Despite it being the ‘off-year’ before blockbuster new land & attraction additions, 2026 is shaping up to be big for Walt Disney World. There’s obviously going to be a lot of construction, but there are also significant changes, ride reimaginings, special events, and other additions on the horizon.
Much of this has already been covered at length in Walt Disney World’s 2026 Calendar of Events: Dates & Details for Reimagined Rides, Areas & Attractions. That details everything from Bluey to Buzz Lightyear to the return of Cool Kid Summer, and more.
However, there’s a lot that was absent from that calendar, from new/upcoming discounts to operational updates to ride closures to on-site perks changing and more. Think of this as a ‘clean-up’ post that covers the significant changes starting in Winter 2026 of which you should be aware…
Christmas Concludes
Walt Disney World will wrap up most substantive holiday offerings by December 31, 2025. That’s when all of the ‘free’ entertainment in Magic Kingdom will end, along with Merry Menagerie at Animal Kingdom and just about everything else. EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays actually ends one day earlier, on December 30th, to prepare for New Year’s Eve.
Unofficially, the non-entertainment Christmas festivities will wind down the first week of January 2026, with Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (January 7-11, 2026) being when the music stops and decorations start coming down. It doesn’t happen overnight, so you’ll still see trees, garland, lights, etc. into the second half of the month.
For reference, last year’s decorations didn’t come down until January 15th in Magic Kingdom. This is slightly later than normal, but it’s due to the WDW Marathon occurring almost a full week late.
Discounts Debut
For all intents and purposes, discounts dried up during the heart of the holiday season. However, several discounts for next year are already available, with more to be released in early January 2026.
Already-available special offers include the deeply-discounted Disney+ 3-Day, 3-Park WDW Ticket, the popular Save Up to $250 Per Night at Walt Disney World in Winter to Summer 2026 special offer and the straightforward Save Up to 25% Off WDW Resorts Room-Only Discount for January to Spring Break 2026. There’s also the $99 Per Night at Walt Disney World in Winter 2026.
The most impactful of these, from the perspective of crowds, is the 3-Day, 3-Park Walt Disney World Ticket Deal. This is a date-based ticket with start dates from January 12 to May 22, 2026. There will almost certainly be an even deeper discount on tickets for Florida residents that runs roughly the same dates and is eligible at all 4 parks.
These help boost attendance, and contribute to crowds. That’s not normally noticeable year over year, since very similar special offers are offered annually. However, the 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket Deal and $99/Night Room Discount are not normally offered during this timeframe. Meaning either that crowds could be even higher than normal–or that Walt Disney World is offering these deals to offset lower attendance and occupancy projections.
Starlight Schedule Shifts
We’ve reported at length on the ‘Starlight Schedule Shenanigans’ since the new night parade debuted over the summer. Typically, it’s been performed twice per night at Magic Kingdom on dates when the park doesn’t close early for the Halloween or Christmas parties.
Although the times have changed a lot, and not always in a predictable or historically-consistent manner, 2 performances on full operating days has been the norm. That changes in early 2026.
Starlight is scheduled for 7:45 pm nightly every day (so far) in January 2026. It has a second performance at 10:30 pm the first few days, and then 10 pm after that. Except Tuesday through Thursday, January 6-8, 2026. On those dates, there’s only one Starlight–the 7:45 pm showtime.
The schedule only goes through January 10, 2026 at present, but we’d expect this to be the new-normal cadence for the winter, with only one performance on weeknights during slower dates (January 6-8 qualifies, as will most weeks until mid-winter break).
On the one hand, we had hoped that Starlight would have two nightly performances for its first year. On the other hand, the first 10 days of January have more Starlight showtimes than most weeks from August through December, even with only a single performance on those weeknights.
On balance, we’re not worked up about this and would not deem it a cutback–so long as peak weeks still have two nightly performances. This is hardly unprecedented; Walt Disney World has reduced night parades to a single performance during off-peak dates in the past. Even on moderate crowd dates, the parade route (particularly in Frontierland and Liberty Square) doesn’t really fill up for the second performance.
Cinderella Castle Construction Commences
The Cinderella Castle makeover will start in early 2026. This project will involve repainting the Magic Kingdom icon in a more classic color scheme, restoring its pre-50th Anniversary appearance. The updated Cinderella Castle will feature grays, creams, blues, and touches of gold aiming to enhance the castle’s architecture.
Walt Disney World has announced that guests will notice work around Cinderella Castle beginning in early January 2026. A specific start date was not shared, but our expectation is on or after January 5, 2026. The project will begin with the draining of the moat prepare for painting. The project will continue with equipment staged in the moat. Once work begins in earnest, cranes and lifts will be elevated during the morning hours.
Beginning January 28, 2026, there will also be temporary adjustments to entertainment. This includes a modified “Let the Magic Begin” welcome show. The other daytime show, “Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire,” will continue to be available with minor adjustments. Likewise, the Happily Ever After fireworks will also continue to be shown with minor adjustments.
Walt Disney World shared that the new color scheme will debut “later in 2026.” An exact end date has not yet been announced, nor has even a season. The project is expected to last several months, although the “later in 2026” timeline suggests it could be longer.
EPCOT’s Best Fest Starts
The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is a global celebration of the visual, culinary, and performing arts. It’s technically the newest special event of the year at Walt Disney World, even though 2026 is its 10th year. After flying under the radar for a while, EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts has finally come into its own in the last few years–fueled by Figment and fans finally recognizing it’s EPCOT’s best fest.
Nevertheless, the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts remains a really short event. It’s about on par with Festival of the Holidays, but shorter than Flower & Garden or Food & Wine–even the scaled back versions of both. It also occurs during one of the best times of the year at Walt Disney World, albeit one that’s becoming increasingly busy.
The 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts will run from January 16 until February 23, 2026. That means the 2026 FARTs will last for a grand total of 39 days, which is still too short! Highlights include the Disney on Broadway Concert Series, Food Studios, Figment Scavenger Hunt and more. Honestly, our favorite thing to do is simply wander around, watching artists create and browsing booths. It’s a great opportunity to see and interact with incredibly talented Disney artists. See our Guide to the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts for more recommendations.
Countdown to Extinction
Walt Disney World has officially announced that the closure date for DINOSAUR is February 2, 2026. Meaning the last day to experience the attraction before extinction is February 1, 2026. The same goes for everything else that’s still open in Dinoland USA.
Several closures have already happened, as this has been a phased closure that started a year ago–back in January 2025. Since then, Dinoland USA has become a maze of construction walls.
With that said, Walt Disney World has given DINOSAUR a long goodbye and clear ‘countdown to extinction.’ There’s already a merchandise line and special on-ride photo. It’s unclear what else, if anything, will be done to celebrate DINOSAUR’s demise in early 2026. Nevertheless, we expect elevated crowds and wait times in the land in the final month before the extinction event. This should not impact attendance as a whole or overall wait times at Animal Kingdom.
Extended Evening Hours Everywhere!
Extended Evening Hours is a free on-site guest perk for Walt Disney World guests staying at a Deluxe Resorts, DVC Villas, and select other hotels. We love Extended Evening Hours (ExEH) and find it to be a great, no-cost alternative to After Hours. Much better than the defunct Evening Extra Magic Hours.
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours is usually offered after regular park closing on Monday nights at EPCOT and Wednesday nights at Magic Kingdom. That schedule does change from time to time, but is accurate much of the time.
See Walt Disney World’s official calendar for specific times for each event night. Note that if regular hours are added causing park closing to occur later, which happens frequently, Extended Evening Hours shifts to after that.
Winter 2026 is one such exception to the aforementioned schedule. Normally, it’s this time of year when things return to normal after being upended during Party Season. But this January, all four parks will host the perk. The good news is that normalcy is being restored, as Extended Evening Hours will then be held at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on January 1, 2026 before it moves back to Magic Kingdom for the schedule reset starting Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
EPCOT mostly continues to host on Mondays, with one exception. Disney’s Hollywood Studios returns to the Extended Evening Hours schedule on Monday, January 26, 2026, in what appears to be a one-off (for now). Another one-off occurs a couple of days later, when Animal Kingdom hosts ExEH in place on Magic Kingdom on January 28, 2026.
This is notable because we saw more ‘schedule anomalies’ for ExEH last year than normal, and 2026 is already shaping up similarly. We’d strongly recommend keeping an eye on the calendar, as there’s always a chance EPCOT and Magic Kingdom won’t be hosting on Mondays and Wednesdays for the remainder of Winter 2026 until Party Season.
After Hours Returns
Disney After Hours return in early 2026 after the peak season crowds subside at Walt Disney World. The hard ticket event starts on January 12, 2026 at Magic Kingdom; January 14, 2026 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios; and January 22, 2026 at EPCOT.
The parties run through July 27, 2026 at Magic Kingdom; September 12, 2026 at DHS; and September 24, 2026 at EPCOT. Animal Kingdom still isn’t participating in After Hours, which is probably because its initial experiment with the offering didn’t go so well.
After Hours events let you enjoy a Walt Disney World theme park for three additional hours after regular park hours, plus a mix-in. After Hours events include “free” treats such as ice cream, popcorn and select beverages.
The main selling point of Disney After Hours events is that the number of tickets for these events is limited, which means lower wait times for some of your favorite attractions. Unlike Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, these After Hours evenings are advertised as low crowds events.
During After Hours, you’ll typically encounter walk-on waits for most attractions, although headliners can have longer lines. Added entertainment (mostly meet & greets and DJs) is also being highlighted for 2026, but we wouldn’t buy tickets on that basis.
In our view, After Hours makes the most sense as a quasi-VIP splurge. Prices have increased over the last few years to the point that the special event no longer makes sense for us, especially as Annual Passholders. First-timers or infrequent visitors might be a different story entirely. If your party is full of night owls, we’d certainly recommend After Hours–especially at Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Hollywood Studios–over Lightning Lane Premier Pass!
Water Park Freebie Ends…For Now.
Walt Disney World has confirmed the return of the free water park day in 2026, but with an important caveat. With this perk, resort hotel guests can enjoy admission to one of the water parks, Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon, on their check-in day. This was a new perk that debuted with stays this year. Room-only reservations, vacation packages and Disney Vacation Club stays on points will all be eligible–but all guests must be on the reservation.
For 2026, the perk is changing. Here’s what Walt Disney World officially announced: “Coming back in summer 2026, Disney Resort hotel guests can get free water park admission on their check-in day (subject to availability). Additional details, including specific dates, will be shared at a later time.”
Those specifics have yet to be shared. Regardless, the perk will end in early 2026 and won’t return for at least a few months. This is likely because water parks are less popular during the chilly winter months, and their operations are inconsistent. Last winter through early spring, the water parks were closed more often than they were open due to weather.
Speaking of which, Walt Disney World has revealed that Typhoon Lagoon will close on February 14, 2026. Blizzard Beach will reopen the following day, on February 15, 2026. This changeover happens every single year, with each water park taken offline for a seasonal refurbishment. This is equal parts routine maintenance and lack of demand, as Walt Disney World doesn’t need both water parks this time of year.
Ride Refurbishment Season Starts
Speaking of seasonal closures, the winter “refurbishment season” typically starts the first Monday in January. In looking at the 2026 Walt Disney World Refurbishment Calendar right now, there actually isn’t a whole lot starting on January 5, 2026. Just one closure–and it’s not even a ride!
That could change. Disneyland just scheduled a slew of closures starting on that date (as well as the following Monday), and Walt Disney World’s timing is usually comparable. January 5th gets the parks past peak holiday crowds, and January 12th is after WDW Marathon runners depart.
There are usually a bunch of refurbishments in January and February, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see more added to the calendar over the next couple of weeks (Frozen Ever After is already on there, just not until later in January/February 2026). On the other hand, there are a few ongoing refurbishments and permanent closures, and winter is no longer the off-season. So perhaps not!
Free Dining
As discussed in our Guide to the 2026 Free Dining Deal at Walt Disney World, we’re expecting a return of that popular promotion early next month. Not for travel dates in January–that’s when it’ll be released for late Spring through Fall 2026. We’re hopeful that there’s a new twist or deal sweetener, as Free Dining has decreased in popularity over the last couple of years and will be comparatively worse in 2026 without changes.
The reason for that is simple, which is that the biggest change with the 2026 Disney Dining Plan is that Kids Eat FREE All Year in 2026 at Walt Disney World. Notably, the Kids Free Dining Plan promo can be combined with other special offers. Already, we’ve seen all 2026 room-only discounts eligible to stack with the Kids Free Dining Plan offer, from bouncebacks to general public discounts. Even DVC point rental is eligible for the Kids Free Dining Plan!
Because the Kids Free Dining Plan is the baseline for 2026 and not a special promotion, it’s difficult to see how Free Dining fits into the picture. Maybe it’ll simply be offered like normal without any changes, in which case, Free Dining will be a worse deal for many guests since they’d be better off taking the Kids Free Dining Plan plus a room discount and paying for their own food.
Regardless, we’re expecting Free Dining (hopefully with a sweetener!) along with other special offers to be released in early 2026. Just how aggressive Walt Disney World gets is anyone’s guess, but we like what we’ve seen so far (above) and we’d anticipate better deals for the summer and early fall off-season than what’s already available for winter.
We will be closely monitoring both the 2026 Walt Disney World discount and special offers situation, keeping our ears open for more news. Should something–anything–be released or rumored, we’ll send you an alert if you sign up for our FREE Walt Disney World newsletter.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
How do you feel about Walt Disney World’s changes that starting in January 2026? If you’re a tourist, does this make you want to visit Walt Disney World–or wait? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
