A Parent’s Guide to Cool Kid Summer at Walt Disney World in 2025

If you’re taking the kids to Walt Disney World this summer, you’re going to want to be aware of a special, limited-time promotion, Cool Kid Summer. This special celebration will run between May 27th and September 1st and offer fun activities geared toward children at each theme park. Many of these offerings will allow kids to interact with their favorite characters, eliminating the need to wait in line.

Parents can relax (or join the fun) while their children mingle with other kids on the dance floor at DJ-led dance parties and other fun-themed activities. It’s a win-win for everyone. Below, we’ll discuss the entire list of activities that have been announced for Cool Kid Summer and where you can find them!

Early Entry Extras for Cool Kid Summer

This summer, guests of Disney Resort Hotels may see characters out in the parks during the early entry theme park period. (As always, valid admission is required.) Typically, you don’t see characters in the parks until after they officially open to all guests. For more details on how to take advantage of early entry, see our guide: Early Entry at Walt Disney World with Eligible Attractions.

Resort Character Sightings

Guests staying at select hotels are privy to scheduled character sightings. A schedule will be posted at each resort indicating when the characters will be available. These hotels include: Disney’s Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, and Wilderness Lodge. You can read the entire announcement in this article: Scheduled Character Appearances at Select Disney Resort Hotels This Summer.

Magic Kingdom

At Magic Kingdom, guests can join in the fun with circus-style performers and a special character appearance by Pluto at Storybook Circus. Meanwhile, in Tomorrowland, join Stitch on the Rocket Tower Plaza Stage for a dance party. These experiences will likely be listed in the entertainment section of the My Disney Experience app, under the following names:

  • Big Top Bash at Storybook Circus
  • Galactic Bash at Tomorrowland

Read more details about this special offering: Celebrate Cool Kid Summer at Magic Kingdom with 2 New Character Dance Parties.

Epcot

Goofy is taking over CommuniCore Hall at Epcot this summer! Per Disney, guests can join Goofy in this immersive experience. Get ready to hit the dance floor with DJ-led dance parties and favorite games like Loopy Limbo and Parachutes ‘n’ Pipsqueaks.

Read more details: GoofyCore Coming to CommuniCore Hall

Hollywood Studios

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests can jump into fun at Animation Courtyard. This special area will offer magicians, jump rope performers, and surprise character appearances. When it’s time to cool off, you can continue the party at Get Animated, a special summer experience hosted inside the Disney Jr. Play and Dance! The usual Play and Dance will be unavailable during this special summer offering. But no worries, guests can join Mickey Mouse and other Disney Junior friends for an indoor DJ dance party.

Read the Details: ‘Get Animated’ to Debut at Hollywood Studios

Animal Kingdom

You can participate in several Cool Kid Summer activities at Disney’s Animal Kingdom this summer. They include arts and crafts, a new Wilderness Explorer badge, and a Celebration Sing-Along! See our article below for exact details on where to locate these activities in the park.

More: Sing-Along, New Badge, and More Summer Activities at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Cool Kid Summer Maps

Preview Cool Kid Summer Maps for all four theme parks.

First Look at Cool Kid Summer

Since Cool Kid Summer has debuted, Disney shared a First Look at the Big Top Bash, GoofyCore, and Get Animated. Preview the article for photos of each offering.

Cool Kid Summer First Look
©Disney

More this Summer

If you’re visiting Walt Disney World this summer, you might want to be aware of a few more up-and-coming debuts and closures. Here are a few highlights:

Major Closures This Summer

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom is closed through 2026 as part of an extensive refurbishment. (Details Here)
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will close in August for ride updates. It will not reopen until later next year. (More Here)

You might also like to preview our list of Disney World Ride Refurbishments.

For more on traveling with children, you might like our Parent Guide series. Some of our most popular articles include:

More on Cool Kid Summer

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More Planning

Resorts Gal specializes in Disney World Resorts, Characters, and Dining. Explore our resources, including our Disney World Resorts Guide. It provides an overview of everything you need to know about the Disney Resort Hotels. For dining, our Disney World Dining Guide is an excellent place to start. Our Disney World Transportation Guide is a wonderful resource for planning your routes. It’s one of our most popular resources. If you plan to meet characters in the parks, we have an updated list of Disney World Characters. It includes every available character meet-and-greet in the parks and where to find rare characters throughout the year. Lastly, our Disney Parks Guide provides a complete overview of all four theme parks and water parks.

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