In travel news for May 9th, 2023 we talk about Walt Disney World is making changes that will make things easier for their guests.
The Walt Disney World Resort has revealed a series of guest-oriented enhancements, which include the removal of park reservations for date-based tickets starting in 2024 and the much-anticipated comeback of the Disney Dining Plan. Additionally, Disney Genie Plus will soon offer planning options for experiences.
These modifications follow earlier guest-friendly improvements implemented in January, such as the elimination of overnight self-parking fees at hotels. The recently announced changes will be applicable for 2024 bookings at the Walt Disney World Resort, available for purchase beginning May 31.
According to a post on the Disney Parks Blog, these updates aim to simplify future Walt Disney World visits, making it easier for guests to enjoy the park's offerings and create lasting memories. From January 9, 2024, the park will discontinue the pandemic-era reservation requirements for guests purchasing date-based tickets. However, annual passholders and guests with non-dated tickets will still need reservations to manage park attendance.
Annual passholders can look forward to "good-to-go-days" in 2024, during which they won't need a park reservation. The number of these days hasn't been specified, but Disney mentioned they would be rolled out on an ongoing basis and might vary by park. Passholders can continue visiting parks without reservations after 2 p.m., except at the Magic Kingdom on weekends.
The return of Disney dining plans is set to coincide with stays beginning on January 9. These plans, available to guests staying at Disney hotels and purchasing a package with the company, offer convenience and peace of mind by allowing for prepaid meals and snacks. Pricing will be revealed when bookings open on May 31. Guests can choose between the Disney Dining Plan or the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan.
Throughout 2024, hotel guests will continue to enjoy early access to theme parks every day at every park. Deluxe Resort and Deluxe Villa guests will also have evening extended hours on select dates. Early and late access requires park admission and resort identification.
In 2024, Disney Genie Plus will enable guests to plan experiences, offering a service on the Disney app that allows guests to pay extra to bypass the standby line for attractions. More details about this feature are forthcoming.
These changes come under the leadership of CEO Bob Iger, who returned to Disney in November after the departure of Bob Chapek. Iger acknowledged that the company's pricing had become "alienating to consumers" and has sought to make the parks more accessible and affordable. The guest-friendly changes implemented in January were met with a positive reaction, according to Iger.
