Disney Vacation Club members visiting Walt Disney World have a deadline on the horizon, and this is one worth paying attention to. Welcome Home Weeks 2026 is underway, bringing a collection of limited-time perks across the parks, Disney Springs, and several Disney Resort hotels — but every single one of them disappears on August 26.
From complimentary treats and dining discounts to private photo sessions and surprise character meet-and-greets, the benefits are spread throughout the property. Some require showing up on a specific day or during a particular window of time, while others are available more regularly. Either way, the clock is ticking. Here are all 12 exclusive perks DVC members can still take advantage of before Welcome Home Weeks comes to a close.
1. Complimentary Ice Cream Treats
Few things hit quite like a free ice cream on a hot Central Florida afternoon. Eligible DVC members can pick up complimentary ice cream treats at locations across Disney World, including Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney Springs, Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and Disney's Riviera Resort. The schedule varies by location — for example, Magic Kingdom distributes treats at Tomorrowland Terrace on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., while Disney's Animal Kingdom offers them at Upper Bradley Falls on Thursdays and Fridays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saratoga Springs and Riviera Resort make it even easier, offering the perk daily through August 26.
2. Complimentary Coffee and Morning Treats
Early risers have something to look forward to, too. On select mornings, DVC members can enjoy complimentary coffee and a treat alongside fellow members. Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort hosts the gathering inside Top of the World Lounge on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Disney's Wilderness Lodge offers its own version at Reunion Station on Saturdays and Sundays during the same hours.
3. Exclusive Disney Character Meet-and-Greets
Character encounters can take up a big chunk of a park day, so having a dedicated opportunity outside the parks is a genuine bonus. DVC is hosting exclusive character meet-and-greets at Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney's BoardWalk. Disney describes these as surprise character appearances, so members won't know exactly who is waiting for them ahead of time. The meet-and-greets run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on select dates: August 4–5, August 12–13, August 17–18, and August 26.
4. Dining Discounts of Up to 40%
For members planning multiple sit-down meals, this could be the most valuable perk of the bunch. DVC members can receive discounts of up to 40% on food and nonalcoholic beverages at participating table-service restaurants on select dates. The lineup includes Hollywood & Vine, Tusker House, Biergarten, Tiffins, Coral Reef Restaurant, Garden Grill, The Crystal Palace, Be Our Guest, Whispering Canyon Cafe, and Trattoria al Forno. Most locations offer the full 40% discount, though The Crystal Palace and Be Our Guest offer 20% off for applicable meals. For a family or larger group, that difference can add up quickly.
5. A Free Pretzel at The Polite Pig
The perks reach beyond the parks and resort hotels into Disney Springs as well. On Mondays during Welcome Home Weeks, DVC members at The Polite Pig can receive a complimentary Hop Salt Pretzel with the purchase of a specialty cocktail or mocktail. Members also receive a 15% discount on eligible food and nonalcoholic beverages as part of the offer.
6. An Exclusive Slushie at City Works
Tuesday brings another Disney Springs treat. DVC members who purchase an entrée at City Works can receive a complimentary Welcome Home Weeks-exclusive slushie — a nice reason to plan a Disney Springs dining stop on a Tuesday.
7. A Free Everglazed Donut
Wednesday might have the most straightforward Disney Springs freebie of the whole event. Members can visit Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew and receive one complimentary Welcome Home Weeks donut per member — no additional purchase required. The catch is that complimentary donuts are offered while supplies last, so arriving early is a smart move.
8. Complimentary Ice Cream at eet
Thursday brings yet another no-purchase-required option. Members can head to eet by Maneet Chauhan at Disney Springs and receive complimentary Desi ice cream, with no strings attached.
9. A Complimentary Appetizer at Frontera Cocina
The weekday Disney Springs perks continue into Friday. At Frontera Cocina, members can receive a complimentary Half & Half appetizer after purchasing the special DVC Welcome Home Weeks drink, which is available as either a cocktail or a nonalcoholic mocktail.
10. Complimentary Welcome Home Weeks Buttons
Not every perk is edible. Disney is also giving members complimentary buttons celebrating Welcome Home Weeks. Members can find them at participating DVC lounges, Discovery Desks, and Welcome Home Centers around Disney World, including McKim's Mile House at Magic Kingdom, ImaginAtrium at EPCOT, Château de Voyage at EPCOT, and Gateway to Discovery at Disney Springs. It's a smaller benefit, but a nice keepsake to bring home from the event.
11. Private Disney PhotoPass Sessions
Members looking for something more personalized can book a complimentary 15-minute private session with a Disney PhotoPass photographer at select Disney Resort hotels. Advance registration is required. Sessions are available at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa on Wednesdays, Disney's Old Key West Resort on Thursdays, and Disney's Riviera Resort on Mondays, with available times running from 3:40 p.m. through 7:55 p.m. For anyone who has ever come home from a Disney trip with half the family missing from the photos, this one is especially practical.
12. Complimentary Candy During Movies Under the Stars
The final perk adds a little something extra to an already-beloved Disney Resort tradition. DVC members can receive complimentary candy during Movies Under the Stars at select Disney World resorts. It may not be the splashiest benefit on the list, but paired with an outdoor movie at a resort, it makes for a lovely low-key evening away from the parks.
August 26 Is the Cutoff
The most important thing for DVC members to keep in mind is that none of these are permanent additions to the standard benefits lineup. Welcome Home Weeks is a limited-time event, and August 26 marks the end of the 2026 celebration. On top of that, many individual offerings are only available on certain days of the week, which means the actual window to use them may be even narrower than the overall deadline implies.
A little advance planning goes a long way here. A 40% restaurant discount could influence where a family decides to eat. A private PhotoPass session requires registration ahead of time. Character appearances only happen on select dates. Even the complimentary ice cream giveaways follow location-specific schedules. Members visiting Disney World before August 26 are best served by checking which benefits align with their specific vacation dates — rather than leaving it to the last minute.
Disney has already put an expiration date on these extras. For eligible DVC members, the next stretch of time is the moment to make the most of them.