Walt Disney World rolled out a full slate of new experiences and guest benefits for families traveling with young kids as part of a campaign called Cool KIDS’ SUMMER. With summer coming to a close, so do many of these offerings.
Three Disney World character experiences and two hotel perks are ending. We have the full list of what’s leaving and, in some cases, what’s coming next. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including the permanent closure of a Disney World restaurant and an overlooked risk to sleeping in at Disney World.
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Character Experiences Ending
Cool KIDS’ SUMMER kicked off on May 26, 2026, and continues through September 8. A handful of the Cool KIDS’ SUMMER offerings centered around unique ways to interact with Disney characters.
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September 8 will be the final day to experience Jessie’s Roundup: A Rip-Roarin’ Revue! inside The Diamond Horseshoe at Magic Kingdom. Formerly a theater, the saloon-style restaurant was repurposed into an entertainment space once more this summer with live music and dancing with Jessie, Woody, and Bullseye from Toy Story.
The Diamond Horseshoe will be closed from September 9 through October 3. Starting on October 4, the venue will host what Disney is calling a “pop-up” restaurant experience featuring a limited-time menu.
September 8 will be the last day to stop by GoofyCore inside CommuniCore Hall at EPCOT. All summer long, Goofy has been hosting games like the kind you might have played during P.E. class in elementary school, such as one involving a huge rainbow parachute.
Starting September 9, CommuniCore Hall will instead be the location of several Festival Marketplaces as part of the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, with more opening on September 18.
Outside the parks, September 8 will be the final day for scheduled character meet-and-greets at the four designated Cool KIDS’ SUMMER hotels: Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.
Characters have visited Disney World hotel lobbies as surprises for years, traveling in a colorful vehicle called the Character Caravan. For Cool KIDS’ SUMMER, the characters’ appearances at the four resorts were scheduled and advertised rather than being a surprise to guests. Characters also appeared during special evening pajama parties, which were also just for the summer.
During my summer stay at Pop Century, I saw Mickey, Minnie, and Donald out in the lobby as part of this perk. They all had very short lines, and at one point Donald even led everyone in a conga around the lobby.
Going forward, we anticipate the Character Caravan still making surprise stops at the 20+ Disney hotels. It’s just the scheduled daily appearances at the four Cool KIDS’ SUMMER hotels that are ending.
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Resort Perks Ending
2026 was the second year for Cool KIDS’ SUMMER at Disney World, and one of the biggest changes this year was a limited-time window for a big perk.
Guests staying at any Disney World hotel received free admission to Disney’s water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, on their check-in day, throughout all of Cool KIDS’ SUMMER. In 2025, this perk was offered the entire year. In 2026, it was just for the summer, and that pattern will continue in 2027.
September 8, 2026, will be the last day that Disney World resort guests can visit a Disney water park for free on their check-in day. Starting September 9, guests visiting a water park on check-in day will need to pay full-price admission, which is currently $74 for guests ages 10+ and $68 for guests ages 3-9.
Note that Typhoon Lagoon will close for its annual refurbishment starting September 9, leaving Blizzard Beach as the only water park open for a while.
Disney hasn’t announced the exact dates of the 2027 free-water-park-on-check-in-day eligibility, but expect them to be similar to 2026’s window of May 26 through September 8.
With the end of Cool KIDS’ SUMMER comes another perk change related to water parks. Typically, guests traveling by bus from a Disney World hotel to a water park need to first go to Disney Springs and transfer buses to Typhoon Lagoon, or go to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and transfer buses to Blizzard Beach.
Throughout the summer, guests staying at the four designated Cool KIDS’ SUMMER resort hotels have had direct bus access to a water park. Guests staying at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside have had buses to Typhoon Lagoon, and guests staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort have had buses to Blizzard Beach.
September 8 will be the final day that guests staying at Cool KIDS’ SUMMER hotels will have direct bus routes to a Disney water park. Starting September 9, guests staying at those hotels will need to follow the usual transfer protocols.
Again, remember Typhoon Lagoon will be closed for refurbishment as of September 9.
What’s Not Ending at Disney World
A few entertainment offerings debuted with the kickoff of Cool KIDS’ SUMMER back in May, but aren’t going anywhere.
Bluey’s Wild World at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will continue operating for the foreseeable future. The experience reimagined the former Rafiki’s Planet Watch area of the park as Bluey’s Wild World, inspired by Bluey’s home in Australia.
Guests board the Wildlife Express Train, which now has a new script narrated by Robert Irwin, to travel to Conservation Station. There, they can see live kangaroos, participate in an interactive dancing show with Bluey and Bingo in person, and look in on medical procedures for the park’s animal residents. See our overview of Bluey’s Wild World and tips for visiting.
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will continue performing beyond the end of Cool KIDS’ SUMMER.
The new stage show debuted inside the soundstage that’s typically been home to preschool-geared shows over the years. The interactive production involves Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Daisy, and Pluto inviting the audience to a party at the clubhouse.
Disney also promoted hotel room perks available for families traveling with young children as part of Cool KIDS’ SUMMER, but those will continue to be available year-round. These include bed bumpers for toddlers and infant-sized bathtubs, among other supplies. See the full list.
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