Here’s What Disney Has Us Nervous About Heading Into 2022

We are so excited about a new year and all the magic and experiences that will be coming to Walt Disney World in 2022. From new rides such as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opening in the summer to the highly anticipated Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser welcoming Guests on board in March, there is so much to be excited about when it comes to Disney World in 2022.

Even though we are extremely excited about what the future is going to bring to Walt Disney World, there are a few things that have us nervous as we look to the future. Come along with us as we take a look at a few of these things that we are nervous about when it comes to 2022 in Walt Disney World.

Scheduled Closures

We know that Walt Disney World has to sometimes shut down experiences in order to keep them safe for Guests. In 2022, we have already been told about two closures and they both have us a little uneasy.

Over in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we have been told that Expedition Everest will be closed from January 4th through mid-April 2022. This has us a little nervous as it is a LONG time for this ride to be closed and really puts limits on rides in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. With this ride closed during spring break, we anticipate wait times to be longer for thrill rides such as DINOSAUR and Avatar Flight of Passage.

We also are concerned about this closure as Expedition Everest is currently one of the two Individual Lightning Lane selections at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. With Expedition Everest being closed, we wonder if Fight of Passage will be the only Individual Lightning Lane selection or if another ride will be transitioned for this time period. We will have to see how Expedition Everest being closed for this extended period of time will impact the flow of the crowd in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The other scheduled closure that has us a little nervous is the Skyliner closure in January. We have been told that the Skyliner will be closed from January 23rd to January 28th for refurbishment. Even though this is a short period of time, it will greatly impact those Guests staying at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Pop Century, and Disney’s Art of Animation.

These Guests will now need to rely on Disney bus transportation to and from both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The closure will also impact Guests that want to hop between these two Parks during their vacation. We are glad that this closure is only scheduled for a short period of time, but are a little nervous about how it will impact Guests as they move around Walt Disney World.

Increased Crowds

Long gone are the days with low crowds that we saw with the Theme Parks first reopened in 2020. Walt Disney World crowds are back to normal and it has us a little nervous. We are grateful that things are slowly transitioning back to normal and we are starting to see a lot of the regulations be lifted, but we sure miss the low capacity at the Parks.

As Park crowds increase, we are a little nervous about how the Parks will be able to accommodate them. We have seen quick-service locations struggle with keeping up on busy days and with not all dining locations at full capacity yet, Guests might struggle to find dining options.

Longer wait times are being seen and it is something that Guests should be prepared for as they head down in 2022. If crowds aren’t your thing, make sure you are looking into options like Genie+ and making those dining reservations when they first become available to you.

No More Magical Express

We realize that at times there might not have been a lot of magic when it came to Magical Express, but we appreciated it being an option for us. This free transportation service provided a great option for Guests heading from Orlando International Airport and Disney World and we are a little nervous about it going away. Starting January 1st, 2022, Guests will have to find their own way to get from the airport to their Walt Disney World Resort.

Unfortunately, there are no more complimentary options meaning that you will be adding an additional cost to your vacation when it comes to transportation. Mears Connect is one option that is being offered and is $32 per adult round trip and $27 per child round trip for their standard service.  There is a premium service option for $200 for a group of four.

Other options are rideshare, renting a car, or even private transportation options such as a car or limo service. We liked having the free transportation option from Disney and are a little nervous about how these new options will work out moving forward.

Holiday Parties Transition to After Hours

Finally, the last thing we are nervous about heading into 2022 is if we will see holiday parties return to the Magic Kingdom. In 2021, we saw Boo Bash and Very Merriest After Hours in place of the traditional Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

This transition makes us nervous as not only did we see a big hike in pricing for these events compared to past hours, we also saw less offered. Boo Bash was limited to three hours compared to the normal four hours for MNSSHP and there were no fireworks or Halloween parades. We were pleased that the Very Merriest After Hours does have a special firework show, stage show, and a parade as well as lasting four hours.

We worry that Disney might move away from the parties and instead go for after-hours events instead. Our biggest concern here is the higher price we are seeing for these tickets.

There is a lot to be excited about when it comes to Walt Disney World in 2022. Rides, shows, dining, and more continue to open up and offer more magic than before. We are just a little nervous about a few of these things heading into 2022 and hope that our worries won’t be an issue moving forward.