Disney Is Bringing Back the Magic With These New Rules

Disney World is bringing back the magic with new rules to the Parks. Like all Disney Parks, Guests must follow some clear-cut rules and regulations at Disney World. As we have seen recently, some Guests do not, resulting in being kicked out or even permanent bans from the Parks. These rules include ticket purchases, Park Hopping, attraction reservations, and even dining reservations.

As Disney continues to grow and change, they hope to listen to the consumers and make changes for the better. Of course, change can be scary, but it looks positive for Disney World. As Inside the Magic stated, “Over the last couple of years, Guests have pushed back on one big element, and in just five months, everything will change.”

We previously reported the third quarter earnings posted by The Walt Disney Company. In the release, Iger noted, “We saw a softer performance at Walt Disney World from the prior year, coming off our highly successful 50th Anniversary celebration.” Additionally, Disney’s CEO added, “And following a number of recent changes we’ve implemented, we continue to see positive Guest experience ratings in our theme parks, including Walt Disney World, and positive indicators for Guests looking to book future visits. One indication includes the fan desire for annual passes to return, which Disney released back in April 2022.

What new changes are coming to Disney World that will enhance Guest experiences?

Ticket Changes

As we reported earlier in the month, Disney World is planning to change the ticket reservation system. With this change, Guests purchasing a date-based ticket will no longer have to reserve the Park they plan to visit. This goes for,

• Date-based 1-day ticket
• Date-based multi-day ticket
• Vacation package with date-based tickets

Additionally, “Annual Passholders may visit the theme parks after 2:00 p.m. without a theme Park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom Park. Applicable pass blockout dates apply,” Disney adds. Theme Park reservations will still be required for,

• Student group tickets
• Sport and Convention ticket
• Annual Pass
• All other ticket types not mentioned above

These changes begin on January 9, 2024, with great excitement for the planning process.

Dining Reservation System

The biggest change Guests will see with the dining reservation system is more openings when searching for a sit-down experience. Previously, restaurants would look like no seats were available, but the app has been updated to show more times for reserving. This change is already in effect (hopefully), making the booking experience easier for those choosing to dine on Disney property.

There has been some chatter on other changes that may be made by The Walt Disney Company, like no longer allowing password sharing on Disney+. While this wouldn’t be an improvement for the Guest experience, causing more in sales, nothing is set in stone. As of now, taking the win for two positive changes feels like a great start to the fall and winter seasons at Disney World.

How do you feel about these recent changes?