Summer used to be Walt Disney World’s Peak Season. Not anymore! With Disney deals galore, luring folks to the parks we’re sure the crowds will still be found, but what are you really going for? What events can you expect? Is there anything New? Without the seasonal festival at Epcot to lure you to Walt Disney World with new foods, let’s chat about what you can find at Walt Disney World this summer.
Surviving Walt Disney World This Summer
While it’s true that schools do still let kids out in the summer and that families still do vacation at Walt Disney World. It’s also true that as the climate gets more extreme and Florida Summers can get unbearable. Be sure to check out our tips for Surviving the Heat in Florida at Disney this summer. Ask any local and they’ll say you can find them at home in the air conditioning like any other clear-headed Floridian. Then, of course, you can add in international tour groups, sports teams and summer conventions, and the parks and we stick by our personal truth that we’d rather visit Walt Disney World in any other season. Here’s everything to know about Summer at Walt Disney World.
Contents
- 1 Walt Disney World Summer Events
- 2 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival | EPCOT Park February 28- May 27 2024
- 3 Hollywood Studios 35th Anniversary | Begins May 1, 2024
- 4 H20 Glow Nights | Typhoon Lagoon Park May 25- August 31, 2024
- 5 Dreams that Soar Disney Drone Show | Disney Springs May 24 – September 2, 2024
- 6 Disney VIP Annual Passholder Days | May 1- June 26, 2024
- 7
- 8 ¡Celebración Encanto! Summer Sing Along | EPCOT CommuniCore Plaza Stage June 10- September 6, 2024
- 9 The Lion King 30th Anniversary Celebration |Animal Kingdom June 10- September 6
- 10 Joy Meet and Greet at Pixar Place | Hollywood Studios Beginning June 10, 2024
- 11 Flavors of Florida | Disney Springs
- 12 Disney Fireworks and Spectaculars
- 13 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival | EPCOT Park
- 14 Club Cool Hosted by Coca-Cola | EPCOT Park
- 15 Vacation Fun-Mickey Shorts Theater | Hollywood Studios
- 16 Festival of the Lion King | Animal Kingdom
- 17 Rafiki’s Planet Watch Returns | Animal Kingdom
- 18 Summer Snacks at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World Summer Events
What is there to do at Walt Disney World in the Summer of 2024? What else can you look forward to besides the basic Disney experience? Here’s your roundup of festivals, events, and the Best Disney Rides and Attractions When it’s Hot at Walt Disney World. Here’s everything you can find happening at Walt Disney World this summer.
Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival | EPCOT Park February 28- May 27 2024
Believe it or not, if you’re visiting Walt Disney World this summer you can still catch the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival if you’re vacationing before July. This festival combines the best foods, fun, and beautiful topiaries you won’t want to miss! Be sure to check out the Flower and Garden Festival Menus and everything else you can do at Flower and Garden if you’re traveling in early summer!
- EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival with Kids
- Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Guide for Beginners
- Epcot Flower and Garden Festival: What’s New?
- Flower and Garden Festival Tips and Tricks
- Walt Disney World Flower and Garden Festival Checklist
Hollywood Studios 35th Anniversary | Begins May 1, 2024
This summer, you can head to Hollywood Studios to celebrate 35 years of your favorite films. With new Pizar Meet and Greets and loads of reasons to be in the parks, if you’re visiting on May 1st, head to the Theater of the Stars at 11:00 AM for a special kickoff announcement!
H20 Glow Nights | Typhoon Lagoon Park May 25- August 31, 2024
H20 Glow Nights return to Walt Disney World’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park this summer. Offered select Saturday nights May-August from 8-11 pm, you get 3 hours of fun after the park closes. Complete with low waits, exclusive glow-themed snacks, and free popcorn, select ice-cream treats and beverages to enjoy! This is a ticketed event with limited availability. Grab your H20 Glow Nights at Typhoon Lagoon tickets here.
Dreams that Soar Disney Drone Show | Disney Springs May 24 – September 2, 2024
Debuting this summer the new Disney Drone show, Dreams that Soar displays beautiful images in the sky, set to familiar Disney songs. Shown on Disney Springs West Side, you don’t need a ticket to see the show, so be sure to stop by for this nighttime spectacle, this summer!
“You can fly” takes on a whole new meaning as we showcase Disney stories celebrating the joy of flight with state-of-the-art drones choreographed to create designs in the sky and paired with a “soaring” musical score and memorable movie quotes.”
Disney VIP Annual Passholder Days | May 1- June 26, 2024
V.I.Passholder Days at Walt Disney World includes a variety of Perks only for passholders through the summer. From new magnets, to special spaces, and merchandise, here’s what’s included in Annual Passholder VIP Days 2024. Check out the Disney VIP Passholder Days Perks.
¡Celebración Encanto! Summer Sing Along | EPCOT CommuniCore Plaza Stage June 10- September 6, 2024
Featuring beloved songs from Encanto, this summertime show at Disney World features the Encanto characters, and familiar songs.“¡Celebración Encanto!” has multiple showtimes a day. Plus you can also see Mirabel and Bruno on the newly opened CommuniCore Plaza stage at EPCOT Park.
The Lion King 30th Anniversary Celebration |Animal Kingdom June 10- September 6
Head to Animal Kingdom June 10- September 6, 2024 for the The Lion King 30th Anniversary Celebration. Featuring specialty snacks, merchandise, performances and more, you can celebrate the Lion King in more ways than one! Check out all the fun things planned so far at Animal Kingdom.
Joy Meet and Greet at Pixar Place | Hollywood Studios Beginning June 10, 2024
NEW this summer you can meet Joy from Inside Out at Pixar Place in Hollywood Studios. Joining the characters you can already see in this area, be sure to stop in to see Edna Mode and the other Incredibles!
Flavors of Florida | Disney Springs
Honoring the flavors of Florida every summer, Disney Springs restaurants and snack kiosks pull together the best homegrown dishes, snacks, and desserts Florida has to offer. This year Flavors of Florida presented by CORKCICLE runs in July and August at Disney Springs. With over 30 locations participating you’re sure to find something that fits your summer mood. From orange-filled treats to mahi tacos, there is something for everyone. Here are all the snacks and dishes you can find at the Disney Springs Flavors of Florida Event this year.
Disney Fireworks and Spectaculars
Fireworks and shows are part of every Walt Disney World vacation this summer! Each Park has something special to share. Hollywood Studios shares the Wonderful World of Animation on the Chinese Theater and Fantasmic. Magic Kingdom has welcomed back Happily Ever After. Animal Kingdom has the Tree of Life Awakenings on days with longer park hours. And EPCOT finishes the night with a nighttime spectacular.
EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival | EPCOT Park
And if you’re traveling in late summer this year you’ll have plenty of time to experience the Food and Wine Festival! Starting in July, this festival has new foods, Remy’s Scavenger Hunt Game, classes, and more! Be sure to check out the Food and Wine Menus to help you get a start on the planning. Here is everything you can do at the Food and Wine Festival this year!
- Food and Wine Festival at Walt Disney World Guide
- Epcot Food and Wine Festival For Beginners
- Epcot Food and Wine Festival with Kids
- International Food & Wine Festival Guide
Club Cool Hosted by Coca-Cola | EPCOT Park
If you have been missing the Beverly, take care in knowing that Club Cool is Back! And summer is the best time to head Club Cool for a refreshing break. This new space celebrates Coca-Cola in “a fresh new way,” while bringing the global Coca-Cola tasting experience to life!
Vacation Fun-Mickey Shorts Theater | Hollywood Studios
Another newer Disney Attraction, the Mickey Shorts Theater features a 20-minute cartoon all about mickey! We love that this is a mash-up of our favorite Mickey Short episodes and gives us a reason to get out of the sun at Disney World. Check out our full review of the Mickey Shorts Theater at Hollywood Studios.
Festival of the Lion King | Animal Kingdom
The Festival of the Lion King at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom offers another wonderful break from the crowds, and heat during the summer months. By far one of the BEST shows on Disney property, we are excited to see this show anytime it’s offered.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch Returns | Animal Kingdom
Rafiki’s Planet Watch is a seasonal attraction at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom but typically returns each summer. This conservation-focused attraction is only accessible via a train ride and offered character meet and greets and a children’s farm. Check out everything happening at the Conservation Station.
Summer Snacks at Walt Disney World
If we’re sure to see anything new at Walt Disney World this summer it’s Disney Snacks! Be sure to check out all the New Disney Snacks at Walt Disney World! We’ll be keeping them updated in our Disney Snacks section of the blog. Check out the Best Disney Snacks in each park and our favorite Kid-Friendly Drinks to beat the Heat at Walt Disney World.
Disney in the Summer
If you’re heading to Walt Disney World this summer, hopefully, this post has helped you see all that you can do! If you’re on the fence about when to visit Walt Disney World. Check out our posts on what happens each season at Walt Disney World. Or head to our post about celebrating a Disney Summer at Home.
Rochelle Mariah is a writer, designer and photographer with an MLIS in Information Science and a B.S. in Arch and Design. Determined to make Planning a DIY Disney Vacation easier she makes lots of lists and drinks lots of coffee. When not designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's watching old movies and planning the holidays. She has been traveling to Disney destinations since 2010.
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