Disney is offering discounted tickets and kid-approved surprises for visitors this summer

Disney World has always been and will always be a place where families can create memories together.

This has been true since Walt Disney opened Disneyland — the original Disney park — in 1955, hoping it would be a place where parents and children could have fun together. The biggest difference is that now, in addition to flying away to Neverland with Peter Pan or soaring high in the sky with Dumbo, you can also go down the bayou with Princess Tiana and pilot the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

During a panel discussion with several Disney World executives, I was part of a small group of journalists who heard firsthand how Disney is continually looking for new ways to create magic for families by bringing beloved stories to life.

This summer, all four Disney parks will offer more money-saving opportunities for families along with increased opportunities to meet favorite characters, sing along to popular songs and make cherished memories. Here is everything you can look forward to when you visit Walt Disney World this summer.

Summertime Disney World discounts

Summer is a "hot" time to visit the parks — not just because of the high temperatures but also because it's one of the least expensive times for families with school-age kids.

"It's warm here in the summer, but that's also the time when we have our longest hours," Chelsea Filley, Disney World's vice president of customer experience and commercial strategy, said during the panel. "There's a lot of options to maximize your day in the park because you have so much to experience in the nighttime, too."

There are several ways to save at Disney World this summer. Beginning March 27, you can book with all of the below discounts online or by calling 407-939-5277.

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG'S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS.

To make sure you choose the discounts that will save you the most money, we recommend working with an authorized Disney vacation planner. They will ensure you are using the best available discounts to maximize your savings. If you have a card that earns bonus points on travel purchases or offers a flexible annual travel credit, some of the ticket-only discounts are available via Undercover Tourist, as well. Undercover Tourist purchases code as travel, triggering these additional points earnings and travel credits.

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Ticket discounts

While summer is already one of the least expensive times to visit Disney World, you can save even more this year with a duo of discounts that will be available to book online or by phone beginning March 27.

For visits between May 27 and Sept. 3, you can purchase a three-day or longer kids ticket (eligible for children ages 3 to 9) for 50% off. A regularly priced kids ticket in mid-August costs $371 plus tax, so this deal can amount to significant savings — especially if you are traveling with multiple children. And keep in mind that children 2 and under can visit for free.

All visitors, regardless of age, can take advantage of a discounted three-day, three-park ticket for as little as $89 per day (pricing varies per date). This ticket is eligible for visits between April 6 and Sept. 22 and includes admission to Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom (only one park per day).

Free Disney Dining plan

Guests who purchase a nondiscounted four-night, four-day (or longer) vacation package that includes a Disney hotel room and Park Hopper tickets can get a free Disney Dining plan.

"We know this is a fantastic offer for families that also simplify that experience," Filley said. "They take the idea of thinking about your dining out of that planning process."

If you stay in a Disney Deluxe resort, you'll receive the Disney Dining Plan, which includes one snack, one quick-service meal and one table-service meal each day. If you stay in a Disney Moderate or Value resort, you'll get the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, which comes with one snack and two quick-service meals daily.

A free Disney Dining plan can shave hundreds of dollars off the cost of your vacation. But with so many discounts to choose from, you should compare the savings you might get from a ticket or hotel discount with the free dining discount to see which is better.

This offer is good for arrivals on most nights from June 29 through Sept. 30, Oct. 20 through Nov. 1 and Dec. 6 through Dec. 22.

Hotel discounts

When you stay in a Disney World hotel, you can also save up to 30% on your stay for most visits of five nights or longer between Aug. 1 and Oct. 11.

New theme park fun for kids

Disney World is offering more than just some savings this summer.

From May 27 through Sept. 1, families can visit new "kid zones" inside the parks.

"We are going to curate simple yet fun entertainment experiences geared toward young families. It's going to involve characters, music, games and dancing in an area where guests can go and just have fun, relax and get away from it all, but still that their kids have fun," said Jason Kirk, Disney World's senior vice president of operations. "The kids can play on their own with their parents just sitting and watching, or of course, their parents can jump in and play as well."

Disney isn't revealing full details yet to avoid spoiling the surprise, but it did share that there will be Goofy-themed fun at CommuniCore Hall in Epcot, two kids zones in the Magic Kingdom, a Stitch-themed takeover in Tomorrowland and a yet-to-be-announced zone in Storybook Circus.

These types of experiences give families the chance to go at their own pace rather than rush from ride to ride. I often argue that you miss the true magic of Disney if you cram your day so full of rides that you don't leave time for spontaneity. My kids all have their favorite rides, but when I ask them to recall their favorite Disney memories, they usually say it's the time they danced with a character or made up a silly game in the hotel room.

Disney also shared that guests will see characters in the park during the 30-minute early entry for Disney hotel guests. Unlike a traditional meet-and-greet that you wait in line for, you can expect to see characters roaming around the park.

"They can just wave and say hello on their way to their favorite attraction or they can also just stop and interact with them. It's just a little more family fun for our guests this summer who come into our parks," Kirk said.

Summer fun at select Disney World hotels

In addition to the surprise character meetings, poolside games and nightly activities like campfires and movies under the stars, Disney is adding an extra dose of fun to four select resorts this summer.

"We've been intentionally choosing resorts that represent every segment, including the value, moderate and Deluxe price points for our guests," said Alison Armor, Disney World's vice president of resorts operations.

Guests staying in Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Disney's Pop Century Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney's Wilderness Lodge can experience additional family-friendly activities and character visits at set times. Not only does this make it easier to plan your day, but it also makes your time outside of the parks more magical.

Unbeknownst to me, Disney was already testing this experience during my recent stay at Disney's Wilderness Lodge. As soon as we walked into the lobby, Mr. Smee, Pinocchio and a penguin from "Mary Poppins" were greeting guests. My kids were so excited to meet them all that I actually teared up a bit.

New entertainment offerings

These discounts and experiences are in addition to everything new that Disney has already announced for this summer, including the reimagined Test Track at Epcot, the "Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away" nighttime parade at the Magic Kingdom and two new stage shows at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

While we are waiting on official opening dates for some of these, Disney announced Wednesday that "Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure" and "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After" will both debut at Disney's Hollywood Studios on May 27.

While summer is bringing new experiences to Disney's Hollywood Studios this summer, a fan-favorite attraction at the Magic Kingdom will soon temporarily close for refurbishment.

"We are going to refresh the Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin attraction with new targets, new blasters and new vehicles," said Michael Hundgen, Walt Disney Imagineering's creative portfolio executive producer.

He shared that the blasters will have haptic responses, and the targets will light up with your specific blaster color so that it's clearer when you are doing all you can to defeat the aliens.

The attraction will close in August and should reopen sometime in 2026.

Bottom line

At the core of every Disney vacation is the rare opportunity to step out of the real world and into a place where magic is real. Disney's lineup of summertime entertainment and experiences makes that more true than ever before, and the limited-time discounts make it approachable for families on any budget.

Related reading:

• Tips for visiting Disney World in 2025: 17 ways to save money and have more fun
• This card can get you a free Disney dining plan and up to $400 toward your next vacation
• I have stayed at every Disney World hotel — this is what I liked and didn't like about each property
• The secret way to save up to 50% on Disney's best hotels