Guests staying overnight at Walt Disney World hotels receive special perks not available to the general public. Disney just revealed benefits for stays happening in 2027. This is part of a broader set of Walt Disney World announcements about what is coming this summer, offerings next year, and price increases.
We detail all the just-announced perks, how to take advantage of them, which dates they’re eligible, and who can use them. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including changes to a classic Disney World roller coaster and a new Disney World popcorn bucket.
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Disney Resort Water Park Benefit
Guests staying at select Disney World hotels in summer 2027 will receive free admission to a Disney water park on their check-in day.
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Disney has not announced the full list of eligible resorts or the exact dates for when this perk will be offered. However, Disney did say The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort will not be included in this perk, a change for 2027 compared to 2026.
For 2026, this same perk is offered from May 26 through September 8, and is valid for both of Disney World’s water parks: Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach. This may give us an idea of generally what to expect from the 2027 eligibility.
Disney has not yet released the 2027 operating calendar for its water parks. It’s not unusual for only one of them to be open at a time.
Free water park admission on check-in day is a relatively new perk that Disney just introduced a few years ago, so it’s nice to see this becoming an annual offering, even if it’s not valid for the entire year like it used to be.
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Early Theme Park Entry
Every day, all four Disney World theme parks open 30 minutes ahead of their regular opening time exclusively for guests staying at any official Disney World resort hotel.
This half-hour period is called Early Theme Park Entry, and Disney just announced it will continue into 2027. Since Disney didn’t specify otherwise, we assume this perk will continue 365 days a year. Note that earlier this year Early Entry ended at Disneyland for resort guests there.
Early Theme Park Entry happens daily at all four parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This gives resort guests a head start on experiencing the parks’ most popular rides, such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Avatar Flight of Passage, ahead of the general public.
See our guide to Early Theme Park Entry for the full list of which attractions are open, hotels eligible, and tips for how to maximize your time.
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours
Guests staying at select Disney World hotels receive two extra hours of rides after the parks close for the day during a period called Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. Disney announced that Extended Evening Theme Park Hours will continue through 2027.
Unlike Early Theme Park Entry, Extended Evening Hours only operate on select dates, not daily. Additionally, typically only one park is open for the extra time, not all four.
Also different from Early Theme Park Entry is the fact that Extended Evening Hours are only eligible for guests staying at hotels in Disney World’s deluxe tier.
Read our guide to Extended Evening Theme Park Hours to see which attractions operate during this time, the list of deluxe hotels eligible for the perk, and our recommendations for making the most of your visit.
2027 at Disney World
Disney World hotel guests taking advantage of all the benefits described above also have lots of new additions to look forward to.
On deck to open in 2026 are new experiences like Bluey’s Wild World and reimagined rides like Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets. Opening in 2027 is the new Tropical Americas land with rides based on Encanto and Indiana Jones.
Additionally, several resorts are undergoing significant refreshes by 2027. Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort will renovate its hotel rooms later this year, while Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will complete its sweeping six-year refurbishment in early 2027.
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