The new year is bringing tons of changes to Disney World — including some of its perks!

Typhoon Lagoon

We LOVE a good Disney World perk, and Disney World gave us a really useful hotel perk in 2025 that allows any guest staying at a Disney World resort hotel FREE ENTRY into one of Disney’s two water parks. While the perk was available year-round in 2025, that’s about to change beginning next week.

Previously, the perk stated that any person staying at a Disney World hotel (and the entire party on the reservation) gets free entry into Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon ONLY on check-in day. While that’s remaining true in 2026, the perk is about to get EVEN MORE limited.

Typhoon Lagoon

Per Disney, the hotel/water park perk will be limited to specific summer dates ONLY. As of this writing, Disney has yet to release the eligible dates. It has teased that an announcement will come in 2026. If you’re looking to take advantage of this perk starting January 1st, 2026, you’ll be limited to said allotted summer dates.

Blizzard Beach

This water park perk has been controversial enough WITHOUT this limitation. The perk only allows access on check-in day — which isn’t ideal if you’ve been traveling or don’t want to jump into a Disney day before your room is even ready. Access is also subject to availability and dependent on the weather, so there’s a chance you won’t be able to take advantage of your perk if the stars don’t align. It also doesn’t help that tickets are also nontransferable, meaning you lose them on check-in day or lose them.

Blizzard Beach

If you’re looking to take advantage of this perk in 2026, the following hotels will grant you eligibility:

• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort
• The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Stitch at Typhoon Lagoon

Disney perks change and are added all the time, so keep it posted right here for all the latest Disney World updates!

I Finally Tried This “Secret” Disney Hotel Perk — And It’s a Game Changer

How are you feeling about the water park perk changes? Share your thoughts in the comments below!