Disney World Just Made a Game-Changing Announcement — Enjoy It While It Lasts

2026 is shaping up to be a massive summer at the Walt Disney World Resort, and some GAME-CHANGING discounts are making it even easier to be there.

TRON Lightcycle/Run

From Piston Peak and Villains Land to the Monsters, Inc.-inspired Monstropolis and Tropical Americas, it’s a time of change at Walt Disney World. However, while those updates are years away, there’s a lot to experience at the resort right now, and some comparatively cheaper than usual ways to do it!

Let’s begin with one of the biggest discounts available for this summer. You can get two free room nights and theme park days when you purchase a select 4-night, 4-day (or longer) Walt Disney Travel Company room and ticket package, allowing you to “savor every moment, take time to relax at your resort, and enjoy your favorite rides,” according to Disney. This offer is available for visits most nights from May 26th through September 15th, with a booking window of January 6th through February 15th.

Slinky Dog Dash in Hollywood Studios

Disney is also offering a “Bounceback” offer for 2026 trips. If you plan on visiting Disney World in early 2026, you can save up to 35% on your next stay when you reserve within 7 days of your current check-out date. Savings include up to 35% off on rooms in select Disney Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villa hotels, up to 30% off on rooms in select Disney Moderate Resorts, and up to 25% off on rooms in select Disney Value Resorts.

Pop Century

Eligible 2026 travel dates currently include:

January 12th, 2026, to January 15th, 2026
January 19th, 2026, to January 23rd, 2026
February 8th, 2026, to February 12th, 2026
February 15th, 2026, to February 19th, 2026
February 22nd, 2026, to February 25th, 2026
March 3rd, 2026, to May 21st, 2026
May 25th, 2026, to July 1st, 2026
July 6th, 2026, to September 2nd, 2026
September 7th, 2026, to September 29th, 2026
October 26th, 2026, to October 31st, 2026

In addition, guests booking a room at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel and dining plan for each guest ages 10 and up on their reservation can receive FREE dining plans for kids ages 3 to 9. This offer extends through 2026 bookings and is dependent on purchasing the vacation package (which includes a hotel stay and park tickets) as well as dining plans for every other guest.

Disney Dining Plan symbols

Anyone taking advantage of these deals will have access to a slew of new and returning offerings this summer, including:

The return of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin from extensive refurbishments.
The debut of the new Jessie’s Roundup at the Diamond Horseshoe in Frontierland.
In celebration of America’s 250th birthday this coming July, EPCOT’s Soarin’ will receive an “all-new airborne adventure across the US, honoring the heart and spirit of the nation.” Disney even brought in “aviation” legend Patrick Warburton (IYKYK) to announce the overlay.
GoofyCore is also returning to CommuniCore Hall this summer, as guests can “dance and play along with the Goof Troop, DJ Dance Pants, and Goofy himself during wacky activities at CommuniCore Hall at EPCOT.
In conjunction with the release of the new Star Wars Mandalorian & Grogu feature film on May 22nd, Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run will see the addition of a new mission based on the titular character and his youngling Grogu (Baby Yoda, to those of you unfamiliar with the Galaxy Far, Far Away).
Summer 2026 will also see the opening of the newly rethemed to the Muppets Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster — complete with a new Muppet preshow that seems to include at least one animatronic Muppet as per the concept art — after the original Aerosmith version closes permanently in March.
Later in the summer, the reimagined Walt Disney Studios area will open in the former Animation Courtyard. The area will feature a new take on The Magic of Disney Animation, a Mary Blair-themed play area, and the new Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show, which will feature “upbeat original songs, plenty of interactive fun for the little ones, and appearances by beloved Disney characters to sing and dance with.”
The mega-popular Bluey franchise is coming to Animal Kingdom, in the form of Bluey and Bingo making an excursion to Conservation Station, where guests will be able to encounter animals native to Bluey’s home country of Australia.

New missions will be added to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort featuring the Mandalorian and Grogu.

Beyond the theme parks, guests will also be able to enjoy further summer perks thanks to staying at Walt Disney World hotels. The free water perk ticket will return, once again offering all members of a party a complimentary ticket to one of Walt Disney World’s water parks on their check-in day. In addition, characters will appear at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.

Blizzard Beach

There’s a lot happening at Disney World this Summer, and thanks to some massive discounts available right now, you can be there! Stay tuned to DFB for more on everything happening at the resort in 2026.

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