Why You Should Visit Disney World This Summer

Walt Disney World is currently undergoing the largest overhaul in its 55-year history.

Every theme park will add something new and different over the next 24 months.

Many of those updates will arrive as soon as Memorial Day.

Here’s why you should visit Walt Disney World this summer.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Reopens

More than a year ago, Magic Kingdom did the unthinkable.

In order to build a bigger, better version of Villains Land, Disney reclaimed some space.

Alas, some of that real estate had previously belonged to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

So, Disney needed to remove the tracks on the existing ride and rebuild them from scratch.

The process took more than a year, but it has nearly been completed.

By this summer, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will reopen with its new track layout.

Disney has also plussed the ride with an entirely new scene, Rainbow Caverns.

Yes, one of Magic Kingdom’s best roller coasters will be better than ever in 2026!

Bluey Arrives     

Here’s the headline attraction, even though it’s not technically a Disney property.

A few years ago, Disney wisely snagged the rights to Bluey, a relatively unknown Australian cartoon.

Well, it was relatively unknown then, but it’s a legitimate global phenomenon now.

So, Disney cleverly doubled down on its previous success by acquiring Bluey rights for its theme parks and cruises.

Let’s just say that this will be the summer of Bluey at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Imagineers are currently creating an entirely new space at Conservation Station for this encounter.

Disney’s going all out, too. It’s introducing some native Australian animals in this area of the park.

The company’s doing this just to make the Bluey experience as authentic as possible.

For kids, this will be the greatest thing Disney has done since, well Mickey Mouse.

The presence of Bluey alone will make parents heroes for scheduling Disney vacations this summer.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin 2.0 Opens

Under Josh D’Amaro, Disney has prioritized the plussing of existing attractions.

That’s a Disney term for taking a good attraction and making it even better.

The company has done that with several other rides, such as Test Track and Country Bear Musical Jamboree.

Currently, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is receiving similar treatment.

Disney is updating the light guns to make them more modern, and the displays will change, too.

In addition, Imagineers are creating an entirely new scene on the ride.

So, Space Ranger Spin will legitimately be better than ever when it returns.

To a larger point, guests who haven’t visited Tomorrowland in a few years will barely recognize it.

Cool Kids’ Summer

Yes, the 2025 sensation will return in 2026! Even better, Disney is adding more to it!

The company has cheekily changed the name from Cool Kid Summer to Cool Kids’ Summer.

That’s not a typo but rather a subtle point that this year’s events will be more organized.

Last year, Disney tested the theory that families would love more interactive games.

These activities give children something to do while their parents can relax a bit.

This year’s version of Cool Kids’ Summer includes a new show, Toy Story Pals.

Remarkably, that’s not even the best part. It’ll be at the Diamond Horseshoe!

Disney hasn’t hosted a show here in a generation, which makes Toy Story Pals a summer must-do.

However, every Walt Disney World theme park will host its own unique interactive events.

Cool Kids’ Summer should rival the Bluey encounter as your child’s favorite things at Disney in 2026.

Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! Debuts

Several months ago, Disney closed Animation Courtyard to create something even better.

As part of this move, Disney shuttered the previous Disney Jr. show in this area.

When the new themed land opens on the same spot, a new show will debut.

Better yet, this one stars the beloved characters of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

In case you didn’t know, this version of Mickey Mouse and friends is among the most popular programs for small children.

So, a show starring these characters will delight your kids every bit as much as Bluey. This show represents just one of several significant changes coming to this area. Speaking of which…

The Magic of Disney Animation Makes a Triumphant Comeback

Here’s my favorite story from this entire list, as I hated a certain 2015 change.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios took a giant step into its Star Wars Era by closing an attraction.

Park officials reclaimed the space at The Magic of Disney Animation to use it for Star Wars Launch Bay.

The previous version of this area should have been sacred ground for Disney.

Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders created Lilo & Stitch here, but Bob Chapek didn’t care.

He’d recently become the head of Disney theme parks and made his big move with Star Wars. However, the arrival of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge made Star Wars Launch Bay feel rather superfluous.

So, Disney has gone back to the future by unleashing Imagineers on this building.

Now, a new version of The Magic of Disney Animation will open this summer.

In truth, it’ll be a glorified play area plus a ton of character greetings.

Disney promises that parts of the experience will mirror the Once Upon a Studio short.

Also, Imagineers will honor the art of Mary Blair and the story of Alice in Wonderland here.

We’re about to get a joyous new hangout spot right in the middle of Hollywood Studios!

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Part Two

As Josh D’Amaro himself recently stated, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run needed some help.

I vividly recall describing it as a double rather than a homerun back in 2019.

With the benefit of hindsight, I probably overstated it, as this ride’s more of a solid single.

The visual of a life-sized Millennium Falcon impaired my judgement over the nature of the ride.

As I’ve often stated, it’s a glorified update of Star Tours, albeit one with gamified elements.

However, D’Amaro acknowledged that fans like rather than love the original version.

That’s partially because Disney eliminated several proposed missions and stuck with just one.

After nearly seven years, we’d all like more, and Disney will thoughtfully oblige us soon.

During the week of the release of The Mandalorian & Grogu in theaters, the characters will arrive on the ride.

The Mandalorian and his adopted Baby Yoda are becoming the new stars of Smugglers Run.

You and I both know that fans will love them much better than another round of Coaxium acquisition.

The Muppets Rock a Roller Coaster

I give Disney tons of credit for timing this one well, as The Muppets are undergoing a renaissance.

Sabrina Carpenter recently appeared in a standalone episode of The Muppets.

That one episode has absolutely dominated Disney+ viewing for a couple of weeks.

So, any ill will over the closure of Muppet*Vision 3D appears to be a thing of the past.

Now, we’re all ready to forgive and forget in the form of a new Muppets ride.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will oblige by dumping Aerosmith in favor of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.

This version, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, will arrive this summer.

We’re all excited to see how much different the ride looks and feels with The Muppets.

Soarin’ Across America

The United States of America turns 250 years old on July 4^th, 2026.

Since The Walt Disney Company opened in 1923, it has been a patriotic business.

So, we shouldn’t be surprised to learn that Disney will throw a huge party to celebrate America’s milestone birthday.

As part of the 2026 Disney Celebrates America event, we’re getting a new ride!

Soarin’ Across America will temporarily replace Soarin’ Around the World.

We don’t know how long this slice of Americana will be available at the park. Thus, I’d encourage you to visit Disney World this summer just in case it’s a limited-time experience.

Of course, with all these wonderful experiences available during the summer, you should want to do that anyway.

Your best bet is to contact an agent at MickeyTravels, the Diamond Earmarked agency.

Even though MickeyTravels is literally the best of the best, its agents provide their services for free to you.

They know all the best current discounts available for Disney World this summer.

So, they can turn your dream vacation into a reality.

Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below. One of the agents from MickeyTravels, an EarMarked By Disney – Authorized Travel Agency – Diamond Level, will be in touch soon!

Feature Photo: Disney