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Ways Walt Disney World Has Changed for the Better

Walt Disney World is constantly changing. Sometimes this change is hard to take; however, other times, this change brings additional magic and joy to guests. Updates and adjustments are always happening at Walt Disney World to ensure Disney resorts, rides, and other experiences are the best they can be.

As we look at some of the changes that have come to Walt Disney World or are coming in the future, there are many that we feel have made Disney that much better.

four park
Credit: Disney

No Theme Park Reservations- Coming in 2024

A considerable change coming in 2024 will be the removal of theme park reservations. This change was introduced in the summer of 2020 to keep guests and cast members safe while experiencing the magic.

Disney has announced that starting in 2024, guests that purchase date-based tickets will no longer be required to make theme park reservations. This announcement excites those who appreciate being spontaneous during their Disney trips.

Removing the requirement is also one less step for those wanting to head to Walt Disney World. We are well aware that visiting Disney isn’t easy. Removing the theme park reservation system will make it more straightforward.

Disneys Grand Floridian Guest Rooms
Credit: The Points Guy

Updated Rooms

We love how Walt Disney World constantly updates its resort rooms. We saw the change start at Disney’s Pop Century. Hardwood floors, pull-down beds, USB ports, and lots of storage gave these rooms a fresh, new look. This change also spread to the All-Stars, giving these value rooms a much-needed upgrade.

We have recently enjoyed the updates in all three monorail resorts. Over at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the rooms were given an “incredible” make-over. Guests enjoy the touches featuring beloved characters such as Jack-Jack. Over at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, the rooms were updated with a Moana (2016)  theme. The movie’s excellent color scheme and fun artwork fit perfectly into the resort. Finally, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa continues to go through updates as the rooms get a fresh look. The soft color scheme fits in nicely at this iconic Disney resort.

We appreciate that Disney is changing rooms to meet the needs of families so they can continue to feel at home in Disney resorts.

Disney Skyliner
Credit: Disney

Disney’s Skyliner

This might not be considered super new, but we feel the skyliner deserves to be mentioned. Opening in 2019, Disney’s Skyliner revolutionized transportation at Walt Disney World. Taking guests quickly between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, the skyliner connected parts of Walt Disney World in a new way.

A quick ten-minute ride now allows guests to move the two parks and Art of Animation, Pop Century, Disney’s Caribbean Beach, and Disney’s Riviera. As it is a constant loader, the skyliner quickly moves Guests throughout Disney property with limited wait time. It has become a Disney fan favorite as many enjoy taking a ride for fun, whereas others use it to access different dining locations throughout Disney. This was a massive change for Disney and one that has paid off drastically. We hope that the skyliner will expand in the future because it is a beautiful mode of transportation.

TRON Lightcycle/Run, Magic Kingdom
Credit: V Mills

New Thrill Rides

Although Walt Disney World might still have a reputation for being a park for kids, over the last few years, Disney has done a lot to bring more thrills into the four main parks. Recently, we have seen significant thrill rides added to EPCOT and Magic Kingdom.

Tron Lightcyle Run is a high-speed roller coaster ride based on the TRON franchise. On the ride, Guest board their very own futuristic motorcycle. Throughout the ride, Guests will race against the Grid’s most menacing programs as they attempt to cross the 8 Energy Gates before the other opponents.

The ride features big drops, dark sections, and a launch with Guests reaching almost 60 mph at the start. This speed makes TRON the fastest coaster at Walt Disney World as it passes the Rock n’ Roller Coaster in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which reaches 57 mph.

Over in EPCOT, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind brings a whole new level of ride experience to Walt Disney World. This family-friend coaster includes the first-ever reverse launch on any Disney coaster. It is also the largest fully-enclosed coaster in the world!

What makes it even more impressive is that an innovation from the Walt Disney Imagineering team has created what they are referring to as an omnicoaster- it allows the ride vehicles (Starjumpers) to rotate 360 degrees to Guests who never miss any of the actions.

These rides bring guests huge thrills and are a significant change to both EPCOT and Magic Kingdom.

Disney Dining Plan 2024
Credit: Orland Date Night Guide/Disney

Disney Dining Plans- Coming 2024

The final significant change we are looking forward to is the return of the Disney Dining Plans. These are great ways for guests to make their Walt Disney World vacations more all-inclusive. Guests will have two dining plans when booking their 2024 Walt Disney World packages.

By purchasing a dining plan, guests prepay for their meals ahead of time. Then, once on vacation, they use credits throughout their trip during meals or when having a snack.

Related: What You Need to Know About the Dining Plan

We know that change will always happen at Walt Disney World. Updates, improvements, and adjustments are constantly being made to ensure the magic remains alive for guests. Even though we might not always like Disney’s changes, we felt it was essential to reflect on some of the significant changes we have seen and will see in the future.

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Retzlaff

Jennifer became a lifelong Disney fan during her first trip to Walt Disney World in 6th grade. From that moment, Disney became a big part of her life. She quickly started to introduce her love of Disney to her family with a Disney honeymoon and then family trips when her youngest was 18 months old. She loves the magic that Disney brings to people through theme parks, cruises, and adventures. As a teacher, she tries to bring Disney magic into her classroom to help kids believe that “If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It.” She is also part of the Magic Vacation Planner team as a personal travel advisor. With this team, she can now help others plan magical vacations. She loves bringing her love to Disney to readers with How to Disney.

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