DISNEY NEWS ROUNDUP: Ticket & Resort Sales Announced; Menus for Festival of the Arts Released; Free Water Park Benefit Returns; Full Cool Kid Summer Details; New Quick Service in Toy Story Land; runDisney Calendar & More

Chad & Cindy NykampJanuary 10, 2026Last Updated: January 10, 2026

The first week of the new year brought a LOT of news from Disney. Disney released full details for the 2026 edition of Cool Kid Summer, which also included several special room and ticket sales, confirmation of the return of a great resort guest benefit, and all the special offerings coming this summer. We got menus for the Festival of the Arts opening this week, and a bunch of updates from the parks, restaurants, and more.

Check out full details on these stories and more below in this week’s Disney news roundup.

1 – Disney Announces Summer Sales Offers Including Free Nights, Kids Eat Free & Discounts

As part of the Cool Kid Summer celebration, Disney World is offering some sweet sales, including free nights, free dining for kids, and more.

For a full list of sales offers along with all the details you need to get planning, click here.

2 – Disney Announces Discounted Ticket Deals

Calling all Disney World fans who like saving money on tickets. Disney World has announced special reduced-price ticket offers just for you. The new offers provide a significant discount over the regular admission price and offer surprising flexibility so you can plan a visit that is just right for you.

For full details, click here.

3 – Disney Unveils Full Menus for 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts

Disney World’s most underrated festival, Festival of the Arts, is just around the corner. In preparation for the 2026 edition, Disney has released the full menu lineup. As usual, it all looks fantastic.

View the full menus here.

4 – Disney Announces Return of Free Water Park Benefit

Last year, Disney added a perk for hotel guests that we thought was the best idea they’ve had in a long time: free water park admission. Besides saving money on the best water parks on the planet, it’s a great option to have a blast on your first day without burning a park ticket.

For full details on this resort benefit, click here.

5 – 10 New Things Coming to Walt Disney World in 2026 We’re So Excited For!

Happy New Year! At Walt Disney World, 2026 will bring ten all-new and reinvigorated attractions and experiences! Here’s a glimpse of what’s coming in 2026, offering even more reasons to visit this magical destination all year round.

For a list of the top 10 new things coming to Walt Disney World in 2026, click here.

6 – Disney Reveals Tons of Details on Cool Kid Summer Special Offerings

Cool Kid Summer is officially returning in 2026. Festivities kick off May 26, 2026, with special character appearances, major attraction re-openings, special activities, and more, including a variety of sales to make summer even better.

There are a ton of special offerings all summer long. Check out the details here.

7 – New Quick Service Snack Location Opens in Toy Story Land

Toy Story Land now has another quick snack option. This one has Pizza Planet fans buzzing because the location is bringing back Pizza Planet Spring rolls. Great for an afternoon refuel, the spring rolls have a crispy shell filled with pepperoni and cheese, and come with marinara sauce for dipping. The kiosk also offers popcorn, which at Walt Disney World is officially a vegetable, so have as much as you want!

8 – runDisney Releases 2026-27 Race Calendar & Race Experience Details

We’re huge fans of runDisney events, and this week, runDisney released the 2026-27 race calendar along with details on the experience runners can expect at each event.

For full details on runDisney events and the 2026 schedule, click here.

9 – Coral Reef Restaurant Discontinues Lunch Service

If you’re looking for a table with a view, Coral Reef is a great option. Located within The Seas pavilion at EPCOT’s World Nature, Coral Reef gives guests amazing views of the massive aquariums and the incredible variety of sea creatures they contain. Moving forward, Coral Reef will no longer offer lunch service. The restaurant will now open at 4pm and offer dinner only.

10 – Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios Moving to a New Time

Heads up if you’re planning to enjoy Fantasmic, the nighttime spectacular at Hollywood Studios. Traditionally held at 9:30 pm, the show will now be offered an hour earlier, at 8:30 pm.

11 – Jungle Cruise Reopens

One of the highlights of the holiday season at Walt Disney World is the Jungle Cruise’s holiday overlay. In addition to holiday decorations spread throughout the queue and attractions, skippers work in special holiday-themed jokes. Don’t worry, the jokes for the holiday versions are just as bad as always.

After a short closure to remove the holiday overlay, the Jungle Cruise has reopened and has resumed normal operations.

12 – Pete’s Silly Side Show Closes for Refurbishment

Pete’s Silly Side Show, one of the primary areas in Magic Kingdom where you can meet a variety of characters, has closed for refurbishment. During the refurbishment, character meet-and-greets will be available outside the location, weather permitting.

13 – Disney Announces Release Date & Details for New Behind-the-Scenes Documentary

Disney will soon release a new documentary that fans of the Disney parks and Disney history will love. Disneyland Handcrafted, an in-depth exploration of the origin and process of bringing Walt’s vision for a place where parents and children could have fun together, will debut later this month on Disney+ and Disney YouTube.

Find more details here.

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