We can’t believe we’re saying this, but it’s already time for 2026! This means it’s time to plan our next Disney World trip.
We’ve been planning Disney World trips since 1999, and each year brings new fun and new challenges. From Lightning Lanes to hotel decisions, we’ve got the number one tool to help you plan your next vacation, almost like it was magic.
In 2026, Disney World is going to look a bit different. Construction is running rampant, a new attraction is opening, and fan favorites are headed to the ride graveyard. This can make planning feel overwhelming even for Disney veterans. That’s where our 2026 planning tips come in!
There are quite a few new things you need to consider for your Disney trip this year, like changing your theme park routes. Animal Kingdom is going to be a key example of this! DinoLand U.S.A. isn’t formally closing until February 2nd, 2026, but there are already walls up in the land.
In the past, you could easily circle through the land, ride DINOSUAR, and then keep circling to exit the land and head towards Expedition Everest. Now, the construction in this land will require you to walk around the land before turning right to go straight to the ride, before retracing your steps back out. This isn’t a huge deal, but it definitely means figuring out new walking paths around the park that can take up a big chunk of your day. The land is being closed to make way for the new Tropical Americas land. This construction issue will also be apparent in Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom.
Next, 2026 will require you to hunt down your favorite snacks at new spots. DinoLand closing isn’t just a problem for getting around. Now, some favorite Disney snacks are moving locations. For example, the Restaurantosaurus menu, which included things like burgers, fries, and chicken tenders, will be relocated to Harambe Market. Another favorite of ours, the Buffalo Chicken Chips from Trilo-Bites, has moved to Eight Spoon Cafe on Discovery Island.
You might even need to change how you were using your Lightning Lanes in 2026. Around the theme parks, lands are under refurbishment, rides are getting makeovers, and some are closing soon. Attractions like Big Thunder Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin are under refurbishment, with some big changes coming. They’re both reopening in 2026, but we don’t have a firm reopening date for either attraction.
That means that using Lightning Lane in Magic Kingdom might come with different priorities and strategies. All of these things can feel like a lot to learn and keep up with, especially when you might have a specific budget and timeline. That’s why we’ve created the AllEars Planning Series.
This series will send you specific emails of all the different planning you’re going to need leading up to your trip. From Lightning Lanes to dining reservations and even park hopping, each email will bring different tips and tricks for when you need them during your planning process. We provide different planning spreadsheets and calculators to make every second of the planning period easier!
If you want even more tips for 2026, this series is going to be perfect for you. All you have to do is sign up for the email above and snap! The answers are right in your inbox. Plus, it’s free to you! We can’t wait to use this tool to make planning even easier all throughout 2026 while we continue to report on the daily happenings around Disney World and beyond. Be sure to keep following AllEars for more Disney tips, tricks, and updates!
Six Unspoken Rules for Disney World in 2026
Tell us your best tip for 2026 in the comments!
Too expensive and too much construction, maybe in 3 or 4yrs I’d go back, but until then, epic universe will be my go to, thanks Bob Iger and greedy investors