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Guests Crash Walt Disney World Website

Posted by: Steven Wilk May 31, 2023

Disney EPCOT Monorail
Credit: Disney

On May 31, Disney World fans had the first opportunity to book their 2024 vacations to the happiest place on Earth.

RELATED: Delicious Disney Dining Details

Mickey and Minnie outside Cinderella Castle

Credit: Disney

Disney Crashes

But very quickly, many experienced a booking problem as Disney Guests flooded the website.

Disney site crashes

Credit: Inside the Magic

Guests had a higher-than-normal interest in booking their 2024 Walt Disney World trips. Why? Perhaps it’s the many changes they have been offering. Starting January 9, it has been announced that Walt Disney World will be removing the Park reservation system (which has been in place since 2020), the return of Disney Dining Plans, and extending hours for Resort Guests. The Walt Disney World Resort is also introducing “Good to Go” days for its Annual Passholders and Cast Members. These days allow both parties to enter their preferred Disney Park without reservations on specific days.

food-wine-epcot-festival

Credit: Disney

The website was shut down for nearly 7 hours as Guests were directed to call over the phone to book their trips or wait in the virtual queue.

Shortly after bookings opened, Guests started getting screens stating: “Pardon The Inconvenience Room, package, and ticket bookings are currently paused online and over the phone. Bookings will resume as soon as possible.”

RELATED: 2024 Park Hopping Info You Need to Know

Although no doubt a frustrating situation for anyone booking a trip, Disney may have worked out the kinks.

Why the Rush?

It’s no surprise that anticipating is running high for folks to return to the Walt Disney World Resort as it finally begins to lift some of the restrictions and policies put in place during the 2020 COVID pandemic.

Guardians-of-the-Galaxy-Mission-Breakout

Credit: Disney

The theme parks have also seen their fair share of new attractions added in the past three years, including Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, Tron Lightcycle Run at the Magic Kingdom, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

TRON Lightcycle / Run

Credit: Disney

RELATED: Attention, Annual Passholders! More Discounts Are Coming to Walt Disney World

Current Status

As of now (May 31 at 8:55 p.m. EST), the website is still not functioning as expected and sending Guests wishing to book into a virtual queue. For those interested in booking a 2024 Disney vacation, we wish you luck! And hopefully, the overwhelming demand does not equate to excessive crowds and long lines. But then again…it’s Walt Disney World…so what can you expect!?

 

About Steven Wilk

Steven has a complicated relationship with Disney. As a child, he visited Walt Disney World every few years with his family. But he never understood why kids his age (and older) were so scared of Snow White or Alien Encounter. He is a former participant of the Disney College Program (left early…long story), and he also previously worked in Children’s publishing, where he adapted multiple Disney movies and TV shows. He has many controversial opinions about Disney…like having a positive view of Michael Eisner, believing Return of the Jedi is superior to The Empire Strikes Back, and that Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge should have never been built (at least not at Hollywood Studios). Every year for the past two decades, Steven has visited either Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Aulani or went on a Disney Cruise. He’s happy to share any and all knowledge of the Disney destinations (and he likes using parenthesis a lot…as well as ellipses…)