Think you’re an expert at planning Disney World trips? Think again!
A lot has been changing at Disney World recently, from transportation to park hours, which means you need to re-learn how things work! Don’t worry though — we’re here to help you out!
Here’s everything you need to re-learn to be prepared for your next Disney World trip.
Disney Genie
Disney Genie is a new planning tool added to My Disney Experience. It is free to use and can make planning your Disney World trip easier with things like projected wait times and a personal assistant.
We explain how to get the MOST out of the free Genie features here.
Disney Genie+ is part of Genie, but you must pay to use this feature. It is $15 per person, per day. Genie+ is replacing FastPass+ in Disney World.
This new system allows you to book a reservation to essentially skip the line at a ride using the new Lightning Lane (the old FastPass+ lane). You only be able to book one Genie+ attraction at a time (unless you know how to stack ’em!), and you can start booking at 7AM on the day of your park ticket.
Here’s how to stack multiple Genie+ selections at a time!
There are a handful of high demand attractions that are NOT included with Genie+, like Rise of the Resistance. These rides are available instead through Individual Attraction Selection (can we all agree to just call this IAS?). You pay for individual rides, with prices potentially varying from day-to-day, and will be able to use the Lightning Lane to skip the line at these rides. You can only book two of IAS attractions per day.
Individual Attraction Selection prices range from $7 to $15, and prices can surge during busy times. Again, buying Disney Genie+ will NOT give you access to these high demand rides unless you want to use the Standby line for them (with the exception of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, which is virtual queue only in addition to IAS).
See all the rides that accept Individual Attraction Selections here.
Disney hotel guests can select these IAS rides starting at 7AM of their park day. All other guests are able to start booking at park open.
We’ve shared lots of info about Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selections. When it comes to re-learning “FastPass+”, the big takeaways are that you will have to pay to skip the standby lines on rides, and free FastPass+ is a thing of the past. (Remember, the standby lines are still free and available to everyone.)
Annual Passes
Disney World recently launched its new Annual Passholder Program! There is a smaller variety of passes compared to before with only four types of passes available to purchase.
You can choose between the Incredi-Pass (available to anyone) which has no blockout dates, the Sorcerer Pass (available only to DVC members and Florida residents) which has some blockout dates, the Pirate Pass (available only to Florida residents) which has more blockout dates, and the Pixie Dust Pass (only available to Florida residents) which has the most blockout dates and is only good on weekdays. Learn more about the passes here.
The price of these Annual Passes has increased compared to their previous counterparts. Also, PhotoPass and the Water Parks and Sports option are no longer included with ANY Annual Pass. They are available as individual add-ons for $99 each.
If you already have Disney World park tickets for a future trip, you can still upgrade them into an Annual Pass if you wish. Find out more on how upgrading your ticket works here.
Disney Magical Express
Disney’s Magical Express will be discontinued starting January 1, 2022. That means there will no longer be any free transportation from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) to the Disney hotels.
You will now have to either rent a car, take an Uber/Lift or taxi, hire a car, or use the new Mears system that is (sort of) replacing Magical Express. Mears Connect will operate similarly to Magical Express, except it is not free, and luggage pick up from the baggage carousel is not available. For shared transportation, it’s $16 one way and $32 round trip for adults, and $13.50 one way and $27 round trip for kids.
There is also an Express option available, which is not shared transportation, and will cost you $200 round trip for 4 people, and $55 for each additional person.
So, make sure you figure out which transportation option works best for you before you land in Orlando!
No Free MagicBands
Disney World has also discontinued giving complimentary MagicBands to Disney hotel guests and Annual Passholders. From now on, you will have to purchase your own MagicBand if you want to use one.
You can opt instead use the MagicMobile service through My Disney Experience as your park ticket, which is completely free and available on your cell phone. Otherwise, if you prefer a MagicBand, plan to buy one online pre-arrival (either through My Disney Experience if you have a trip booked or on ShopDisney).
Early Theme Park Entry
Extra Magic Hours have not returned to Disney World since the closures, but Disney has replaced them with other options like Early Theme Park Entry. This allows guests of Disney hotels to go into the parks 30 minutes early every day.
Definitely take this into account if you’re deciding on whether to stay on or off property for your trip, as it will most likely be less crowded in the parks during this time.
But also consider this if you’re not staying on property. Rope drop will be slightly different for you, and possibly less valuable, because there will already be people inside the park.
Extended Evening Hours
Another option that’s replaced Extra Magic Hours is Extended Evening Hours. These will allow select guests to stay later in select parks on select days.
This perk will only be available to people staying at a Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa resort. You can see if your resort qualifies here. Right now, there have been dates and times announced through the beginning of January 2022 at only EPCOT and Magic Kingdom.
Take this into consideration when booking where you want to stay, as you might find it worth it to stay at a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa hotel to be able to take advantage of these extra hours in the parks where it will be significantly less crowded.
Remember, Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resorts are the more expensive hotels to stay at on property.
No Disney Dining Plan
Disney has said that the Disney Dining Plan will come back in the future, but they have given no details on when or how this will be happening.
Remember when you’re budgeting for your trip that there is no Dining Plan available. It could possibly come back soon, though, so we’ll keep you updated!
Click here to see how a BIG change to a popular Disney World attraction works
Still confused about something? Tell us in the comments and we’ll be happy to help!
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Disney needs to get their heads out of the sand and wake up! BRING BACK THE MAGIC! As 2 retired people we loved going to Disney 2 times a year and loved the spontaneity of getting up each day and saying “which park will we go to today?” On the first day we would go to the bus stop and whatever bus came first that’s the park we went to. GET RID OF THESE STUPID RESERVATIONS!!! We wanted to have dinner at the Brown Derby one might, but no – no reservation for the park so no dinner. You have managed to ruin one of the “most magical places on earth” and its all because of greed. Go back to what made people love Disney. Lower your prices, bring back things that people WANT (like Magical Express) and guess what? You will make more money – duh!!
Madison, thanks for the article for updating on how to plan a trip to Disney but what I got out of it is all the things that have been cut are the things that I enjoyed in planning, no 3 free fast passes 60 days out, having to pay extra for certain rides, no free magic bands, no extra magic hours if staying at a non deluxe hotel, no free magical express or luggage service, no dining plan, no trams, no fantasmic, masks indoors, higher price for annual pass for out of state guests plus higher costs for tickets and food. I guess my question is why should I plan when its not the same Disney that I have been going to since 2004 2-3 times a year. At least I have the memories of what was magical in planning and going to Disney as opposed to this watered down version that has been taken away from me and thousands of other guests who experienced the Disney Magic that was once there to appreciate. Thanks again Madison for the update.
NO disney WE do not need to learn anything YOU need to learn we will not take anymore planning vacation is escape from reality escape from i have to be here a certain time GO back to how you were 2018 and before please
Boo! 3x more money for less service. Not cool! Disney!
No thanks! Too complicated! I need freedom from stress, not the most stressed out vacation available! Yikes!
“You Need to Learn How to Never Go to Walt Disney World Again!” That is a great idea for an article.
We are an older couple who do not have a smart phone. How is it possible for us to go to Disneyworld? {we have been many times in the past}