Changes Coming to Disney World in Early 2024
Mark your calendar for January 9th, 2024, there are some major changes coming to The Walt Disney World Resort! After the 2019 COVID closures, many change impacted the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. Some of which were the implementation of park reservations, restrictions added to park hopping(once it returned), and the pause of the Disney Dining Plan (DDP). Well folks, we are thrilled to announce that all of this will soon change starting Jan 9th, 2024!
Coming Jan. 9, 2024
The return of all-day Park Hopper access during park hours
Theme park reservations no longer required for date-based tickets (standard ticket option)
Disney dining plans available once again for Disney Resort hotel guests as part of a package
If you’re not familiar with the DDP, park reservations, or park hopping, let’s take a moment to review with they are and the current policies.
Disney Park Reservations
Disney Park Reservations are part of a reservation system implemented by Disney as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This system was introduced to help manage capacity and ensure physical distancing within the various Disney theme parks, such as Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California. The reservation system is designed to help control crowd levels and maintain a safe and enjoyable experience for guests.
Here's how Disney Park Reservations currently work:
Make a Reservation: Before visiting a Disney theme park, guests are required to make a reservation through the Disney Park Pass reservation system. This reservation is in addition to purchasing regular park admission tickets or having an annual pass. The reservation system is available on the official Disney websites and mobile apps.
Availability: Guests can view the availability calendar, which shows which parks have reservation availability for specific dates. It's important to check the availability for the park you want to visit on the date you plan to go.
Reserve a Park: Once you have a valid park admission ticket, you can select the date and park you wish to visit and make a reservation. You may choose one park per day from the available options. Park Hopper tickets, if applicable, allow for park hopping in the afternoon, but you must still start the day at your reserved park.
Park Hopping: If you have a Park Hopper ticket, you can visit additional parks in the afternoon (typically starting at 2:00 PM) without needing additional reservations, provided there is availability and capacity.
Starting January 9th, 2024 guest with standard tickets will no long need to stress about park reservations! They will no longer be needed. Finally!
Park Hopping
Disney World park hopping is a ticket add-on feature that allows visitors to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to visit multiple theme parks in a single day. Walt Disney World Resort consists of four major theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Park hopping enables guests to move between these parks, giving them the flexibility to explore different attractions, entertainment, and dining experiences within a single day.
Here's how park hopping currently works:
Start at one park: When you enter the first park of the day, you must make a reservation for that specific park using Disney's reservation system, which was implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This reservation ensures that you have guaranteed entry into your chosen park.
Park hop later: After 2:00 PM (subject to change), park hopper ticket holders can visit any of the other three theme parks without the need for an additional reservation. You can leave your first park and enter another or even visit all of them in a single day if you wish.
Check park availability: It's essential to check the current park availability status and be aware that park hopping may be limited based on park capacity.
Transportation: Disney provides transportation options between the theme parks, including buses, the Disney Skyliner, the Monorail system, and boats, making it relatively convenient to hop from one park to another.
Beginning Jan. 9, 2024, guests with a ticket with Park Hopper benefits or an Annual Pass will be able to once again visit another theme park at ANY TIME OF DAY during park hours (subject to capacity limitations).
Disney Dining Plan
Disney dining plans will be coming back as an option for those staying at Disney Resort hotels who purchase a vacation package with us starting with stays beginning Jan. 9, 2024, which will also open for bookings on May 31. We know many guests – and families in particular – have missed dining plans, which offer guests the convenience and peace of mind of pre-paying for their meals and snacks.
Guests will be able to choose from two popular options:
There is not current dining plan being offered for guest visiting prior to January 9th, 2024. We are very excited this option is returning!
As always, we hope this information helps bring a little extra magic to your vacation! If you or someone you know, would like to experience the magic of a Disney World vacation please contact us! Our Certified Travel Advisor, Angel, possesses a wealth of expertise in crafting unforgettable Disney and Universal vacations. With her extensive knowledge and magical touch, she is dedicated to ensuring that our clients embark on the most magical and seamless vacations imaginable.
As an IATAN/IATA Accredited Travel Agent, Angel upholds the highest professional standards in the travel industry. Her commitment to excellence is further reinforced by her certification as a Travel Advisor through the ASTA affiliated COV travel program. This distinction highlights her exceptional skills in providing personalized guidance and support to our valued clients.
With Angel as your dedicated Travel Advisor, you can rest assured that you are in the hands of a seasoned professional with a deep passion for making your vacation dreams come true. She will utilize her expertise, training, and attention to detail to bring magic into every aspect of your trip.
