🚝 Dad at Disney Weekly #049 ✨

May 30, 2026

In partnership with

Hi All,

Two posts this week — one tactical for fall planning, one for anyone doing a summer trip with the kids. Plus the May 26 ride drops are live and the parks have basically restarted. Let's get to it:

LATEST NEWS

The MNSSHP cheat sheet you'll want to bookmark…. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2026 tickets are $119 to $229 per person — and most families pay the wrong number. There are exactly 2 nights at the $119 floor (Aug 11 and Aug 14), a $10/ticket DVC member discount that only works Aug 7 through Oct 2, and 4 DVC resorts that turn a midnight party into a survivable trip with kids. Full cheat sheet here — including the date-by-date pricing tiers.

Doing a summer trip with the kids?…. Disney's calling it Cool Kids' Summer, and I went in skeptical — then my 5-year-old met Bluey and lost her entire mind (in the best way). I broke down every new family show, the perk most people miss (a free water park day on your check-in day), and whether it's worth booking: Cool Kids' Summer at Disney World 2026 — what's actually new. Short version: the free shows are the same whether you pay rack rate or rent points — so optimize the room.

The May 26 ride wave is now in full swing…. Soarin' Across America is open at EPCOT, Bluey's Wild World debuted at Conservation Station, and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets has officially replaced the Aerosmith version at Hollywood Studios. Lines are still long — early June will be peak crowd for these.

Summer room deals are live…. Disney's offering up to 30% off select resort rooms on stays of 5+ nights (up to 25% for 1–4 nights), most nights May 1 – Oct 4. Good deal — but on Deluxe resorts you can still usually beat the 30%-off rate by renting DVC points. (Full math is in the Cool Kids' Summer post above.)

Want the whole DVC playbook? Grab my free DVC Savings Guide — it shows you exactly how to stay at Deluxe resorts for 40–60% less.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INTREPID TRAVEL

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See the full trip lineup

DISNEY DEALS

The single biggest MNSSHP savings hack…. if you're going to Mickey's Not-So-Scary, the resort you book matters more than the date. Renting DVC points for Bay Lake Tower for a 4-night August trip runs ~$1,800–$2,000 versus a $4,000 Disney rack rate. Check current DVC availability 🔥 (Affiliate link — I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)

Heads up — summer rental inventory is tightening…. Welcome Home Weeks (July 22 – Aug 26) pushes more rooms into actual member usage during that window. If your dates are in that window and you're shopping a rental, book this week, not next month.

The #1 thing in my park bag every summer…. the JISULIFE handheld mini fan does triple duty — up to 19 hours of cooling, a built-in flashlight, AND it works as a phone power bank when your battery dies at 4pm. 🔥

Stop paying $5 for water in the parks…. the Owala FreeSip water bottle has a spill-proof locking spout, keeps ice cold for hours, and fits the stroller cup holder. Refill at the quick-service fountains 💧

Florida afternoon downpour incoming…. the Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite 2 Poncho packs into a pouch and beats the $20 gift-shop ponchos every time ☔️

Skip the $35 headband line…. these mouse ears headband 2-packs run under $15 for two — soft, comfy, and the kids genuinely can't tell the difference 🎀

Halloween costume hack…. Amazon's kids' Disney costumes for MNSSHP 2026 — way cheaper than parks pricing, way more comfortable for a long park night. Order now if you're going in August 🎃

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you.

P.S. Planning a 2026 trip and want a hand? We have Certified Disney Planners ready to go and completely FREE to you — hotel, tickets, dining, all the good stuff. Click HERE to submit your info and they'll reach out ASAP!

I hope everyone has a great weekend (maybe at the parks?! 😊)