Haven't been to WDW in 4 years...

[KateMW]

Lots has changed, if you had to pick the biggest change/new "thing" that I should learn about via my favorite DisBoards, what would it be?

Planning a trip in late March finally for my husband, my then 9 year old and myself for Spring Break. Staying in a studio at the Riviera for now...

 

[Upatnoon]

1. You need a park reservation to enter one of the parks.
2. You have paid line-cutting options with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
3. Learn the Disney app.

You must do No.1.
No. 2 is optional depending on your touring style, patience and budget.
As for No. 3, being able to do mobile quick service orders, check into your room, make dining reservations, etc. is a bigger part of the trip now than it was in the past and will make things much easier. And you need it for No. 2.

There are certainly are more changes, but these are the "big changes." In reality, you can just do No. 1, ignore the rest and still have a good time.

 

[KateMW]

1. You need a park reservation to enter one of the parks.
2. You have paid line-cutting options with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
3. Learn the Disney app.

You must do No.1.
No. 2 is optional depending on your touring style, patience and budget.
As for No. 3, being able to do mobile quick service orders, check into your room, make dining reservations, etc. is a bigger part of the trip now than it was in the past and will make things much easier. And you need it for No. 2.

There are certainly are more changes, but these are the "big changes." In reality, you can just do No. 1, ignore the rest and still have a good time.

Ok I have done #1 already. Can I go back and adjust later if there is availability?


Did they do away with the dining plan for good? I'm lazy and love having everything paid for before we get there if I can.

 

[CarolynFH]

Ok I have done #1 already. Can I go back and adjust later if there is availability?


Did they do away with the dining plan for good? I'm lazy and love having everything paid for before we get there if I can.

Yes, you can change your park reservations if there’s availability.

And I guess all we can say about the dining plan is that it isn’t back “yet.” I think Disney announced it will come back but not when.

 

[Genie+]

I’d say the biggest change for deluxe guests is EMH changes. It’s definitely worth making time in your schedule to do MK Extended Evening Hours (usually Wed). Monday is Epcot. Since it’s only deluxe, it’s a great chance to experience the parks at night with small attendance. Guardians has it’s own VQ just for this EEH, chances are the same will happen with TRON.

Morning EMH has also changed. It’s still open to all onsite guests, but 30 mins at every park everyday. The earlier the park opens the better advantage. Getting to the park so early thins some of the competition.

ADRs are alot harder now with the 60 day window. Much more competition than when it was 180 days.

 

[Krystal659]

Figure out mobile ordering if you do not have ADRs--especially in busier times.

 

[KateMW]

I’d say the biggest change for deluxe guests is EMH changes. It’s definitely worth making time in your schedule to do MK Extended Evening Hours (usually Wed). Monday is Epcot. Since it’s only deluxe, it’s a great chance to experience the parks at night with small attendance. Guardians has it’s own VQ just for this EEH, chances are the same will happen with TRON.

Morning EMH has also changed. It’s still open to all onsite guests, but 30 mins at every park everyday. The earlier the park opens the better advantage. Getting to the park so early thins some of the competition.

ADRs are alot harder now with the 60 day window. Much more competition than when it was 180 days.

Is the Riviera a deluxe resort? I assumed it was Moderate bc I didn't see it on the list.

I wondered about the 60 day thing...I guess they're never going back to 180 days?

 

[Upatnoon]

I noticed good ADRs popping in the night before or even the day of at popular restaurants. With no dining plan, I think some people change their minds about dropping big bucks for sit-down meals. It's not guaranteed, of course, but spend some time looking in the evening and you'd be surprised what you can find.

 

[Upatnoon]

Is the Riviera a deluxe resort? I assumed it was Moderate bc I didn't see it on the list.

I wondered about the 60 day thing...I guess they're never going back to 180 days?

All DVC resorts, including Riviera, are deluxe resorts. The extra morning and evening time is something to take advantage of if you can. Adjust park reservations or get hoppers to take advantage of the evening times.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Reading this thread provides some helpful info and links: Planning for your Disney Trip - Start Here

 

[Frozen2014]

I'll echo what others have said. We just returned for the first time since 2014. The biggest change is Lightning Lane vs FastPass+. Definitely read the thread on here and watch blogs to understand if it's something you want to purchase. And if so, how it works (e.g. rules for booking next one) and priorities at each park for your first purchase and thereafter as they do sell out (thrill-data site is great if you are into that kind of deep analysis). We found Lightning Lanes very useful, even in lower season but it does add to the budget.

 

[Her Dotness]

Genie itself, the free part, was useless for us. The wait times were just as unreliable as the posted ones ever have been. A 30-minute wait for POTC that actually was a walk-on when we strolled past it moments later?

Genie also kept trying to get us across MK to rides we had absolutely no interest in doing. Honestly, as much data as Disney accumulates on guest habits over multiple years, it'd be refreshing if recommendations came close to matching people's interests as revealed by what they do. The little Welcome Home booklet you once got when you'd booked a package came somewhat closer to suggesting things we might actually want to do.

We experimented a couple mornings last trip with what we might get with ILL or Genie+ and quickly concluded we'd rather put $30 for the two of us toward something we'd be certain of getting--like food, for instance.

I can see the appeal of both for those who may never return again or will return infrequently. For veterans, I think the whole Genie thing of being glued to your smartphone booking rides throughout the day is useful only if you can't stand waiting or must pack your park day as much as possible.

I doubt we'll ever buy either.

 

[snikki]

We last went in 2018 and will be going this November so 4 years.

The biggest change is park reservations and G+\ILL. I have kept up with the boards these last 4 years so I knew this before I booked over a year ago.

We had mobile ordering in 2018 so that’s not new. There’s no packages to hotel delivery which sucks and I will miss.