Disney leans into kids summer

Disneyland Resort is using its 2026 summer season in Anaheim to court families with young children through a package of kid-focused entertainment, ticket discounts and hotel deals. Disney announced the “Kids Rule Summer” campaign on May 20 as the resort continues its 70th Celebration through Aug. 9. The push combines new and recently opened attractions with limited-time family activities, including “Bluey’s Best Day Ever!” at the Fantasyland Theatre and a new mission on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run that began May 22. Disney is also advertising a one-day Park Hopper ticket for children ages 3 to 9 at $50 and hotel discounts of up to 25% on select summer stays. ### Which parts of the summer lineup are aimed most directly at younger children? “Bluey’s Best Day Ever!” is one of the clearest signals in the lineup. Disney said the show recently debuted at the Fantasyland Theatre and features Bluey and Bingo with performers and musicians in a live family show designed for younger guests. The resort’s official summer guide also highlights character encounters, activity books and dance-party programming as part of the seasonal push. (disneyexperiences.com) Disney’s May 20 fact sheet framed the season in explicitly family terms, saying kids would be “leading the way” through attractions, entertainment and character experiences across the resort. The company paired those offerings with classic rides and nighttime entertainment rather than introducing a separate children-only event. (disneyexperiences.com) ### How much is Disney discounting tickets for families? Disneyland’s most prominent summer price point is the Kids’ Summer Ticket Offer. Disneyland’s official summer page says children ages 3 to 9 can get a one-day Park Hopper ticket for $50. Disney Parks Blog said the promotion is part of a broader effort to position the resort as a family vacation option at “an especially great value” for summer 2026. (disneyexperiences.com) Hotel pricing is part of the same package. Disney said guests can save up to 25% on select hotel stays during the summer season, a discount aimed at families extending visits beyond a single park day. ### What else is Disney pairing with the family push? May 22 marked the start of a new mission on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run tied to “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” according to Disney’s summer materials. (disneyparksblog.com) Disney is using that update to broaden the appeal of the season beyond preschool-focused entertainment, pairing younger-child offerings such as Bluey with Star Wars programming and other all-ages attractions. Disney’s summer guide also points to returning seasonal elements, including family activities and character experiences spread across Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. The company’s language presents the package as a full-resort summer visit rather than a single new ride launch. ### Why does the Anaheim push matter beyond the park gates? (disneyparksblog.com) Anaheim is the immediate beneficiary of Disneyland’s summer traffic. Disney’s package of children’s discounts, hotel offers and family entertainment is designed to increase visits during the school-break period, when nearby restaurants, dessert shops, hotels and child-oriented businesses also compete for family spending. That linkage is supported by Disney’s own emphasis on multi-day stays and by the concentration of summer offers around the resort district. (disneyexperiences.com) The Los Angeles Times reported on May 23 that Disneyland was leaning into family-focused offerings for the summer season in Anaheim. Disney’s own announcements from May 20 and May 22 match that framing, with family pricing and child-oriented entertainment placed at the center of the campaign. ### How long will this campaign run? (disneyparksblog.com) Aug. 9 is the key date in Disney’s timetable. Disney said the 70th Celebration, which overlaps with the summer campaign, continues through Aug. 9, 2026, while Kids Rule Summer began May 22. The summer offers and activity listings are posted on Disneyland’s official event guide and Disney Parks Blog. (disneyparksblog.com) (disneyexperiences.com)