7 CHANGES Happening in April in Disney World

Spring has sprung in Disney World. The EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival is going on strong, the parks are bursting with colorful flowers, and the Easter displays have arrived at Disney World hotels.

If you’re planning a visit to Disney World in April, you’ll also see some other things happening during the month. So let’s talk about what’s changing in April 2026.

Easter

The first big event to happen in Disney World in April is Easter, which happens on April 5th. Obviously, you can expect to see a lot of crowds in the parks, but you’ll also get to experience a few special surprises, including a chance to meet Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny.

Magic Kingdom also hosts a special Easter parade that you can only see once each year.

Reopening of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

In Magic Kingdom, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has been getting a HUGE update, including new ride vehicles, new blasters, new scenes, and better interactive targets. Even the ride photo got a serious upgrade.

New ride vehicles for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

You’ll be able to ride Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin again as of April 8th. Now, we expect to see long lines when the ride reopens, so you’ll want to plan for that if it’s a priority ride!

runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend

The runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend is coming to Disney World on April 16th through 20th. This year’s theme is all about best friends duos, and we’ve even seen a sneak peek at the medals.

One thing to keep in mind if you’re visiting Disney World that weekend and you’re not participating in the event, you’ll see more crowds than usual in the parks. So you’ll want to plan for that.

Junior World & World Cheerleading Championships

If you’ve ever visited Disney World during a dance team or cheerleading championship weekend, you’ve more than likely run into huge crowds while that’s happening at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Well, from April 22nd through 24th, the Junior World & World Cheerleading Championships are happening, so you’ll want to keep an eye out for that.

Note that, in general, the teams stay at Disney’s All-Star Resorts, so those hotels will probably be more full during that time. You’ll also undoubtedly see teams rehearsing throughout the day at the hotels.

Cheerleading Worlds

Another big competition is happening after that. Cheerleading Worlds will start on April 24th and run through April 27th. This means that you’ll be seeing a lot of extra people in the parks and at the All-Star Resorts.

The Summit Championship

The Summit Championship brings junior and senior teams in the non-Worlds divisions of cheerleading to compete. This year, the championship is happening April 30th through May 3rd.

As we mentioned, you’ll see a lot more people at the All-Star resorts and at the parks.

Fantasmic! change

If seeing Fantasmic! in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a priority, you need to know that the hours for the show will be changing starting on April 24th.

Instead of 8:30 PM, Fantasmic! will now start at 9 PM. This generally happens because it’s starting to get darker later this time of year.

Pool Area reopens at All-Star Sports

In late April, the Surfboard Bay Pool and kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort will reopen after a refurbishment. So if you’re visiting later in the month, you’ll have the opportunity to visit this pool area after it reopens.