BAY LAKE, Fla. – Walt Disney World is getting into the Goofy groove for the summer.
On Tuesday, EPCOT kicked off Cool Kid Summer with the opening of GoofyCore, at CommuniCore Hall.
The colorful, indoor play space, with a floor-to-ceiling board game theme, is the destination for families with DJ-hosted dance parties, character appearances, and hands-on activities like Loopy Limbo, Goofy Says, and Parachutes ‘n’ Pipsqueaks.
We're off to a Gooftastic summer. Perused the new GoofyCore Hall at EPCOT. pic.twitter.com/SR0wNET6BN
— Haley Coomes (@Haley_Coomes) May 27, 2025
Disney World will have special Cool Kid Summer offerings at all its theme parks through Sept. 1.
[News 6 takes a tour of GoofyCore in the video below]
Guests of Disney Resort hotels and other select hotels can also enjoy 30 minutes of early theme park entry and might encounter characters out in the park during this time.
Raising the curtains
The Cool Kid Summer kick-off coincided with the debuts of two stage shows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
“Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After,” follows the Magic Mirror as it tries to decide which villain has been the most unfairly treated.
Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent will take the stage, but the show features all the iconic villains in some form.
For the first time in five years, the Animation Courtyard theater is putting on a show, taking guests under the sea.
“The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure” will feature stunning set pieces, cutting-edge effects, puppetry, and a bold new design aesthetic that captures Ariel’s imagination.
The show pays homage to the classic film with familiar songs and scenes.
Due to an anticipated high demand for Disney Starlight, starting July 20, Annual Passholders will need to make a Magic Kingdom park reservation at any time of day, including after 2 p.m.