Planning a Disney World vacation in 2026: everything you need to know

Thinking about a Disney World vacation in 2026? Get all the best info about planning, booking, what’s opening and what’s happening here:

Disney World vacation in 2026 - Disney in your Day

Planning a Disney World trip can bring a mix of emotions – excitement, overwhelm, joy, and maybe even a little frustration. Personally, I think planning the trip is half the fun! But if you’re visiting for the first time or you haven’t been in a few years, there is a lot to consider when planning for Disney World. This guide for a trip in 2026 is designed to be helpful to anyone in that position. I’ve aimed to include anything and everything I can about a Disney World vacation in 2026 and I will update it as we learn more!

Contents hide

1. Planning your 2026 Disney World trip

2. Booking your 2026 Disney trip

3. Walt Disney World 2026 tickets

4. Disney World experiences in 2026

5. When to visit Disney World in 2026

6. Disney World resorts in 2026

7. Disney Dining in 2026

8. The theme parks in 2026

9. Transportation

10. Planning a Disney trip on a budget in 2026

11. Disney World tips and tricks for 2026

Planning your 2026 Disney World trip

How to plan a Disney World vacation in 2026

Since there is a lot that goes into Disney World vacation planning, I’m going to cover some of the best tools and resources that you can use here (and you’ve already found this guide which will give you a ton of info!). If you’re looking for how to plan your Disney World trip in 2026, research is key!

Figure out the basics

It can seem like an overwhelming thing to even try and start when you’re looking at a Disney World trip – that’s why I suggest starting with the basics. I tell people there are several things you need to figure out first, but once you’ve settled on those details you can figure out a lot of the other stuff later. Here’s what you’ll want to decide first:

What dates or time of year you’re looking to travel, and if your dates are flexible
How long you want to stay
How many people will be in your travel party
Which resort you want to stay at
How many days you want to be in the theme parks (this can be changed after booking too)
What your maximum budget is

If you get your reservation booked on the dates you want at the resort you want, almost anything else can be added, adjusted, or changed later.

Tools for planning for a 2026 Disney trip

My Disney Experience

Disney’s app and website is another great planning tool for your Disney World vacation in 2026. I use Disney’s website for all of the basic information. Especially when it comes to things like park hours, restaurant menus, etc. you can find all that on the website. The mobile app will also give you a peek at what’s happening in real time, such as current wait times for attractions.

Once you’ve booked a reservation you can link your confirmation number to a Disney account and then Disney will create an itinerary for you based on what you’ve booked, showing all of your hotel reservations, dining reservations, Lightning Lane reservations, and more.

Vacation planning printables

If you like to stay organized like me, consider using vacation planning printables. These are typically a series of worksheets or papers that you can print out and put into a binder. They contain information about the parks and tools to help you plan things such as dining reservations, budget, and more.

I’ve put a lot of work and great info into the ones I sell (which you can find below), but there are many great options out there. Mine are now also editable PDFs – so if you prefer to type right into your device rather than printing on paper, you can do that too!

Not sure where to start when planning your Disney World trip? Feeling overwhelmed with all of the information and how to keep track of everything?

Consider vacation planning printables – over 60 pages of trip planning, including a budget worksheet, guide to characters, trip comparison worksheet, a look at the dining plans, info about Disney Lightning Lane passes, daily itineraries, packing checklist, and much more.

Get your printables here

Travel agents

With so much that goes into planning a Disney trip and so much constantly changing, having an expert who knows all the ins and outs of Disney is a huge benefit.

A vacation planner specializing in Disney can help you pick out the right dates and resorts, book your trip, find the best prices, help you plan dining, itineraries, transportation, and more.

I currently only have a few openings to work with potential clients thinking about a Disney World vacation in 2026 – but I am part of an amazing team, so I’d be happy to direct you to another very knowledgeable agent in my agency.

Contact me today to start planning your Disney vacation

Best Disney planning websites for 2026

Disney World website

Disney is the official source and they have lots of great info for planning. I personally like the fact that they have menus for all of the restaurants so you can figure out the best places you want to eat!

Disney in your Day

I have to mention my own website after all the time and effort that has gone into it! I created Disney in your Day 13 years ago and it’s full of useful resources. This guide is where you want to be for general 2026 information, but you can also head to the Disney World planning section for details on resorts, theme parks, dining, and more.

Disney Food Blog ebooks

Speaking of food, Disney Food Blog’s ebooks are my go-to resource for anything restaurant or food related. They have guides to restaurants, snacks, food festivals, holiday snacks, and more. I love having them in an ebook form because it makes everything much easier to find and learn about this way.

Disney Tourist Blog

This is my favorite Disney blog if you want some really in-depth, thoughtful looks on a number of Disney topics. Tom is very on top of things and provides the latest information with commentary, but he is very careful with rumors and only shares facts and makes it clear when he is just speculating or making a prediction.

Mouse Dining

When it comes time to book your dining reservations, I highly recommend Mouse Dining as a useful tool. It monitors when dining reservations open up, and you can get an alert if there’s something you’re looking for that has availability. It’s great if you are trying for a hard-to-get reservation. They have a free version, which allows you to get up to 6 alerts sent to email only, as well as a paid version where you can set up to 50 alerts and also opt for text updates.

David’s DVC

If you’re a first-time visitor or someone who isn’t 100% sure of their plans, I wouldn’t necessarily look into a DVC rental as they are non-refundable and not changeable. But if you’re more comfortable with the idea (as in, you know what I’m talking about when I say DVC rental), David’s is my favorite place to rent from.

Booking your 2026 Disney trip

All about 2026 Disney World vacation packages

A Disney World vacation package is a booking that includes a resort stay and theme park tickets. If you buy the two separately that is a “room only” reservation. There are some differences between the two:

Disney World packages	Disney room only reservations
Deposit of $200 due at time of booking	Deposit of first night’s cost due at time of booking
Remaining balance due 30 days before check-in	Remaining balance due at check-in
Can add on the dining plan	No dining plan option
Tickets purchased through a package are cancellable and refundable up to 30 days before the trip	Tickets purchased separately cannot be refunded (though the dates of the tickets can be changed)
“Magical extras” included	No magical extras
If you cancel less than 30 days before there is a cancellation fee of $200	If you cancel less than 6 days before there is a cancellation fee of the first night’s room rate

Included in a Disney World 2026 vacation package

A standard Disney vacation package will include your resort stay and tickets. There’s also the option to add on other components, such as memory maker or a dining plan. If you book a room-only reservation you cannot add the dining plan, but you could choose to convert a room-only reservation to a package (without tickets) to add a dining plan. If you do, the reservation will then follow the same rules in terms of deposits, etc., as above.

Guests who book a Disney package also receive “magical extras.” These include discounts and freebies for various things, and it’s best to check Disney’s page for the latest. Some highlights this year include a free game of mini golf, discounts for Cirque du Soleil and Splitsville bowling, as well as many discounts for restaurants and shops in Disney Springs.

In 2026, Disney is again offering free admission to a Disney water park on arrival day when you have a reservation at a Disney resort. This will be either Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach, depending on which one(s) are operating during your trip. The free water park day is only good on your check-in day.

All stays at a Disney World resort, whether it is a package or room only, receive special benefits such as early theme park entry, complimentary transportation, the option to purchase discounted magic bands, and the ability to purchase Lightning Lane passes 7 days before your trip (vs. 3 days before for off-property guests). Deluxe resort guests can also experience “extended evening hours” on select nights.

Package vs. room only

You may be wondering which one is best for you. I typically recommend packages to people for the following reasons:

More flexibility if you need to cancel (when you purchase tickets outside of a package they are non-refundable)
You have the option to add the dining plan
You are eligible for more possible discounts (things like free dining or get 2 free ticket days)
You want things to be easier to manage

However, a room only reservation might be better for you if:

You have an annual pass or tickets already
You think there is a strong possibility you might cancel the room 5-30 days before your trip

When you can book Disney World for 2026

You can start booking your Disney World vacation for 2026 now.

Booking has opened for almost all of 2026. You cannot book earlier than 499 days before your vacation, but that means starting on August 19, 2025, you can officially book any dates in 2026.

**When you should book your 2026 Disney vacation**

If you listen to just one planning suggestion from me, it would be this: book early.

The best right to book your Disney trip? Right now.

You might be wondering why I recommend booking your Disney World vacation in 2026 as soon as you can. The truth is, there’s really no benefit to waiting. Packages only require a $200 deposit and are fully refundable until your final payment is due. By booking now you’ll make sure you get the best price and the resort and room type you want.

Waiting to book will not save you money.

Many people assume they should wait to see if the price goes down, but with Disney you don’t have to wait. If discounts are released after booking, they can be applied to your already existing reservation. Often discounts are only released a few months before travel, and if you wait that long you risk losing availability or your preferred resort (assuming that there even are discounts for the dates you want to travel!).

If and when a discount is released, it can be applied to your existing reservation if it qualifies. If the discount isn’t at your current resort and you want to move locations, you can do that too as long as it’s available. This is one of the reasons I recommend working with a travel agent, since they are on top of discount releases and can make sure you get any discounts you are eligible for.

Walt Disney World 2026 tickets

Whether you are booking as part of a package or buying ticket separately, you have some options when it comes to ticket types available for your Disney World vacation in 2026. I’ll go over the basics below.

Base tickets

When it comes to just getting into the main theme parks, you can get “base tickets” for anywhere from 1-10 days. With these tickets you can get into one Disney park each day. Pricing starts at $109 for a one a day ticket, though the price per day decreases the more days you buy. Pricing depends on your travel dates and tickets must be used within the time period that they were purchased for.

Park hopper

You have the option to add on park hopping to any length of base tickets. Park hopper allows you to go to more than 1 park in a day. Park hopping is added for the length of your ticket purchase and ranges from an additional $70-95 total.

Water park and sports option

With these tickets you can visit one theme park per day, plus enjoy an equal number of visits to a sports or water park location. For example, if you get a 3 day ticket with the water park and sports option you get entry into the theme parks for 3 days, plus entry to a water park or golf experience 3 times (you can go to a theme park one day and a water park the next day, or you can do a theme park in the morning and a water park in the afternoon).

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course
Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course
Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course

Park hopper plus option

The park hopper plus option is the same as the above water park and sports option but also allows for park hopping between theme parks.

Water park tickets

If you are only looking to spend a single day at one of the these extra experiences, 1 day water park tickets are available for purchase. They range from $64-75 per adult.

Annual passes

Disney World offers several types of annual passes, which are worth considering if you plan to visit multiple times a year (trust me, it’s easy to get hooked!).

There are a variety of options for FLorida Residents, DVC members, or the general public. I’ve outlined them below, but stay up to date on the latest at the Disney World annual passholder website.

Disney Pixie Dust Pass – only available to Florida residents, reservation-based admission most weekdays (subject to blockout dates including peak and holiday periods)
Disney Pirate Pass – only available to Florida residents, it is valid most days but is subject to black-out days on holidays and other peak crowd times.
Disney Sorcerer Pass – available to Florida residents and eligible DVC owners, this pass is valid for most dates except select holidays.
Disney Incredi-Pass – available to anyone, this pass has no blockout dates.

Please note that on same dates, Annual Passholders must make a park pass reservation. This means that you have to “sign up” to visit a specific park ahead of time. In order to get into a park you will need both a valid annual pass and a park pass reservation for that day.

Florida resident discount tickets

Florida residents are eligible to buy discounted tickets. Currently discounts are only available for 3 and 4 day tickets. You can choose to add on the park hopper as well for a discounted rate.

What kind of ticket should you get

Wondering which of these options might be best for your Disney World vacation in 2026? There are a few things to think about when making your decision. Since everyone’s vacation style is different it’s hard to say definitely what type you should get, but there are a few things to consider:

If you’re wondering how many days to spend in the theme parks, I typically recommend a minimum of 4 – one day for each park. I wouldn’t really do less than 3 and even then I think you’re missing out. If you can only do 1 or 2 park days I’d consider planning a trip when you have more time. I think you could easily spend 6-7 days in the parks if you don’t visit Disney often.
The more days you go the more affordable it is per day. The price difference between 5 day and 6 day tickets is only a little bit more. Whereas the price difference between 2 and 3 day tickets is a lot.
Park hopping is good for both shorter trips and longer trips for different reasons. If you’re going for 3 or fewer days, park hopping gives you the opportunity to visit all 4 parks. If you’re going for 5+ days you’ll be able to head back to the parks you enjoyed the most, or take advantage of one park in the morning and different one in the evening.
If you’re considering a water park and you have park hopper tickets it’s worth it to add the water marks and more park hopper plus tickets. If you’re doing base tickets and want to do one day at a water park and at least one other activity listed above (or two days in the water parks) then it’s definitely worth it.
Out of state annual passes are almost always worth it if you’re planning to take 3 or more trips within a year. If you’re going once it’s definitely not worth it. I know some people think it might be an advantage for discounts but the discounts you get with an annual pass aren’t going to make up for the cost of it for one trip. With 2 trips in a year you might break even or save a little but it will depend on when you’re visiting and for how long.

Still not sure? Read my detailed post about What type of Disney ticket is right for you!

What is the 2026 Disney World cancellation policy?

Disney has a very generous cancellation policy. If you cancel your package (room and tickets) 30 days or more ahead of time you get a full refund on the deposit or any payments you’ve made. You can also make changes 30 days or more without penalty, so if you book a trip for February but then decide you want to go in April you can make that change based on availability and you’d only pay if there’s a difference in price. No change fees. The deposit for packages is only $200, and for room only reservations it’s the cost of 1 night, so you don’t even have to pay the full amount at the time of booking.

If you have any questions about your specific situation, you can call the Disney Reservation Center at (407) 566-4985 or contact your travel agent.
Packages (including room and tickets and/or dining when available) can be cancelled without any penalty and fully refunded 30 days or more before travel.
Room only reservations can be cancelled without any penalty and fully refunded 6 days or more before travel.
Ticket only purchases through Disney or your travel agent can be changed or rescheduled but not refunded. Tickets purchased through a third party website cannot typically be changed or refunded.
Dining reservations must be cancelled at least one day in advance. Any reservations or no-shows the day of the reservation are subject to a charge of $10 per person.
Packages can be modified at any time to change travel dates, resort type, ticket type, etc.
Please note that cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers, including airlines and rental cars, as well as non-refundable products like travel protection plans purchased through the Walt Disney company will be deducted from your refund amount.

Disney World experiences in 2026

After the basics are sorted out, you can turn your attention to the fun details! What special events or experiences will be part of your Disney World vacation in 2026? What can you expect from the theme parks while you’re there?

Disney World: new attractions in 2026

There are several new attractions and experiences scheduled to open in 2026 – as well as some great new things that opened in 2024 or 2025 that you can try if you haven’t been recently!

Here’s a quick look at what has opened in the past two years (or is scheduled to open soon):

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (opened June 28, 2024)
Country Bear Jamboree (re-themeing opened July 17, 2024)
Country Bear Jamboree (re-themeing opened July 17, 2024)
The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure (opened May 27, 2025)
Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After (opened May 27, 2025)
Geo-82 (lounge in Epcot) (opened June 4, 2025)
Starlight nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom (opened July 20, 2025)
Test Track 3.0 (a re-themeing/re-imagining of Test Track) (opened July 22, 2025)

And here’s a peek at what is expected to open in 2026:

Beak and Barrel (Pirates themed tavern in Magic Kingdom) (opening late 2025)
Zootopia 3D show in Animal Kingdom (opening winter 2025)
The Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios (opening 2026)
Muppets re-themeing of Rock n Roller Coaster (opening 2026)
New Mandalorian-themed missions for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (opening May 22, 2026)

What closed at Disney World in 2024 and 2025?

Unfortunately, in order to make way for new attractions it means we sometimes have to say goodbye to older ones. With a lot of construction and changes coming up in Disney World, we’ve seen a number of experiences close in the past two years. Here’s a quick list:

Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade (closed June 24, 2025)
Triceratop Spin (closed January 13, 2025)
Chester & Hester’s Dino-rama (closed January 13, 2025)
It’s Tough to be a Bug (closed March 17, 2025)
Muppet Vision 3D (closed June 7, 2025)
Tom Sawyer Island (closed July 7, 2025)
Liberty Square Riverboat (closed July 7, 2025)
The Boneyard (closing September 2, 2025)
Disney Jr Play and Dance! (closing September 25, 2025)
Star Wars Launch Bay (closing September 25, 2025)
DINOSAUR (expected to close in January 2026)

Disney also has a number of projects in the works to open in 2027 beyond. For updates on those projects, read:

What’s coming to Magic Kingdom

The future of Hollywood Studios

Animal Kingdom’s new land

They include Encanto & Indiana Jones attractions coming to Animal Kingdom, Monsters Inc. roller coaster in Hollywood Studios, a Cars area and villains land in Magic Kingdom, and more.

Walt Disney World 2026 events

Curious about what special events might be happening in 2026? There are lots of festivals, holiday celebrations, and more that happen throughout the year. While it’s still early for everything to be officially announced with dates, we know that some things are definitely happening or very likely to happen.

Epcot Festivals in 2026

Epcot is home to a number of great festivals, and there are typically four of them throughout the year. While we don’t have exact dates for them yet, here’s what you can usually expect:

Epcot International Festival of the Arts (January-February)
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival (March-May)
Epcot International Food and Wine Festival (late August – November)
Epcot Festival of the Holidays (November-December)

Disney World Holidays in 2026

Disney usually does some special things for the holidays throughout the year. Most likely you’ll see:

Easter (March/April): easter egg hunt in Epcot, parade/Easter bunny week of Easter in Magic Kingdom
Halloween: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, specialty food items and merchandise
Thanksgiving: Special Thanksgiving menu on that day
Christmas: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Epcot Festival of the Holidays, Jollywood Nights, other specialty events, specialty food items and merchandise

RunDisney events in 2026

Race weekends are very popular at Disney, and there are a few that typically happen throughout the year. If you’re a runner and you’re interested in participating it’s a fun experience – whether you want to try your first 5k or you plan to run a half marathon, full marathon, or go for a challenge. Just make sure you register early!

Walt Disney World marathon 2026
Dates: January 7-11, 2026
Events: 5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon, + challenges
Registration: races sold out

Princess half marathon weekend 2026
Dates: February 26-March 2, 2026
Events: 5k, 10k, half marathon, yoga, + challenges
Registration: currently all races sold out, yoga still available

Springtime Surprise 2026 (Friendship theme)
Dates: April 16-20, 2026
Events: 5k, 10k, 10 miler, + challenges
Registration: yoga & 10 miler still available, all other races are sold out

Wine and Dine weekend 2026
Dates: TBD (usually late October/early November)
Events: 5k, 10k, half marathon, + challenges
Registration: TBD

When to visit Disney World in 2026

When it comes to picking the best time to visit, there are a few factors in play: are you limited to certain dates due to work or school? Do you care more about crowd levels or the weather? Are there any other reasons you’re planning a trip?

Picking your dates

For all the details you can visit my post on best months to visit in the year – but in general you need to prioritize one or two things for your Disney World vacation in 2026. Some guests are locked into specific dates due to school breaks, birthdays, or special occasions. Others are chasing lower prices, fewer crowds, or great weather. Since there is no magic month with low crowds, great weather, and happening at time that’s convenient for everyone, you need to figure out which one is most important for your trip.

Disney World 2026 crowd calendar

When can you visit Disney World with the fewest crowds? Sometimes it’s unpredictable, but we can make guesses based on what’s happened in past years, when major events are happening, etc. If you want a general idea, I’ve found that the best crowd calendars are over at Touring Plans.

How long to stay

Length of stay is the other big factor when it comes to picking the dates for your Disney World vacation in 2026.

The other big question when picking your dates is how long you want to stay for. Would a 4-night trip work for you, or are you aiming for a longer getaway? I would recommend a minimum of 4 days in the parks, and ideally 5 full days plus your arrival and departure day. If you also prefer to take it easier, relax by the pool for awhile, and have nice sit down meals, you may want to factor in extra time for that.

Disney World resorts in 2026

Once you’ve picked your dates, it’s time to decide where to stay. My Disney World resorts page has a detailed look at the many resort options, plus advice for choosing the one that’s best for you. If you’re thinking about staying off site I had a guide to staying off property at Disney as well.

Benefits of a Disney resort

There are definitely some perks to staying at a Disney World resort for your Disney World vacation in 2026 rather than off Disney property. If you’re debating here are a few of the benefits of being on property:

Transportation to and from the parks. Disney’s resorts all have continuous transportation options that are free and easy to use.
Location and convenience. Of course the Disney resorts on Disney property are going to be the best locations. Depending on where you stay, you can get to a theme park quickly by monorail, boat, bus, skyliner, or even walking. If you’re off property you have to factor in a lot more travel time every day. It also makes it much easier to take a midday break.
Free parking at the theme parks. If you have a car you can park for free at the theme parks. If you stay off site you have to pay $25 a day for parking.
Early theme park entry. Disney resort guests will be allowed into any of the 4 theme parks 30 minutes before opening time each morning. This is a huge advantage – if you show up off-site and enter the parks 30 minutes after all the resort guests, the popular attractions will already have long lines before you even get in.
Evening hours at deluxe resorts. If you stay at a Disney deluxe resort, there are select nights each week that have evening hours just for those guests in certain parks.
Advanced Lightning Lane purchases. If you’re looking to purchase a Lightning Lane pass, Disney resort guests can do so starting 7 days before their trip. Off-site guests have to wait until 3 days before, and the most popular attractions may be sold out by then.
Family accommodations. Disney has a number of places to sleep families of 5 or more, including family suites, villas, cabins, and connecting rooms.
Ability to purchase a dining plan. If you’d like to take advantage of one of the Disney dining plans, it is an option that only resort guests can add on.
The themeing and magic. The Disney resorts are truly magical and you feel like you’re somewhere special there. The service is top notch and whether you’d like to be surrounded by larger than life Disney characters or relaxing on the French Riviera there are so many great resort options.

Staying near Disney World: other hotels

If you are strongly considering staying off property for your Disney World vacation in 2026, I would highly recommend reading my guide to off-property and Disney. It goes over some things you may not realize if you’re not staying at a Disney resort hotel. There are a ton of options out there, but keep in mind that many places advertise being near Disney or “just 5 miles away!” but Disney World itself is actually 40 square miles, so 5 miles away from Disney doesn’t necessarily mean you’re only 5 miles from the theme parks. If you book an off property hotel you may miss out on certain perks that come as part of the Disney World 2026 packages.

Disney Dining in 2026

Food is one of my favorite parts of a Disney vacation, and there’s no shortage of amazing options. With so many unique restaurants, snacks, and treats, you’re going to have a plethora of choices (especially if you’re a foodie like me). It’s worth putting some time into researching and planning your dining options for your Disney trip.

Disney World 2026 dining plans

Did you know that you can prepay for most of your food during your Disney World vacation in 2026 with one of two Disney dining plans? This is a great way to create a more “all-inclusive” feel and keep an eye on your budget too. I’m so glad Disney brought the dining plans back, because then I don’t have to worry about how much I’m spending on food during my trip – and it can often be a good way to save a little money, too!

What is a Disney dining plan?

When you book a Disney World package, you have the option of adding a dining plan on (in addition to your park tickets and resort stay). This is a way to prepay for meal “credits” during your trip.

A few things to know:

There are two different dining plans currently available (more details below)
You can only add on a dining plan if you have a package (not a room only reservation)
Almost all food and restaurant locations in Disney World accept the dining plans.
You receive a certain number of meal and snack credits which depend on the length of your trip – they can be redeemed any time during your stay.
You can add on a dining plan even after booking.
Each person in your party also gets a reusable mug with either dining plan, which can be used at their resort for soft drinks, coffee, and tea.

Quick service dining plan

This plan includes 2 quick service credits and 1 snack credit per person per night. The cost for 2026 is $60/adult per night and $26/child (ages 3-9) per night.

Disney dining plan

This plan includes 1 quick service credit, 1 table service credit, and 1 snack credit per person per night. The cost for 2026 is $99/adult per night and $32/child (ages 3-9) per night.

How to add a Disney dining plan

You can add one of the dining plans when you book your Disney reservation, but you can also add it on after booking. If you’d like to add on one of the dining plans, just call your travel agent or contact a Disney representative and they will be happy to do that for you.

How to use your dining plan

Step 1: Choose your restaurant

For table service restaurants, reservations are recommended. Most restaurants are included on the plan, but check ahead of time to make sure the table service or quick service location you are looking at will accept your dining plan!

Step 2: Redeem your Credits

Present your MagicBand, mobile pass, or Key to the World card to be scanned. Let the cast member know you are on the dining plan and want to use your dining credits.

Step 3: Track your Credits

In the My Disney Experience app, visit the “My Resort Stay” section.

Then, select “Check Dining Plan” to see how many credits you have remaining during your trip.

Using mobile order? Just select the Disney dining plan when checking out on the app!

Should I get a Disney dining plan?

There is no definitive yes or no on this question because there are so many different factors and it varies a lot depending on the travel group and your dining approach. I personally am a fan of the dining plan (particularly the Disney dining plan, that includes the table service credits).

You might consider getting a dining plan if:

You like the convenience of paying one set price for most of your meals ahead of time.
You are budget conscious and like the idea of having things prepaid – that way you don’t have to be anxious about the cost of one dish on the menu vs. another.
If you dine at the more expensive table service restaurants or like to order the steak at dinner, you’ll probably save money.
You’ll almost definitely find some value in it if you like to enjoy an adult beverage with your meal – 1 alcoholic drink is included per person 21+ at each meal where alcohol is available.
You plan to spend time at your resort and will enjoy a few soft drinks, coffee, and tea (refillable resort mugs are included with all dining plans)

A dining plan might not be for you if:

You eat small portions and are thinking you may split a lot of your meals with someone else in your group.
You rarely order entrees at restaurants (some people are appetizer/dessert people!)
You are a vegetarian or typically order the vegan/vegetarian entrees, and you don’t drink alcohol.
You want to eat at mostly signature meals (these require two table service credits so they aren’t always the best value)

Will free dining be offered?

One of the favorite discounts of Disney fans offered at Walt Disney World is the “free dining” discount. There is just something about getting your food for “free” that feels really nice! So, will that promo come back?

We already have a version of it, which is “free dining for kids” available in 2026.

This one is interesting because it doesn’t have many of the restrictions we’ve typically seen with other promos! Here are a few things to know about it:

This promo is available for any travel dates during 2026.
You must purchase the dining plan for all guests 10+ and older for the entire length of stay.
The free dining plan included depends on the dining plan you purchase for the older guests in your party. If you buy the Disney dining plan, the kids will get that one free. If you do quick-service, kids will get the quick-service plan free.
Kids must be between the ages of 3 and 9 at the time of travel.
This offer can be combined with other discounts and promos.

No word yet on free dining offers for adults, too. Typically when they do free dining there are a lot of rules and restrictions (especially with dates and where you’re staying).

Making reservations

Currently Disney is allowing guests to make dining reservations 60 days before their trip. Reservations are accepted for table service restaurants and are strongly recommended.

Disney resort guests have the opportunity to book reservations for their whole trip when they reach 60 days before their check-in day. Off site guests can make their reservations 60 days before each date they wish to dine on property (so if you were going for a week starting May 1st and staying off site you could make your reservation for May 1st on March 2nd, and then make a reservation for May 2nd on March 3rd, etc. Disney resort guests can do them all at once up to 10 days).

Dining reservation tips

Depending on which restaurants you are trying to get into, you might find that the popular ones book up quickly. How to make sure you get the restaurants you want? There’s no guarantee, but I’ve put together all of my best tips and tricks into this post on how to book hard-to-get dining reservations.

New restaurants at Disney World for 2026

There are several new restaurants and bars that have opened at Disney recently, as well as some scheduled to open sometime next year. Here’s a quick look at what has opened within the past year or two, or is scheduled to open sometime this year:

The Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s Boardwalk (opened November 2024)
Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs (opened 2024)
Wailulu Bar and Grill at the Polynesian resort (opened December 2024)
Geo-82 in Epcot (opened June 2025)
Bourbon Steak at the Swan and Dolphin Resort (opened July 2025)
Beak and Barrel in Magic Kingdom (opening on August 29, 2025)
Grand Floridian lobby bar (opening November 2025)

The theme parks in 2026

Of course at the heart and soul of Disney is the 4 theme parks. Here’s some information about what you can expect when visiting for your Disney World vacation in 2026.

How many Disney theme parks are there in Florida?

Disney World is quite massive – it’s actually made up of 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping/dining district, golf courses, and more. The two main theme parks which you will get admission to with regular park tickets include Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.

How many park days should I plan?

All 4 of the theme parks have plenty to do, so at minimum I would recommend at least 4 full days. I believe that if you have the time, 5-6 days is really ideal. With more than 4 days I strongly recommend a park hopper so you can jump around to the parks you’ve already visited and hit what you missed, or do the highlights again.

Disney Lightning Lanes in 2026

Lightning Lanes are an optional, extra-cost priority access service with entrance to shorter lines for certain attractions.

It replaced Genie+, the system used from 2021-2024. Prior to Genie+ you had Fastpass+ (and fastpasses), which were complimentary.

With Lightning Lane passes, you are allowed to reserve and book 3 attractions per day in advance that will get you access to the shorter queue. Once you’ve used your first ride that day, you can continue to book more attractions. You can learn more about how Disney’s Lightning Lanes work here.

Need more help picking the perfect Lightning Lane attractions? Consider the Disney World Lightning Lane planner – including strategies and tips, Lightning Lane booking worksheets, timeline, FAQs, and much more.

Get your planner here

Virtual queues

In the past, new attractions opening at Disney World have made use of a “virtual queue.” This means that there is no standby line to wait in – you have to enter the queue from the app in the morning. Rise of the Resistance was the first attraction to use it, and you can read all about how that worked here.

There are no attractions currently using the virtual queue system now.

Memory Maker and Photopass

Memory Maker is available in 2026 for a one day purchase, advance purchase, and purchase during or after your trip. You can easily add it on to Disney World 2026 packages at the time of booking or after booking. Disney’s photographers will take your photo at various locations around the theme parks and then you scan your magic band and all of those photos go into your account. You also get all of your on-ride attraction photos. And be on the lookout for “magic shots” – fun photos taken by Photopass photographers with a little bit of extra Disney Magic!

Here is the current pricing:

One day purchase:

$75

Advance purchase (length of trip):

$185

Purchase after trip:

$210

Disney vacation 2026 - Disney in your Day

MagicBands and the mobile app

A MagicBand is a wristband created by Disney that has an RFID chip in it. You can access everything you might need easily just by tapping your band. Your MagicBand can work as your park ticket to scan you into the parks, your room key at your resort, a way to charge purchases to your room if you have a credit card linked, and Lightning Lane passes.

You can purchase a MagicBand ahead of time or when you arrive at the parks. You can also do all of this from the app, so a MagicBand is not required. They start at around $20 for Disney resort guests if you order in advance or $25+ in the parks or on ShopDisney, and have fun Disney designs and are a good option for kids or those who prefer the wristband.

MagicBand+

MagicBand+ is the newest version of MagicBands. In addition to what the current magicbands do, MagicBand+ has interactive with elements in the park. It can play games, light up with nighttime spectaculars, and more. These do come with a charger and need to be charged to use the “extra” features. That being said – if you forget to charge it don’t worry! It will still be able to do all the regular MagicBand functions like working as your room key, tickets, etc without a charge.

Transportation

Whether you’re planning how to get to Orlando, how to get to your resort, or how to get around to the theme parks I’ve got some information for you.

Booking your flight

If you’re still relying on old advice like “book on a Tuesday,” you’re using outdated information. Especially for a Disney World vacation in 2026, the approach will be different.

If you’re looking to find better prices, flexibility is key. The day you arrive or leave is more likely to affect price – typically arriving on a Tuesday or Wednesday is going to be the most affordable option, for example. You’ll pay a lot more to fly home on a Sunday evening than you would on Monday.

It’s also worth it to check out several different airlines, or if you live somewhere that you might be able to travel to multiple airports, see where it’s cheaper to fly out of.

Renting a car

You certainly don’t need to rent a car if you’re staying at a Disney resort, but if you prefer to do it you have options. The Orlando airport (MCO) has many car rental companies, but the ones that are actually in terminal and don’t require a shuttle ride just to get to the car rental location are:

Alamo
Avis
Budget
Dollar
Enterprise
Hertz
National
Payless
Sixt
Thrifty

Car rental prices can vary a lot. You need to factor in when you’re traveling, and for how long.

The past few years saw some big increases in car rental prices. For now, here are some of my quick suggestions when looking at car rentals.

“Pay later” instead of pay now. Yes, you will save money if you pay now, but unless your trip is really soon you can make changes and find cheaper prices if you pay later.
Book early and keep checking prices. Book using pay later and then keep check back to see if prices have changed. If they do you can always adjust your reservation or cancel and book at a different rental company.
Stick with an in terminal company. The ones listed above are typically more reputable as well as easier to get to.
Join the company’s loyalty program. Almost all of the car rental companies have loyalty or rewards programs that are free to join and will get you some perks – typically things like 5% off or the ability to bypass the regular line when you arrive at the airport.

Parking fees

If you are renting a car or will have a vehicle with you, parking fees are something else you need to factor in if you are staying off property. Disney resort guests who choose to drive to the theme parks do not have to pay for parking, but if you are coming from off property then there is a daily parking fee and the theme parks.

Transportation from the airport in 2026

If you’re planning to fly in to Orlando and you won’t be renting a car, you’ll need to get from the airport to your resort.

Unfortunately, the free option Disney used to offer to get from the airport to your Disney resort, Magical Express, was discontinued starting in 2022. That means that airport transportation is no longer part of Disney World 2026 packages. If you’re not a renting a car you could use a rideshare like Uber or Lyft, a shuttle company like Mears, or hire a private car service. The best option for you will depend on your budget, the size of your family, if you need a car seat accommodated, etc.

Planning a Disney trip on a budget in 2026

There is so much that goes into planning a Disney trip on a budget that I could honestly write a whole book about it (and maybe someday I will). But I’ll just give a couple of quick tips and general guidelines here if you’re hoping to for a Disney World vacation in 2026 but you need to stay within a lower budget.

How much to budget

There are SO MANY factors that play into this, including how many people are traveling, when you’re going, and how long you want to stay. You can plan a vacation at Disney for under $3500 for a family of 4 if you’re flexible. You can also easily spend twice that and budget $7000 or more if you want a longer trip, a hotel in a prime location, traveling during spring break or Christmas, etc.

If you’re looking for some tools to help you determine your potential budget, I’d recommend starting with my Disney World Budget Calculator. This will give you a very approximate idea of how much you might be looking to spend. It’s by no means exact, but a good starting point!

From there, the best way to get pricing and options is to contact a travel agent and start working with them. You can also check out my Disney World trip planning printables, which includes a budget worksheet.

Disney World vacation 2026 - Disney in your Day

5 tips for lower prices

Book as soon as you can. Disney packages only require a deposit of $200 and can be changed or cancelled, so book early to lock in the lowest rates – if a discount comes up later to you can apply that discount to an existing reservation.
Go during an “off season.” And the off season may not be when you think. October has become one of the most popular months to travel to Disney and is priced accordingly. Typically the lowest price times for 2026 seem to be the the first half of February, July, August, and September.
Don’t rent a car. By the time you factor in the rental price and the resort parking fees you have a pretty big extra expense. Your best bet is to take a shuttle to your resort and then rely on Disney transportation, which is included at a Disney resort.
Stay at a Disney value resort. My favorite is Pop Century but the All-Star resorts are also fun. Disney value resorts typically have good pricing and are worth paying just a little bit more for rather than choosing an off site hotel.
Understand how much things cost using the budget calculator. I’ve got a calculator that will help you predict how much money you might need depending on your dates, resort, number of people, and more – having an understanding of these things will help you figure out what works best and save you the most money.

Disney World 2026 deals

Are there any deals or discounts available for your Disney World vacation in 2026 right now? Disney typically only releases discounts a few months ahead of time, so we currently have most discounts only through December 2025.

That being said, there are a few promos going on that might help for your 2026 vacation!

FREE dining plan for kids (ages 3-9) in 2026
Available for arrivals in 2026. Travelers ages 10+ must have the dining plan added to the reservation to qualify.
View full details here

Disney Visa sign-on bonus
If sign up for a Disney Visa credit card, you can earn Disney Dollars – which can be used to help pay for your vacation. New sign-ups usually get a pretty nice bonus, like $300 worth of points. There are sometimes Disney World discounts only available to their Visa cardholders, too.
View full details here

We often will also see deals for Annual Passholders, Florida residents, and military members.

More 2026 discounts will most likely be released throughout the year, so keep an eye on Disney World’s “special offers” page!

Disney World tips and tricks for 2026

I have lots of good tips about traveling to Disney and trip planning elsewhere on this website (start at my Disney World Planning page for more) but I’ll quickly highlight my top 5 tips for planning and booking your Disney World vacation in 2026 specifically:

Plan ahead and plan early. Disney is a vacation that is made for planners. You will benefit in many ways by planning ahead, including saving money and making sure you have the best chance of booking what you want.
Look at the dining plan options – and Disney menus/pricing. Now that the dining plans are back, they might be a great option for you to save some money and have a more stress-free vacation! I recommend looking at the dining plan options as well as menus for places you may want to eat. The cost might seem high for the dining plan, but food is expensive at Disney. So take all factors into consideration!
Consider visiting during the summer. I know, it’s hot. But if lower crowds are a priority the summer is actually going to be a decent time to go. The past few years it’s been getting less crowded in favor of better weather months like October and March. Combine that with the fact that this past year many people (and companies) realize their jobs are more flexible and they can work remotely and even some kids have switched the homeschooling or virtual school. Also in the past few years we’ve seen the year round school calendar become a more popular option. There are fewer people who are locked into visiting during July and August now.
Keep up to date with changes. Disney typically requires a lot of planning, though in the past you could get away with not doing too much. Now you need to know that you can’t get into the parks without a park pass reservation. If you’re thinking about Lightning Lanes, that’s being tweaked as well. I created the Disney World vacation planning printables to help keep track of everything.
If you’re thinking about a value resort, check the moderates too. Lots of people love the value resorts to save money, but due to their popularity the prices have gone up. The moderates are also larger, so you’ll find more rooms available at Coronado Springs or Caribbean Beach. Even though at first glance they may look more expensive, they often get much better discounts too. It may not be that much more for a moderate.