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Credit: Inside the MagicSpring has arrived, and Easter is approaching at Disney World, specifically on April 5. While the typical Easter celebration at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort has been canceled, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is set to host a festive event. Families visiting during Spring Break can enjoy a spectacular egg hunt on the hotel’s White Sand Beach, featuring over 16,000 colorful eggs, including special Golden Eggs with surprises. The Easter Bunny will kick off the festivities with a countdown, creating memorable moments for guests.
Two Separate Egg Hunts
The event features two separate egg hunts, ensuring every child has a fun, age-appropriate experience, including the Little Explorers Hunt for Ages 4 and Under, designed with the youngest guests in mind, offering a gentle, whimsical hunt in a safe, stress-free environment filled with sweet Easter moments. Grand Adventure Hunt for Ages 5 to 17 allows older kids and teens to take on a thrilling beachside challenge packed with thousands of eggs, hidden treasures, and those coveted Golden Eggs, creating a fast-paced, competitive experience perfect for adventurous guests. Both hunts begin at 12:00 p.m., so you will want to arrive early to grab a good spot.
More Beachside Easter Fun
The celebration at White Sand Beach features a lively Easter festival with family activities including egg hunting, arts and crafts, snow cones, and a “Make-Your-Own Bunny Ears” station. Kids can also create a special “treat mix” for the Easter Bunny, while interactive games like Guess the Jelly Bean Count and a water balloon toss add to the fun.
At the Grotto Pool from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., a live DJ provides upbeat music for relaxation or dancing. Additionally, there’s a special Easter brunch at Garden Grove on April 20 from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with family-friendly pricing of $19.95 for kids and $49.95 for adults. This makes for a festive way to celebrate the holiday during your Disney trip.
The Grand Floridian Situation
Spring is usually one of the most charming times to visit Walt Disney World with between the warmer weather, blooming gardens, and seasonal treats the resort leaning into the lighter side of the year. For many Disney fans Easter has quietly become one of those seasonal traditions worth experiencing especially at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, but 2026 may bring an unexpected change.
New reports suggest that one of Walt Disney World’s most recognizable Easter displays might not return this year, with Disney having not issued an official announcement. Early signs inside the resort suggest the popular Grand Cottage may be missing from this year’s celebrations. And if that happens, it could signal a much bigger shift in how Disney handles its Easter festivities.
The Grand Cottage Tradition
The Grand Cottage has become a seasonal highlight at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa since its debut in 2022, designed to resemble a charming pastel cottage, the display doubling as a small treat shop filled with spring-inspired desserts and Easter-themed goodies. Guests typically find the cottage set up inside the resort’s elegant lobby area, alongside the treats, Disney pastry chefs also create elaborate chocolate Easter egg showpieces, which are displayed around the lobby for guests to admire.
Over the past few years the display has grown into a seasonal photo opportunity and a must-see stop for many visitors hopping on and off the monorail loop, with even guests who are not staying at the Grand Floridian often stopping by to experience the Easter display. Last year, the cottage appeared in mid-March and opened shortly afterward in time for Easter celebrations.
No Setup in Sight
Easter falls much earlier this year, landing on April 5. Normally, that means Disney is already preparing the Grand Floridian lobby for its annual Easter installation, but there have been no signs of the cottage being assembled. According to reports, the situation remains unclear, with some employees believing the display may simply be delayed, while others say the Grand Cottage might not return at all this year.
That uncertainty has sparked speculation among Disney fans who visit the resort regularly, with when seasonal displays disappear it often raising a bigger question of whether this is a temporary change or the beginning of something permanent.
Construction Could Be the Culprit
One possible explanation involves the ongoing updates at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, which have included several refurbishments recently, including a major refresh of the lobby that introduced new furniture, carpeting, and design elements. Those changes already had an impact on another popular seasonal display: during the 2025 holiday season, the Grand Floridian did not install its traditional gingerbread house due to ongoing work in the lobby.
If the space is still being adjusted or prepared for future updates Disney may have chosen to skip installing the Grand Cottage this year as well, with seasonal displays at Disney resorts requiring extensive setup time, coordination with culinary teams, and dedicated space for crowds. Even small layout changes can make it difficult to install large decorative structures like the cottage.
Why the Swan and Dolphin Matters More This Year
Between the massive egg hunts, unique beach setting, interactive activities, and nonstop entertainment, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is going to be a blast on Easter, especially if you are visiting in early April, as this is one event worth planning your day around. A resort on Disney property set to celebrate a Christian holiday on April 5 becomes even more significant given the Grand Floridian’s apparent cancellation of its traditional Easter celebration.