Your Guide to Everything Coming to Disney World in 2024

Just when you start getting used to writing 2023, the year ends. The time has come to look back at what was, but more importantly, look ahead to what is coming. As Walt Disney said, “As long as there’s imagination left in the world, Disneyland will never be complete.” While he was talking about the Disneyland Resort in California, the same could be said about the Walt Disney Resort in Central Florida.

With 2024 nearly upon us, let’s take a look at what is coming in the New Year. Disney CEO Bob Iger will complete the destruction of everything former CEO Bob Chapek laid his hands on in the New Year. Iger is also taking down all the guardrails put in place during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

But despite all the changes coming in 2024, there’s still more on the horizon for which we don’t have details for yet. And there are also those fan favorites, like the Magical Express, that still have not returned yet. And, of course, there will be the yearly price increases coming.

So, let’s look at what’s coming to Walt Disney World in 2024 that we know for sure, what we hope will happen, and what we’ll have to wait until 2025 and beyond for.

Changes in 2024

Some big things are coming to the Walt Disney World Resort in 2024, including the return of our lost fan favorites during the pandemic. But 2023 ended with the opening of some new attractions, too. The transformation of ECPOT appears to be nearing completion as World Celebration finally opened to the public in early December.

World Celebration brought Moana: Journey of Water and a new Walt Disney Statue. Sure, it kind of looks like Walt is using the bathroom, but now that it’s in context, the statue looks a little better. December also saw the opening of EPCOT’s new nighttime show, Luminous. Finally, after years of construction, it appears that EPCOT is finally complete, for now.

Disney Springs has opened a new restaurant just in time for the Holidays. Summer House on the Lake is ready for your New Year’s dining if you want a break from a Disney Park and are spending the day at Disney Springs.

Now, let’s get to 2024. Beginning on January 9, guests with dated tickets to a Disney Park will no longer be required to make reservations. This was one of the much-hated leftovers from the Chapek era and COVID-19, and now it is gone for most guests. There are some guests to whom this new system will not apply. If you have a dated ticket, you are free to enter any Disney theme park on the date of your ticket.

However, if you have an open-ended ticket, season pass, or a cast member pass, you must still make a reservation. But to make it even more confusing, season pass holders and cast members will have what Disney calls “good-to-go” days. On those days, guests can enter any Disney theme park without a reservation. Presumably, those days will be less crowded.

Now seems like a good time to discuss price increases for Disney season pass holders. For season pass renewals, there is an increase of $25-$40; for new season passes, there is an increase of $30-$50. The price increase depends on the type of season pass you are purchasing. There are also increases in ticket prices and food throughout the Walt Disney World Resort that guests must also budget for.

And with the changes in the reservation system, all-day Park Hopper is back, too. So, guests will no longer have to wait until after 2 p.m. to jump from Disney’s Animal Kingdom to the Magic Kingdom. Disney’s Park Hopper is subject to the park not being at capacity when you choose to enter.

And then there is the return of the Disney Dining Plan. Another causality of the Chapek/Covid-19 era. The Disney Dining Plan will return on January 9. Since it’s been gone for a while, here’s a quick overview of what you will get with your Disney Dining Plan. There are two options: the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan and the Disney Dining Plan.

For the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, you will receive two quick-service meals and a snack per night if each party member is staying at a Disney Resort Hotel. So, if you stay for four nights, you will receive eight quick-service meals and four snacks.

The Disney Dining Plan gets you one table-service meal, one quick-service meal per day, and one snack. You can use your table service credit for one of Disney’s premium dining experiences, including character dining. But those will cost you two credits. So, going to Cinderella’s Table at Magic Kingdom with a family of four will cost you eight table service credits.

Related: Pricing Revealed For Disney Dining Plan

Each Disney Dining plan comes with a refillable mug to use at your Disney World Resort hotel. It’s perfect for those early-morning coffee runs on your trip.

The last significant changes coming to Walt Disney World in 2024 won’t happen until later. After years of planning and controversy, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will replace Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom.

Splash Mountain closed in May 2023, so Disney fans must wait nearly 18 months for the new attraction to open. Anyone who has been to the Magic Kingdom recently can watch as the work progresses. But 2024 will bring the first ride on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which is something to look forward to.

Disney Imagineers and Disney CEO Bob Iger have given us plenty to look forward to in the new year, but there’s so much more that we want.

Hoping and Praying For in 2024

Since the last ride of the Magical Express in 2021, Disney fans have been begging for the return of the bus ride from Orlando International Airport. But it was more than just the bus ride. Somehow, Disney World cast members were also able to get your luggage directly from the plane and have it in your room shortly after you arrived. Traveling is stressful, but this would take all that stress away. It was wonderful.

Now, you have to figure out a way to navigate MCO and either get an Uber or rent a car, and the rental car area at the Orlando International Airport feels like the third realm of hell. Parking is free again at all Disney World Resort hotels, but if you choose to drive to one of the Disney theme parks, you will have to pay, and there is a price increase coming for parking at Disney parks, too.

There are no rumors of the return of the Magical Express, but if enough of us make some noise, perhaps Bob Iger will consider it. But it appears that this will just be one of those distant Disney World memories.

Related: Hey Iger! Bring Back the Magical Express

Disney has announced that changes are coming to the Disney Genie Plus system, but they have yet to announce what those changes might be. Let’s be honest: Disney’s Genie Plus system needs a complete overhaul. Guests must wake up at seven to purchase a lightning lane pass, and sometimes, when Disney World is crowded, the system fails.

Rumors have spread that Disney will allow guests to purchase Disney Genie Plus in advance and book their first lightning lane before arriving on Disney property. That would help to simplify the process, but there are still issues with guests spending most of the day on their phones planning their next pass.

Disney World Genie Plus could be perfect if it were similar to the old fast pass system. This would allow guests to make three reservations weeks in advance, and only after completing all three fast passes could you book another. Most Disney resort guests would pay Even if there were a charge for that service.

So, Bob Iger, if you’ve read this far, first of all, thanks for reading, but please consider making these two massive changes in the new year to make the Disney World experience that much better for guests.

Beyond 2024

At this year’s D23 Expo, Josh D’Amaro announced some significant changes coming to Walt Disney World. Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be the recipient of the majority of the changes that we know of so far. DinoLand USA will be closed and turned into an Encanto, South American/Central American-themed land. It’s an exciting change for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. If we’re being honest, DinoLand USA never really fit with the rest of the theme park.

There is also a significant change coming to Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom. Rumors are swirling that an Indiana Jones-style ride, similar to the one at the Disneyland Resort in California. Both rides have identical tracks, so hopefully, this change won’t take long.

Related: Disney Announces “Largest” Magic Kingdom Expansion Ever

D’Amaro also announced that there will be a “major” expansion of Disney’s Magic Kingdom. D’Amaro said that it will be the most significant expansion of the park since it opened in 1971. So, what exactly does that mean? Disney fans immediately hoped for a villain land at Magic Kingdom. But those are just fan theories, not necessarily fact-based from Disney.

With Universal Studios Florida opening Epic Universe in 2025, Disney must create something that can compete. As always, change is the only constant at Disney World. We can expect nostalgia, but Disney fans also yearn for something new whenever they visit. At least we know that 2024 will bring back some fan favorites, and Disney fans everywhere have plenty to look forward to in the future.

Happy New Year, Disney fans.