stage production inspired by Disney Jr.’s global hit series, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Mickey and Minnie invited Goofy, Daisy, and Pluto for a party at the Clubhouse, only the guests haven’t arrived yet.
Mickey and Minnie take the party on the road to find them, and guests join in the adventure. The whole family will love to sing along to upbeat original songs, join in on interactive fun, and dance like no one is watching. This dance party already exists at DCA, and it is glorious. It will be a permanent addition to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, not exclusive to the 2026 Cool Kids’ Summer (meaning the start date is also unclear).
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.
GoofyCore at CommuniCore Hall
Playtime gets a Goof-tastic twist during the Goofy takeover of CommuniCore Hall, otherwise known as GoofyCore Hall, exclusive to Cool Kids’ Summer 2026. Get ready to dance and play along with Goofy in this immersive experience. Show off your best moves in DJ-led dance parties and join your favorite games with silly twists, like Loopy Limbo and Parachutes ‘n’ Pipsqueaks.
One thing to note here is that Cool Kids’ Summer overlaps with the 2026 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival on the front end, and (probably) the 2026 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival on the back end. The same was true last year.
Walt Disney World’s solution last year was having CommuniCore Hall open for the start of Flower & Garden, before closing in the final month or so for conversion into GoofyCore Hall. This made sense, as the space was available for the heart of the event, and then converted once locals had their fill of Flower & Garden.
In an odd and more surprising move, CommuniCore Hall was not used for last year’s EPCOT Food & Wine Festival at all. Cool Kid Summer ended very early in that festival’s run, the GoofyCore Hall overlay was removed, and CommuniCore Hall reopened as ordinary seating. There was no festival center, which was a disappointment–but fitting for that festival.
What happens with CommuniCore Hall before and after Cool Kids’ Summer 2026 remains to be seen. My hope is that there’s a bit better advance planning, but honestly, I’d be perfectly fine with Walt Disney World using the Wonders pavilion or World ShowPlace as the festival center. Honestly, that would be my preference. Make GoofyCore Hall a permanent offering and use those flex spaces for festivals!
Toy Story Pals at Diamond Horseshoe
Just for Cool Kids’ Summer 2026, pals from Toy Story are ready for a rootin’ tootin’ good time at the Diamond Horseshoe at Magic Kingdom. Join Jessie, Woody, and friends for some energetic fun at Jessie’s Roundup, where you’ll craft, dance, and yodel your hearts out in this western revue.
Based on the announcement, it’s safe to assume that Diamond Horseshoe will cease to be a table service restaurant by sometime in May 2026 at the absolute latest. It’s currently on the calendar through March 6, 2026, and I’m guessing that it won’t close before Easter.
The conversion from restaurant to dance party is pretty simple–just removing the tables–and could be accomplished in a few weeks, days, or hours. In other words, the end date for meal service at Diamond Horseshoe could be as late as May 25, 2026. My guess is that it’ll stop operating much sooner, though.
Diamond Horseshoe isn’t necessary from a dining capacity perspective even right now. It’s also not unique; the menu is exactly the same as Liberty Tree Tavern. Honestly, I’m a bit surprised it’s still operating. It came back a few years ago as (basically) overflow seating for LTT during the physical distancing days, and has somehow stuck around since.
While I’d love for Diamond Horseshoe to return as a proper dinner show, that’s probably never going to happen–and it’s overkill to have overflow at this point. If anything, I’d love to see Walt Disney World make more moves of this nature, recognizing they don’t need this much table service capacity…and converting Be Our Guest Restaurant back into a counter service lunch. But I digress.
As for Jessie’s Roundup, it’s a good addition. An indoor dance party in the summer makes a lot more sense than having this over in Tomorrowland at the sun-drenched Stitch stage. Not really much more is necessary in the way of commentary than that. We’ve seen Jessie’s/Woody’s Roundup in this space before; it’s a known quantity. Here’s hoping all of the Country Bears make appearances!
Cool Kids’ Summer During Early Entry
Some characters will also be out in the parks earlier than normal for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests during their daily Early Entry period. What better way to rope drop than saying hello to some of your favorite Disney pals?!
During Summer 2026, characters will be available across all four theme parks during this period. Be sure to visit each theme park across different days so you can see them all!
This was awesome last summer–a seriously underrated component of the event. It’s a qualitative enhancement that has the potential to brighten days and lighten moods during what can otherwise be stressful as guests worry about making it to their first attraction of the day.
Cools’ Kid Summer at WDW Resort Hotels
Additionally, this summer guests staying at select resorts – Art of Animation Resort, Pop Century Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort and Port Orleans Riverside – will be able to enjoy even more Disney-themed activities designed for families with kids.
These activities will include character visits with set appearance times to help you plan your day and an expanded itinerary of things to do with your family throughout your stay at these four resorts. Having set schedules at the resorts for character appearances might be nice (as opposed to the Character Caravan, which is still a thing but random and not daily at every resort).
This is probably a positive from the perspective of guests who actually care about characters being able to schedule their days around meeting them, but it does remove the “surprise and delight” element from the Character Caravan.
Worth noting is that the set schedules for characters is just one example of what’s coming to Art of Animation Resort, Pop Century Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort and Port Orleans Riverside for families in Summer 2026.
You’ll also be able to enjoy even more Disney-themed activities and an expanded itinerary of things to do with your family throughout your stay at these four resorts. Last year, there were some, ahem, interesting face characters who led family activities in the lobbies. I would not expect this to return.
It’s hard to say what else will be offered, but we always recommend 3 of these 4 resorts to families (and everyone else). Check out our Rankings of ALL Resort Hotels at Walt Disney World from Worst to Best. It’s not really like you’re going out on a limb or taking a leap of faith when booking 3 of those 4 resorts. They’re great options, regardless. (With that said, if you have your heart set on something else, I also would not switch resorts to one of these–at least, not until we know more about what’s being offered.)
Beyond the aforementioned entertainment, there’s a lot more on the horizon for Summer 2026 that isn’t aimed squarely at families or part of Cool Kids’ Summer. Much of this has already been covered at length in Walt Disney World’s 2026 Calendar of Events: Dates & Details for Reimagined Rides, Areas & Attractions. That details everything from Buzz Lightyear’s return to Soarin’ Across America, and more.
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 of the Cool Kids’ Summer special event? Will you be taking advantage of the special entertainment during this seasonal offering? Thoughts on the new character experiences/encounters at the parks & resorts this summer? Any questions? Hearing your feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts or questions below in the comments!