BREAKING: No More Theme Park Reservations, Genie+ Improvements & More Coming to Disney World!
GET READY everyone, because we’ve got some BIG Disney World news for you!
Disney just announced some MAJOR changes and updates coming soon. Let’s break it down!
Removing Theme Park Reservations
Theme park reservations will no longer be required for date-based tickets starting with visits on January 9th, 2024. Yep! This means you will be able to just buy your ticket without having to worry about a reservation.
So, you’ll simply pick your ticket for a start date of January 9th or later, buy it, and then you’ll be ready to visit the park of your choosing when the time comes.
Date-based tickets are the standard ticket options for guests, so only other admission types have to worry about theme park reservations. Other admission types include non-dated tickets, and Disney says that theme park reservations may still be required for those types of tickets to continue managing attendance.
You can check which admission types require park reservations by visiting DisneyWorld.com/ThemeParkReservations.
Good-To-Go Days for Annual Passholders & Cast Members
In 2024, Disney will offer select days on which Annual Passholders and Disney cast members may visit Walt Disney World theme parks without needing a park reservation! Once this is introduced, they will roll out these days on an ongoing basis.
Note that this is in addition to the recent update which offers Passholders the opportunity to visit the theme parks after 2 p.m. without needing a park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom Park.
Good-to-go days may vary by park, and pass blockout dates and capacity limitations will still apply as they do now. Disney says they will share more info at a later time.
Return of the Disney Dining Plan
FINALLY! The Disney Dining Plan is making a return in 2024, people!!
Disney Dining Plans will be coming back as an option for those staying at Disney Resort hotels who purchase a vacation package starting with stays beginning January 9th, 2024. The Disney Dining Plan offers guests the convenience of paying for meals and snacks in advance of their trip.
Guests will be able to choose from two popular options: Packages that include either the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan. Disney says both plans will be “a great value for families with young children with access to many spectacular food and beverage offerings across Walt Disney World.”
So, it sounds like we’ll have to stay tuned for updated pricing for the Dining Plan!
Click here to read more about the return of the Disney Dining Plan!
Extended Hours
Disney will continue to offer early theme park entry to Disney Resort hotel guests for visits through 2024. These happen every single day across all four theme parks!
EPCOT
Extended Evening Hours will also continue through 2024 for guests staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort and Disney Deluxe Villas. These happen on select dates and both versions of extended hours require valid theme park admission and a Resort ID.
Simplifying Disney Genie+
Disney says that they’ve heard the wishes from guests that they would like ways to plan with Disney Genie+ before the day of their park visit. So, they said they are working on a way to let people plan their Genie+ reservations and individual Lightning Lane reservations in advance!
Right now, you can only purchase and plan with Genie+ on the actual day of your park ticket.
Disney Genie+
These changes sound like how we used to be able to make advanced reservations with FastPass. Disney says their goal is to give people the opportunity to spend less time planning in the park and more time enjoying their visit.
Disney said they can’t share specific details yet, but they are planning to at a later date.
2024 Bookings
Theme park ticket bookings and Disney Resort hotel stays for 2024 will open on May 31st! So, you can start planning your Disney trip for next year very soon.
Stay tuned for more Disney news and updates!
