Disney is offering discounted tickets and kid-approved surprises for visitors this summer

Disney World has always been and will always be a place where families can create memories together.

This has been true since Walt Disney opened Disneyland — the original Disney park — in 1955, with the hope that it would be a place where parents and children could have fun together. The biggest difference is that now, in addition to flying away to Neverland with Peter Pan or soaring high in the sky with Dumbo, you can also go down the bayou with Princess Tiana and pilot the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

During a panel discussion with several Disney World executives, I was part of a small group of journalists who heard firsthand how Disney is continually looking for new ways to create magic for families by bringing beloved stories to life.

This summer, all four Disney parks will offer more money-saving opportunities for families along with increased opportunities to meet favorite characters, sing along to popular songs and make cherished memories. Here is everything you have to look forward to when you visit Walt Disney World this summer.

Summertime Disney World discounts

Summer is a “hot” time to visit the parks — not just because of the high temperatures but also because it’s one of the least expensive times for families with school-age kids.

“It’s warm here in the summer, but that’s also the time when we have our longest hours,” Disney World Vice President of Customer Experience and Commercial Strategy Cheslea Filley said during the panel. “There’s a lot of options to maximize your day in the park because you have so much to experience in the nighttime, too,” she added.

There are several ways to save at Disney World this summer. Beginning March 27, you can book with all of the below discounts online or by calling (407) 939-5277.

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG’S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS.

To ensure you choose the discounts that will save you the most money, we recommend working with an authorized Disney vacation planner. They will work with you to ensure you are using the best available discounts to maximize your savings.

Ticket discounts

While Summer is already one of the least expensive times to visit Disney World, but you can save even more this year with a duo of discounts that will be available to book beginning March 27 online or by phone.

For visits between May 27 through Sept. 3, you can purchase a 3-day or longer kids ticket (eligible for children ages 3-9) for 50% off. A regularly priced kids ticket in mid-August costs $371 plus tax, so this deal can amount to significant savings, especially if you are traveling with multiple children. And keep in mind that children two and under can visit for free.

All visitors, regardless of age, can take advantage of a discounted three-day, three-park ticket for as little as $89 per day (pricing varies per date). This ticket is eligible for visits between April 6 through Sept. 22 and includes admission to Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom (only one park per day).

Free Disney Dining plan

Guests who purchase a non-discounted four-night, four-day (or longer) vacation package that includes a Disney hotel room and Park Hopper tickets can get a free Disney Dining plan.

“We know this is a fantastic offer for families that also simplify that experience,” Filley said. “They take the idea of thinking about your dining out of that planning process,” she added.

If you stay in a Disney Deluxe resort, you’ll receive the Disney Dining Plan, which includes one snack, one quick-service meal and one table-service meal each day. If you stay in a Disney Moderate or Value resort, you’ll get the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, which comes with one snack and two quick-service meals daily.

A free Disney Dining Plan can shave hundreds of dollars off the cost of your vacation, but with so many discounts to choose from, you should compare the savings you might get from a ticket or hotel discount with the free dining discount to see which is better.

This offer is good for arrivals on most nights from June 29 through Sept. 30, Oct. 20 through Nov. 1 and Dec. 6 through Dec. 22.

Hotel discounts

When you stay in a Disney World hotel, you can also save up to 30% on your stay for most visits of five nights or longer between August 1 and Oct. 11.

New theme park fun for kids

Disney World is offering much more than savings this summer.

From May 27 through Sept. 1, families can visit new “kid zones” inside the parks.

“We are going to curate simple yet fun entertainment experiences geared toward young families. It’s going to involve characters, music, games and dancing in an area where guests can go and just have fun, relax and get away from it all, but still that their kids have fun,” Disney World senior vice president, operations Jason Kirk said. “The kids can play on their own with their parents just sitting and watching, or of course, their parents can jump in and play as well,” he added.

Disney isn’t revealing full details yet to avoid spoiling the surprise, but they did share that there will be Goofy-themed fun at CommuniCore Hall in Epcot and two kid-zones in Magic Kingdom, a Stitch-themed takeover in Tomorrowland and a yet-to-be-announced zone in Storybook Circus.

These types of experiences give families the chance to go at their own pace rather than rush from ride to ride. I often argue that you miss the true magic of Disney if you cram your day so full of rides that you don’t leave time for spontaneity. My kids all have their favorite rides, but when I ask them to recall their favorite Disney memories, their answers are a time they danced with a character or a silly game they made up in the hotel room.

Disney also shared that guests will see characters in the park during the 30-minute early entry for Disney hotel guests. Unlike a traditional meet-and-greet that you wait in line for, you can expect to see characters roaming around the park.

“They can just wave and say hello on their way to their favorite attraction or they can also just stop and interact with them. It’s just a little more family fun for our guests this summer who come into our parks,” Kirk said.

Summer fun at select Disney World hotels

In addition to the surprise character meetings, poolside games and nightly activities like campfires and movies under the stars, Disney is adding an extra dose of fun to four select resorts this summer.

“We’ve been intentionally choosing resorts that represent every segment, including the value, moderate and Deluxe price points for our guests,” Disney World vice president, resorts operations Alison Armor said.

Guests staying in Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge can experience additional family-friendly activities and character visits at set times. Not only does this make it easier to plan your day, it also makes your time outside of the parks even more magical.

Unbeknownst to me, Disney was already testing this experience during my recent stay at Wilderness Lodge. As soon as we walked into the lobby, Mr. Smee, Pinocchio and a penguin from “Mary Poppins” were greeting guests. My kids were so excited to meet them all that I actually teared up a bit.

New entertainment offerings

These discounts and experiences are in addition to everything new that Disney has already announced for this summer, including the reimagined Test Track at Epcot, the Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom and two new stage shows at Hollywood Studios.

While we are waiting on official opening dates for some of these, Disney announced Wednesday that Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure and Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After will both debut at Hollywood Studios on May 27.

While summer is bringing new experiences to Hollywood Studios this summer, a fan-favorite attraction at Magic Kingdom will soon temporarily close for refurbishment.

“We are going to refresh the Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin attraction with new targets, new blasters and new vehicles,” Creative Portfolio Executive Producer, Walt Disney Imagineering Michael Hundgen said. He shared that the blasters will have haptic responses, and the targets will light up with your specific blaster color so that it’s more clear when you are doing all you can to defeat the aliens.

The attraction will close in August and should reopen sometime in 2026.

Bottom line

At the core of every Disney vacation is the rare opportunity to step out of the real world and into a world where magic is real. Disney’s lineup of summertime entertainment and experiences makes that more true than ever before, and the limited-time discounts make it approachable for families on any budget.

Related reading:

• A magical guide for how to plan a trip to Disney World in 2025
• Tips for visiting Disney World in 2025: 17 ways to save money and have more fun
• This card can get you a free Disney dining plan and up to $400 toward your next vacation
• How to save money at Disney World so you don’t go bibbidi-bobbidi-broke