Four Walt Disney World Resort hotels have Cool KIDS’ SUMMER check-in experiences for families through September 8, 2026: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort: Riverside.
Families can build arrival day around resort activities, complimentary transportation, and free water park admission instead of waiting for the first theme park morning to begin the vacation.
Check-in day water park admission
Guests staying at any Disney Resort hotel can choose complimentary admission to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park or Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park on check-in day. The offer covers arrivals from May 26 through September 8, 2026.
The admission is tied to the arrival date and does not roll over to another day. Families arriving late should account for that timing before choosing flights, drive times, or other first-day plans. For another look at the program, see TPS’s Cool KIDS’ SUMMER family visit.
Four resort extras
Each young guest can pick up a Cool KIDS’ SUMMER surprise at the front desk, and Disney characters may appear in the lobby. Daily pool parties hosted by Disney recreation cast members add interactive games and upbeat music.
The lobby library, provided by Disney Publishing, includes stories featuring Disney Princesses, Super Heroes, and other characters. Pajama parties close the day with cast member story time and a chance for families to create their own bedtime story. A Disney character may stop by to help act it out.
Merchandise cast members are handing out special pins from kids-only trading boards. Dining assistants may also be available during breakfast and dinner at select quick-service restaurants to help families with highchairs, utensils, condiments, and other mealtime needs.
Transportation and first-day plans
Complimentary Disney transportation connects resort hotels by bus, boat, and select routes on the Disney Skyliner and monorail. Art of Animation and Pop Century guests can take the Skyliner to Caribbean Beach for a meal at Sebastian’s Bistro. TPS also has a guide to Pop Century resort updates.
From Port Orleans Resort: Riverside, the Sassagoula River Cruise runs to Disney Springs for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Riverside also offers a one-mile jogging trail along the Sassagoula River, plus catch-and-release fishing and surrey bike rentals.
Other resort recreation includes lawn games such as cornhole and Giant Connect 4, campfires, Movies Under the Stars, trivia, and interactive games. Families planning a longer stay can compare the new resort details with the broader Disney World summer 2026 lineup.
The practical move is to arrive early enough to use the water park benefit, then check the resort activity schedule after reaching the hotel. The four-resort extras continue through September 8, 2026, but individual character appearances and dining-assistant availability can vary.
Source: Disney Parks Blog
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