If there is one thing that you can guarantee about Walt Disney World it is that it will change. Walt himself was clear that his Parks would never be done. Although we appreciate that, over there years there have been changes that we love and some that we don’t love.
There have been some big changes in Disney that we are grateful for and want to say thanks to Disney for making them. Now, this doesn’t mean that we think the change is perfect but we do appreciate it. Let’s take a look at some of these changes.
Security
When visiting Walt Disney World security is important as we want everyone to stay safe in the magic; however, going through each bag individually for thousands of Guests wasn’t a magical start.
Following the pandemic shutdown, we were thrilled that Disney adjusted their security in a few ways and we love it.
First, Disney spread out the security. Instead of having all Guests go through security at the Disney Park entrance, there are now security locations at the Ticket and Transportation Center as well as at the monorail resorts. Having these other locations moves Guests through faster.
The other major change with security at Disney that we are thankful for is the new airport-like systems. Guests now just walk through a metal detector making it super quick and easy. Guests only have their bags gone through if something needs to be double-checked.
We know that these changes weren’t easy but we are so grateful Disney took the time to put them in place. They make a huge difference when it comes to entering a Disney Park.
No one wants to spend their time in a Disney Park waiting in line to order food. We love the mobile order feature in My Disney Experience.
We like that we can order our food whenever it is convenient for us as we tour the Disney Park for the day. It is nice to be able to determine what everyone wants to eat while waiting in line for a ride compared to while waiting for food when everyone is hungry.
It is nice how easy it is to see the menu as well as make adjustments to the order. We also like how easy it is to pick up the food when it is ready. Having separate locations for mobile ordering is greatly appreciated.
Mobile ordering was a great addition to My Disney Experience and one we are so glad Disney made.
Mobile Checkout
Another new feature that has been recently added to My Disney Experience that we like is mobile checkout.
In select stores throughout Walt Disney World, Guests are now able to check out their items on their phones.
This is an excellent addition as it allows Guests that are shopping to quickly checkout out.
After paying online, Guests then show a Disney Cast Member their purchase and payment before heading out.
Checkouts can have extremely long lines so this is an excellent addition we are thankful for Disney adding to My Disney Experience.
Individual Lightning Lanes
This might seem surprising to some but hear us out. Guests wanting to skip the long lines on the most popular rides at Walt Disney World can choose to use Individual Lightning Lanes. Guests can purchase these for an additional cost and then skip the regular lines.
Now even though we would much rather not have to pay extra, we do like the security that purchasing Individual Lightning Lanes gives us. By choosing to spend money on these, I know that I am almost guaranteed that I’ll be able to experience the ride.
When Avatar Flight of Passage is a must-do attraction for my kid and I know we won’t rope drop, paying a little extra to both avoid the long standby line and ensure a ride is worth it to me.
We know not everyone agrees with this being something they are thankful for but for us it is.
EPCOT
We are super thankful for the great changes that have been coming to EPCOT lately.
Connections Cafe and Eatery is a fantastic new dining location in EPCOT. This quick-service spot was needed and didn’t disappoint. Guests are raving about the menu and atmosphere.
Space 220 is another popular dining option that takes Guests to space for an out-of-this-world dining experience.
And just recently the newest ride in all of Walt Disney World opened Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind. This amazing ride quickly became the top ride in any of the Disney Parks.
Disney has made some amazing improvements to EPCOT and there is still more to come moving forward which we are thrilled about and can’t wait to see.
Cavalcades
When Walt Disney World reopened following the shutdown in 2020, it was without any parades. Although we were sad about this at first, Disney quickly added magic with new Cavalcades in some of the Disney Parks.
These short, mini parades were perfect for seeing some of our beloved Disney friends. We are so thankful Disney got creative and did this for us.
Now with the Festival of Fantasy parade back in Magic Kingdom, we were concerned the cavalcades would go away. We were grateful and happy when not only did they stick around but Disney also added a new Adventure Friends Cavalcade. This brought some amazing and unique characters into Magic Kingdom for the first time and we were so thankful.
We don’t always appreciate the changes that Disney makes but these are ones we are super thankful that Disney made.
