Greetings fellow Rope Droppers,
Disney did something this week that planners dream about… it posted a season-by-season look at 2026, with ten new or refreshed attractions, nine returning festivals and special events, and more than 200 days of “extra” on the calendar in one shot.
We whittled down 380 stories this week to bring you this 4-min read where we’re talking all kinds of 2026 details, plus first looks at Epcot’s holiday festival.
Gabe
Disney Parks Blog
The core 2026 details sit in Disney’s own roundup of what is coming to Walt Disney World in 2026, with helpful breakdowns from Upgraded Points, WDWNT, and Disney Tourist Blog.
Here is the quick read version, so you can start circling weeks on your calendar.
Season | Headliner Highlights | Best For |
|---|---|---|
Winter into early year | Festival of the Arts at Epcot plus updated Frozen Ever After figures and Disney After Hours Approx Timing: Festival of the Arts Jan 16 to Feb 23, Frozen figures in February | Art lovers, shorter park days, cool weather trips |
Spring | Flower and Garden at Epcot, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad returning, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin upgraded Approx Timing: Flower and Garden March 4 to June 1, Big Thunder and Buzz reopening spring | Fans who miss the mountains and Tomorrowland sharpshooters |
Late spring into early summer | Soarin’ Across America at Epcot, new Mandalorian and Grogu mission on Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run Approx Timing: Smugglers Run mission May 22, Soarin open by Memorial Day | Star Wars families and Soarin superfans |
Summer | Cool Kids Summer, free water park day for resort guests, H2O Glow After Hours, Bluey at Animal Kingdom, new shows and Muppets coaster at Hollywood Studios, Banana Ball at ESPN Wide World of Sports Approx Timing: Summer season, Banana Ball May 29 to 30 | School break trips that want characters, water and late nights |
Fall and holidays | Food and Wine, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Jollywood Nights, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Festival of the Holidays Approx Timing: Fall and winter seasons, exact party dates still to come | Festival regulars and holiday tradition trips |
If you are a “ride first” guest, spring into early summer is the sweet spot. You get Big Thunder’s refreshed mountain air, the upgraded Buzz blasters, the new Soarin Across America flight path, and the Mandalorian mission in Smugglers Run, all layered on top of normal park operations.
Families who love characters and kinetic entertainment may want to wait for summer, when Cool Kids Summer returns with GoofyCore in Epcot and Bluey and Bingo at Conservation Station.
Over at Hollywood Studios, Disney Junior’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live, The Magic of Disney Animation, Off the Page, and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets will stack up into a very full day.
Festival people will read this calendar a little differently. Winter brings Festival of the Arts and a quieter World Showcase. Spring and fall stay on the familiar Flower and Garden then Food and Wine handoff.
The back of the year still stacks Halloween parties, Jollywood Nights, Very Merry, and Festival of the Holidays into a glittery sprint from September through December. Disney has only promised seasons for now though, not exact party nights.
The bigger story here is not one specific ride. It is that Disney just handed you a year long planning board. If you are eyeing a 2026 visit, your homework this week is simple, pick your season, sketch the kind of memories you want, then watch for the next round of ticket and party date drops that will fill in the blanks.
What are you most looking forward to next year?
Disney Cruise Line
Diving a bit deeper on one long-awaited detail… yes, Bluey’s Florida era is finally official.
Disney has set summer 2026 for a new Bluey experience at Conservation Station in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where families can dance, try butterfly Keepy Uppy, and meet Bluey and Bingo among Australian animals, per Disney Parks Blog.
At sea, Bluey and Bingo will headline Wakey Wakey mornings, Who’s Behind the Curtain game shows, and Pyjama Bash parties on select domestic sailings.
The Disney Dream picks this up in February 2026 and the Disney Wish joins in that June with cruise specifics confirmed by WDWNT.
Pool Expansion: Fort Wilderness’ Meadow Swimmin’ Pool is getting a major glow-up now through mid‑2026, adding a new zero‑entry pool and deck, a tennis court, and two pickleball courts to basically double the space. Meadow and Wilderness pools stay open, but expect limited seating, daytime construction noise, and to follow posted signage from the buses (BlogMickey)
Resale Fee Alert: Starting Jan 1, 2026, DVC will tack on a $500 Contract Administration Fee to every resale closing. Who pays is negotiable, so ask your broker/title now and make sure it’s spelled out in the deal. (DVC Fan)
Super Stretch Preshow Gone: The Aerosmith pre-show at Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster is already walled off as Imagineering kicks off the Muppets makeover…you’ll just walk straight through now. (AllEars)
Level99 Coming: Disney Springs is getting Level99 in 2026, an adult-oriented social gaming spot taking over the former NBA Experience with 60+ challenge rooms and duels. No date or ticket details yet, so keep an eye on those walls from M&M’s to City Works and pencil this in for 2026 nights at Springs. (WDWNT)
Festival of the Holidays is fully lit at Epcot, running now through December 30, with World Showcase storytellers, Candlelight Processional crowds, and almost every walkway smelling like cinnamon and cocoa.
The sleeper hit again is the Holiday Cookie Stroll, where five stamped cookies in your festival passport unlock a prize pack with an exclusive festival spatula, mini M and Ms, and even a take home recipe, per Disney Food Blog’s rundown of the stroll and prize.
Finally this week, sure you know about NYT’s Cookie Week… but Disney is getting in on the seasonal fun too! They dropped five (yes FIVE!) cookie recipes from Epcot this week. If you’re a Disney recipe fanatic like I am, I bet I know what you’ll be doing this weekend!
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