Your theme park vacation could look a lot different in 2026. Here are 4 reasons why.

If you haven’t visited one of America’s major theme parks in a while, you might be surprised by how much things have changed in recent years. Even if you’ve seen videos on social media about trends (hello Epic Universe mac and cheese cones!), trust me when I say these only scratch the surface.

Theme park giants like Disney, Universal, Dollywood and Silver Dollar City have found creative new ways to keep the park experience fresh for returning visitors and first-timers alike. In short, your theme park vacation will look a lot different in 2026. Here are the trends that will shape your vacation in the coming year, whether you know it or not.

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Personalization and personalization

It’s no secret: people want to take trips tailored to their interests. And while it may seem difficult to personalize your theme park trip, that’s exactly what some parks do. In fact, at resorts like Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, and Universal Orlando, dozens of add-on packages and experiences allow you to completely customize your trip. Think about things like after-hours events, private tours, and even dining options accompanied by private character meet-and-greets.

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Honestly, the best way to get a completely personalized itinerary is to take a VIP tour, but these are expensive. At Walt Disney World, VIP tours start at $450 per hour with a seven-hour minimum. And at Disneyland, VIP tours start at $500 an hour with a seven-hour minimum. Universal Orlando Resort VIP tours are slightly less expensive, with a four-hour single-park tour starting at $220 per person. I was lucky enough to take VIP tours at Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. They are truly spectacular, but obviously not affordable for every family.

Besides VIP tours, theme parks use technology to personalize your day. At Walt Disney World and Disneyland, the integration of Disney Genie into the respective park apps has been helpful for some. The free service uses your data and answers a short series of questions to help you plan your day at the theme parks. Although it’s not always perfect, maps are a good starting point to ensure you get the most out of your day at the parks.

Dining and Drinking Experiences

There is no shortage of options when it comes to theme park dining, but the best theme park restaurants are highly themed and offer an experience that can’t be had anywhere else. When I think of highly themed dining and drinking experiences, my mind drifts to the 1950s Prime Time Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The kitschy restaurant feels like something out of a 1950s TV show, with black-and-white TVs, waiters who always cause chaos (in a good way), and plenty of homemade dishes like fried chicken and meatloaf.

As we move toward the future of theme park dining, these types of experiences are becoming more and more common, even for quick service restaurants or takeout stands. Often, these food and drink experiences are accompanied by extravagant dishes that not only look great on camera, but also taste great. A great example of this is the mac and cheese cones from How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk from Universal Epic Universe. These cones were omnipresent on social media when the park opened in May 2025 and remain a must-have snack.

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In 2026, I also see more intimate dining and drinking experiences taking over some of the best parks: things like wine tastings with a sommelier, culinary tours of the parks, and celebrity chef takeovers that allow guests to dine and meet their favorite culinary personalities.

Dens all year round

Halloween is growing and starting earlier each year at theme parks. Some of the most popular Halloween events start in mid-August and end on or even after October 31st. But the favorite places are no longer limited to the fall season. With the opening of Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas, year-round haunts are now accessible to more people. The spooky experience features four haunted houses, themed food and drinks, and live performances that are sure to thrill you. Universal also announced that a second Universal Horror Unleashed will open in Chicago in 2027.

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Then there’s Dark Universe, one of the five themed worlds in Universal Epic Universe. The entire country is dedicated to universal monsters, including Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, The Invisible Man, and more. Although strange, it is still accessible to those who find Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights too scary. Dark Universe continues to prove that fear can be fun all year round.

Well-being

After all the snacking and walking around on your vacation, you’ll probably need some rest and relaxation. But you don’t need to look far, as many major resorts are investing in wellness programs that allow guests to combine the typical theme park experience with a wellness retreat.

For example, at the Disneyland Resort, the Tenaya Stone Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa is a respite from the hustle and bustle of both theme parks with a full range of services. Additionally, guests staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel can participate in wellness activities, such as walking and yoga, within Disney California Adventure before the park officially opens.

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More and more theme parks are also getting into cross-country running. At Walt Disney World, a handful of runDisney races take place throughout the year with distances ranging from 5K to full marathons. The very first race took place in 1994. Over 30 years later, the theme park racing community has continued to grow.

New in 2026 for theme park enthusiasts, Dollywood will have its inaugural race weekend. The event will take place April 25-26, 2025 and will include a kids’ fun run, a 5k, a 10k and a half marathon. These races are a great way to combine theme park fun with fitness.

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