UPDATED: May 1, 2024
A LOT has changed in Disney World in the past few years, but here’s the thing — even MORE changes are on the way.
So if you’re planning a trip to Disney World in 2024, you might be a little confused about everything that’s changing (and it IS a lot). But don’t worry — because we’re going to tell you exactly HOW things are going to change for you when you make that trip.
So how exactly is and will Disney World be different in 2024? Well, let’s break it down.
Resort-Wide
Disney Dining Plan
The BIGGEST change in 2024 is that the Disney Dining Plan IS BACK as of January 9th, 2024. For those who don’t know what the dining plan is (especially since it’s been missing from Disney World since 2020), it’s a way for Disney World guests booking a vacation package through Disney to pre-pay for their dining costs.
Two plans are available: the Standard Dining Plan and the Quick Service Dining Plan — here are FULL details on what each plan offers and here’s a list of all the Disney World restaurants participating in the plan.
The One Thing We Noticed About the Disney Dining Plan That Could Change Everything
New Park Pass Reservation Rules
You may know that all Disney World ticket holders were required to make a park pass reservation for each day they planned on being in the theme parks since July 2020. That also changed on January 9th, 2024 — park pass reservations are NO LONGER NEEDED for those who purchase date-based tickets. This means that guests who buy theme park tickets tied to specific dates do NOT need to make a reservation.
However, guests with tickets that are not based on specific dates still need to make park pass reservations. This includes Annual Passholders (unless visiting specific parks after 2PM), Cast Members, and other non-date-based ticket types.
BUT, as of January 11th, 2024, Disney is offering “Good to Go” days for Annual Passholders and Cast Members. On these days, these visitors can enter the ANY of the four theme parks without a Park Pass Reservation.
The circled dates that appear when an Annual Passholders is logged into their My Disney Experience account denote the date as Good-to-Go!
Park Hopping Update
Also, as of January 9th, 2024, all-day park hopping IS BACK! Anyone who has a park ticket with Park Hopper or an Annual Pass can visit another theme park at any time of day during park hours.
When Park Hopper returned in 2021, it was limited to after 2PM each day. That restriction ENDED on January 9th.
Genie+ Changes
For those who miss the days of grabbing FastPass+ reservations in advance of their Disney World trip, Disney recently shared what might be some good news. The company has commented that they’ve listened to guests who wanted to “plan with Disney Genie+ service and individual Lightning Lane selections before the day of their park visit.” The company has expressed that is now “working on ways guests may do this for visits in 2024.”
However, Disney has not yet revealed any further details on what this means for guests using Genie+, but more details should be released later. Disney did announce a new change to the pricing of Genie+, but we think there are more changes to come in 2024.
Here’s More About This BIG Genie+ Change
Disney World Hotels
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
1900 Park Fare reopened at long last on April 10th, 2024! This restaurant, which is located in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, is one of a few that had yet to reopen since the temporary closure of Walt Disney World Resort in 2020. But now, it’s back… with an entirely new Character Dining experience: Wish Makers Enchanted Dining!
During a buffet-style Breakfast or Dinner, guests enjoy tableside visits by characters including Aladdin (in his Prince Ali look), Cinderella, Mirabel from Encanto, and Princess Tiana in her new look for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure “as they celebrate the power of a wish.”
Click HERE to step inside the reopened — and refreshed — 1900 Park Fare!
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is currently constructing some new Disney Vacation Club villas at the resort that are set to open sometime in late 2024. This will give DVC members some new options for staying at the resort. The new rooms will feature waterfront views with most, if not all, also offering balconies.
The new structure will also offer new dining and swimming options, as well as other recreation areas.
Here’s Everything We Know About the New Hotel Rooms Coming to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s BoardWalk
A new bakery and cafe is coming to Disney’s BoardWalk. It’s The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers and it will feature a variety of pastries and baked goods, as well as offer a counter service and table service restaurant. It will also even serve an afternoon tea.
The new restaurant is set to open in early 2024.
Learn more about The Cake Bake Shop’s Afternoon Tea
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
More than 350 refreshed cabins are replacing the existing cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground! Although the new cabins are part of the Disney Vacation Club resort lineup, the cabins are open for reservations to all guests, including those who are not Disney Vacation Club Members.
The cabins will sleep up to six adults and feature a bedroom, bathroom, living room, full kitchen, and private patio. A select number of cabins will be dog-friendly.
These refreshed cabins will make their debuts starting on July 1st! The opening will take place in phases — the first loop will open on July 1st, and the second will follow later in the month. More will continue to open throughout the year.
Click HERE to take a PHOTO TOUR of the NEW Cabins at Fort Wilderness!
There will also be an updated pool and walking trail enhancements at the Resort. And a new dining experience has already debuted at Trail’s End Restaurant, with Crockett’s Tavern having been refurbished, as well.
Magic Kingdom
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
A new ride is coming to Magic Kingdom. Splash Mountain closed in early 2023 to make way for a NEW ride themed to Disney’s animated film The Princess and the Frog. The new attraction is called Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and will take visitors through the bayous of Louisiana to help Tiana with her new endeavor, Tiana’s Foods.
The ride will bring in existing characters from The Princess and the Frog, as well as introduce some new characters to Disney World visitors, too. It’s set to open in SUMMER 2024!
What the Heck Does Tabasco Have To Do With Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Disney World?
Hatbox Ghost Has Materialized in Disney World
Disneyland’s infamous Hatbox Ghost has made the journey east to appear inside Disney World’s Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom!
Hatbox Ghost started haunting Haunted Mansion guests in late November 2023, so you’ll want to BEWARE of him in 2024!
Country Bear Jamboree Transformation
A NEW SHOW is coming to Country Bear Jamboree in Magic Kingdom! The beloved bears are learning an all-new act — they’ll sing their classic songs in NEW styles like country, rockabilly, and bluegrass.
Country Bear Musical Jamboree will be a take on the classic variety shows found in Nashville, Tennessee, and Nashville musicians are involved in the new arrangements. For instance. we’ll be hearing a new version of “Bare Necessities” in a rockabilly style! A Disney Imagineer has shared, “The music is going to be amazing, and the show will still have the fun and friendly tone that we all love about the Country Bears.”
And these changes are coming SOON… Country Bear Jamboree officially CLOSED on January 27th, 2024 for the refurbishment. Disney announced that the new show will make its debut THIS SUMMER.
See the surprising ending to the classic Country Bears show HERE!
EPCOT
Test Track
On June 17th, Test Track, which is located in EPCOT’s World Discovery, will temporarily close so the ride can be — in Disney speak — reimagined!
Disney hasn’t released too many details about what the updated ride experience will be like just yet, but they did mention that it will take inspiration from World of Motion, the ride that was originally there when the park opened in 1982! At this time, a reopening timeline has not been announced, but we’ll keep you posted!
Find out more about the NEW Test Track HERE!
Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana
EPCOT has been undergoing a MASSIVE transformation over the past few years, but much of that transformation will be complete by or during 2024. For instance, EPCOT visitors can enjoy a new attraction, Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana, which is NOW OFFICIALLY OPEN as of October 16th, 2023!
The attraction is a walkthrough trail where guests can “play with magical, living water” in an immersive way. We’ve enjoyed sharing a look inside — along with a FULL WALK-THROUGH — with you!
Click here to GO INSIDE EPCOT’s Moana-Inspired Journey of Water Attraction! And find our FULL VIDEO WALK-THROUGH here!
World Celebration Completion and Festival Area Opening
EPCOT’s historic — and lengthy — transformation is at last coming to a close! The final touch will be the opening of CommuniCore Hall and Plaza on June 10th, 2024!
The new area will serve as a central location for EPCOT’s rotating festivals throughout the year, providing a communal space to celebrate rather than having to trek around the whole park. In addition to providing dedicated spaces for EPCOT’s seasonal Festivals, CommuniCore Hall will also be the location of a new Mickey & Friends Meet-and-Greet!
Check out EVERYTHING coming to CommuniCore HERE!
New Encanto-themed Show
As part of the CommuniCore opening celebration, also kicking off on June 10th will be a BRAND NEW Encanto stage show! ¡Celebración Encanto! is a sing-along that includes popular songs from the movie!
The show will be running several times a day and will take place on the CommuniCore Plaza stage. You’ll even be able to see Bruno and Mirabel throughout this show, which will run through September 6th, 2024.
Find out MORE about the new Encanto show HERE!
New Nighttime Show
A BRAND NEW nighttime spectacular made its debut on December 5th, 2023 in honor of Disney 100 Years of Wonder: Luminous The Symphony Of Us!
Disney shares that the show is meant to “reflect the commonality in all of us,” and that the show invites “everyone to gather around World Showcase Lagoon for a show that will unite us through commonalities of the heart in a dazzling display of fireworks, lasers, music and light. Featuring an original composition along with select songs from the Disney songbook, this new spectacular will remind us that we’re more alike than different, connecting our hearts together as one.”
Make sure to experience it when you come in 2024!
Click HERE to find out more about Luminous!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
New Show
Disney announced in December 2023 that a NEW show — “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” — is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Fall 2024!
The new show will be a reimagined show inspired by the original animated classic from Walt Disney Animation Studios. “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” will premiere at the Animation Courtyard theater. When it opens, we can expect musical numbers like “Part of Your World,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” and “Kiss the Girl!”
It’s also been confirmed that Voyage of the Little Mermaid is permanently closed in Disney World.
Disney Springs
NEW “Disney Dreams That Soar” Drone Show
Starting on May 24th, 2024 make sure you head to the West Side of Disney Springs to catch a BRAND NEW Drone show above Lake Buena Vista: “Disney Dreams That Soar” is inspired by Disney stories showcasing flight!
These drones are programmed to create designs in the sky and will be accompanied by a beautiful musical score that includes memorable movie quotes. The show will run through September 2nd, and is planned to be a late-night perk for those still hanging out at Disney Springs, so be sure you plan your next park day accordingly!
Click here for MORE on Disney Dreams That Soar!
NEW Disney Springs Restaurants
A new restaurant you can try in 2024 is EET by Maneet Chauhan! This eatery, which opened in December 2023, is a creation by James Beard Award-winning chef and Food Network star Maneet Chauhan together with hospitality entrepreneur Vivek Deora.
The location serves Indian cuisine in a Quick Service fashion. EET presents a “modern, fun Indian-inspired concept” and it should definitely be on your radar!
Click HERE to check out the NEW restaurant, eet by Maneet Chauhan!
Summer House on the Lake opened on December 14, 2023 in Disney Springs! You’ll find it on the West Side near Jaleo, Splitsville, and Salt & Straw.
So that means YOU can look forward to California-inspired bites including everything from pizza and pasta to fresh salads and sandwiches during your 2024 visit to Disney Springs! (Oh, and don’t forget the weekend BRUNCH!) You can enjoy any of these meals on one of the three expansive patios. And tucked inside Summer House on the Lake you’ll find The Cookie Bar! The Cookie Bar is “a dessert-focused market” that serves “freshly baked cookies and house-made pastries.”
Step INSIDE Summer House on the Lake with us!
Whew — that is a LOT of change, and we expect even more changes might be on the way. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB to stay updated!
We know that planning a Disney World trip is A LOT. And this Genie+ thing can be so confusing – which is why we bring you posts like this so often But we’ve also put together a complete guide in ebook format that gives you all of the info you need, all in one place! Use code WDW2023 for 25% off our DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World.
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Will you be visiting Disney World in 2024? Let us know which changes you’re looking forward to (or not) in the comments!
Lucille Mislivets says
Now let’s bring back the Magical Express!
Carolyn says
I was wondering if the fountain with water that danced to music is still there. Truely a favorite to enjoy with a cup of coffee in the morning.
Jack says
Bring back free Fastpass just like it used to be! That would be the best thing Disney could do.
Annettr says
Bring back the original FREE 3 fast pass per day reservations then make more when used it made things so much more enjoyable. You pay the extra money(much money) to stay on property for these amenities. It’s expensive to go to disney the CEOs have their millions it would be nice if they catered to the guests more. Some take out loans to go or max out credit cards it’s the least they could do to make visits less stressful. Bring back the free fast pass e a day any ride no tiers.
Carolyn says
omg, free pass NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, iger not listening to us.