Disney just announced six big pieces of news for Walt Disney World planning, and we wanted to make sure to share them ASAP. They’ll be worked into all our existing posts in the coming days, but here’s what’s changing…
2024 Disney World Bookings Open May 31
If you’re looking to make a booking for a 2024 Disney World trip, you should be pleased to know that tickets, Disney resort hotels, and Disney vacation package bookings open on May 31.
This is a good chance to read up on the Cheapest Time to Go To Disney World. If you’re interested in booking a 2024 trip we recommend reaching out to Lauren Quirk at Travel With Character. You’ll also want to check out our Disney World Planning Guide.
2024 Date Based Tickets Won’t Need Reservations
Beginning January 9, 2024, guests with date-based tickets—which is almost all tickets that aren’t annual passes—won’t need park reservations. However, Disney World Annual passholders and guests with non-dated tickets will still need reservations (more on this below).
In 2024, Passholders and Cast Members Get “Good to Go” Dates
Select dates in 2024 will be marked as “Good to Go” dates for annual passholders and Cast Members. On these dates, those groups also won’t need reservations. Blockout dates will still apply.
Disney Dining Plans are Coming Back
I so much didn’t expect this that a lot of the last few weeks of work for me has been removing Dining Plan content from this site, but for stays beginning January 9, 2024, the Disney Dining Plan and Disney Quick Service Dining Plan will return. Details to come, but from this announcement we already at least can see that the Deluxe Dining Plan and Dining Plan Plus have been scrapped. No word on Free Dining yet, but we’d expect that to come back, too.
Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours Will Continue Through 2024
Early Entry is a perk of staying at a Disney hotel (or select partner hotel) that grants guests access to each Disney World park for 30 extra minutes in the morning every day. This perk will continue through 2024. This is bad news for guests who prefer to stay offsite, and neutral news for onsite guests, who at least are spared having to learn new strategies (or having to ensure the confusion of bloggers as we attempt to learn new strategies).
Extended Evening Hours, a perk available only to guests of the Deluxe resorts at Disney World, will also continue in 2024.
Plan Lightning Lanes Ahead…At Some Point
We’re hoping the lack of a date on this announcement means it could come before 2024, but Disney has announced they are working on ways to allow Lightning Lanes (Genie+ and Individual) to be booked before your trip begins. I vaguely recall something like this existing in the past, but surely it must have cost an arm and a leg, given what Lightning Lanes cost these days!
The exact language from Disney on this is:
We have heard from guests that they would like ways to plan with Disney Genie+ service and individual Lightning Lane selections before the day of their park visit, and we want you to know we are working on ways guests may do this for visits in 2024. Our goal is to give you the opportunity to spend less time planning in the park and more time enjoying your visit with friends and family. While we are not yet able to share specific details, we look forward to sharing more information at a later date.
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
Don't be overwhelmed by Disney World planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you'll not only be an expert, but you'll save big $$$ along the way.
Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Don't forget to master your Disney World Genie+ and Lightning Lane strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Epcot Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Animal Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, and Hollywood Studios Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.