If you haven’t been to one one of the major U.S. theme parks in a while, you might be surprised at how much has changed in recent years. Even if you’ve seen videos on social media of what’s trending (hello, mac and cheese cones from Epic Universe!), believe me when I say these only scratch the surface.
Theme park giants like Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and Silver Dollar City have come up with some creative new ways to keep the park experience fresh for return visitors and newbies alike. In short, your theme park vacation will look very different in 2026. Here are the trends that will shape your vacation in the year ahead, whether you know it or not.
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Personalization and customization
It’s no secret that people want to take trips that are tailored to their interests. And while it may seem challenging to customize your theme park trip, that’s exactly what some parks are doing. In fact, at resorts like Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, and Universal Orlando, dozens of add-on packages and experiences allow you to fully customize your trip. Think of things like after-hours events, private tours, and even dining options that come with private character meet-and-greets.
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Honestly, the best way to get a completely custom itinerary is to take a VIP tour, but these are pricey. At Walt Disney World, VIP tours start at $450 an hour with a seven-hour minimum. And at Disneyland, VIP tours start at $500 an hour with a seven-hour minimum. Universal Orlando Resort’s VIP tours are slightly cheaper, with a four-hour, single park tour starting at $220 per person. I’ve been lucky enough to take VIP tours at Disney World in and Universal Orlando Resort. They are truly spectacular, but obviously not affordable for every family.
Besides VIP tours, theme parks are using technology to customize your day. At Walt Disney World and Disneyland, the integration of Disney Genie into the park’s respective apps has been helpful for some. The free service utilizes your data and answers to a short set of questions to help you plan your day at the theme parks. Even though it’s not always perfect, the plans are a good launching point for ensuring you get the most out of your day at the parks.
Food and beverage experiences
There’s no shortage of options when it comes to dining at theme parks, but the best theme park dining is highly themed and offers an experience that can’t be had elsewhere. When I think of highly themed food and beverage experiences, my mind drifts to 50s Prime Time Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The kitschy restaurant feels like it was plopped out of a 1950s TV show, complete with black and white TVs, waitstaff that are always causing chaos (in a good way), and plenty of home-cooked favorites like fried chicken and meatloaf.
As we head into the future of theme park dining, these types of experiences are becoming more mainstream, even for quick-service restaurants or grab-and-go stands. Often, these food and beverage experiences come with some over-the-top dish that not only looks good on camera but also actually tastes good. One prime example of this is the macaroni and cheese cones from Universal Epic Universe’s How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk. These cones were all over social media when the park opened in May 2025, and continue to be a must-try snack.
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In 2026, I also see more intimate food and beverage experiences taking over some of the top parks: Things like wine tastings with a sommelier, culinary tours of the parks, and celebrity chef takeovers that allow guests to dine and meet with their favorite food personalities.
Year-round haunts
Halloween gets bigger and starts earlier every year at theme parks. Some of the most popular Halloween events begin in mid-August and end on or even after October 31. But the haunts aren’t just contained to the fall season any longer. With the opening of Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas, year-round haunts are now accessible to more people. The sinister experience features four haunted houses, themed food and drink, and live entertainment that’s sure to thrill. Universal has also announced a second Universal Horror Unleashed to open in Chicago in 2027.
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Then there’s Dark Universe, one of the five themed worlds at Universal Epic Universe. The entire land is dedicated to Universal Monsters, including Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, The Invisible Man, and more. While eerie, it’s still approachable for those who may find Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights too scary. Dark Universe continues to prove that spooky can be fun throughout the year.
Wellness
After all of the snacks and rides during your vacation, you’ll likely need some rest and relaxation. But you don’t need to look far because many of the major resorts are investing in wellness programs that allow guests to mix the typical theme park experience with a wellness retreat.
For instance, at the Disneyland Resort, the Tenaya Stone Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa is a reprieve from the hustle of the two theme parks with a full slate of services. Additionally, guests staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel can participate in wellness activities, like walking and yoga, inside Disney California Adventure before the park officially opens.
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More theme parks are also getting in on long-distance running. At Walt Disney World, a handful of runDisney races take place throughout the year with distances that range from a 5K to a full marathon. The very first race took place in 1994. Over 30 years later, the theme park running community has continued to grow.
New in 2026 for avid theme park runners, Dollywood will have its inaugural race weekend. The event takes place April 25-26, 2025, and will feature a kids’ fun run, 5K, 10K, and half-marathon. These races are a great way to mix some theme park fun with fitness.
