Here’s How Disney Can Improve the Parks in 2024
The Walt Disney Company faces an uncertain 2024.
For the first time in a while, Disney isn’t building toward a significant event, like the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World or the company’s 100th birthday.


Walt Disney Company
Instead, Disney is looking at an ordinary year that could come with some turmoil.
Universal Epic Universe will open fully by the summer of 2025; however, some analysts remain convinced that at least one themed land could open early.


Photo: Universal
Whether or not we believe that – and I don’t – Disney can’t afford to coast in 2024.
It needs to start regaining the trust of customers who have lit up social media with complaints about the current state of Disney theme parks.
Here are a few suggested improvements for 2024.
Streamlining Disney Vacations


Photo: Disney
Long-standing Disney customers frequently express the same frustrations.
Over the years, Disney has added new amenities, ostensibly for our benefit.
In practice, these changes have irrefutably complicated Disney vacation planning, as well as the visits themselves.


Photo: Disney
Thankfully, on January 9, 2024, Disney will take steps to improve some of the most problematic issues.
Park hopping will return, and most guests will no longer need Park Passes, aka park reservations.
So, we’re down to the last two months of needing something more than admission tickets to enter the parks.
Even after those additions, Disney will continue improving.
Park officials have indicated that advanced reservations for Disney Genie+ are coming soon.


Photo: Park Savers
That tactic will eliminate the current 7 a.m. struggle that infuriates at least one member of my immediate family.
So, Disney is aware of the problem and is taking actionable, corrective steps, and they deserve credit for that.


Disney Genie+
Alas, much more is needed.
Disney hasn’t wanted guests to plan far ahead for financial reasons.
However, without customers, that’s a moot point, anyway.


Photo: DVC
Disney should empower willing customers to book as much of their itinerary as they like before their visit.
I recognize that Disney prefers a level playing field for first-time guests.


Photo:Rappler
I’m not insensitive to that concern, but loyal customers provide more business.
In terms of order of precedence, they should come first, or at worst, at the same time as new Disney visitors.
Improving Park Tech


Photo: Disney
On a recent day, I had two different friends complaining that the Disney theme park app lost their annual passes.
This seems like a good time to mention that one was at Disneyland, while the other was visiting Walt Disney World.


Photo: Disney
I presume something was happening under the hood to cause all Disney systems to glitch.
Still, a person using the Disneyland app shouldn’t share the same technical outage as someone on the Walt Disney World app.
That’s the minor aspect of this problem.


Photo: Disney
The meta issue is that Disney tech shouldn’t be this unreliable.
Anyone who has ever booked – I should say tried to book – tickets for some after-hours event or runDisney race is nodding vigorously right now.


Photo: Disney
System errors, malfunctions, and 404 error pages have become a predictable part of digital sales.
Hey, how many times has Amazon glitched on you during a purchase this year?
I doubt that many of you answered once, and I doubt that any of you said twice.
It just doesn’t happen as a rule.
In digital sales, a conversion should be automatic and the easiest thing to do on the site.


Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg
With Disney, it’s often the opposite of that.
I vividly recall guffawing when Bob Chapek described improving this Disney technology as top of mind.


Photo: Charles Krupa/AP
He said this at least 18 months and a full CEO ago. Nothing has changed.
You MUST do better on this one, Disney.
Disney Transportation


Photo: Disney
Speaking of top of mind, the time has come for Disney transportation.
We’re approaching the two-year anniversary of the end of Magical Express, one of Walt Disney World’s best overall amenities.


Magical Express bus
Whether Disney or not thought it had a replacement lined up, nothing has changed in two years.
In fact, the current setup is worse because the costly Minnie Van airport option hasn’t returned since the pandemic.


Photo: @bioreconstruct on Twitter/X
Similarly, the proposed Disney Skyliner expansion hasn’t made progress.
That’s understandable since Disney faced staffing and financial constraints during the pandemic.
Now that Disney has prepared to spend $60 billion at the parks over the next decade, this project should head to the front burner.
Similarly, a new monorail fleet would be nice, though I’ve made peace with the fact that Disney isn’t prioritizing this investment.


EPCOT Monorail is closed
It’s rejuvenating current monorail trams instead.
The recent monorail flat tire reminded us that this is the oldest monorail fleet in operation… and possibly ever.
Along those lines, Disney must do something to transfer guests from the airport to official resorts.
Someone who would know recently told MickeyBlog that plans are in the offing.
I’m begging Disney to make this happen during 2024.
The current airport experience is tolerable, but Orlando International Airport sets attendance records seemingly every other month.
This problem will get substantially worse unless Disney makes it better.
Improved Park Offerings


Magic Kingdom crowds
Let’s start with the basic one.
Early theme park entry is excellent, and we love it.
However, it’s literally only half of what we once had.
Before the pandemic, Disney had called this offering Extra Magic Hours.
With that amenity, you got 60 minutes rather than 30 minutes.
Also, Disney sometimes offered them after closing.
For night owls like me, that really was “extra magic.”
Crowds have already vanished when the park’s ready to close, anyway.
During that post-closure Extra Magic Hour, virtually everything’s a walk-on.


Photo: Disney
That’s an official Disney resort amenity that matters.
Disney has also changed something that is a feature and not a bug.


Magic Kingdom’s Christmas Tree
Theme park operating hours are often shorter and mercurial. We never know precisely when a place will open or close because the entire process feels haphazard.
Historically, Disney followed a schedule based on the month.
So, we generally knew well ahead of time.


Holiday decor
Now, you must check the park schedule repeatedly as your visit approaches.
Disney seemingly changes hours every month. In fact, it just updated some holiday dates while I was writing this article.
Many guests would appreciate more consistency and predictability. That’s not a big ask.


Magic Kingdom
Also, such a move would create a reassuring sense of stability. Disney’s operating hours have felt utterly chaotic since early 2020.
The good news about each of these requests is that they are all easily achievable.
Disney has demonstrated a willingness to make incremental progress. We just want a lot more of it in 2024.


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Feature Photo: Disney