As soon as upon a time (earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic), visiting Walt Disney World was pretty easy — or no less than easier. You picked a date, purchased a ticket and walked by means of the gates. You may even buy a pre-paid eating plan that made arranging meals (and Mickey ice cream bars) a breeze.
However issues modified.
When Disney World reopened after a short lived coronavirus-related closure, visiting the Central Florida resort turned extra sophisticated, presumably to unfold out and management crowds. After buying a ticket, you continue to needed to make a theme park reservation for the park you wished to go to every day. You could not park hop till after 2 p.m., and pre-paid Disney eating plans disappeared indefinitely.
Nevertheless, Disney has been saying it hears the issues and desires to simplify the park expertise. At present it introduced 5 main updates that may hopefully make your subsequent Disney World trip easier, simpler — and extra enjoyable.
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The tip of theme park reservations
As of Jan. 9, 2024, theme park reservations at Walt Disney World will formally be a factor of the previous for friends with date-based tickets.
Although this modification will not take impact for greater than six months, 2024 Walt Disney World ticket packages and lodge bookings go on sale on Could 31, 2023. So, planning your 2024 Disney trip is about to get a lot easier.
The brand new system will function kind of because it did earlier than the implementation of theme park reservations. You’ll nonetheless buy variably priced, date-based tickets for the times you propose to go to Disney World. From there, you present up on your trip, faucet into the park and benefit from the enjoyable.
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For now, you’ll nonetheless want to attend till 2 p.m. to “hop” to a second park if you are going to buy the park hopper add-on on your Disney World ticket. Disney has not made any adjustments to its present park hopping guidelines for normal, date-based tickets.
Good-to-go days for annual passholders
The above adjustments to the reservation system solely apply to date-based tickets. Disney World annual passholders and friends with sure promotional ticket varieties will nonetheless be required to make a theme park reservation to enter a Disney World park. You’ll find extra info on which ticket varieties nonetheless require reservations on Disney World’s web site.
However, there may be some excellent news for annual passholders.
In 2024, Disney will likely be including “good-to-go” days the place annual passholders (and Disney solid members) can go to Disney World theme parks with out making a park reservation. No official date has been introduced, however when it launches, these “good-to-go” days will roll out on an ongoing foundation.
These updates are along with the latest replace that allowed Disney World annual passholders to enter the theme parks after 2 p.m. while not having a reservation (besides on Saturdays and Sundays at The Magic Kingdom).
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The return of Disney eating plans
The Disney eating plan was as soon as a wildly fashionable choice for friends staying on-site at Disney World inns. There have been a number of plans to select from that allowed you to basically pre-pay for meals and snacks as an add-on to your trip package deal. The economics of it did not make sense for everybody, however if you happen to prefer to take pleasure in quite a lot of Disney meals, it was a good way to know what that might value prematurely.
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After an nearly four-year hiatus, Disney Eating plans will return on Jan. 9, 2024. Disney is bringing again two variations of the eating plan: the Fast Service Eating Plan and the Disney Eating Plan. You may redeem meals and snacks at any level throughout your keep, and they’re primarily based on the variety of nights in your package deal.
Friends who guide the Fast Service Eating Plan will obtain the next:
- Two quick-service meals per night time stayed.
- A snack or nonalcoholic drink per night time stayed.
- One refillable drink mug with limitless refills at your resort.
Friends who guide the Disney Eating Plan will obtain the next:
- One table-service meal per night time stayed.
- One quick-service meal per night time stayed.
- A snack or nonalcoholic drink per night time stayed.
- One refillable drink mug with limitless refills at your resort.
Further eating plan particulars and pricing will likely be out there when the 2024 lodge and ticket packages open on Could 31, 2023.
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Early theme park entry and prolonged night hours proceed by means of 2024
At present, friends in any respect Disney World inns and choose affiliated inns (just like the Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve and the Disney Springs inns) can enter any of Disney World’s 4 theme parks half-hour early each day of their trip. It might not sound like a lot, however if you happen to arrive on the entrance gates 30 to 45 minutes earlier than early entry begins, you possibly can rapidly knock out one or two headliner sights earlier than common friends are admitted into the park — even with out shopping for Lightning Lanes or Genie+ entry.
Moreover, friends staying at Deluxe Disney resorts — in addition to the Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve and Shades of Inexperienced — can keep within the parks two hours previous closing time throughout Prolonged Night Theme Park Hours. This profit is offered on choose nights in choose parks.
Disney confirmed that Early Theme Park Entry and Prolonged Night Hours will proceed no less than by means of 2024.
Extra magic for Disney Genie+
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Except for the fee, being unable to plan Genie+ or Particular person Lightning Lane choices forward of time has been the commonest criticism in regards to the new system. Whereas particulars are nonetheless scant, Disney introduced as we speak that it’s engaged on methods to permit friends to plan with Genie+ and particular person Lightning Lane choices earlier than the day of their park go to in 2024.
Guests spend a lot time on their telephones throughout trip making an attempt to snag a person Lightning Lane reservation for sights like Tron Lightcycle Run. Many additionally get up at 6:45 a.m. to seek out out the value for the day, buy Genie+ after which make their first Genie+ choice at 7 a.m. So, this modification to the planning course of can be a welcome replace.
Backside line
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Three years after the pandemic’s preliminary impacts, we’re glad to see Disney delivering on its promise to hearken to buyer suggestions and make it simpler to take pleasure in essentially the most magical place on earth.
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