NEW for 2024 - Disney Dining Plans Returning, Exciting Park Reservation Updates, and More

[Jrb1979]

The fact that this is for 2024 is a complete joke to me. You’re 4-5 months into 2023. They can change all this right now if they wanted to. Just do it already and stop making people wait. They are probably looking for the new headline since they don’t have anything ready for 2024 ride wise. It’s a little insulting to be honest.

This tells me bookings are looking soft for next year as well.

 

[rmclain73]

This tells me bookings are looking soft for next year as well.

Well, seeing as how you can’t even book into January yet I doubt they would have those numbers to make decisions.

 

[vinotinto]

This tells me bookings are looking soft for next year as well.

I think the bookings for the rest of 2023 are worst than what we originally thought!

 

[Jrb1979]

Well, seeing as how you can’t even book into January yet I doubt they would have those numbers to make decisions.

Not directly they don't. If you go by the financial forecast and how many people don't have to money to travel.

I think the bookings for the rest of 2023 are worst than what we originally thought!

Agreed. Disney isn't bringing these things back just to be nice. They do these things when attendance is low. It's why APs were brought back. The fact they are still available tells me the "unprecedented demand" just isn't there.

 

[Tyler's Dad]

A couple of things that I read between the lines.

1) l think APs that stay on site qualify as dated tickets. They already separate these from regular AP reservations, so this should be no different.
2) I’m not sure how hopping works with this. If I don’t have a reservation, then there no longer is a need to scan into an original park and then wait. They will either have to just count whatever park you scan into as your original or they drop park hopping requirements. I am leaning toward the second one being more likely.
3) interesting that there will only be two dining plans. No Deluxe Dining means I would guess there will changes to each.
4) I would guess pre-planning Genie+ would just be buying in advance and being able to book your first ride.

 

[subtchr]

I’m an out of state AP who always stays on site, the most off site I get is Swolphin, and tbh I hate it because the system is glitchy as all get out about recognizing that I actually have a resort stay when I go to book reservations. It never lets me book length of stay park passes. Every single time I’ve had to call them to get it straightened out. It’s annoying.

That WOULD be annoying!

I’ve not had that problem. I just click on the AP with a Disney resort reservation button and it has always worked. Right now I have 18 park reservations in the next 2 months. 5 for offsite stays, 13 for offsite.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I could forego all of that just to have my free Magical Express back...

Me too. It was a bit sad our last trip because the signs were still there. It really was the perfect start to our vacation, especially when I was flying solo with the kiddos. I would happily pay for it if it were priced so that it's cheaper than an Uber.

Happy to hear about possibly being able to prebook Genie+ though. 3 reservations for each day like FP+, please and thank you, so that I don't have to criss-cross the park like a headless chicken like I do with Genie+ because that's the most efficient way with what's available on the tip board at the 120 minute mark. We all get plenty of steps in at WDW as it is. And I think a month in advance would be reasonable, so we can also rearrange ADRs as needed. On our last trip I only booked 3 ADRs, one of which was for a pool day and one was for our departure day, because I didn't want Genie+ reservations to make us miss a dining time.

Interesting that the Deluxe Dining Plan is not mentioned with the return of the DP, only Quick Service and Regular. If I had to bet, it's because there just still isn't enough ADR inventory to accommodate folks who could make that many table service reservations a day (even if folks on the Deluxe plan often double up their credits at Signature meals). I imagine this and the newly loosened cancellation policies are going to make ADR hoarding even worse.

 

[Jrb1979]

I just don't see it going back to 3 LL ahead of time. I think it will stay at 1. They would have to reprogram the whole system to change it.

 

[Upatnoon]

Some of these will be popular with some guests, but there are always downsides, especially if you are the kind of visitor that doesn't want to plan out their trips months in advance.

Return of the dining plan means many table service restaurants will be harder to get. People prepaying for dining will want to book up their reservations and be less likely to cancel. I was surprised how many great dining reservations were available during our last trip, especially from people canceling. That will probably happen less.

Making G+ reservations earlier means that people may buy it and discover all the attractions they wanted are long gone. Perhaps they will tell non-planners ahead of time what is available so they don't waste their money.

LL reservations for popular rides could be gone long before you arrive at a park. Or course, Disney could raise the price of those to make sure they are always available.

In the end, If you make the planners happy, the nonplanners are going to be left out.

If you make it easier for nonplanners, the planners are miffed.

There is no great solution when the number of slots on the "must do" ride or the number of reservations at the "must do" restaurant are limited. Someone is going to not be happy.

 

[Mollygirl21]

I guess these changes maybe mean the end of the VQs also? Unless they would just be open to anyone since there won’t be park reservations. That is one thing I’ll be most happy about.

Not necessarily - VQ pre-dates park passes. ROTR had virtual queue before the covid shut down

 

[Disneyhanna]

I’m an out of state AP who always stays on site, the most off site I get is Swolphin, and tbh I hate it because the system is glitchy as all get out about recognizing that I actually have a resort stay when I go to book reservations. It never lets me book length of stay park passes. Every single time I’ve had to call them to get it straightened out. It’s annoying.

That is super annoying, I had zero issues with the Dolphin on my last 3 stays but I hear the Swan tends to have more issues if that's where you were?

I am not really that excited about any of these changes. They're so vague. By the time they implement them, I'll have forgotten they promised anything. All I want is unrestricted park hopping, or at least park hopping by 11AM or something. I get bored silly on my Studios days by lunch time! I always feel like that Dora meme when I'm sitting on a bench outside the International Gateway waiting to be let into Epcot, what difference does it make if I come in at 11 vs 2?! Heck, if they sold an unlimited (time) park hopping option I'd buy it, not to give them any ideas...

 

[2vets]

I am an out of state AP holder as of a month or whatever ago, and I always stay onsite, usually CL. I feel duped.

Scott Gustin specifically posted on Twitter that APs, even those staying onsite, will require park reservations. I assume he specifically asked this. Infuriating. So, a ticket holder staying offsite is more valuable to them than an AP onsite?

That said, I care more about rolling back parkhopping at 2 than anything else.

 

[Indiiyana]

https://www.disneyholidays.co.uk/walt-disney-world/dining-plans/disney-dining-plan/

It seems that you can't use the Dining Credit to pay for the Dining Plan, but Disney mention "boost it", hmm, not sure what this means. Any ideas?

Maybe it is just literally you get the Dining Plan and the Dining Credit completely separate from each other, and there's no other benefit?

 

[Lehuaann]

I am an out of state AP holder as of a month or whatever ago, and I always stay onsite, usually CL. I feel duped.

Scott Gustin specifically posted on Twitter that APs, even those staying onsite, will require park reservations. I assume he specifically asked this. Infuriating. So, a ticket holder staying offsite is more valuable to them than an AP onsite?

That said, I care more about rolling back parkhopping at 2 than anything else.

I get date-based tickets are going back to the way it was pre-Covid. However, APs across the board (DVC, resort guests, non-resort guests) will now have to duke it out. Good luck with the holidays. If the bucket fills up, our option is purchase date-based tickets.

I never saw date-based tickets coming with a perk over AP.

Forgot to add, maybe AP resort guests will get early access to our new system.

 

[JulieBeeRN]

I am an out of state AP holder as of a month or whatever ago, and I always stay onsite, usually CL. I feel duped.

Scott Gustin specifically posted on Twitter that APs, even those staying onsite, will require park reservations. I assume he specifically asked this. Infuriating. So, a ticket holder staying offsite is more valuable to them than an AP onsite?

That said, I care more about rolling back parkhopping at 2 than anything else.

Out of state AP here too. We usually don’t go to the parks until after 2p, so it’s not a huge issue for us.

 

[Eldon32]

Allowing scheduling of Lightning Lane in advance effectively accomplishes the same crowd control as the park reservation; it makes sense these would be changed at the same time.

 

[2vets]

I get date-based tickets are going back to the way it was pre-Covid. However, APs across the board (DVC, resort guests, non-resort guests) will now have to duke it out. Good luck with the holidays. If the bucket fills up, our option is purchase date-based tickets.

I never saw date-based tickets coming with a perk over AP.

Forgot to add, maybe AP resort guests will get early access to our new system.

I don’t go during holidays, but still. This stinks. And even worse than my situation: DVC AP holders. I hope they’ll get it together with whatever the policy is, but for goodness sakes.

I mean, Four Seasons. Do I need to say more?

 

[leiaorgana]

I know I’m most likely in the minority here and that’s fine but I absolutely hate that they’re bringing the dining plan back. I was really hoping it wouldn’t come back at all tbh but Disney were never going to realistically leave money on the table like that and that was just my wishful thinking. It’s already hard enough sometimes getting the more “popular” restaurants as an offsite guest and that’s only going to get worse again now when the dining plan returns with people feeling like they need to get their moneys worth with table service restaurants.

 

[asc]

So as I read this, any ticket that has no expiration will still require a reservation. What about non used tickets with expiration. What's the logic behind not entirely ditching the whole reservation system. I have half dozen 6 day PH expire tickets that are unused. I mean, the purpose the reservation system served is kind of over. I don't get it.

 

[Disneylover99]

So as I read this, any ticket that has no expiration will still require a reservation. What about non used tickets with expiration. What's the logic behind not entirely ditching the whole reservation system. I have half dozen 6 day PH expire tickets that are unused. I mean, the purpose the reservation system served is kind of over. I don't get it.

Yes. Stop changing rules and just end this reservation system once and for all. Maddening.