If you’re paying big bucks for a Disney World vacation, then you’re probably going to want all the perks you can get!
There are so many cool perks at Disney World!
Disney World is home to some great perks, whether you’re staying onsite or just visiting for the day. Today, we’re breaking down some of the perks that the resort is known for and discussing their status — are they still available right now?
FastPass+
Before the pandemic, FastPass+ was a free perk for guests of Disney World, where you could schedule time windows to skip the standby line on select attractions. The system didn’t return after the parks reopened but was instead replaced by Disney Genie+, a paid version starting at $15 per ticket, per day.
The FastPass kiosks have been out of use for a while!
The Genie+ system does, however, come with a free Genie counterpart that helps you plan your day in the parks. All you do is log into your account in the My Disney Experience app, put in your interests, and it will help formulate a schedule for the day. Both new features aren’t quite as straightforward as FastPass+ was, so we highly recommend doing some research ahead of your trip and practicing with the My Disney Experience app ahead of time.
Click Here to Learn More About Disney Genie and Genie+!
Dining Plan
One of the questions we were getting asked daily is if the Disney Dining Plan is coming back soon. Disney intially confirmed in June 2021 that the Disney Dining Plan would return, but it was a looooong wait before the news broke in May 2023…
The dining plan is still in limbo!
… that the Disney Dining Plan is RETURNING for Disney World vacation stays starting JANUARY 9, 2024!
Check out our video for the ULTIMATE GUIDE to the Disney Dining Plan!
Extra Magic Hours
Extra Magic Hours are no longer available in the way that they were pre-COVID, but a new perk has arrived in their place — Early Theme Park Entry. With this offering, Disney Resort guests can enter any theme park 30 minutes before offsite guests, every day of the week.
Get that rope drop in!
During that time, select attractions and offerings are open (make sure to check the list of rides available in each park) and you can get a head start on knocking out some of the most popular things in the park. As an added bonus for Deluxe Resort guests, Extended Evening Hours are offered on select nights at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and, occasionally, Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Click Here to Learn More About Early Theme Park Entry!
Character Cavalcades
One of the perks that has come from the pandemic is the new character cavalcades around the Disney World parks! When meet and greets initially only returned in a modified fashion as “character sightings,” you could find some of your favorite Disney pals driving or floating around the parks.
Mickey and Minnie are so cute in their safari gear!
The cool thing now is that — even though traditional character meet and greets returned in April 2021 — character cavalcades can still be enjoyed in Magic Kingdom (with the Adventure Friends Cavalcade) and in Disney’s Animal Kingdom (where the cavalcades take place on Flotillas along Discovery River throughout the day)!
Park Hopping
Park Hopping returned to Disney World on January 1st, 2021, but when it came back, it came with some restrictions. You must have a Park Hopper ticket to visit two parks in one day, and you’ll have to follow a specific set of guidelines.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a hard park pass to snag!
Guests can only hop during Park Hopping hours, which begin at 2PM each day. You’ll also need to make a Disney Park Pass reservation for the first park you plan to visit (at least through January 9, 2024), and you’ll need to scan into that park before heading to your second.
Click Here to Get More Details on Park Hopping!
Free MagicBands
In the past, guests of Disney World Resort hotels or those renewing an annual pass would receive their choice of complimentary solid-colored MagicBand, but that perk went away at the beginning of 2021.
MagicBands aren’t really necessary anymore.
Now, if you’d like to use a MagicBand, you’ll have to recycle an old one or pay out of pocket for the style of your choice. (Resort guests and Annual Passholders can get a discount on select styles.) Disney’s new interactive MagicBand service, MagicBand+ is now available in Disney World as well. But a MagicBand is not required within Disney World. With the addition of Disney’s MagicMobile service it is now easier than ever to access your park ticket on your phone.
Want to Learn About MagicMobile? Click Here!
Magical Express
Disney’s Magical Express was a free transportation service that picked guests up from the Orlando International Airport and dropped them off at their resort. Sadly, this service has been discontinued.
Disney’s Magical Express, we miss you!
Some alternative bus services have popped up. and you also have the option of a taxi or rideshare service. Another note for our wallets — it looks like we’ll be paying to get to our hotels!
Here Are Some Alternate Options for Getting to Your Resort!
Free Resort Transportation
But while Magical Express has gone away, other free transportation options at Disney World are here to stay! Any guest is welcome to use the Disney Skyliner, the buses, the monorail, the boats, or the walking paths around the resort.
The Disney Skyliner has been a game-changer in transportation.
The vast transportation network makes it SO much easier to get from place to place, and sometimes it’s just fun to travel around and see the sights! (The Disney Skyliner is great for that!)
Click Here to Learn More About Your Disney World Transportation Options!
There you have it — that’s the lowdown on all the perks currently available (and not available) at Walt Disney World Resort. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest reopening information and news so that you can stay up-to-date!
What Are the Perks of Staying Onsite? Click Here to Find Out More!
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What’s your favorite perk at Disney World? Tell us in the comments!
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So many take aways and so little (if anything) given back. Thanks Bob.
Tables in Wonderland was a wonderful perk that hasn’t made a return. I think Disney is likely hoping that people start to forget that it existed and will never have to say anything about it returning or not. It doesn’t appear that Disney is looking to provide a discount to anyone at this point.
It is not the same old Walt Disney World we all love. CEO BOB cheapskate needs to go…
PER CONTRACT, DVC members are allowed to borrow 100% of the following years points to extend or just to make a reservation. Since Covid opening, Disney has only allowed 50% borrowing, which hampers quite a few DVC members from making a reservation. Disneys profits are up even higher than pre-covid. Personally, I think they are just trying to fit 10 pounds of potatoes in a 5 pound bag. Squeeze as many people into getting a reservation as they can. That’s all fine and dandy. They are a business, but they are breaking the contract of DVC members. Thank you for your time. David Hansford
If you spend the earlier part of the day at Disney Springs, can you “park hop” to Magic Kingdom, for example, during the evening? Or are you able to visit a park later in the day only if you’ve been to a different one in the morning?
Magic Bands – The “discounted” bands are so limited. Currently they only show a blush pink and light purple for solid colors ($10). All other options are around $25 each, and even that selection is limited.
Honestly, Magic Bands and this new Genie+, all this nickel and diming, I really think I’m going to go to other places for our vacations. I have a trip planned right now and it’s so overly stressful when it has never been before. Everything is an added cost now when it used to be included. It just isn’t worth it anymore. I promised the kids we would go, but unless something changes I honestly think this will be our last trip to see the mouse. I can pay less and take the whole family to Europe for 2 weeks vs going to Disney World for a week in a moderate or value hotel. Europe, Hawaii, or even a trip to see the National Parks…. Disney is no longer making sense. So sad…. I grew up going to Disney every other year….
Just bring back Fast Pass+, get rid of park reservations, and bring back the old passes.
One of the many reasons that Disney world has been our family’s favorite vacation destination for more than 40 years is that it is THE happiest place in the world for anyone with a mobility problem. Using the buses and monorail is super-simple for someone using a wheelchair or ECV. Our upcoming visit this fall will will be our first encounter with the new Skyliner system. Does it accommodate guests using a wheelchair or ECV?
I also miss the shopping bags being taken to my room! I could shop more if they would carry things 🙂
How about package delivery to your resort? That’s one of the perks I miss most.
The one i miss is the delivery of shopping fom the parks to your resort, any news on this returning?
Two of the perks that weren’t mentioned are the package delivery to your hotel from merchandise bought in the parks and the airline resort checkin for luggage from the hotel. I wish they would come back
Hi Andrea! So far, the only news we’ve received on sending merchandise from the parks to your resort is the locker situation at All-Star Music. We have a post on that here. We’re keeping an eye on it and will update if we receive any new information.
I didn’t even realize they don’t have package delivery to the resort, or even to the front of the park. Ohhhhh…. this is not going to be good. Seriously Disney…. they are making it so I’m dreading our upcoming trip…
Hi Cheryl! I’m happy to report that the Skyliner does accommodate guests in wheelchairs and ECVs and there’s still plenty of room for several family members to board with them as well. 🙂
Hi GG! You would not be able to park hop from Disney Springs since no reservation or ticket is required to get in. You would need a ticket and reservation to get into any of the parks, however. You are only able to visit a park later in the day if A) You have the park hopper option on your ticket and you’ve already visited your first park of the day and waited until 2pm to hop into your second park or B) You have a ticket and reservation for that particular park for the whole day, in which case you could go to Disney Springs in the morning and then head to the park where you have your ticket and reservation in the evening.
I am waiting not so patiently for the dining plan to return! I know it’s not a great deal but for out of country travellers it os a huge help! We don’t have to carry cash or worry about exchange rates and we can just eat! I wish they would tell us anything it’s frustrating not having anything to go off of.
When is package delivery to rooms coming back? When is Hoop De Do Review returning? When will the blue flagged boats that ran from WL, Contemp, & FW be returning?
Am I the only person in the world cynical enough to believe the “free” Magical Express wasn’t free, rather the cost was buried into the resort room rates?
I have *some* good news, Sean! Hoop Dee Doo Review is returning at the end of June! We just posted the news a few hours ago. Click here! (We’re keeping a close eye on everything else and will update as soon as we know more.)