Everything You Need to Know About Disney World's Newest Rules, Effective for All Guests - Inside the Magic

Walt Disney World Resort implemented some major changes for guests heading to the theme parks in 2024.

Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park welcome millions of guests ever year, and no matter when you go, there is always something special happening at “The Most Magical Place on Earth.”

Of course, the biggest new attraction set to open in Walt Disney World Resort this year is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The new Princess and the Frog-themed attraction, which is set to open in summer of 2024 is taking over the spot that used to be occupied by Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom.

Related: Disney Announces Opening Date for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

The new attraction is currently under construction, and there are rumors that it could spawn an entire new land being added, transforming the space around the attraction into New Orleans Square. Of course, that is just speculation, and nothing has been confirmed.

What can be confirmed, however, is some major rule changes that are coming to the Disney World theme parks, which will be in effect for all guests.

If you’re planning a visit to Disney World this upcoming year, here are some new rule changes that you should be aware of.

All-Day Park-Hopping

In a magical turn of events, Disney park lovers received exciting news last October when the announcement came that all-day park hopping would be returning to Walt Disney World. This change marked a significant shift in how visitors can experience the enchantment of the Disney theme parks.

For quite some time, park hopping at Disney World was limited to after 2 p.m. each day, a restriction that was put in place when park hopping returned in 2021. However, as of January 9, 2024, anyone with a park ticket featuring Park Hopper capabilities or an Annual Pass has the incredible freedom to visit another theme park at any time during regular park hours. This change offers visitors a more flexible and value-packed park experience.

Depending on the time of year you visit, the Park-Hopping feature added to a normal Disney park ticket is, on average, around $60 per person per day.

Disney Park Reservations

One of the most significant adjustments to the Disney World experience is the elimination of Park Pass reservations for most guests. This change, which took effect on January 9, is redefining how visitors plan their Disney adventures.

Until recently, guests were required to make reservations for the specific theme park they wished to visit each day, in addition to purchasing their tickets. This system was implemented as a response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, helping Disney World manage crowd levels and staffing effectively.

However, with the new policy, those who purchase date-based tickets no longer need to secure a reservation. This newfound flexibility means that visitors can decide which Disney World park to explore on the spur of the moment, enhancing the sense of adventure and spontaneity that Disney World offers.

While we certainly recommend planning ahead of time to get the most out of your visit, there is value in having more flexibility and not necessarily having to maintain the exact schedule that was laid out ahead of time. You may run into unexpected weather. On a day when it is rainy, you may want to change which theme park you visit to make the most of your time.

Nevertheless, it’s important to note that certain ticket types, such as Annual Passes, may still require reservations on most days to access the parks. Furthermore, Disney introduced “Good to Go” days starting on January 11. While Park Pass reservations are still necessary for Annual Passholders, these special days allow them to enter the park without the need for a reservation on select dates, adding even more convenience and freedom to their Disney experience. You can check the official Disney website to see the dates when these are available.

Keep in mind that Annual Passholders do not have to make a reservation to visit a theme park after 2:00 p.m., except when visiting Magic Kingdom on Saturday and Sunday.

Virtual Queues

With all-day park hopping, changes came to the Virtual Queues as well, promising a more streamlined and accessible experience for visitors.

As of January 9, guests who do not require a Park Pass reservation to enter the park no longer need one to secure a Virtual Queue booking at 7 a.m. Currently, Disney World offers Virtual Queues for two popular rides: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle / Run. These Virtual Queue reservations are available at two specific times each day, 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.. Previously, to secure a 7 a.m. Virtual Queue reservation, visitors needed a Park Pass reservation for the corresponding park.

With the recent rule change, guests holding date-based tickets now have the freedom to book a Virtual Queue without the need for a park-specific reservation. It’s important to note that only one Virtual Queue reservation can be held at a time, forcing visitors to choose between Guardians of the Galaxy or TRON for their 7 a.m. slot.

In addition to securing a spot in the Virtual Queue, you can also purchase Individual Lightning Lane reservations for TRON Lightcycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. The prices for these vary by the day and are not included in a Disney Genie+ purchase, but they can save you a lot of time as you will not have to stand in the regular Virtual Queue line, which can be more than an hour, depending on the day.

Disney Dining Plans Are Returning

Another exciting development was the return of Disney Dining Plans. This popular feature had been missed by many Disney enthusiasts and adds an extra layer of convenience and savings to the Disney experience.

The Disney Dining Plan allows guests to prepay for meals and snacks as part of their vacation package, offering flexibility in choosing when and where to enjoy their dining credits. The number of credits received depends on the duration of the stay.

There are two Dining Plan options: The Quick Service Dining Plan and the Disney Dining Plan. The Quick Service Dining Plan, priced at $57.00 for adults and $24.00 for children ages 3 to 9, includes two quick-service meals per night stayed, a nightly snack or nonalcoholic drink, and a refillable drink mug for unlimited refills at the resort.

The Disney Dining Plan, priced at $94 for adults and $30 for children ages 3 to 9, offers one table-service meal per night stayed, one quick-service meal per night stayed, a nightly snack or nonalcoholic drink, and a refillable drink mug with unlimited refills at the resort.

With the return of Disney Dining Plans, guests can enjoy a hassle-free dining experience, knowing that their meals and snacks are already paid for as part of their package. However, whether it saves you money depends on your dining preferences and the number of meals you plan to enjoy during your stay.

Important Information from Disney about the Disney Dining Plan:

• Beverages are included with each meal. Guests under 21 years of age may choose from a variety of nonalcoholic beverages. Guests 21 and older with valid identification may substitute for beer, wine, and cocktails.
• Reservations at Table-Service restaurants are highly recommended and are subject to availability.
• Guests ages 3 to 9 must order from a children’s menu, where available.
• Plan must be purchased for the entire length of stay and for the entire party (ages 3 and up).
• Meals are nontransferable between party members and expire at midnight on day of checkout.

Specific number of meals and snacks are determined by the number of nights included in the package stay. You can redeem your meals and snacks any day during your stay until the number associated with your package has been depleted. All unused meals and snacks and the ability to use your refillable mug expire at midnight on your package reservation checkout date.

Resort-refillable mugs are eligible for refills from self-service beverage islands at any Disney Resort hotel Quick-Service location.

Price Increases

While Disney World brought back some beloved features and made the park experience more flexible, several price increases were also implemented. These adjustments in pricing were part of Disney’s ongoing efforts to maintain the quality of the guest experience and invest in new attractions and entertainment.

One of the most notable price increases was related to parking at Disney’s four theme parks. Standard parking at these parks are increasing from $25.00 to $30.00. While price hikes are never easy to accept, this increase brings Disney’s parking fees in line with those at other Orlando-area theme parks like Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando.

However, guests staying at any Disney Resort hotel will continue to enjoy complimentary parking at both their hotel and Disney’s theme parks. For those not staying onsite, a single parking payment grants access to multiple parks on the same day.

Additionally, Annual Pass Holders saw price increases for new sales and renewals across all pass tiers. These changes included:

• Disney Incredi-Pass: Increased from $1,399 to $1,499
• Disney Sorcerer Pass: Increased from $969 to $999
• Disney Pirate Pass: Increased from $749 to $799
• Disney Pixie Dust Pass: Increased from $399 to $439

These price adjustments reflect Disney’s commitment to providing a wide range of pricing options to cater to various guest preferences and offer unique experiences.

All passes exclude activities/events separately priced. Pass types, entitlements and prices subject to change without notice. Passes are nontransferable and nonrefundable. Disney reserves the right to reschedule or cancel theme park reservations, admission media or purchases at any time and for any reason without liability, and to provide applicable refunds. Theme park reservations are subject to availability and are not guaranteed for any specific dates or park.

Passes with the Water Park and Sports option provide admission to Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park OR Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park. Water parks are subject to extended rehabilitation, seasonal, capacity and weather closures or may close for other reasons. On certain dates a water park may only be open for special events or to limited groups. All options are nontransferable and exclude activities/events separately priced or not open to the general public.

Overall, 2024 is already shaping up to be an exciting time for Disney World visitors, with the return of all-day park hopping, the elimination of Park Pass reservations for many guests, more accessible Virtual Queues, and the revival of Disney Dining Plans. While these changes enhance the park experience, it’s essential to be aware of price increases that are also part of the evolving Disney landscape.

What do you think of the recent changes to Walt Disney World? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments!