Disney World Update: 2024 Package Update, Dining Plans Coming Back, Park Reservations Going Way
2024 Walt Disney World Vacation Packages go on sale May 31, 2024. Dining Plans, updates to Disney Genie+, and park reservations are all being updated. Plus more!
I have so many exciting things to share with you about Walt Disney World in 2024. Here’s what I know so far:
Removing theme park reservation requirements for date-based tickets
Bringing back the Disney dining plans
Simplifying the Disney Genie+ experience
Updated room categories
When you can book a 2024 Walt Disney World Package
Removing theme park reservation requirements for date-based tickets
Starting with park visits on Jan. 9, 2024, Walt Disney World theme park reservations will no longer be required for date-based tickets.
For reference, date-based tickets are the standard ticket option Disney World offers to guests, so tickets purchased through a package and stand-alone tickets are considered “date-based.”
Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will be offered select days on which they may visit the Walt Disney World theme parks without needing a park reservation. Once introduced, Disney will roll out these “good-to-go” days on an ongoing basis.
More to come on the Passholder update.
Bringing back the Walt Disney World dining plans in 2024
Disney dining plans will be coming back as an option for those staying at Disney Resort hotels who purchase a Walt Disney World vacation package starting with stays beginning Jan. 9, 2024, which will also open for bookings on May 31.
Guests will be able to choose from two popular options: Packages that include either the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan – both will be a great value for families with young children with access to many spectacular food and beverage offerings across Walt Disney World.
No word on a Deluxe dining plan at this time or if there will be any changes to how meal entitlements will work.
OrlandoParksGuy: Travel agent for Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Orlando area cruises
Simplifying the Disney Genie+ experience
Disney World has heard from guests (myself included) that they would like ways to plan with Disney Genie+ service and individual lightning lane selections before the day of their park visit, and while I don’t have specifics to share yet, I want you to know Disney is working on ways guests may do this for visits in 2024.
According to Disney, “We want to give guests the opportunity to spend less time planning in the park and more time enjoying their visit with friends and family. We look forward to sharing more details at a later date.”
Updated room categories
Effective later this month, and including all 2024 reservations, the names of some room categories at Deluxe Resorts will be simplified to be three categories in most cases:
resort view
water view
theme park view
There may be some exceptions to this, for example, Savannah View at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, but overall this is deigned to make things easier for guests. I think it will.
When can you book a Disney World 2024 package?
Disney Resort hotel stays and packages at Walt Disney World will be offered starting on May 31, 2024.
Many of you are already on my wait list. To get started on a 2024 package you can join my wait list now - just send me a message asking to be on my list, and I’ll reach out to you once we’re good to go.
Or sign up for my Travel Tips mailing below ↓↓
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Darren is a Disney-focused travel agent with Magical Vacations Travel and has over 13 years of experience. Readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World rate him as a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent. Darren is also an Orlando-based travel writer with topics ranging from theme parks to cruise lines.
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Guide to 'Capture Your Moment' Photo Sessions at Walt Disney World
Private photoshoots at Walt Disney World
Disney PhotoPass Service is the best way to capture photos of a Disney experience, but now you can also purchase a Capture Your Moment photo session at Walt Disney World Resort.
This personalized 20-minute private photo session was so popular at Magic Kingdom Park and Disney's Animal Kingdom, that Capture Your Moment is now offered at EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
Disney’s Capture Your Moment is a great way to remember your:
Engagement
Honeymoon
Anniversary
Child’s Birth or Adoption
Birthday
First Walt Disney World Visit
Family Reunion
Family Portraits
Graduation
And more!
Magic Kingdom
With Magic Kingdom park as a backdrop, you and your Disney PhotoPass photographer will create a picture-perfect way to remember your special occasion.
All Capture Your Moment photo sessions offer an iconic Magic Kingdom park setting including a view of Cinderella Castle. Your photographer will tell you which locations are available at the start of your session.
EPCOT
Photoshoots at EPCOT will be in World Showcase. You can choose one of the following pavilions for your photo shoot:
Germany
Italy
The American Adventure
Japan
Morocco
Capture Your Moment | Walt Disney World
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
You can head down to the Tower of Terror to take photos around its eerie grounds, capture playful photos with Gertie (Echo Lake’s resident dinosaur), get up close with the incredible details of the Chinese Theatre’s façade, or use the colorful neon signs and art deco architecture of Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard to evoke the golden age of Tinseltown.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
All Capture Your Moment photo sessions offer iconic views of Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park settings and attractions, including a view of The Tree of Life. Your photographer will tell you which locations are available at the start of your session.
OrlandoParksGuy: Travel agent for Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Orlando area cruises
How much does Capture Your Moment cost?
At all four theme parks, each Capture Your Moment session is $79 (at presstime) and can include up to eight guests.
Are photo downloads included?
While prints and digital downloads are not included, those who purchased Memory Maker or Memory Maker One Day can download the photos at no extra cost. I recommend that you purchase Memory Maker, it’s a much better value than purchasing your photos individually.
When Can you book Disney Capture Your Moment?
You can book your session up to 60 days in advance on the Disney World website.
How long is a Capture Your Moment session?
Each session is 20 minutes. You may purchase additional time however you must do so in advance.
Tips for Capture Your Moment
Wedding attire is not permitted.
Locations are subject to change based on inclement weather.
If you would like to book more time with a photographer you must book in advance, each additional session is priced at $99 for 20 minutes.
Theme park admission and park reservations are required.
Pricing is subject to change.
Related to Capture Your Moment
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Darren is a Disney-focused travel agent with Magical Vacations Travel and has over 13 years of experience. Readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World rate him as a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent. Darren is also an Orlando-based travel writer with topics ranging from theme parks to cruise lines.
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Best Disney World Hotel Deals - Summer 2023
Make the most of Disney package deals this summer by knowing which dates to visit and which hotel to book.
Every day I help people plan summer vacation packages to Walt Disney World Resort. This is the time of year everyone books to get the best deal, and room category, and I think it helps get us through winter when we have a Florida vacation to look forward to. Fortunately, there’s a terrific dining card offer available but in this article, I’ll show you how to get the most out of that offer.
Summer 2023 Disney vacation package deals
I’m often asked, when is the best time to go to Walt Disney World? and What's the cheapest month to go to Disney World?
Well, Disney World just announced that the deadline to book the dining card offer is March 27, 2023.
In my experience, broad availability for the dining offer offer will end much sooner, through there will be limited availability for the offer through the 27th.
This means you should book now! Consider this a heads-up from Disney.
You can book your Disney vacation package with a refundable $200 deposit and you have up to 30-days prior to checkin to cancel for a full refund.
You can even make modifications to your travel dates, hotel and tickets.
Summer Offers for Disney World
There are two limited-time offers for Disney World available: a room offer and a dining card offer.
You can read more about the dining card offer here, this is the offer every one wants.
In short, you’ll get a gift card that can be used toward dining purchases throughout your stay at nearly every Disney World restaurant.
For example, if you stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort for 4 nights, your dining card will be worth $600 if you select the right dates and hotel. I have the info. on how to do this!
The amount of the gift card varies by date and hotel category and you must have at least 4 nights on your vacation package with at least 4-day theme park tickets.
The room offer allows you to save up to 25% off the nightly room rate and sometimes this works out better than the dining offer. The offer is valid for stays most nights March 1 to July 10, 2023.
Need help deciding on which offer will work better for you? Let’s get started ▸
Disney hotels with the deepest discounts:
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (campus section)
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
OrlandoParksGuy: Travel agent for Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Orlando area cruises
Some of the Best Times to Visit Disney World This Summer
Check-in July 23, 2023*
A family of 4, staying 4 nights with 4-day tickets
Disney’s All Star Sports Resort for $3,138.08 + $136 gift card
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort for $3,632.28 + $300 gift card
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge for $4,205 + $500 gift card
Check-in on August 7, 2023*
A family of 4, staying 4 nights with 4-day tickets
Disney’s All Star Sports Resort for $2,944 + $200 gift card
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter for $3,465 + $400 gift card
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge $4,179 + $600 gift card
Check-in on August 28, 2023*
A family of 4, staying 4 nights with 4-day tickets
Disney’s All Star Sports Resort for $2,598 + $200 gift card
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort for $3,189 + $400 gift card
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort for $3,896 + $600 gift card
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort for $5,119 + $600 gift card
*Prices and availability subject to change. Based on 2 adults, 2 children (ages 3-9) staying 4 nights with 4-Day Base (one park per day) Tickets.
For even more dates and resorts contact me today to start planning your summer vacation package to Walt Disney World!
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Darren is a Disney-focused travel agent with Magical Vacations Travel and has over 13 years of experience. Readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World rate him as a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent. Darren is also an Orlando-based travel writer with topics ranging from theme parks to cruise lines.
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Popular Tours are Returning to Walt Disney World
Celebrate the Return of Select Fan-favorite Tours from the Enchanting Extras Collection at Walt Disney World Resort in 2022
It seems like every week now we get news from Walt Disney World that more experiences are returning. We now know that many special tours and experiences will be returning on February 6, 2022.
Many tours and experiences will return February 6, 2022 to Walt Disney World Resort
My personal favorite, “Keys to the Kingdom” tour is on the list. If you’re a Disney World fan, this is your chance to go down into the Utilidor system. “Wild Africa Trek” is a big one on my list too.
The Behind the Seeds tour at Epcot was not mentioned but hopefully it will be coming back soon.
Here’s a complete list of tours and experiences that will be returning to Walt Disney World this winter.
Wild Africa Trek | Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Wild Africa Trek
Perhaps my personal favorite, Wild Africa Trek combines action, adventure and education into a three-hour exhilarating safari adventure at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, where nature is truly alive with magic.
Cross a swinging rope bridge near crocodiles and view towering giraffes, powerful rhinos and hippos as Guests ride across the open savanna in a rugged safari vehicle.
Along the journey, a knowledgeable guide will share insights about the majestic animals you’re viewing as well as details about the park’s dedication to animal conservation around the world.
Savor the Savanna | Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park
Savor the Savanna
Is all of this excitement making you hungry? Then explore the sights, sounds – and TASTES – of Africa on Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park’s Savor the Savanna tour.
Indulge in a sampling of African-inspired cuisine, paired with a selection of regional beer and wine offerings, as Guests gaze out across the Harambe Wildlife Reserve.
And listen as a private guide shares tales of the unique residents who inhabit the reserve and the special animal care provided at the park.
Disney’s Key to the Kingdom Tour returns Feb 6, 2022
Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom
Unlock the fascinating history of Magic Kingdom Park, where fantasy reigns, and gain backstage access to legendary hidden areas on this five-hour walking tour!
Access the underground “Utilidor” service tunnels, learn hidden secrets of classic attractions, enjoy a delicious lunch and so much more on this backstage tour of the most iconic theme park at Walt Disney World Resort.
Up Close with Rhinos | Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Up Close with Rhinos
Want to get even closer to nature? This 60-minute tour takes Guests backstage to meet our planet’s second-largest land animal in ways few people can.
As each guide introduce Guests to the white rhinos at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, they’ll offer fascinating insights into the species’ behavior and biology, and discuss the challenges that threaten populations in the wild.
Caring for Giants | Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Caring for Giants
Delve into the wondrous world of the largest inhabitants of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park during this 60-minute tour for an experience Guests will never forget.
Meet with a knowledgeable guide who will provide insight into the inner workings of our African elephant herd and share a glimpse into the day-to-day care for these amazing animals.
Learn how Disney’s conservation efforts are dedicated to the preservation of wild elephant populations around the world as Guests observe these gentle giants from a private, backstage viewing area!
Advance bookings are highly recommended for all tours. Experiences located at Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park require valid theme park admission and reservations.
To learn more about how you can add these experiences to your Disney World vacation package, contact me today.
Start planning your Walt Disney World vacation now!
Darren is a Disney-focused travel agent with Magical Vacations Travel and has over 12 years of experience. Readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World rate him as a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent. Darren is also an Orlando-based travel writer with topics ranging from theme parks to cruise lines.
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Disney is preparing for major refurbishments and new ideas, but some attractions will need to close.