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Big Walt Disney World Changes Coming in 2024 Including Dining Plans, Park Reservation Requirements, and More

Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World
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Disney Parks just made some big announcements that are sure to excite visitors to Walt Disney World, such as the return of Disney Dining Plans, removing park reservation requirements for some guests, and more.


Park Reservation Requirements

Starting with park visits on Jan. 9, 2024, theme park reservations will no longer be required for date-based tickets.

These include date-based 1-day tickets, date-based multi-day tickets, and vacation packages with date-based tickets.

Annual passholders will still need to make reservations for now. We’ll let you know if this changes.

Park reservation changes at Walt Disney World in 2024

Disney Dining Plans

Disney dining plans will be coming back as an option for those staying at Disney Resort hotels who purchase a Walt Disney World vacation package starting with stays beginning Jan. 9, 2024.

Guests will have two options to choose from: Packages that include the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan or ones that include the full Disney Dining Plan.

These dining plans offer guests the convenience of pre-paying for their meals and snacks. Disney says more details will be released later this month.

Bookings for 2024 visits will open on May 31, 2023, which is when the Dining Plans will be available to add on to 2024 vacation packages.


“Good-to-Go Days” for Annual Passholders/Cast Members

On select days Walt Disney World Annual Passholders and Disney cast members may visit Walt Disney World theme parks in 2024 without needing a park reservation.

This is a new program called “Good-to-Go Days,” and these days may vary by park, plus pass block out dates and capacity limitations continue to apply like they do today.

More details to come on this, Disney says.

This will be in addition to the recent update which offers Passholders the opportunity to visit the theme parks after 2pm without needing a park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom Park.


Extended Park Time to Disney Resort Hotel Guests

Disney will be extending special park time hours for Disney resort hotel guests with valid theme park admission and a Resort ID into 2024.

This includes the popular early theme park entry for all resort guests, plus for those staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas, they will also be continuing to offer extended evening hours on select dates at select parks.


Simplifying Disney Genie+

Disney says they 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.

They announced they are working on ways guests may do this for visits in 2024, with details to be released later this year.

Since June 8, 2024, guests have only been able to purchase Genie+ service on the day of their visit via the app, one day at a time, subject to availability.

Disney Genie Walt Disney World

Book Your Visit

If trying to remember all the updates and changes is making it a hassle to plan your next vacation to Walt Disney World, please contact The Disney Blog’s own authorized travel planning expert, Stacey at Pixie Vacations.

Booking your travel with Stacey helps support this blog, and you’ll have access to her wealth of Disney knowledge to help you book your trip. Thank you!

2 thoughts on “Big Walt Disney World Changes Coming in 2024 Including Dining Plans, Park Reservation Requirements, and More”

  1. Life was fun, easy and simple to visit Disney. We used to visit from the UK twice a year. Now it’s expensive complicated and annoying. We still visit Orlando frequently but stopped going to the parks.

  2. Pingback: Walt Disney World 2024 Bookings Open May 31, 2023 | The Disney Blog

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