5 BIG Things That Happened With Disney This Week

There is always some kind of Disney news stories every single day, and we do our best to make sure you’re informed about everything.

But sometimes people get busy, things slip through the cracks, and you might’ve missed a few stories. That’s why we’re breaking down the five biggest stories to get you up to speed on all things Disney.

Disney World Ticket Price Increases

Going to Disney World just got a little more expensive for some guests. If you purchase a one-day park ticket, you’ll probably pay a little more for it than previously. That’s because surge pricing is now a thing for those tickets, meaning that depending on the park you’re visiting and the date you visit that park, your ticket could potentially cost more.

This is what pricing for tickets now looks like:

Disney’s Animal Kingdom — $109-$159 (no change from current prices)
Disney’s Hollywood Studios — $124-$179
EPCOT — $114-$179
Magic Kingdom — $124-$189

Park hopping tickets are also now subject to surge pricing. The price of the park hopper add-on will now change depending on what day you’re visiting Disney World. Days with more demand will cost more.

BIG Ticket Price Increases Have Officially Hit Disney World

Disney Genie+ Update

We received word this week that Disney Genie+ would be getting a much-needed update at both Disney World AND Disneyland that allows guests to easily change their Lightning Lane selections WITHOUT needing to cancel them first. Previously, you couldn’t even look at other options for Lightning Lane times without canceling your existing selection.

This change is already available in Disneyland — you’ll need to update the Disneyland app to have access to it.

BIG Genie+ Update Coming to Disney World and Disneyland

Disney+ Price Increase

December 8th was a big day for ALL the Disney price increases, it seems. As of then, Disney+ also saw its subscription price go up from $7.99 per month to $10.99 per month. However, if you stick to the new Disney Basic ad-supported subscription, it’s still $7.99 per month.

There’s a catch with that ad-supported version of Disney+, though — it doesn’t work on Roku devices. However, the ad-free version does.

You can also purchase the Premium plan for $109.99 for the year.

Disney+ Now Costs More — Unless You’re Okay With Ads

D23 Exclusive Events for 2023

We got a few more details about some events that D23 has planned for members in 2023. First up, the Disney100: The Exhibition will be coming to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in February 2023. D23 members will get early access to the exhibit.

D23 members will also get the chance to visit the Walt Disney Studios Lot for an exclusive event in honor of the 100th Anniversary, as well as a member-only tour of Walt Disney’s hometown, Marceline, Missouri, in June 2023.

D23 members will also get to participate in D23 Nights with Disney Theatrical offered in 2023, which offers exclusive theatrical experiences, including ticket packages and post-show Q&A opportunities with cast members.

Want to become a D23 member, just visit the official website to sign up. There is a free membership option, but note that most of these opportunities are exclusive to D23 Gold members, which are paid subscriptions.

Celebrate Disney’s 100th Anniversary With These EXCLUSIVE Events in 2023

Other Updates

We got some updates from Disney Cruise Line this week, too. First, there have been some changes made to the COVID-19 refund policy. For sailings booked on or after December 9th, 2022, guests who test positive for COVID-19 within 10 days of their sail date can receive a refund in their original form of payment without cancellation fees.

Disney also recently released its itineraries for 2024. Itineraries to the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Bahamas will be available! These cruises will be available at sailings originating from Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and California.

We also learned this week that Destination D23 will return to Disney World on September 8th-10th at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This event sold out in minutes last year, so we’re excited about what this year’s event might bring.

The Disney World Event That Sold Out in MINUTES is Returning in 2023

Want to stay updated on ALL the big Disney news, be sure to check back with AllEars.net regularly. You can also follow us on social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube!