9 Big Changes Are About to Hit Disney World Hotels in May

Hotels have been a major part of the Walt Disney World experience since the Magic Kingdom opened back in 1971, and hotel guests have always had access to numerous perks while staying on property, ranging from transportation to dining and park access.

Art of Animation

That tradition continues to this day, and guests checking into Disney World hotels in May will find some major new, returning, and limited-time changes!

Early Entry Additions

Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels (and select other hotels) can take advantage of a 30 Minute Early entry into each of Walt Disney World’s theme parks every day of their stay (including check-in and check-out days). This perk is one of Disney World’s most popular, and May will see a trio of new takes on old favorites joining the offerings.

Early Entry at EPCOT

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run W/Mando & Grogu

In conjunction with the release of the new Star Wars The 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).

According to Disney, as part of the new experience, “the crew will be in control of their own destination, leading to potential adventures on Bespin, the wreckage of the second Death Star around Endor, or the just-announced bustling city-planet, Coruscant.” In addition, another new gameplay addition allows the engineer positions to communicate with Grogu, making them much more “important” to the ride’s overall story and narrative.

©Disney

Soarin Over America

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, which will be opening at Disney World on May 26th.

©Disney

Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets

The original Aerosmith iteration of the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster closed in early March to make way for a new Muppet-themed version, as the “Bad Boys of Boston” are being replaced by a new theme starring The Muppets!

According to Disney, the ride will be “fueled by the tasty tunes of the Electric Mayhem and the high-speed hijinks of The Muppets” with a soundtrack including Muppet takes on songs like “Song 2”, “Born to be Wild”, “Walking on Sunshine”, “Love Rollercoaster,” and “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop).” The coaster is also set to debut on May 26th.

©Disney

Cool Kids’ Summer

Speaking of returns, the Cool Kids’ Summer promotion is also back from May 26th to September 8th, and there are a slew of associated perks at the Caribbean Beach Resort, Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, Art of Animation, and Pop Century.

Pop Century

The include:

Scheduled Character Appearances: Meet some favorite Disney pals—like Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse—during scheduled appearances.
Special Libraries: Little ones can celebrate Disney stories in libraries provided by Disney Publishing, where the magic of their imaginations can come alive with tales of princesses, heroes, and more.
Pajama Party: Wind down with your family during story time! Participate in a “create your own bedtime story” activity, where the magic of a good book comes to life with the arrival of a favorite Disney Character.
Pool Party: Make a splash at a high-energy poolside experience with games and music for the whole family.
Campfire: Gather ‘round for a celebration filled with marshmallows and Disney-infused entertainment.

Skyliner at Caribbean Beach

The Water Park Perk is BACK!

In 2025, Disney introduced a new water park perk for hotel guests, which gave each member of their party admission to one of Walt Disney World’s water parks on their check-in day. The perk is returning from May 26th to September 8th.

Blizzard Beach

Guests checking into a Disney hotel this May should keep these changes in mind and plan to take advantage of some of these guest perks while they’re available! Stay tuned to DFB for more on Disney special hotel guest offerings.

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