Since the Contemporary and Polynesian Resort opened with Walt Disney World on opening day in 1971, Disney hotel guests have had access to numerous perks while staying on property, ranging from transportation to dining and park access.
Guests staying at a Disney hotel in 2026 will have access to several perks, including some popular options that are turning after having been successfully introduced in 2025.
Free Water Park Tickets… with a Catch
In 2025, Disney introduced a new water park perk for hotel guests, which gave each member of their party admission to one of Walt Disney World’s water parks on their check-in day.
While the park is confirmed to return in 2026, it will only be offered during the summer season.
30 Minute Early Entry… with Character!
Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels (and select other hotels) can take advantage of a 30-minute early entry into each of Walt Disney World’s theme parks every day of their stay (including check-in and check-out days).
Furthermore, as part of the returning Cool Kids Summer promotion, Disney will offer special character meet & greets during Early Entry. There’s no list of which characters will be available in each park, but they WILL be different! Disney is encouraging guests to visit the different parks for Early Entry throughout their trip so they can take advantage of all the special meet and greets.
Extended Evening Hours
Extended Evening Hours are offered at select Walt Disney World theme parks on select nights. However, these two extra hours are only available to guests at Disney Deluxe Tier or Deluxe Villa resort guests.
Early Lightning Lanes
Guests staying at Walt Disney World Hotels can begin booking their Lightning Lanes 7 days in advance of the first day of their stay for the duration of their stay (up to 14 days). This is 4 days sooner than non-Disney guests who’ve purchased theme park tickets.
Dining Reservations
Disney hotel guests can also book their dining 60 days in advance of the first day of their stay, once again for the full duration of their stay (up to 14 days).
Character Appearances
In 2025, certain Disney hotels hosted scheduled character meet & greets on their property, and that’s going to continue in 2026. This is a game-changer for guests who are now able to have a taste of the park’s character encounters on days when they choose not to leave their hotels.
These are just some of the perks available to guests staying at Walt Disney World hotels in 2026. Stay tuned to AllEars for more on Disney’s newest offers.
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Are you staying at a Disney hotel in 2026? Let us know in the comments below.
Yes, Yacht Club so I can take my dog.