A lot has changed at Disney World since it reopened in 2020 after temporarily closing for the COVID-19 global pandemic. And, we’re not just talking about capacity limits and face mask requirements.
Gone are the days where Disney World could be an effortless vacation for the family. Now, families need to begin planning their trip MONTHS in advance, and they can still end up not being able to do everything that they wanted to. So, what exactly has changed? Let’s dive into it!
Here’s Why Disney World is the Most Complicated Vacation EVER to Plan
You Have to Plan Your Park Days WELL In Advance
Since reopening, Disney has required that all guests have both a park ticket and a Park Pass Reservation for the park that they plan to visit each day due to capacity limits.
And, while it can be easy to find a Park Pass Reservation for any park during the less busy times of the year, we’ve seen reservations book up months in advance for popular dates to visit. So, if you wait too long to plan, you run the risk of not being able to visit the parks you want to when you want to.
On top of Park Pass Reservations, park hopping rules have changed a bit and Disney now doesn’t allow any guest to park hop until after 2PM each day. This means that you can’t make any dining reservations or plans in a park that you plan to hop to until after that time, meaning you’re even more limited for the already hard-to-get reservations.
So, now more than ever, you need to plan far in advance of your trip and have a much better idea of what you’d like to do each day. Plus, you also need to consider whether park hopping is really worth it to you, as the price has not changed though park hopping hours have.
How Many Days Should Your Next Walt Disney World Trip Be?
It’s More Than Just Your Park Days You Have to Plan
If you already were someone who planned out their park days well in advance, then the Park Pass Reservation system may not add much work to your planning schedule. But, now there’s more to planning your Disney World vacation than just your park days — you’ve got to think about whether you’ll purchase MagicBands, how you’ll get from the airport to your resort, and more.
While MagicBands used to be complimentary for all guests, Disney discontinued this service in 2021. So, if you decide you do want to use MagicBands during your visit, you’ll need to purchase them for your party 10 or more days prior to your trip if you’re hoping to have them in time for check-in (and at a discount).
Plus, guests will also need to plan out their transportation to and from the airport, as Disney’s Magical Express has been discontinued. Whether you’re taking advantage of the new Mears Transportation option or you’re opting for a ride-share program, it won’t be as simple as letting Disney know your travel information prior to arriving anymore.
And, on top of all of that, it can be hard to book Disney World Resort Hotels and Dining Reservations, as both are filling up months in advance.
So, you really have to be on your a-game and all the little details planned out early when you’re planning a vacation nowadays.
The Easiest Things You’re Forgetting to Do at Walt Disney World
You Need to Keep Track of All the BIG Important Dates
Disney World may have reopened over two years ago, but their phased approach to reopening is still continuing to this day. This means that some restaurants and entertainment options have yet to welcome guests back again. And, if you have your heart set on dining at a specific restaurant or want to see a specific show you need to be paying attention to all of the big Disney announcements.
You should also consider the fact that Disney is gearing up to open brand new attractions, hotels, and more soon (some without opening dates yet). Oh, AND you don’t want to forget about all the refurbishments at attractions, restaurants, and hotels that are happening too.
So, do you feel overwhelmed by all the dates that you need to keep track of? Luckily, we’ve got a Calendar tool that can help you navigate all the important dates so that you’re choosing the best time of the year to visit for you and your family!
Closures with No End Date at Walt Disney World
ALL of Disney Genie
Once you’ve arrived in Disney World, things don’t get much less complicated though. In October 2021, Disney introduced THREE new planning features on the My Disney Experience app — Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection.
Disney Genie is a new FREE feature that is made to help guests plan their day and maximize their time in the park, and Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection are Disney’s TWO new paid ways to “skip the line” at popular attractions (replacing FastPass+).
So, now you need to learn the ins and outs to using all three services, decide whether the cost of the services is worth it to you and your family, and then do some hands-on learning when in the park using the features for the first time.
Of course, we’ve been testing out the new services and sharing tons of different tips and tricks to help you both before and during your trip, so be sure to check out our FAQs and other resources on the blog!
Your Phone is an Essential Park Accessory
While you used to be able to go almost the entire day at Disney without looking at your phone for more than just a photo, now almost EVERYTHING in Disney World relies on your smart device.
Between mobile ordering food at Quick Service restaurants, checking attraction wait times, securing and checking in for dining reservations, using Disney Genie, reserving Lightning Lanes (aka the old FastPass lanes) with Disney Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selections, and more, it’s almost impossible to go to Disney World without your device.
This reliance on your phone is especially complicated for those who are less technologically skilled and can result in quite a few frustrations (and even a dead battery or two) throughout the day.
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Some Rides (and Even Stores) Don’t Have Standby Lines
Even getting in line to ride an attraction or do some shopping isn’t as simple as it used to be anymore. Back in 2019, Disney implemented its first virtual queue system at Rise of the Resistance in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And, while this has since been paused at the ride, now guests hoping to hop on the newest attraction at EPCOT (Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind) must secure a spot in the virtual queue to have a chance at riding.
The virtual queue only opens up two times each day — 7AM and 1PM — and, if you don’t get a spot, you won’t be able to ride unless you purchase a Lightning Lane through Individual Attraction Selections (which can be $14-17 or more).
Plus, there have even been virtual queues for merchandise stores on busy days in the parks and Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs almost always has a virtual queue just to get a cookie.
So, now you need to be sure to plan ahead and know which rides (and stores) require the extra step beyond a standby line before you visit.
Should You Try for a Cosmic Rewind Boarding Group in EPCOT?
Rules Are Constantly Changing
On top of everything that we’ve already mentioned, a visit to Disney World is now a bit more complicated due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Health and Safety measures have changed A LOT over the past few years, and they’re only continuing to change more.
Disney has changed the face mask policy several times already going from requiring them everywhere, to requiring them indoors only, to not requiring them at all. And, when mask rules change, they often change overnight or without much notice so you could have to adapt quickly.
Plus, even Park Pass Reservation rules have changed for Annual Passholders with the introduction of the new tiered system. So, those who have passes need to stay up-to-date on when they can make park reservations and how many they can hold at a time.
Now, Disney does send push notifications for big health and safety changes and we’re always keeping track of all the latest updates to bring you the latest, so stay tuned to AllEars for everything you need to know!
A Full Guide to Walt Disney World’s Current Health & Safety Measures
So, it may be a bit more complicated to plan and go on your next Disney World vacation, but that doesn’t mean that your trip can’t be just as memorable as years before!
And, be sure to stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney planning tips, tricks, and updates!
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Are you currently planning a Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments!
I just ordered a magic band for one of our party for our dec 10 stay and they needed 30 days notice rather than 10.
We are always planning our next vacation or returning from one. It is not that difficult. Families have selected restaurant reservations and fast passes 180-60 days in advance for years. It’s not that different now. Park passes are readily available. Dvc home resort reservations are easily made. Mears transportation will hopefully be the same, except now they charge for it. We always park hop, and buy annual passes. We try to visit Disney World three times a year for at least ten days. Big differences are what Disney has taken away. Entertainment, for one, is really missed. Loved those Epcot concerts with real stars. Herman Hermits, Starship, so many others are longed for. Why can’t I hug Mickey? Why did Les Halles get rid of the palmiers pasty I love? Why isn’t Tron open? Animal Kingdom needs new attractions. So does Magic Kingdom. We were in Disney World the last ten days in October. The parks were mobbed. Fireworks were mobbed. Food and drink lines were long. Everyone seemed to be functioning just fine, spending money like it was water. Don’t hesitate to visit, everyone else is. And soon the UK and the rest will be in attendance. Disney World is just too fabulous for words. And everyone knows it.