There’s a lot for guests to see at Walt Disney World this summer, including The Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets, Bluey’s Wild World, and the revamped Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, just to name a few. That in turn means guests are flocking to Disney World’s hotels.

Pool Party!

Those throngs of guests will encounter a lot of changes, as there are a slew of hotel perks… and hotel closures to navigate this summer.

Cool Kids Summer

Before we get into those perks and closures, let’s begin with the Cool Kids Summer promotion, which kicked off on May 26th and runs through September 8th, and offers several perks for Disney hotel guests. First up, there’s the water park perk, which offers each member of a guest’s party free admission to one of Walt Disney World’s water parks on their check-in day.

Typhoon Lagoon

In addition, there are several Cool Kids Summer perks available to guests at the Caribbean Beach Resort, Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, Art of Animation, and Pop Century:

• 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.

Mickey at Port Orleans — Riverside for Cool Kids’ Summer

However, these perks aren’t the only changes guests will encounter at Disney World this summer. There are also refurbishments and closures to be aware of, including a slew of dining closures.

Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace will be closed from mid-April through late June due to refurbishment work at the Grand Ceremonial House.

Closed for now

From April 23rd through late June, updates will be made to the exterior roofing at Wailulu Bar & Grill in the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The restaurant will remain open during the work, offering walk-up service only until 5:00 PM, with seating from 5:00 PM until closing.

Wailulu construction

The Yacht Club Resort’s New England-themed Yachtsman Steakhouse will be closing in May for a refurbishment running through August. 

CLOSED.

Saratoga Springs has three Turf Club eateries, which will rotate refurbishments over the summer months:

• The Turf Club Lounge will be closed from April to August, while the Turf Club Bar & Grill remains open with a modified menu.
• The Turf Club Patio will have a brief closure from early through mid-August.
• Then, the Turf Club Bar & Grill will be closed from August to September, with the Turf Club Lounge remaining open.

Turf Club Bar & Grill

Finally, the Grand Floridian Cafe – naturally located at the Grand Floridian – is scheduled to be closed from July through October. During this period, the cafe’s brunch will be offered at Citricos.

Grand Floridian Cafe

Moving on from dining closures, the following resorts will be undergoing general maintenance projects that won’t see the closure of any restaurants or amenities, but may be visible and audible to guests throughout the summer. These include:

• Fort Wilderness Meadow Swimmin’ Pool Construction: Through Mid-2026.
• Saratoga Springs Treehouse Villas Refurbishment: Through September 2026.
• Boardwalk Exterior Refurbishment: Through Late 2026.
• Wilderness Lodge Exterior Refurbishment: Late 2026.
• Yacht Club Exterior Maintenance: Late 2026.
• All-Star Movies Refurb: May 2026 to January 2027.
• Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House Refurb: May 2026 to January 2027.
• Grand Floridian Resort-Wide Refurbishment Including Porte-cochère: Through early 2027.
• Port Orleans Room Refurbishment: Through August 2027.
• Beach Club Exterior Refurbishment: Through Late 2027.
• Contemporary Resort-Wide Refurbishment: Through Late 2027.

The Monorail INSIDE Contemporary Resort

If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World hotel this summer, be prepared for a lot of perks… and a lot of work, depending on where you’re staying. Stay tuned to DFB for more coverage of Disney’s 2026 offerings.

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