food IS a theme park
Early Entry — the 30-minute period each morning when guests of Disney resorts and other select hotels can access each of the theme parks prior to the general public — has been one of Disney World’s most popular perks for years, and 2026 is bringing some big changes!
Early entry sign!
From character appearances to reopening rides, crowd patterns during Early Entry are going to change several times this year, which may impact how YOU plan your morning at Walt Disney World.
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!
Every week, we report the average Disney World wait times in every park so that you can be prepared for your next trip to Orlando!
Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney World wait times have a reputation for being, well, unpredictable. Sure, we can look at past data to get an estimate of the crowd levels in Disney World, but you never know what may happen from year to year. So how did Disney’s wait times hold up as January marched on?
Heads up, Disney World visitors: If you’re planning on heading to the “Most Magical Place on Earth” this March, you NEED to have these essentials packed and ready to go.
EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival
Thanks to fluctuating temperatures, intersecting EPCOT festivals, and the onset of Spring Break crowds, March is one of the more interesting months to visit Disney World, and one that requires a different set of packing requirements.
Head up, deal-seekers: Right now, some of our ABSOLUTE FAVORITE Disney Essentials are on sale for massive discounts!
Loungefly
We’re in Disney’s theme parks every single day, and these items are never missing from our park bag!
Character dining has been an essential part of the Disney theme park experience for decades, with the very concept of a character meal becoming synonymous with trips to the company’s resorts. These days, there are dozens of character meals spread across Disney’s worldwide properties, and it can be overwhelming to try to choose which to book.
Dopey!
We’ve scored all of Disney’s resorts worldwide — Disneyland, Walt Disney World, the Disneyland Paris resort, the Tokyo Disney Resort, the Hong Kong Disney Resort, and the Shanghai Disney Resort to pinpoint the most unique character dining experience at each of them.
Heads up, Disney+ subscribers, there’s a perk offered with Disney’s streaming service that you really need to be taking advantage of!
©Disney
In 2025, Disney introduced the Always-on Perks program, which offers fans “rewards ranging from access to one-of-a-kind experiences and limited-time sweepstakes to everyday savings and special discounts” to subscribers. Some of the perks currently available to subscribers are huge, including one that every Disney fan should take advantage of.
Character dining has been an essential part of the Disney World experience for decades, with experiences like the buffet at Chef Mickey’s and breakfast at ‘Ohana, among many others, becoming somewhat legendary amongst many guests. We think there are several current Disney World restaurants that could become just as iconic character dining experiences.
The Beast at Be Our Guest Restaurant
Each of these restaurants already have heavily themed, immersive environments that would feel complete if there were some appropriate characters engaging with guests during their meals.
A popular — and game-changing — hotel perk is officially returning to Walt Disney World in 2026, and it’s sure to inject a strong dose of… character in many vacations!
Pop Century
As part of the returning Cool Kids Summer promotion — which runs from May 26th to September 8th — Disney characters will be appearing in scheduled meet & greets at select Walt Disney World hotels.
A new protein-heavy food fad is sweeping the United States, with a somewhat unprecedented level of governmental approval. However, experts warn it may be dangerous.
New York Strip
Heavily processed protein-based snacks and meat sticks such as Slim Jims have been around for about a century, but they’re truly having a moment right now. For example, according to USA Today, the popular meat stick brand Chomps saw a reported 206% increase in its sales growth in 2024, part of $3.3 billion in overall sales for the meat snacks category in the same year.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
