Walt Disney World is gearing up for the popular summer vacation season by opening new attractions and offering exclusive deals to annual passholders. Disney is also adding extra benefits at some of its on-site resorts for a limited time.
Guests staying at four select Disney World hotels can access new perks this summer. We have the list of these benefits and where to use them. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including changes coming to Disney World’s weakest Star Wars ride and new Disney Vacation Club rules after Disney cracked down on rentals.
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4 Disney Hotels Becoming “Cool KIDS’ SUMMER” Resorts
Walt Disney World will celebrate Cool KIDS’ SUMMER from May 26 through September 8, 2026, with special activations in the theme parks and exclusive perks at hotels aimed at families with young children.
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As part of Cool KIDS’ SUMMER, all four Disney World theme parks will open new experiences, which we detail below.
Four Disney World hotels will be designated “Cool KIDS’ SUMMER Resorts” with new perks introduced in addition to their usual amenities, such as free transportation to the parks and Early Theme Park Entry.
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
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At all four of these hotels, guests will have access to new perks ranging from goods to experiences. These offerings will only be available during Cool KIDS’ SUMMER, and will be free of charge.
Disney will provide complimentary use of baby items, including bottle warmers, infant bathtubs, diaper disposal units, and nightlights at the Cool KIDS’ SUMMER resorts.
Mickey, Minnie, and other Disney characters will host meet and greets at the four Cool KIDS’ SUMMER resorts. In the past, character greetings at hotels were surprise appearances. Instead, the Cool KIDS’ SUMMER characters will have designated schedules. Guests can consult cast members in their hotel lobby for appearance times.
The four Cool KIDS’ SUMMER resorts will host pool parties by day and campfire sing-alongs on select nights. Guests can roast marshmallows while singing tunes from Disney movies.
A special library will be curated by Disney Publishing, complete with books starring favorite Disney friends. At the library, guests can attend a pajama party with storytime on select evenings, during which they can create their own bedtime story.
Those last two perks mentioned, the library and the pajama party, will only be offered at some of the four Cool KIDS’ SUMMER resorts. Disney has not announced which hotels will have access to those amenities. The other perks listed apply to all four Cool KIDS’ SUMMER resorts.
Disney categorizes all of Pop Century and one section at Art of Animation, The Little Mermaid, in Disney World’s “value” tier of resorts. The company groups Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans – Riverside, and the Finding Nemo, Cars, and The Lion King sections of Art of Animation among its “moderate” tier of resorts.
Perk for Cool KIDS’ SUMMER at All Disney Resorts
Guests staying at any Walt Disney World hotel, not just the four designated at Cool KIDS’ SUMMER resorts, can take advantage of a special perk happening from May 26 through September 8, 2026.
During that period, guests receive free admission to either of Disney World’s two water parks, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon or Disney’s Blizzard Beach, on their check-in date.
New Attractions for Cool KIDS’ SUMMER
All four Walt Disney World theme parks will open new or updated attractions on May 26, 2026, as part of Cool KIDS’ SUMMER.
Jessie’s Roundup: A Rip-Roarin’ Revue! will open at Magic Kingdom, turning The Diamond Horseshoe into a Toy Story activity zone with Jessie, Woody, and Bullseye.
GoofyCore will return to EPCOT inside CommuniCore Hall following its inaugural summer last year, featuring group games led by Goofy.
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! will open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, presenting a real-life episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ on stage.
Bluey’s Wild World at Conservation Station will open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, marking the Disney World debut of Bluey and Bingo with dance parties and real Australian animals.
The activations at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT will only last through September 8. The attractions mentioned for Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom will continue beyond Cool KIDS’ SUMMER.
These experiences listed above are all focused on young children, but new attractions geared toward older guests will also open on May 26: Soarin’ Across America at EPCOT and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Mupepts at Hollywood Studios.
Disney World Summer Discounts
Not necessarily connected to Cool KIDS’ SUMMER, but coinciding with it, are several discounts available to Disney World visitors.
Disney World annual passholders can save up to 40% at select restaurants from May 1 through July 31.
The 4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket grants entry into one theme park per day for four days, priced at $109 per day, for visits between May 26 and October 3, 2026.
Disney+ subscribers can save on stays at select Disney World hotels from June 21 through August 15.
Disney is offering savings at select hotels on select nights from July 30 through October 3: up to 35% for Florida residents, up to 40% for annual passholders, and up to 30% for all other guests.
Guests ages 3-9 receive a free dining plan for any resort stay throughout all of 2026, as long as everyone else in the group purchases a dining plan.
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