Bob Iger Hits Another Grand Slam with Theme Park Fans
History won’t remember May 8th, 2023 as the date when Disney recovered from its post-pandemic theme park slump. Maybe it should, though.
On May 8th, Disney announced a series of changes coming to theme parks in 2024. And fans sound euphoric about the changes.
Also, they’re as optimistic about the parks as they’ve been since 2019. Friends, Bob Iger just hit another grand slam with theme park fans.
Here’s what happened and what you need to know about 2024 Disney vacations.
Disney Brings Back the Dining Plan
We don’t know many specifics yet, but Disney has confirmed that the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) will return at Walt Disney World on January 9th, 2024.
Even better, you can purchase a dining plan as early as May 31st, 2023. That’s when Disney will sell 2024 vacation packages.
Humorously, last May, I’d set a one-year reminder for the morning of May 8th, 2023, to check when these packages would go on sale. Disney announced a few hours later.
MickeyBlog had previously written about this question in late March as well. So, we as a site had a good idea it was coming in the next month or so.
For its part, Disney has once again demonstrated that it has learned from past mistakes here.
During the pandemic and basically the entire Bob Chapek regime, we never quite knew what to expect. The company lacked transparency about such matters.
Under Bob Iger, Disney has returned to the theme park empire of old. We know that the company will inform us well ahead of time about policy changes.
Also, the overwhelming majority of the changes are good. Remember a few months ago when park officials announced the Free Dining Card promotion?
We know the underlying explanation for that offer. During Iger’s time away from the company, he watched in frustration as Chapek repeatedly increased prices.
Iger felt strongly that the price of a Disney vacation should remain affordable for virtually everyone.
When Disney brought back Iger in late 2022, he lacked the time to change the entire 2023 vacation plan. It would have been unreasonable to do so.
For 2024, Iger can reset some of Chapek’s mistakes, one of which was ending the dining plan.
By the end of May, guests may once again purchase either the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan.
Which Plan Is Better
I…don’t know.
Disney provided little information regarding the plans during the initial announcement. All Disney indicated was that those two plans would return.
Park officials have indicated that the information on the official website is current, but they’ll provide more details later in May.
What we know for now is that the Quick Service plan includes two Quick Service meals and one snack/nonalcoholic drink per night.
You also receive a free refillable mug, which is one of my favorite dining plan perks.
The standard Disney Dining Plan includes one Quick Service and one Table Service meal per day.
Guests also gain the daily snack/nonalcoholic beverage and the refillable mug.
So, your choice depends on whether you want a Table Service each day. If so, you should expect to pay a bit more for that dining plan.
Otherwise, the rules are the same for both programs. Everyone aged three and up staying in the room must purchase a dining plan.
In exchange, they’ll receive two meals per day, one of which will definitely be a Quick Service meal. The other depends on your dining preferences.
Please note that Disney won’t offer the Deluxe Dining Plan, my preferred option, at this time.
I should stress that I’m taking this information from Disney’s official site. However, Disney will update with additional information later this month.
Those of you wondering about participating in Walt Disney World restaurants and other specifics must wait a few more days.
As usual, MickeyBlog will bring the information to you first. Just stay tuned!
Generally speaking, the dining plan has proven divisive among guests. I happen to love it and CANNOT STAND eating at Disney without it.
Your mileage may vary.
Iger’s Other Savvy Changes
First, let me say the following: “Dear Disney, I feel heard!”
Ten days ago, I wrote this article entitled, “Hey Disney, Can You Help with Our Phone Problem?”.
Disney’s announcements early this week directly address virtually all my complaints/requests. It’s totally coincidental, to be sure, but it’s gratifying.
Under Iger, Disney listens more. It’s an objective fact.
Specifically, Disney just negated most Park Pass requirements for 2024.
Those of us with annual passes can visit on “good-to-go” days without booking a Park Pass.
Those changes are in addition to the previous update, which allowed passholders to enter all four Walt Disney World parks after 2 p.m. on weekdays.
Disney has updated the rules to include cast members as well. So, these two groups will love “good-to-go” dates in 2024.
In addition, NO ONE needs a Park Pass when they purchase a date-based ticket in 2024.
In case you’re confused by the terminology, most Walt Disney World admission tickets these days are date-based.
You’ve likely noticed the tiered pricing for admission tickets. When you order them, you pay based on the timeframe of your visit. That’s date-based pricing.
As long as you do that, the days of Park Passes are over for you! Should you use a different kind of admission ticket, you will still need a Park Pass.
On the plus side, the competition for theme park reservations will shrink dramatically in 2024. After all, most guests won’t need to book them!
Less Phone Time Coming Soon!
While these changes are all exceptional, the most significant update is the one we know the least about thus far.
Disney has confirmed it’s aware of the phone problem! The Parks Blog states the following:
“We have heard from guests that they would like ways to plan with Disney Genie+ service and individual Lightning Lane selections before the day of their park visit, and we want you to know we are working on ways guests may do this for visits in 2024.
Our goal is to give you the opportunity to spend less time planning in the park and more time enjoying your visit with friends and family.
While we are not yet able to share specific details, we look forward to sharing more information at a later date.”
In other words, Disney hasn’t settled on a solution to the underlying phone problem I discussed yet. The company is working on it, though.
Since the parks team has prioritized all its improvements as arriving by January 2024, we may not hear more about this solution for a few months.
Still, I’m thrilled beyond words that Disney is aware of the concern and currently working on the problem. That’s what we as fans need to hear.
Similarly, Iger and his staff have identified all the 2020-2022 park changes we dislike.
Now, Walt Disney World is rolling back those measures or at least reducing their impact.
Folks, Bob Iger is a really good leader.
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