Disney Announces End of Theme Park Reservations, Return of Dining Plans

Visiting Disney is about to get a lot simpler.

In news that Disney fans everywhere are likely to appreciate, the entertainment giant has announced that as of 2024 it will no longer require advance reservations in order to visit Disney parks with date-based tickets. This update (which is likely to generate a sigh of relief among visitors far and wide) was part a slate of changes Disney announced today in an effort to improve the overall guest experience.

We "continue to listen to your feedback,” Disney said in making its announcement today. “These updates will make planning your future Walt Disney World visits simpler and easier, so you can further enjoy all we have to offer and make more memories.”

Additional newly announced changes include bringing back the much-loved Disney dining plans, and introducing “good-to-go” days.  Read on for all of the key details.

Removing theme park reservation requirements for date-based tickets

Mark you calendar. Beginning Jan. 9, 2024, visitors can say goodbye to the time consuming theme park reservation process for date-based tickets. Yes, you heard that correctly.  From January 9 forward, visitors can simply select a start date for a date-based ticket and complete the purchase. That’s all. This is highly anticipated relief for visitors who found the reservations process onerous.

For reference, date-based tickets are the standard ticket option available to Disney visitors. For other admission types, including non-dated tickets, theme park reservations may be required. You can check which admission types require park reservations by visiting DisneyWorld.com/ThemeParkReservations before making a purchase.

Disney (Photo Credit: Disney)

New  “good-to-go days” for Annual Passholders* and cast member

Yet another improvement to look forward to in 2024, Disney says it will offer select days on which annual pass holders and Disney cast members may visit Walt Disney World theme parks without needing a park reservation.
Once introduced, Disney will roll out these new “good-to-go days” on an ongoing basis.

The good-to-go days are being offered in addition to the recent update which provides pass holders the opportunity to visit Disney theme parks after 2 p.m. without needing a park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom Park.

Good-to-go days may vary by park, and pass block out dates and capacity limitations continue to apply like they do today. Stay tuned for the future release of additional details on good-to-go days

Bringing back Disney dining plans

Goodbye date-based reservations. Hello “good-to-go” days and one more important announcement as well: Disney dining plans are also coming back. These popular plans will return as an option for visitors staying at Disney Resort hotels who purchase a vacation package with Disney fro stays beginning January 9, 2024.

“We know our guests – and families in particular – have missed dining plans, which offer guests the convenience and peace of mind of pre-paying for their meals and snacks,” Disney said.

Guests will be able to choose from two options: Packages that include either the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan.

The Disney Genie+ Experience

One more parting bit of Disney news. In making its announcement today, Disney also said it’s working on improving the Disney Genie+ experience. (And not a moment too soon, really.) The Genie+ plus service with its ability to book Lightening Lane access to rides, is helpful but also requires spending inordinate amounts of time on the app during a park visit in order find available time slots and schedule rides. It’s an experience that can be frustrating when you want to relax and focus on enjoying the park.

The good news is Disney is apparently registering such frustrations and trying to make improvements.

“We 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, and we want you to know we are working on ways guests may do this for visits in 2024,” Disney said. “Our goal is to give you the opportunity to spend less time planning in the park and more time enjoying your visit with friends and family. While we are not yet able to share specific details, we look forward to sharing more information at a later date.”

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