It’s never too early to start planning your next Disney World vacation, even if it’s not until next year!
Riviera Resort
2026 could be the best year to visit Disney World yet, with new shows debuting soon and a new nighttime parade in full swing by then. If you’ve found yourself struggling to make a decision on where you should call “home” during your trip, we’re giving you nine reasons why a Disney World hotel could make sense for you.
So you’ve decided you’re going to visit Disney World (maybe again) in 2026, lucky you! We’re right beside you, cheering loudly as you excitedly count down the days until your trip is here.
Magic Kingdom
But, before you arrive, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind for 2026, and they’ve become big time, money, and exhaustion savers that Disney’s actually built into the trip for you! Let’s break down the perks you’ll enjoy of staying at a Disney World hotel in 2026.
Free Dining Plan (for kids)
Disney World’s ever-popular free dining plan has just been confirmed to return for 2026!
A meal at Tiffins
This popular perk will apply to kids ages 3 to 9 when purchasing a dining plan as part of their package or hotel stay for the other members of their party (ages 10 and up).
Cheeseburger Pod Kid’s Meal from Satu’li Canteen
The best part about this offer is that it CAN be combined with other special offers your hotel stay or package may be eligible for through Disney World. So don’t be afraid to take advantage of other deals Disney World may roll out later for 2026.
Early Theme Park Entry
Continuing through 2026, Disney World hotel guests will enjoy more time in the parks with 30 minutes of Early Theme Park Entry every day, at Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT.
Early Entry
This means that just by staying at a Disney World hotel during your vacation, you’ll already have a head start in the parks to knock out some of your favorite rides and attractions.
Extended Evening Hours
Additionally, Disney World hotel guests staying at a deluxe or deluxe villa hotel will also continue to have access to Extended Evening Hours at select theme parks on certain days.
Tree of Life
This perk was one that hotel guests seemed to use to their advantage when day visitors had cleared out for the evening to ride popular rides with typically higher wait times over again, and with minimal wait times!
Complimentary Transportation & Parking
Complimentary theme park transportation via monorail, boat, bus, and Disney Skyliner is all included when you choose to stay at any of the Disney World hotels.
Skyliner
Disney World hotel guests who prefer to drive themselves around Disney World will also enjoy free standard parking at hotels, theme parks, and water parks .
Early Access To Key Disney World Add-Ons
Early access to Advance Dining Reservations is also another returning perk. While everyone (including day visitors) can make advance dining reservations at 60 days out from the day of dining, Disney World hotel guests are able to make reservations beginning 60 days out from the day of check-in and up to 10 days out through their hotel stay.
Hollywood Brown Derby spread
Purchases for Disney World’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass to help you skip the standby line for your entire stay will continue to be available to Disney World hotel guests as early as 7 days in advance of your first day’s visit. Day visitors not staying at a Disney World hotel will be able to make purchases as early as 3 days in advance of their visit.
Lightning Lane
As special events happen seasonally around Disney World, another returning perk will return for 2026.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Those looking to get a jump start on securing tickets for these events, like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, will be eligible for advance purchase at the beginning of sales for these events, which tend to sell out quickly!
Free Water Park Ticket
Anyone staying at a Disney World hotel will also continue one of the newest perks to hit the scene. On check-in day, each person on the hotel reservation will be treated to a free water park ticket (subject to availability).
Blizzard Beach
Since you’ll likely see this ticket electronically linked to you, you’ll want to make sure your hotel reservation is linked in your My Disney Experience app in advance! We think this is a huge perk for those looking for something to do on check-in day that is easy to pop into at practically any part of the day and isn’t too stressful of an activity right off the bat for vacation.
Bookings for Disney World vacations in 2026 start April 22nd, 2025, for travel dates through October 2026. Disney has noted that if your 2026 Disney World trip falls sometime in November and December, bookings for those two months will become available at a later date. However, if you find that you still can’t quite hold off that long for a visit, Disney World is currently running several special offers available now for 2025 that include discounted hotel stays, theme park tickets, and, of course, hotel and ticket package offers.
Stay tuned with us at DFB for all the latest Disney news, updates, changes, and more as you continue planning your upcoming Disney World vacations!
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What other perks will you be taking advantage of during your visit to Disney World in 2026? Leave them for us in the comments below!
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Just a reminder you have to be in the US to book LL 7 days in advance – no good when visiting from oversees. It feels so unfair to be at such a disadvantage when already paying so much to get to Florida!
I thought we already had the mentioned perks. I was hoping for free magical express.
Many of these perks were never going away. Early entry and late evening are part of staying on property. Disney would not dare take that away with Epic already wreaking havoc.
WIsh they’d bring back the service where they will deliver items you purchase in the park to your hotel.
What a mid-level list. “Perk”at Disney seems to be their term for offers with fine-print conditions that compel spending more money to be eligible to enjoy the benefit. Considering the excitement building for EU, the multiple ride closures and Frontierland becoming a giant construction fence, one might hope that Disney would feel compelled to reinstate the perks that were really meaningful that they took away in the last five years.
Disappointed that there is nothing new in this list…guess I didn’t read the headline close enough 😛
I keep hoping that WDW will get back to delivering purchases made in the parks to WDW Resorts so I don’t have to schlep bags all around the park all day. Disney is leaving money on the table here.
These don’t feel much like perks after Disney took away Magic Express, free package delivery, evening extra magic hours for ALL hotel guests, booking restaurants 180 days in advance, booking free fast passes at 60 days, and free parking at resorts.
We used to love the “Disney Bubble” and how outstanding the service was; now we travel elsewhere. ?
They need to bring back the fabulous service of delivering items purchased in the parks to your hotel room. Even if they just started with deluxe hotels or club level until they can manage all resorts. That’s the only perk I really miss.
I’d maybe consider changing the headline to 1 perk returning and 8 continuing as this was nothing to write home about. Also for Dani’s comment please check online for guides on how to change your Disney app settings to allow you to get LL purchases when you aren’t in the US, I just had to update one or two things on the app and it worked for me last year
I agree with Kristy and Greg. Such a disappointing list. When they add in free magic bands and free merch delivery to hotel, I might get a little more excited. But we have lost SO much in the past five years, that we no longer have any desire to stay on property.