In this episode of the Adventures of a Disney Dad podcast, Matt and Chip break down everything that’s new at Walt Disney World in 2026 and what it means for families planning a trip.

We cover Disney’s new CEO, what changes (and what probably won’t), and then dive into the best Disney World deals for 2026, including bounce back offers, room discounts, and how kids can eat free on the Disney Dining Plan.

Then we walk park-by-park through the biggest updates for 2026, including Cool Kids Summer, new shows, returning rides, construction impacts, and what’s actually worth planning around at each park.

If you’re trying to decide whether 2026 is a good year to visit Disney World, this episode will help you plan smarter and save money.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Disney World 2026 Overview + New CEO Discussion

07:10 – Disney World 2026 Deals Explained (Bounce Back, Room Discounts, Kids Eat Free)

12:20 – Cool Kids Summer at Disney World (What It Is and Why It Matters)

13:00 – Animal Kingdom 2026 Updates (DinoLand, Zootopia, Bluey & Bingo)

16:00 – Magic Kingdom 2026 Updates (Big Thunder, Beacon Barrel, Castle Repaint)

20:10 – EPCOT 2026 Updates (Geo-82, Frozen, Test Track, Soarin’)

23:00 – Hollywood Studios 2026 Updates (Muppets, Animation Courtyard, New Shows)

27:25 – Is 2026 a Good Year to Visit Disney World? Final Thoughts

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In this listener Q&A episode of the Adventures of a Disney Dad podcast, Matt and Chip tackle real Disney World planning questions straight from the inbox. From the best and worst holidays to visit Walt Disney World, to dining strategies, Skyliner food debates, and whether certain “Disney hacks” still work, this episode is packed with practical advice for families planning a trip.

Matt also shares a behind-the-scenes look at planning a large family spring break vacation, including resort decisions, transportation logistics, and the big question a lot of families are asking right now: is Epic Universe worth it with young kids?

Whether you’re traveling with toddlers, first-timers, or planning a more relaxed Disney trip, this episode is full of honest takes and experience-driven advice.

👇 Listener questions covered in this episode include: • Best and worst holidays to visit Disney World based on crowds, snacks, and events • Are pre-park opening dining reservations still worth it • Is Topolino’s Terrace a good brunch stop on a Hollywood Studios day • Is the Fantasmic Dining Package actually worth the cost • Best breakfast and dinner options along the Skyliner that beat EPCOT • How to plan around dining reservations with toddlers • When Disney’s major construction projects might realistically be finished

🎧 Listen to the full episode on your favorite podcast platform.

📩 Have a question for a future episode? Email or DM us and we’ll answer it on the show.

👉 Need help booking character dining or planning your trip?

Matt is a travel agent with The Magic for Less Travel, and his services are 100% free.

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Trying to decide which Disney World character dining experiences are actually worth the money? In this episode of Adventures of a Disney Dad, Matt and Chip rank their top 6 character dining experiences at Walt Disney World from worst to best, based on real trips, real kids, and real food opinions.

We break down what actually matters to families, including:

• Which character meals give you the best bang for your buck
• Where the food is genuinely good vs just “theme park good”
• Which experiences save you the most time meeting characters
• And which popular options might not live up to the hype

From Akershus and Crystal Palace to Cinderella’s Royal Table, Tusker House, 1900 Park Fare, and our clear #1 pick, we explain exactly why each spot landed where it did on the list.

Plus, we wrap things up with a rapid-fire snack draft, sharing our favorite snacks at Walt Disney World when you don’t want quick service or table service, including a few snacks you probably aren’t expecting

If you’re planning a Disney vacation in 2026 (or beyond), this episode will help you avoid expensive mistakes and book character dining with confidence.

🎯 Calls to Action

👉 Need help booking character dining or planning your trip? Matt is a travel agent with The Magic for Less Travel, and his services are 100% free. 📩 Get a free quote: https://www.adventuresofadisneydad.com/get-a-quote

⭐ Enjoy the podcast? Please take a minute to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more Disney families find us.

☕ Want to support the podcast? If this episode helped you, consider buying us a coffee or dropping something in the tip jar. Every bit of support helps keep the show going.

📬 Have a Disney planning question? Leave a comment, send an email, or drop it on social. We read them all and use them for future episodes.

EPCOT might be the most misunderstood park at Walt Disney World, especially for families who haven’t visited in years.

In this episode of the Adventures of a Disney Dad Podcast, we’re joined by Dapper Danielle and co-author Ian Wilson to talk all things EPCOT, inspired by their brand-new book I Love EPCOT. We dive deep into what EPCOT really is today, how it’s changed, what families often miss, and why this park deserves way more credit than it gets.

If you’ve ever wondered whether EPCOT is “boring,” too adult-focused, or skippable on a first Disney trip, this episode will completely change how you see the park.

🎢 In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why EPCOT gets such a bad rap with millennials and families
• What EPCOT is like now vs 10–15 years ago
• The history and hidden details most guests never notice
• Why EPCOT is secretly one of the best parks for characters
• Candlelight Processional, festivals, and underrated experiences
• EPCOT’s biggest missed opportunities (and biggest wins)
• Each guest’s EPCOT “Mount Rushmore” must-do list

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a lifelong Disney fan, you’ll walk away with a brand-new appreciation for EPCOT.

📘 Get the Book

Check out I Love EPCOT and I Love Disney’s Magic Kingdom to explore the parks in a whole new way.

Get them here: I Love EPCOT: https://amzn.to/4qlS8J1 I Love Disney’s Magic Kingdom: https://amzn.to/4sH1Uaq

Connect with Danielle: https://www.instagram.com/thedapperdanielle/ Connect with Ian: https://www.instagram.com/ianw._.w/

🏰 Need Help Planning Your Disney Trip?

We help families plan Walt Disney World vacations every day. 👉 Get a free, no-obligation Disney quote: https://www.adventuresofadisneydad.com/get-a-quote

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Are you following Disney World advice that actually makes your vacation worse?

In this episode of the Adventures of a Disney Dad Podcast, Matt and Chip break down the most overrated Walt Disney World planning advice we see all over social media, Facebook groups, and TikTok. From crowd calendars and rope dropping every day to overbooking dining and paying extra for hotel views, we’re calling out what families really don’t need to stress about.

We’re sharing real, experience-based advice that helps you plan a Disney vacation that actually works for your family, not an influencer’s spreadsheet.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by Disney planning or pressured to “do it all,” this episode is for you.

🎢 What We Cover in This Episode

Why crowd calendars are wildly overrated

When paying extra for a hotel view is (and isn’t) worth it

Why you don’t need dining reservations every day

The truth about Disney transportation vs Uber/Minnie Vans

Why rope dropping every day can backfire for families

Why your Disney resort is more than just a place to sleep

When Skyliner and Monorail resorts are not the best choice

Whether park hopping is actually worth the money

Why EPCOT is absolutely for kids (and Animal Kingdom is not “just a zoo”)

⏱️ Episode Chapters

01:45 Why online Disney advice can be misleading

02:30 Hotel room upgrades and views

05:20 Why crowd calendars don’t matter

09:40 Disney transportation myths

14:40 Overbooking dining reservations

17:20 Rope dropping every day

22:55 Your resort is part of the vacation

25:40 Skyliner and Monorail resort myths

28:15 Is park hopping worth it?

30:00 EPCOT for kids and Animal Kingdom misconceptions

33:40 Final thoughts and listener questions

🏰 Need Help Planning a Disney Trip?

If you’re planning a Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line or Universal Orlando vacation in 2026 and want expert help, I’m a travel agent and my services are 100% free.

👉 Get a quote and start planning: https://www.adventuresofadisneydad.com/get-a-quote

☕ Enjoy the Show? Support the Podcast

If this episode helped you and you want to support the work we do, you can buy me a coffee or leave a tip to support future episodes and content.

👉 Tip jar and support link: https://adventures-of-a-disney-dad.kit.com/products/matthew-brandabur

📩 Got a Question?

Send in your listener questions and we may answer them on a future episode.

Email: matt@adventuresofadisneydad.com

Walt Disney World is heading into a major transition year with a lot of construction happening, and 2026 is shaping up to change how families plan their trips.

In this episode of the Adventures of a Disney Dad Podcast, we break down everything we know so far about what’s coming to Walt Disney World in 2026 and what it actually means for real families. From Bluey and Bingo arriving at Animal Kingdom to major changes at Hollywood Studios, ride refurbishments, character moves, and festival dates, there’s a lot happening that could impact when you go and how you plan.

We also talk candidly about spring break crowds, traveling with babies, and how upcoming closures like Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster and Frozen Ever After could affect your 2026 vacation if you’re not paying attention.

If you’re planning a Walt Disney World trip in 2026, or even thinking about it, this episode will help you avoid surprises and make smarter planning decisions.

🎧 Episode Chapters

00:00 Welcome back and life updates 03:15 Planning Disney World during spring break with kids and babies 07:55 Bluey and Bingo coming to Animal Kingdom in 2026 12:10 Is Animal Kingdom becoming a full-day park? 14:30 Taylor Swift Eras Tour costumes at Hollywood Studios 16:05 Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster changes and Muppets retheme 20:10 How refurbishments impact trip planning 22:10 Hollywood Studios animation courtyard and character changes 25:30 Festival dates and ride closures that affect 2026 trips 26:45 When will Cinderella Castle be repainted? 28:30 Final thoughts and planning advice

🏰 Need Help Planning a Disney Trip?

If you’re planning a Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line or Universal Orlando vacation in 2026 and want expert help, I’m a travel agent and my services are 100% free. 👉 Get a quote and start planning: https://www.adventuresofadisneydad.com/get-a-quote

☕ Enjoy the Show? Support the Podcast

If this episode helped you and you want to support the work we do, you can buy me a coffee or leave a tip to support future episodes and content. 👉 Tip jar and support link: https://adventures-of-a-disney-dad.kit.com/products/matthew-brandabur

📩 Got a Question?

Send in your listener questions and we may answer them on a future episode. Email: matt@adventuresofadisneydad.com

If you are planning a Walt Disney World trip for the 2025 holiday season, this episode answers the most common listener questions we are getting right now. Matt and Chip break down the newest changes at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, how to plan park days around Christmas parties, whether MultiPass is still worth it during holiday hours, the best free Christmas activities for families, what crowds look like the week between Christmas and New Years, and how to prepare for Florida’s unpredictable winter weather.

If you want real, practical advice from two dads who do this every week, this is the episode to watch.

In today’s episode, you will learn:

1. The new changes at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

What Disney removed, what the new packages include, and whether the experience is still worth it for girl dads in 2026.

1. Disney World holiday strategy that saves your sanity

How to plan around Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights, which days have the lowest wait times, and how to avoid the biggest holiday mistakes.

1. Why Premier Pass is selling out at four hundred twenty nine dollars

What that price spike really means for families and the future of line skipping in the parks.

1. The honest truth about Epic Universe

Why wait times are out of control, why Express Pass is becoming essential, and the simple mistake that ruins most first time visits.

1. The best free Christmas activities at Disney World

Resort decorations, gingerbread houses, the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll, and how to meet Santa without a park ticket.

1. How to prepare for Florida winter weather

The temperature swings that surprise most families, what to pack, and the simple trick that prevents an emergency trip to Disney Springs for clothes.

1. Listener questions answered

Holiday crowds, MultiPass during party days, Christmas week warnings, and more.

If you want real, practical, family centered Disney and Universal planning advice without the gimmicks, this is your episode.

Chapters

01:05 What changed at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in 2026

04:20 Is Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique still worth it

09:00 Disney Cruise Line updates and discounts

12:45 Epic Universe warning Should families visit without Express Pass

15:55 Why is Premier Pass selling out Is it worth the price

20:40 Listener Question How to plan park days during Christmas party season

24:50 Listener Question Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party vs Jollywood Nights

28:55 Listener Question The best free holiday activities at Disney

34:20 Listener Question Is Christmas week really that crowded

38:35 Listener Question How to handle Florida winter weather swings

42:20 Final thoughts and trip planning tips

Helpful Links

Get a free Disney or Universal vacation quote!

Your trip deserves expert planning and it costs you nothing.

➡️ https://www.adventuresofadisneydad.com/get-a-quote

Read the latest Disney planning guides

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Join the newsletter for weekly tips and deals

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Planning a Walt Disney World vacation is exciting, but it is also way easier to get wrong than most families realize. After helping hundreds of families plan their trips, I see the same seven mistakes over and over, and they lead to stress, meltdowns, exhaustion, and a vacation that feels more like a survival mission than actual fun.

In this episode, I break down the 7 rookie mistakes most first-timers make at Walt Disney World and show you exactly how to avoid them so your trip is smoother, happier, and actually feels like a vacation.

You’ll learn: • Why party nights and park hours can quietly wreck your plans • The big reason you should never do Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios back to back • How one extra resort night can transform the entire trip • Why dining reservations can throw off your whole schedule • When rope drop hurts families more than it helps • Simple ways to recover, pace yourself, and avoid burnout • The number one planning mistake that ruins Disney trips for most families

📩 Get a free vacation quote: www.adventuresofadisneydad.com/get-a-quote 📰 Join the weekly newsletter: www.adventuresofadisneydad.com

Plan smart, not perfect — and I’ll see you in the parks!