Like so many different issues, visiting Walt Disney World was made extra sophisticated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with buying a ticket, company of the Central Florida resort have been required to make a reservation for the theme park they wished to go to every day. In case you had a ticket with Park Hopper privileges, you possibly can solely go to a second park after 2 p.m.
These have been essential measures after they have been launched to regulate crowds and anticipate staffing wants, however three-and-a-half years later, company are reportedly pining for the times when their Disney World visits required rather less planning.
That day has lastly arrived. Starting Jan. 9, 2024, your Disney World visits are going to look a lot more like they did a few years ago.
“We’re continuously including new, progressive sights and leisure to our parks and, with our broad array of pricing choices, the worth of a theme park go to is mirrored within the distinctive experiences that solely Disney can supply,” a Disney spokesperson shared with TPG.
A number of issues at Disney will now be costlier, as properly. Here is what you possibly can anticipate out of your subsequent Disney World trip.
The tip of theme park reservations for many company
As of Jan. 9, 2024, theme park reservations will formally be a factor of the previous for company with date-based tickets. You’ll nonetheless buy variably priced, date-based tickets for the times you intend to go to Disney World, however you’ll not be required to make a theme park reservation for the park you want to go to on a given day.
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When the change goes into impact, you do not have to determine forward of time which park you need to go to. You possibly can get up and determine on a whim whether or not you’re within the temper for a trip on the Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom or a spin on the Mad Tea Social gathering teacups at Magic Kingdom.
This variation applies to most ticket varieties, with the exclusion of annual passes and sure promotional tickets. These company will nonetheless be required to make a theme park reservation to enter a Disney World park.
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The return of all-day park hopping
Since reopening in July 2020 after its momentary coronavirus-related closure, Disney World has required company with Park Hopper tickets to attend till 2 p.m. earlier than they might go to a second (or this, or fourth) park. In case you wished to “hop” to a different park for lunch or to attempt for an early afternoon digital queue spot for fashionable rides, you have been out of luck.
Associated: 5 ways using an authorized Disney vacation planner will improve your trip
Starting Jan. 9, 2024, nevertheless, company with Park Hopper tickets or annual passes can go to one other park at any time of day. As a result of Jan. 9 additionally marks the top of theme park reservations for many ticket varieties, this implies company can come and go from Disney’s 4 theme parks as they want. This implies you possibly can go to Magic Kingdom for just a few early morning rides and head straight over to Epcot properly earlier than the digital queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opens at 1 p.m.
On days when theme park reservations are required for annual go holders and promotional ticket varieties, these company will have the ability to go to one other park anytime after they go to their first park of the day.
The return of Disney Eating Plans
Disney shared earlier this yr that the Disney Dining Plan would be returning in 2024, nevertheless it bears repeating right here as a result of when mixed with the above modifications, you possibly can see simply how a lot is altering at Disney starting on Jan. 9, 2024.
The Disney Eating Plan lets you primarily prepay for meals and snacks as a part of your trip bundle. You possibly can redeem meals and snacks within the type of eating credit at any level throughout your keep. What number of credit you obtain relies on the variety of nights in your bundle.
There is not any query that this fashionable add-on makes Disney holidays extra handy, however whether or not or not it may possibly prevent cash is determined by how you utilize it.
There are two variations of the eating plan to select from: the Fast Service Eating Plan and the Disney Eating Plan.
The Quick Service Dining Plan prices $57 for adults ($24 for kids ages 3 to 9) and consists of:
- Two quick-service meals per night time stayed.
- A snack or nonalcoholic drink per night time stayed.
- One refillable drink mug with limitless refills at your resort.
The Disney Dining Plan prices $94 for adults ($30 for kids ages 3 to 9) and consists of:
- One table-service meal per night time stayed.
- One quick-service meal per night time stayed.
- A snack or nonalcoholic drink per night time stayed.
- One refillable drink mug with limitless refills at your resort.
These plans are bookable now with Disney World room and ticket packages and starting Nov. 14, 2023, company can save up to 50% on kids’ theme park tickets and dining plans at choose Disney World resorts on most nights between March 3 and June 30, 2024.
Parking value enhance
Starting at present, the price of commonplace parking in any respect of Disney’s 4 theme parks is growing from $25 to $30. Accepting value will increase is all the time arduous, however this enhance places Disney in alignment with parking costs at different Orlando-area theme parks. Parking at Common Orlando begins at $27 and at SeaWorld Orlando at $30.
Company at any Disney Resort resort nonetheless obtain complimentary parking both at their hotel and at Disney’s theme parks. In case you aren’t staying on-site, you solely must pay for parking as soon as per day. Simply grasp on to your parking receipt and present it on the toll plaza of some other park you go to that day and you’ll not be required to pay for parking a second time.
Annual go value enhance and perks
Disney World annual go holders will now must pony up a bit extra annually for the privilege of limitless annual theme park visits. Starting at present, the pricing for all 4 annual go tiers is growing for brand new gross sales and renewals.
Pricing for brand new annual go gross sales will enhance as follows:
- Disney Incredi-Cross will enhance from $1,399 to $1,499
- Disney Sorcerer Cross will enhance from $969 to $999
- Disney Pirate Cross will enhance from $749 to $799
- Disney Pixie Mud Cross will enhance from $399 to $439
Pricing for annual go renewals can even be growing
- Disney Incredi-Cross will enhance to $1,229
- Disney Sorcerer Cross will enhance to $849
- Disney Pirate Cross will enhance to $679
- Disney Pixie Mud Cross will enhance to $369
Even earlier than these will increase, it was vital to do the mathematics and decide if purchasing a Disney World annual pass was worth it for you. With the costliest Incredi-Cross, for instance, you might want to go to about ten or extra days annually to cowl the price of the go. In fact, that’s earlier than any go holder reductions on resorts, eating and merchandise, which may supply important financial savings.
Along with reductions, annual go holders obtain quite a lot of advantages all year long. Presently, go holders can go to Disney World’s theme parks after 2 p.m. without having a theme park reservation, besides on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom
And, starting someday in January 2024, annual go holders can benefit from “good-to-go days. On “good-to-go days” annual go holders can go to on choose days without having a theme park reservation. The theme park reservation calendar will likely be up to date periodically with these particular days when annual go holders can embrace spontaneity and go to any park they like and not using a reservation.
Backside line
For essentially the most half, the modifications coming to Disney World are welcome ones. It is clear that Disney has been listening to company’ needs and doing their better part to play fairy godmother and make these needs come true. In lieu of a magic wand to wave away value will increase, we are able to a minimum of give you the following pointers for saving money at Disney World to assist hold your trip prices in test.
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