Cool Kids Summer has officially kicked off at the Walt Disney World with special offerings around each of the four theme parks and at select resorts. Plus, with two all-new indoor shows that kids of all ages are sure to love, now is a great time to visit the Most Magical Place on Earth.
This magical event gives families the chance to meet even more characters with dance parties, gives kids a sense of leadership with dedicated park maps, and even offers delicious limited-time treats. The celebration kicked off this week and lasts through September 1, 2025.
At Animation Courtyard in Hollywood Studios, kids have the chance to dance with Mickey in his racecar outfit, Fancy Nancy, Vampirina, Timon and other cherished Disney Jr. characters. DJs get the crowd involved in groovy music and fun games, allowing guests the chance to play with some of their favorite characters. This indoor space also helps families cool off (literally) from the intense Florida sunshine or a hideout from a pop-up rain shower.
Hollywood Studios has also debuted two brand new shows that are sure to be family favorites: Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After and The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure. Both shows bring an element of Disney magic with updated technology and fun songs you'll be humming the rest of the day. Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After is an interactive show with varying outcomes based on audience participation. It's truly a can't miss show that both my young children loved (aged two and five).
The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure received a beautiful glow-up with exciting new technology while keeping all the iconic songs.
“One of my favorite things was getting a chance to direct and play around with motion capture technologies,” said Katrina Mena Rick, Senior Creative Producer at Disney Live Entertainment. “All of the scenes where Ursula is animated, all the scenes where you see King Triton, and at the beginning and the end of the show with the sisters, we got a chance to record live actors performing those roles and then implementing that in our 3D character pipeline. That was so fun and so cool to bring that live theater element and blend it with the technology and the animation. We’ve never done that before.”
In EPCOT, kids have the chance to experience the new CommuniCore Hall with GoofyCore. Another indoor venue with dedicated DJs curating fun games to be played alongside Goofy, like limbo and playing with a giant parachute. There are also foam cushions that my daughter played with like giant building blocks, while my son loved to dance with Goofy.
At Magic Kingdom, there are two dance parties - one in Tomorrowland featuring Stitch, and one at Storybook Circus with Pluto. Kids can get crafty alongside out-of-this-world characters from Disney's new movie Elio, or they can play iconic fair games with Mickey's best friend under the big top.
Animal Kingdom is giving the kids the opportunity to earn an all-new wilderness badge and have a sing-along on Discovery Island in the afternoon.
With so many added activities, kids will have plenty of new experiences in these already beloved parks. “It's really exciting to be able to have different activations throughout all the parks, because, as a mom, I'm looking forward to bringing my kids over and over and over again this summer,” Mena Rick said.
These fun-filled extracurriculars are the perfect way to break up a long day at the theme parks while also empowering kids to help plan their perfect family vacation. Speciality Cool Kids Summer maps are found at each participating location, highlighting the kid-focused events and what the younger generation may enjoy the most while adventuring through the parks.
My daughter could easily navigate the park’s offerings with these easy-to-read brochures. There's even a scavenger hunt for when they're riding along in their stroller or a checklist of characters you can meet (and where). Adults can also view these offerings in the My Disney Experience app.
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