Walt Disney World is gearing up for a jam-packed few months of new permanent attractions and limited-time events. Guests visiting in 2026 can expect lots of new experiences, and in some cases significant updates to classic attractions that have been around for decades.
Today, Disney revealed a huge amount of news on many of these upcoming projects. In this article we’ll curate the 13 main points of today’s breaking news. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get going! At Mickey Visit, we cover the latest Disney news, a ton of new Disney World discounts and cast member changes to restore the guest experience.
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1. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Reopening Date
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, the family-friendly, interactive dark ride in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom, closed in August 2025 for a major refurbishment.
Disney just announced Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will reopen at Magic Kingdom on April 8, 2026.
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As previously revealed, the upgraded ride will have handheld blasters, new effects, and a new Audio-Animatronics character, a training robot named Buddy, pictured above. Learn and see more of what’s changing in Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin here.
2. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Reopening Month
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed in January 2025 for refurbishment. This iconic Magic Kingdom roller coaster has now been closed for over a year.
Disney just revealed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will reopen in “early May” 2026 at Magic Kingdom. While we still don’t have an exact reopening date yet, this is slightly more clarity from Disney’s earlier statement of the coaster reopening in “spring 2026.”
During the refurbishment, the entire track was removed and replaced with new pieces. This should result in a smoother feel onboard the ride and adhere to modern roller coaster safety standards.
Additionally, Disney previously shared that during the ride’s lift hill scene, the cavern will at first be illuminated in rainbow colors, a nod to Disneyland’s defunct Rainbow Caverns attraction. The lighting will then transform into an ominous red glow and reveal bats hanging from the top of the cavern. Imagineers shared more details about this new scene with us last year.
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3. Soarin’ Across America Opening Date
Soarin’ Across America is a new, limited-time version of the Soarin’ simulator ride at EPCOT that will specifically highlight aerial views of the United States of America. The current version, Soarin’ Around the World, spans the entire globe. The attraction’s original incarnation, which recently returned to Disneyland Resort for a limited engagement, focused just on California.
Disney first announced Soarin’ Across America in fall 2025 and today revealed the attraction overlay will officially open on May 26, 2026, at EPCOT. This is a slight change from Disney’s previous statement that the ride would open by Memorial Day, May 25.
As previously announced, Soarin’ Across America will also open at Disney California Adventure on July 2, 2026.
Also new today, Disney shared a few photos from the production of Soarin’ Across America as the crew’s cameras traversed famous American sites like the Grand Canyon.
Disney has not specified how long Soarin’ Across America will be operating at EPCOT and Disney California Adventure, but the attraction is a temporary engagement rather than a permanent replacement.
4. The Walt Disney Studios Opening Date
A plaza inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios formerly called Animation Courtyard is in the process of becoming a reimagined space known as The Walt Disney Studios. It’s meant to be a theme park version of the real headquarters for The Walt Disney Company in Burbank, California.
The photo above shows construction progress as of February 2026. Perhaps the biggest change of the outdoor portions of this land is the removal of the giant arch that used to occupy this space. Disney demolished the arch last year.
Disney first announced this transformation in July 2025. Today, the company revealed The Walt Disney Studios will open on May 26, 2026. However, not all of its attractions will be ready at that date.
The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure debuted in May 2025 in this area, and has remained open during construction. Nothing will change with this attraction when The Walt Disney Studios opens.
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! is a new show in The Walt Disney Studios’ soundstage building. It will open on May 26, 2026. We have more info on this show below.
The last attraction within The Walt Disney Studios, The Magic of Disney Animation, is on track to open in “late summer” 2026, as Disney has said for some time now.
5. Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! Opening Date
In 2025, an indoor stage show called Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! premiered at Disney California Adventure in Disneyland Resort. As previously announced, the show will open a duplicate version at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World.
Today, Disney revealed Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! will open on May 26, 2026, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The show features classic Disney characters in a call-and-response audience format similar to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ television series. The story focuses on Mickey and Minnie going on a search for Goofy, Daisy Duck, and Pluto just before a big party.
The production will debut inside a soundstage part of the newly reimagined land called The Walt Disney Studios, described above. This same building has been known for hosting preschool-geared productions in the past, most recently Disney Jr. Play and Dance!
6. Bluey’s Attraction Name and Opening Date
For literally years, Disney has been teasing the hugely popular preschool television series Bluey being implemented in Disney theme parks. In December 2025, Disney revealed Bluey and Bingo would arrive to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2026 with character interactions and real Australian animals.
We now know the name of this experience at its opening date: Bluey’s Wild World at Conservation Station will open on May 26, 2026, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Additionally, the name of the animal habitat is Jumping Junction.
Previously, Disney said guests would be able to “play and dance” with Bluey and her sister Bingo. This could be interpreted as a character appearance on a stage or on a dance floor rather than a formal meet & greet with family photos. Today, Disney clarified guests will indeed get to “grab a photo” with Bluey and Bingo, implying the more traditional meet & greet method, though we still expect lots of high-energy, crowd participation opportunities in this new offering.
Guests access Conservation Station by riding the Wildlife Express train from the park’s Africa area. As part of Bluey’s arrival, this remote section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom will retire its former name of Rafiki’s Planet Watch.
Bluey fans might also like to know about Bluey’s Best Day Ever!, opening at Disneyland on March 22, 2026.
7. Meet & Greets at Disney World Water Parks
Character meet & greets are somewhat rare at Walt Disney World water parks, but two Disney friends will be available from May 26 – September 8, 2026.
Stitch will meet guests at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Goofy will be on hand in beach attire at Disney’s Blizzard Beach.
8. Disney H2O Glow After Hours 2026 Dates Tease
Walt Disney World occasionally hosts a special event called Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park. This three-hour party take place after the park has closed to the day’s guests, and provides low wait times for slides and low crowds at the pools, plus special entertainment.
After previously announcing Disney H2O Glow After Hours would return in 2026, today Disney revealed the event will take place select nights from June 2 – September 5, 2026.
Disney also announced this year’s event will include appearances by Chip and Dale in their Rescue Rangers outfits and Goofy’s son Max in his Powerline costume from A Goofy Movie.
Disney will share more information in April. Check out our full guide to 2025’s event for an idea of what to expect.
9. Descendants and Camp Rock 3 Dance Party
This summer, Disney+ will debut two new films continuing the stories of fan-favorite Disney Channel Original Movies: Camp Rock 3 and Descendants: Wicked Wonderland.
To celebrate, Disney Springs Marketplace will host a dance party featuring songs from those movies on select nights from May 26 – September 8, 2026.
10. Select Disney World Hotels Designated as ‘Cool KIDS’ SUMMER Resorts’
For the second year in a row, Walt Disney World will host a campaign called Cool KIDS’ SUMMER with family-friendly activations. This year, Cool KIDS’ SUMMER takes place from May 26 – September 8, 2026, and some of the festivities will only take place during that period rather than sticking around permanently.
Today, Disney announced four Walt Disney World hotels will be designated “Cool KIDS’ SUMMER Resorts” with additional perks and activations on top of the resorts’ usual amenities.
The four Cool KIDS’ SUMMER Resorts are:
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
The limited-time offerings at the above resorts just for Cool KIDS’ SUMMER include:
- a special library curated by Disney Publishing
- pajama parties
- pool parties
- campfire sing-alongs
- visits from Disney characters
- complimentary use of items for infants such as bottle holders and diaper disposals
11. New Free Dining Plan Deal
The Disney Dining Plan allots meal and snack credits for many Disney World restaurants and dining locations.
Disney just announced guests of any age can receive a free Disney Dining Plan when purchasing a 4-night, 4-day Disney World vacation that includes a room at select hotels and Park Hopper theme park tickets.
The offer is valid for most dates from June 28 – October 3, October 19–31, and December 6–21, 2026. Guests must book the deal by April 30, 2026.
This deal arrives following the previously announced offer for free dining for kids for all of 2026.
We provide full details on this and other just-announced Disney World deals here.
12. New 4-Day Park Ticket
For guests wanting to visit all four Walt Disney World theme parks, Disney just launched a new “Magic Ticket.”
The Magic Ticket grants theme park admission for four days. Guests can visit any of the four theme parks on any day, but can only visit one park per day: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
The ticket starts at $109 per day, or $436 total. For comparison, a single day of admission to one park starts at $119.
The Magic Ticket is valid between May 26 – October 3, 2026. The guests must use all four days within seven days of the first day.
13. New Disney World Hotel Discounts
Walt Disney World just revealed a slate of discounts for guests staying overnight at many of the Disney World hotels.
Any guest can save up to 30% on hotel prices during a five-night stay for most nights from July 30 – October 3, 2026. For this deal, the highest savings happen from July 30 – August 13 and August 28 – October 3, 2026. Lower savings occur from August 14–27, 2026.
Additionally, Florida residents can save up to 35% and Walt Disney World annual passholders can save up to 40% on hotel stays for most nights from July 30 – October 3, 2026. For this deal, the highest savings happen for stays of four or more nights, with lower savings for shorter visits.
The percentage of savings also varies depending on the hotel choice. These new deals continue a cadence of similar offers that were previously valid for dates earlier in the summer.
See a closer look at these and other just-announced Disney World deals here.
More News to Come
Even with everything announced today listed above, we expect more news about summer 2026 at Walt Disney World in the weeks to come.
Today, Disney reiterated its previous messaging that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will open in “summer 2026” without specifying an exact opening date. Mickey Visit predicts it will open in July.
Additionally, Disney repeated that The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will open in “late summer 2026.” Mickey Visit predicts this attraction will open in August.
Previously Revealed
In Disney’s communications today, the company also touched base on many Walt Disney World experiences on the way that were previously announced:
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will debut a new mission with the Mandalorian and Grogu on May 22, 2026.
- Special Disney characters will be available for meet & greets during Early Theme Park Entry at all four parks from May 26 – September 8, 2026.
- Jessie’s Roundup: A Rip-Roarin’ Revue, a new, Toy Story-themed activity space with characters, will open inside the Diamond Horseshoe at Magic Kingdom from May 26 – September 8, 2026.
- GoofyCore, an activity space inside CommuniCore Hall at EPCOT, will be open from May 26 – September 8, 2026, after its inaugural summer 2025 season.
- Admission to Walt Disney World water parks are free for Disney resort guests on the day they check in from May 26 – September 8, 2026.
We’ll keep you updated on all of these exciting projects in the weeks and months to come right here on Mickey Visit.
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