Hi Bryana!
Welcome to planDisney! Kicking off 2026 with a Disney World vacation sounds like a dream!
At the time of writing this, it looks like
Typhoon Lagoon is scheduled to be open on January 1, 2026 (subject to change).
The
free water park tickets on arrival day for Disney World resort guests are only valid for check-in dates from January 1 through December 31, 2025, though. So, unfortunately, you’ll just miss it! That perk will return over the summer of 2026, but those dates have not been announced yet. If you’re still hoping to visit the water park, you can
purchase your water park tickets at this link.
But it’s good to note that the water parks can close due to weather, including colder temperatures. While Disney World is usually known to have warm weather, there have been times I’ve worn my heavy coat there over the winter months! So, I’d have a backup plan just in case.
On arrival day, I personally love to check out the fun offerings at my resort, make a reservation for a restaurant outside of the theme parks, or visit Disney Springs.
Disney Springs will be celebrating the holidays through January 4, 2026, so that would be perfect timing. Going through the
Christmas Tree Stroll there with my family is a core memory of mine!
I hope that helps you plan your arrival day! And if you have any other questions, feel free to come back and visit us!
Jenn J.