Major Disney World Changes Coming in 2026: What You Need to Know

Park Construction and New Attractions

• 🚧 Construction walls are expected in all Disney World parks in 2026, with Animal Kingdom beginning updates for Pueblo Espiranza and Hollywood Studios transforming areas for Monsters Inc. and a new Disney Junior show.
• 🎢 Hollywood Studios will also see Rock 'n' Roller Coaster re-themed to The Muppets, replacing the Aerosmith theme, and the Magic of Disney Animation will close.
• 🏰 Magic Kingdom is building two new lands: a Cars-themed Piston Peak area and a villains-themed land, though specific details for the villains area are still emerging.
• 🚀 Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin will undergo extensive refurbishments, reopening in 2026 with new ride vehicles, blasters, targets, and a robo companion named Buddy.
• ⛰️ Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is undergoing renovation until a future date in 2026, incorporating elements from Piston Peak and bringing back the Rainbow Caverns concept with new effects.

Changes to Perks and Pricing

• 🏖️ The free water park perk for Disney hotel guests, available all year in 2025, will be limited to the summer season in 2026 when both water parks are open, to manage overcrowding.
• 💰 Disney Dining Plan prices will increase in 2026, with the quick-service plan rising by $133 for adults and $146 for kids, and the standard plan by $0.89 for adults and $1.16 for kids per day.
• 🎁 However, free Disney dining plan offers will be available for kids aged 3-9 with vacation packages and for guests from the UK and Ireland for most of 2026.
• 📈 Park ticket prices are expected to increase, with single-day tickets generally ranging from $145-$175, though specific dates in August will offer lower prices, and peak times like Spring Break will be more expensive.

Hotel and Resort Updates

• ✈️ The Disney Skyliner will be closed for refurbishment from January 25th to 31st, 2026, with bus transportation available as an alternative.
• 🏊‍♂️ The Surfboard Bay pool at All-Star Sports Resort will be closed from January to late April 2026 for maintenance, but other pools will remain open.
• 🏨 Numerous Disney hotels, including Animal Kingdom Lodge, Polynesian Village Resort, Pop Century, Port Orleans Resort Riverside, and Bay Lake Tower, will undergo guest room refurbishments throughout 2026, potentially impacting availability and requiring early booking.
• 🛠️ Exterior maintenance is also occurring at Yacht and Beach Club resorts until 2027.

Dining and Ride Experience Adjustments

• 🍸 New lounges like Beacon Barrel (Magic Kingdom) and Gò82 (Epcot) are highly in demand, with booking restrictions now limiting parties to eight at Beacon Barrel.
• 🚀 Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will feature new missions in 2026, coinciding with a new Mandalorian movie release, including new engineer roles interacting with Grogu and new Star Wars destinations.
• 💡 Guests are advised to book Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) 60 days in advance, with online booking opening at 6 a.m. Eastern, and to continuously check for cancellations.