Summer has arrived at Walt Disney World, and it’s bringing more magic than ever! From dazzling new shows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to the debut of a highly anticipated nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom, there’s a lot to enjoy. Whether you’re a first-time guest or a seasoned Disney fan, this summer is packed with fresh experiences, unforgettable entertainment, and can’t-miss surprises across all four parks and both water parks. Read on to see everything happening at Walt Disney World this summer!
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New Shows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Beginning May 27, 2025, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will see the return of a Little Mermaid stage show and the addition of a villains show! As the park that celebrate Hollywood and “showbiz,” these are great additions that will give families even more to experience during their visit.
Villains Unfairly Ever After
Villains: Unfairly Ever After, a brand-new musical stage show debuts on May 27, 2025 and is housed in the newly reimagined Sunset Showcase theater, located past Rock ‘n Roller Coaster.
Hosted by the Magic Mirror from Snow White, the show poses a question: Which villain has been treated most unfairly? As the Mirror summons the audience to help decide, iconic characters like Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent take the stage to present their cases with a mix of familiar tunes and original songs.
The show will be performed several times each day. Times as of the writing of this post are noted below, but be sure to check the My Disney Experience app for the most up to date information.
- Morning: 10 AM, 11 AM
- Afternoon: 12 PM, 12:30 PM, 1 PM, 1:30 PM, 2 PM, 2:30 PM, 3 PM, 3:30 PM, 4 PM, 4:30 PM
- Evening: 5 PM, 6 PM, 7 PM
The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure
Beginning May 7, 2025, guests are invited to relive the tale of Ariel in The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure. The reimagined stage show replaces the long-running Voyage of the Little Mermaid and brings Ariel’s story to life with enhanced storytelling, cutting-edge effects, and beloved musical numbers.
The show is set to run from 9:15 AM to 7:15 PM (check your My Disney Experience app for most up to date information) in the updated Animation Courtyard Theater. Lightning Lane entry is expected to be available for The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.
Cool Kid Summer Entertainment
From May 27 through September 1, 2025, Walt Disney World will celebrate kids and kids-at-heart with “Cool Kid Summer.” Special entertainment, activities, and character meet and greets all geared towards the youngest Disney fans will be offered in the four parks and two water parks.
Magic Kingdom
Big Top Bash at Storybook Circus: Join DJ Ringmaster for a fun dance party, midway-style games, silliness with Pluto, and even more fun in Big Top Souvenirs.
Galactic Blast at Tomorrowland: Stop by Rocket Tower Plaza Stage for an out-of-this-world dance party with surprise appearances from Stitch! Head over to Merchant of Venus for indoor crafts inspired by Disney and Pixar film Elio.
EPCOT
GoofyCore at CommuniCore Hall: Cool down at CommuniCore Hall and dance along to fun tunes as the little ones take part in interactive games like “Loopy Limbo” and “Parachutes ‘n’ Pipsqueaks.”
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Get Animated at Animation Courtyard: Head to Animation Courtyard for energetic performances by a magician and jump rope performers, games and crafts, an imaginary obstacle course, and a DJ dance party with Mickey Mouse and Disney Junior friends.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Adventure All Around the World: Take part in new nature-based experiences with hands-on activities to earn a limited-time Wilderness Explore badge and celebrate your day with the Dino Institute Intern at “A Celebration Sing-Along” at Discovery Island.
Disney Starlight: New Nighttime Parade at Magic Kingdom
On July 20, Magic Kingdom will debut the park’s first new nighttime parade since 2016, Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away. Inspired by the classic Main Street Electrical Parade, this modern reimagining combines nostalgic charm with cutting-edge technology to tell the beloved stories of Disney characters including Moana, Peter Pan, Encanto, Frozen, and Pinocchio.
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away’s the parade route will run from Frontierland to Main Street, U.S.A. each evening and include an original theme written for Disney Starlight that waves some classic Disney Park favorites into the score.
Test Track Reopens at EPCOT
The fan-favorite thrill ride, Test Track was closed in June 2024 for a complete reimagining of the attraction and is set to reopen this summer. Starting with the pavilion itself, the exterior has been adapted to pay homage to the original attraction, World of Motion, a detail that we know many Disney history fans will appreciate! The queue will take guests through six distinct exhibits that will celebrate vehicles, and people behind the vehicles, who have made progress possible. Disney has promised a new storyline that focuses on the role of mobility in connecting us with each other.
GEO-82: Adult Only Lounge at EPCOT
Opening June 4, 2025, GEO-82 will be the first bar and lounge at Walt Disney World to be an exclusive space for 21+. The lounge is located in Spaceship Earth, the iconic geodesic sphere at the front of EPCOT, and promises incredible views of the nightly fireworks.
GEO-82 Bar & Lounge will be open for lunch and dinner and serve small bites cocktails, and zero proof options. The lounge is inspired by the iconic geodesic sphere and the menu pulls on flavors from around the world, a nod to the World Showcase.
Reservations are highly recommended for GEO-82 Bar & Lounge and are now available through My Disney Experience.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Halloween starts early at Walt Disney World, with the annual Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party beginning this August! This specially ticket event takes place select nights at Magic Kingdom and includes exclusive entertainment, character meet and greets, trick-or-treating, and more. The party is held on select nights from 7 PM – 12 AM and guests may enter the park as early as 4 PM. Magic Kingdom will close at 6 PM to guests who do not have a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ticket and Happily Ever After will not take place.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2025 Dates:
- August – 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29
- September – 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30
- October – 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31
Ticket pricing varies based on the night you attend and can be viewed below. Please note that some nights have already sold out. To inquire about tickets, reach out to a KMV Travel Advisor here.
Download a Free Guide to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
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