Disney Summer Magic for Kids!

Wow! Disney World’s Summer 2025 Is Going to Be SPECTACULAR for Kids!

Posted on March 27, 2025

Hello, my Disney-obsessed friends! I’m here with an exciting update featuring lots of Disney summer magic for kids that’s coming for Summer 2025 at Walt Disney World. If you’ve been on the fence about planning a summer Disney World family trip this year, this post might just push you over the edge. Trust me – Summer 2025 at Walt Disney World is shaping up to be THE ultimate kid-focused vacation!

“Cool Kid Summer” Is Coming! 🌞✨

Disney is officially dubbing this the “Cool Kid Summer” and for good reason! From May 27 through September 1, they’re rolling out SO many special experiences designed specifically for families with little ones.

Disney Summer Magic for Kids. Cool Kid Summer Walt Disney World Summer 2025 — Image: Disney Parks

Kid Zones That Will Blow Their Tiny Minds!

Picture this: you’re in Magic Kingdom and the little ones are getting a teensy bit cranky from the heat. Solution? Head to the NEW kid zones in Storybook Circus or hang with STITCH in Tomorrowland! (I can already imagine how excited kids will be – Stitch is such a fan favorite!)

And after the Flower & Garden Festival wraps up at EPCOT, Goofy is taking over CommuniCore Hall for what they’re calling “the ultimate game party and play space.” I don’t know exactly what that means yet, but anything involving Goofy is bound to be lots of fun and perfect for keeping energetic kids entertained!

Early Morning Character Magic!

OK, this tip alone is worth its weight in gold: If you’re staying on property (which I ALWAYS recommend), Disney is rolling out EARLY CHARACTER MEET-AND-GREETS during Early Theme Park Entry! Normally, Characters don’t come out until the park opens, at the earliest. Your kids will get a 30 minute head start over everyone NOT staying on Disney property!

This is HUGE! Meet your favorites with significantly shorter lines before the main crowds arrive. This is the stuff Disney dreams are made of!

Where to Stay for Maximum Kid Fun

If you’ve been debating which resort to book, I’ve got insider intel! Four specific resorts are getting EXTRA special “Cool Kid” treatment this summer:

- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

These four will have additional kid-focused activities, INCLUDING scheduled character visits! As someone who has struggled with the “when will characters show up at our resort?” question, having set times is a game-changer for planning your day around pool breaks!

Disney Summer Magic for Kids — Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (Photo: Disney Parks and Resorts)

FREE Water Park Day?! Yes, Please!

This isn’t new for 2025, but it’s worth repeating because I still meet Disney fans who don’t know about it – ALL Disney Resort hotel guests get FREE admission to a Disney water park on their check-in day!

Pro tip from your bestie Brooke: Book an early flight, drop your bags with bell services, and head straight to Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach! I did this last year with friends, and it was the PERFECT way to ease into vacation mode.

Disney Summer Magic for Kids, Disney Water Parks, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon — Photo: Disney Parks

The Shows! The PARADE!

Two brand-new shows are dropping on May 27:

The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure: If you know any Disney Princess fans, this is a MUST-DO! All-new sets and visuals for this classic that will have everyone singing “Under the Sea” for days! We’ve been waiting for a LONG time for this show, I’m so happy we finally have a DATE. (Dare I hope that we’ll have early previews when Mom and I visit at the beginning of May?)

Disney Summer Magic for Kids, Little Mermaid Show — Concept Art: Disney Parks

Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After: For kids who are into the darker side of Disney (and deep down, I think we all suspect that every kid has a LITTLE villain in them), this interactive show lets the audience decide which villain has been treated most unfairly. So creative!

Disney Summer Magic for Kids! Disney Villains Ever After — Concept Art: Disney Parks

But the BIGGEST news? Disney Starlight, the new NIGHTTIME PARADE coming to Magic Kingdom later this summer! It’s been nearly 10 YEARS since Disney World had a nighttime parade, y’all! Characters from “Peter Pan,” “Encanto,” “Frozen” and more will be lighting up Main Street, U.S.A.! Check out this post for more detailed information Disney Starlight.

Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away Moana Float — Concept Art: Disney Parks

Tips to Make the Most of Disney Summer Magic for Kids!

- The parks have longer hours in summer, so plan for a mid-day break to avoid meltdowns (both kid and adult varieties).
- Download the My Disney Experience app NOW if you haven’t already – that’s how your water park ticket will be loaded.
- Pack cooling towels, portable fans, and plenty of sunscreen. Florida summer heat and humidity is no joke!
- Make dining reservations ASAP! With all these new offerings, restaurants will book up even faster than usual.

Disney Summer Magic for Kids

So, is your credit card burning a hole in your pocket yet? This summer at Disney World is going to be MAGICAL, and I can’t wait to hear about YOUR family’s adventures! If you have any questions, or would like help planning an amazing Disney summer vacation, email me today!

If you haven’t already seen our post about all the fantastic special offers Disney released for Summer 2025, click here.

What are you most excited about for your kids at Disney this summer? Please comment below!

runDisney, Princess Half Marathon, Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend — Are you ready to plan your next Magical vacation? I’d love to help! email Brooke@disneycastledreaming.com for a free, no obligation quote today!

P.S. Who’s your favorite Disney character? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll try to share some special tips for meeting them this summer!

Disney World Summer Saving Deals!

Disney World SUMMER SAVINGS ALERT! Disney Just Dropped AMAZING New Deals for Summer 2025!

If you are thinking about visiting Disney World this summer, I have some absolutely FANTASTIC news that has me doing happy dances around my living room! Disney World just released their Summer 2025 special offers, and wow, are there some incredible savings to be had!

I literally dropped everything to bring you this breaking news because these deals are TOO GOOD to wait! Let’s break down all the magical ways you can save on your summer Disney adventure!

FREE DINING IS BACK!

Yes, you read that correctly! The most beloved Disney deal of all time has returned in all its glory! When you book a 4-night, 4-day Disney World package with a room at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels and theme park tickets with Park Hopper, you’ll get a FREE dining plan!

This offer is available for arrivals on most nights during these date ranges:

June 29 to September 30, 2025
October 20 to November 1, 2025
December 6 to December 22, 2025

If you’ve never experienced the joy of free dining, let me tell you – there’s something extraordinarily liberating about ordering whatever your heart desires without thinking about the price! Mickey waffles for breakfast? Yes! Signature dining experience? Absolutely!

Disney World Summer Savings. Chef Mickey's Character Dining — Chef Mickey’s Photo: Disney Parks

A couple of notes: Notice that Park Hopper tickets are required to get Free Dining this time around. Park Hopper tickets are significantly pricier than one park per day tickets, so that may impact how much value you could get from this particular package. While so many of us LOVE Free Dining, it’s not ALWAYS the best deal. I am happy to help you figure out if this is the RIGHT deal for you. Also, you can check out this previous post for more details on things to consider when evaluating whether Free Dining is a good fit for you.

HALF-PRICE TICKETS FOR KIDS!

Traveling with little ones? Here’s a deal that will make your wallet very happy! Children ages 3 to 9 can get 3-day or longer standard theme park tickets for 50% OFF! This special pricing applies to tickets with start dates from May 27 through September 20, 2025.

DIsney World Summer Savings 2025 — Photo: Disney Parks

With all the new kid-focused experiences coming this summer (have you heard about the new kid zones and character interactions?), this deal couldn’t have come at a better time!

BUDGET-FRIENDLY 3-DAY, 3-PARK SPECIAL TICKET 🎫

If you’re looking to maximize fun while minimizing costs, check out this specially priced ticket option! For just $89 per day (total starting at $267 plus tax), you can get a 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket valid for admission to:

Disney’s Hollywood Studios
EPCOT
Disney’s Animal Kingdom

This is PERFECT for first-time visitors who want to experience a variety of parks without the premium price of Magic Kingdom admission. And trust me, these three parks alone have enough amazement to fill several days of adventure–just make sure that you understand that if you want to visit Magic Kingdom, you will need to purchase an additional park ticket for Magic Kingdom separately. (Currently, pricing for a one day ticket to Magic Kingdom ranges from $139 – $164 for most of the days this summer.)

New Adults-Only Lounge at EPCOT GEO-82 Spaceship Earth — Photo: Brooke Hudson

SAVE UP TO 30% ON RESORT ROOMS

Planning a longer Disney getaway? You’ll be rewarded with bigger savings! Stay 5 consecutive nights or longer at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels between August 1 and October 11, 2025, and you can save up to 30% off room rates!

Even if you can’t stay quite that long, Disney is still offering savings for shorter stays during the same period. This is a fantastic way to experience the immersive storytelling that makes staying on Disney property so special!

Choosing where to stay on your Disney vacation. Disney's Contemporary Resort — Disney’s Contemporary Resort Photo: Disney Parks

Let me help you figure out the best offer for your vacation! Drop me an email today.

FLORIDA RESIDENTS: EVEN BIGGER SAVINGS! 🌴

My Florida friends, Disney hasn’t forgotten about you! Florida residents can save up to 35% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when staying 4 consecutive nights or longer between August 1 and October 11, 2025.

And yes, there are savings for shorter stays too! Just remember that your credit card or payment method must have a Florida billing address to qualify. (Disney is really tightening up the rules on Florida resident discounts!)

Art of Animation Resort — Photo: Disney Parks

Annual Passholders, there’s a similar offer available for you as well! Email me today with the dates you want to travel, and I’ll provide a no obligation quote for you.

Insider Tips for Maximizing These Deals:

- Book ASAP! These offers have limited availability, especially for the most popular resorts and dates.
- Be flexible with dates if possible. Try different arrival dates to find the best availability.
- Consider value season travel. Late August and September typically have lower crowds and better availability for deals.
- Don’t forget about Early Theme Park Entry! As a Disney Resort guest, you’ll get into the parks 30 minutes early every day – a HUGE advantage and in my opinion, adds a lot of value to your vacation. Of course, that does require you be willing to get up and get to the parks early! It’s less of an advantage if you’d rather sleep in on vacation!
- Use the savings to splurge on special experiences. Maybe a dessert party with fireworks viewing? Or that character meal you’ve been eyeing?

Disney World Summer Savings 2025. Topolino Terrace Character Breakfast — Topolino Terrace Character Breakfast Photo: Linda Harkness

Disney Summer Savings 2025

Which of these amazing deals has you reaching for your credit card? I’m definitely tempted. Mom and I are going down in May for the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival, but some of these deals are really selling me on a quick mid-summer trip! (Especially with Universal’s new Epic Universe park opening at the end of May. Disney for 3-4 days and a quick hop over to Epic Universe…sounds like it could be a plan.)

Let me know in the comments which offer you are most tempted by. And of course, if you have any questions about any of these deals, I’m always happy to help plan your perfect vacation!

EPCOT, Les Chefs de Paris, Cocktails in France — There’s nothing I love more than helping plan a magical vacation. Email me today for a free, no obligation quote.

P.S. If you’re planning a summer Disney trip, be sure to check out my recent post about all the SPECTACULAR kid-focused activities coming to Walt Disney World this summer!

Free Parking Returns for Disney Resort Guests!

I have more good news to share today! Walt Disney World has announced that they are removing the nightly parking fees at Walt Disney World Resorts for overnight guests. This is the first bit of FINANCIAL good news I’ve been able to share for a while about our beloved Walt Disney World. Could this be an early result of Bob Iger’s return? I don’t know, but it definitely makes me happy!

Free Parking Returns for Disney Resort Guests Immediately!

If you don’t drive at Walt Disney World, you may not have felt this pain. Starting in 2018, Disney resort guests were charged between $15 and $25 per night per vehicle to park at their resort. Only Disney Vacation Club guests were exempt from these charges. As I’m sure you can imagine, these costs added up quickly for guests. If you drove to Walt Disney World or chose to rent a vehicle for your Florida vacation, you felt this pain.

These fees have been an enormous source of guest frustration over the last several years. Parking fees have also served as a STRONG example in media conversations about Disney “nickel and diming” guests on top of ever increasing park ticket prices.

Walt Disney World Resort guests already get free parking at the theme parks–this has not changed. However, making the decision whether to rent a car or whether to fly or drive is a little easier when you don’t have to add in the cost of parking at your resort every night!

Is this a PR Move?

So of course, a big question is WHY is free parking returning for Disney resort guests? Is it just a big public relations move? Absolutely!! It is for SURE an effort to improve the public perception of the Walt Disney Company. Disney’s reputation, especially with the fanbase has taken a lot of hits in the past couple of years. Free parking is a pretty minor move, but it will get some press. It will also make a lot of Disney fans and travelers happy. Or at least, happier.

Free parking returns for Disney resort guests — Photo: Brooke Hudson

What is giving this news more mileage for me personally is that Disney is sacrificing revenue. We haven’t seen Disney do this in a long time. For the last I don’t even KNOW how many years, we have seen a trend of Disney making an awful lot of decisions that are VERY bottom line focused. We have seen LOTS of decisions that seem to put guest experience and guest relations at a much lower premium than the company used to value.

The reality is, a Walt Disney World has always been expensive. But the value over the years has decreased. It is still VERY valuable, and hour for hour, you still get a TON of value from a Walt Disney World vacation. But for those of us that have been visiting Walt Disney World for many years, it’s challenging to see the guest experience degrade somewhat while the pricing of everything has increased so significantly.

Final Thoughts

I don’t know if free parking returning for resort guests is a sign of things to come or just a token PR gesture — but it IS meaningful. It HAS impact on Disney travelers, especially those that drive to Walt Disney World. And it will, very slightly, reduce how much money Disney will make from the resorts each day. Or maybe it won’t. Because if the guest doesn’t have to spend $25 to park his car, maybe he will spend it on a T-shirt instead.

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

Category: Disney Resorts News