September is bringing a strange mix of goodbyes and new beginnings to Walt Disney World.
Guests visiting during the first few days of the month will find experiences that disappear shortly afterward. Those arriving later will miss some summer offerings, but they’ll gain access to brand-new additions at Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.
And September 8 is shaping up to be an especially important date.
Here are five Disney World changes you’ll want on your radar before visiting this September.
Cool KIDS’ SUMMER Wraps Up
Disney’s Cool KIDS’ SUMMER officially ends September 8, bringing the resort’s summer celebration to a close for 2026.
Disney hasn’t confirmed whether the event will return in 2027, so this could be the last opportunity for a while to experience its current lineup.
That includes Jessie’s Roundup at Magic Kingdom, where Jessie and her friends lead children through dances and activities in an air-conditioned setting.
The location won’t remain empty after the experience ends. Disney plans to use the Diamond Horseshoe space for a new dining experience.
Coral Reef Restaurant Is Closing Temporarily
Another September 8 change is happening over at EPCOT.
Coral Reef Restaurant will temporarily close that day, taking one of EPCOT’s more unusual dining locations off the table for upcoming visitors.
Located inside The Seas Pavilion, Coral Reef allows guests to eat beside massive windows looking directly into the aquarium.
Fortunately, this isn’t supposed to be permanent.
Disney says Coral Reef will reopen later in 2026, although the company hasn’t provided an exact date yet.
If Coral Reef is on your must-do list, you’ll want to visit before September 8 or wait until Disney announces its return.
Typhoon Lagoon Shuts Down for the Year
September 8 also marks the beginning of Typhoon Lagoon’s seasonal closure.
Disney’s tropical-themed water park will close on that date and remain unavailable through the end of 2026. Blizzard Beach will stay open, meaning guests will still have a Disney water park option.
There’s another deadline arriving just before the closure.
The final H2O Glow After Hours event of 2026 takes place September 5.
That gives Typhoon Lagoon fans only a short window at the beginning of September before the park disappears from the Disney World lineup for the remainder of the year.
The Magic of Disney Animation Makes Its Debut
Now for one of September’s biggest additions.
The Magic of Disney Animation officially opens at Hollywood Studios on September 14.
Located inside the new Walt Disney Studios Courtyard, the experience takes inspiration from the headquarters of Disney Animation Studios and will feature four attractions.
Off the Page will serve as a large character meet-and-greet location featuring six characters.
Olaf Draws will offer something more interactive, inviting guests to sit down and learn how to draw some familiar Disney characters.
The September 14 opening makes the timing of a Hollywood Studios visit particularly important. Guests arriving earlier in the month will just miss the new experience, while those visiting during the second half of September will have something completely new waiting for them.
Something Cheesy Is Coming to EPCOT
EPCOT is getting another addition a few days later.
Cheers to Cheese opens inside CommuniCore Hall on September 18 as part of the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival.
The interactive exhibit will take guests through the history of cheese while offering plenty of facts along the way. It’s scheduled to remain available through November 8.
It’s another example of Disney using CommuniCore Hall as an indoor extension of EPCOT’s festivals.
More importantly, it adds another experience for guests visiting Food & Wine later in the festival.
September 8 Is the Date to Watch
If there’s one date Disney World visitors should remember, it’s September 8.
Cool KIDS’ SUMMER ends, Coral Reef Restaurant closes, and Typhoon Lagoon begins its seasonal shutdown.
Less than a week later, The Magic of Disney Animation opens at Hollywood Studios. Cheers to Cheese follows at EPCOT on September 18.
So two guests visiting Disney World only a couple of weeks apart could end up having noticeably different vacations.
September may traditionally sit between Disney World’s summer rush and its busy fall months, but in 2026, there’s a lot happening.
