Breaking News from Walt Disney World

Hot news off the press from Walt Disney World! Dining plans to return & theme park reservations have an end date.

In just the last few weeks Disney resumed annual pass sales after a long hiatus. Now today, there’s more big news coming out of the House of the Mouse.

Disney World Park Reservations Ending in 2024

The bad news first: reservations will still be required for annual pass holders, Disney Cast Members and tickets with no specific date.

The good news: For the majority of us who travel to Walt Disney World with date-based tickets park reservations will no longer be required as of January 9th, 2024!

Annual Passholders and Cast Members will have something called “good-to-go days” which are not set in stone, but there will be certain days when they can enter without a reservation. Expect these to be days when the parks are not typically over-crowded.

Disney Dining Plans are Coming Back

According to the Disney announcement “Disney Resort hotel Guests who purchase a vacation package starting with stays beginning January 9th, 2024, will have the option to add the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan.”

Disney Continuing Extended Hours for Hotel Guests

If there’s one benefit we’ve come to love when staying on property it’s the early entry (for al Disney Resort hotel Guests) and extended evening hours (for Guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels and Disney Deluxe Villas). Valid theme park admission and resort ID are required to enjoy these perks, but we’re super excited to hear they are continuing at least through 2024.

Improvements to Disney Genie+

Personally, I haven’t been a huge fan of Genie+. I know it has its useful features and can help some people, but it’s never been for me. Part of the problem has always been that you can’t plan ahead and can only utilize the features of Genie+ and individual Lightening Lane selections the day of your visit. Well now Disney is said to be working on options to allow just that. Once complete, you’ll be able to use Genie+ and schedule Lightening Lane selections ahead of your park visit.

Still not sure if it’s all worth it, but definitely a big push in the right direction by Disney.

Bookings for 2024 visits will open on May 31, 2023.

Which of these announcements has you the most excited?