Disney World Announces Massive Ticket Price Decrease

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Uncategorized

Tickets at Walt Disney World Resort haven’t been this affordable in quite some time!

Walt Disney World Resort is home to many magical theme parks and attractions that bring in millions of Disney Park Guests. Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT may be home to some of the most magical attractions in the world, but they also cost a pretty penny to enter. Guests from ages 3 & up will need a ticket to get into a Disney World theme park, and this means that the average family has to dish out an insane amount of money to afford admission to the theme parks alone, with this not even counting travel, lodging, and food.

Even the most budget-conscious families still find themselves spending close to a fortune when heading to Walt Disney World Resort, and a family of four can easily spend over $3,000 for a few days at “The Most Magical Place on Earth.” 

Disney CEO Bob Iger recently divulged that he believed the company was forcing Guests to spend too much money in the Parks. He said that he believes the theme parks should be accessible, and that’s certainly not what they’ve become over the last several years. However, if you’re willing to plan a trip to Disney World in the near future, we’ve got good news for you.

The updated Happily Ever After at the Magic Kingdom

You can actually take advantage of a Walt Disney World Resort ticket deal right now that will rival a ticket to Six Flags, Busch Gardens, or anywhere else around the country.

Disney announced today that it is offering a special summer deal for Guests, which will include a 4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket for $99.00 per day ($396.00 plus tax) beginning May 23, 2023. No theme park reservations are needed for this deal, and you’ll be able to enter all four theme parks– Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios– on four separate days. While Park Hopping is not a part of the deal, this is as low of a ticket price as we’ve seen offered for Walt Disney World in quite some time.This ticket is valid for theme park admission from June 1 to September 29, 2023—subject to blockout dates from July 1 to July 4, and September 1 to September 4, 2023. The ticket expires within seven days of first use or on September 29, 2023, whichever occurs first. Tickets are not valid for admission on blockout dates.

EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort

In addition, Florida residents can take advantage of a deal on Summer Magic Tickets that are just $58.00 per day ($229.00 plus tax) for four days. With this ticket, advance theme park reservations are required and are subject to availability.

Popular Attraction In Disney’s Animal Kingdom Is Closed

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

Last month, it was reported that an Animal Kingdom closure that would be taking place this summer. Now, the closure has finally occurred, leaving plenty of kids visiting Walt Disney World disappointed.

Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom is a great place for the animal lovers! This Disney Park promotes the preservation and appreciation of animals and nature, as well as fictional animals, and the education of extinct animals.

However, this appreciation for extinct dinosaurs is actually endangered…

DINOSAUR at Disney's Animal Kingdom

During a D23 Expo event, it was recently announced that Animal Kingdom’s DinoLand U.S.A. is on the chopping block and that the area will be replaced with something newer.

While we don’t know precisely what will replace the area just yet, but we do know one thing: Animal Kingdom’s DinoLand U.S.A. is doomed.

Which is why it comes as a surprise to hear that one of its remaining attractions has just closed for refurbishment.

DinoLand U.S.A. is only home to a few remaining attractions, with the most notable being DINOSAUR, TriceraTop Spin, and the Boneyard.

While DINOSAUR and TriceraTop Spin are rides, the Boneyard is actually a playground for kids.

Dinoland USA

The Boneyard is a great place for kids to blow off some steam, giving the parents a chance to take a break during the Disney day.

Although the Boneyard isn’t scheduled to close permanently and will reopen sometime in mid-June (according to Walt Disney World’s official website), it’s still a bummer to hear that this huge playground will be closed for a bulk of the summer!

Details Announced for 2024 Return of Disney Dining Plans at Walt Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

On the heels of announcing the return of Disney Dining Plans in 2024, more details have been revealed. There will be two options: the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan and the Disney Dining Plan.

Disney Quick Service Dining Plan

What’s Included

Everyone in the travel party (ages 3 and up) will receive 2 Quick-Service meals per night and 1 snack/nonalcoholic drink per night of their package stay* — along with 1 Resort-refillable drink mug**. Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during the stay.

*Specific number of meals and snacks is determined by the number of nights included in the package stay. Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during your stay. Unused meals and snacks will roll over day to day and expire at midnight on day of checkout. Meals and snacks are nontransferable between party members.

**Resort-refillable mugs are eligible for refills from self-service beverage islands at any Disney Resort hotel Quick-Service location.

Important Information

  • Beverages are included with each meal. Guests under 21 years of age may choose from a variety of nonalcoholic beverages. Guests 21 and older with valid identification may substitute for beer, wine, and cocktails.
  • Guests age 3 to 9 must order from a children’s menu, where available.
  • Plan must be purchased for entire length of stay and for the entire party (ages 3 and up).

Dine and Snack at Your Own Pace

Remember, meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during your stay.

For example, if you book a 4-night package with a Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, each guest (ages 3 and up) in your party would receive 8 Quick-Service meals and 4 Snacks or Nonalcoholic Beverages — which can be used at any time during your 4-night stay.

Disney Dining Plan

What’s Included

Everyone in the travel party (ages 3 and up) will receive 1 Table-Service meal per night, 1 Quick-Service meal per night, and 1 snack/nonalcoholic drink per night of their package stay* — along with 1 Resort-refillable drink mug**. Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during the stay.

*Specific number of meals and snacks is determined by the number of nights included in the package stay. Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during your stay. Unused meals and snacks will roll over day to day and expire at midnight on day of checkout. Meals and snacks are nontransferable between party members.

**Resort-refillable mugs are eligible for refills from self-service beverage islands at any Disney Resort hotel Quick-Service location.

Important Information

  • Beverages are included with each meal. Guests under 21 years of age may choose from a variety of nonalcoholic beverages. Guests 21 and older with valid identification may substitute for beer, wine, and cocktails.
  • Guests age 3 to 9 must order from a children’s menu, where available.
  • Plan must be purchased for entire length of stay and for the entire party (ages 3 and up).

Dine and Snack at Your Own Pace

Remember, meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during your stay.

For example, if you book a 4-night package with a Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan, each guest (ages 3 and up) in your party would receive 8 Quick-Service meals and 4 Snacks or Nonalcoholic Beverages — which can be used at any time during your 4-night stay.

Disney Dining Plan

What’s Included

Everyone in the travel party (ages 3 and up) will receive 1 Table-Service meal per night, 1 Quick-Service meal per night, and 1 snack/nonalcoholic drink per night of their package stay* — along with 1 Resort-refillable drink mug**. Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during the stay.

Disney Is Finally Doing Away With Park Reservation Requirements!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

By far, one of the most confusing and inconvenient aspects of a Walt Disney World vacation is making a Park Reservation. Not only do Guests have to purchase a dated ticket, but they also have to check theme Park Reservation availability to ensure they don’t purchase a ticket they cannot use.

For many Guests, it’s simply an extra step in the process. An extra confusing step. This practice was first introduced during the pandemic in an attempt to keep Disney Park availability at half capacity, keeping excursions to Walt Disney World Resort as safe as possible.

Ever since the practice was adopted during the pandemic, Guests have been waiting for Walt Disney World Resort to finally drop it, but to no avail.

But today, Disney news reveals that the Walt Disney Company has finally made the ultimate decision to retire the theme Park Reservation requirement!

Beginning on January 9th, 2024, Guests purchasing date-based tickets will no longer require a Park Reservation. That means any date-based Park ticket (as in, the standard Park ticket option) beginning on January 9th, 2024, or later will not require a Park Reservation.

However, non-dated Park ticket events may still require a Park Reservation in order to keep track of attendance.

guests with mickey mouse

As if this Disney news could get even more exciting, Walt Disney World Resort bookings for 2024 begin at the end of the month on May 31, so Guests can begin planning right away.

Plan the ultimate Disney vacation without the pesky Park Reservation system in your way starting May 31st, creating a more convenient and streamlined process!

Disney World Guest

For more information on this exciting update, check out Disney’s official announcement.

Disney Pressured to End Genie+ and Lightning Lane

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Disneyland Guests are outraged over the treatment for Guests using Disney Genie+ and Lighting Lane.

Disneyland Resort, known as “The Happiest Place on Earth,” is a popular tourist location seeing thousands of Guests daily. Disneyland is home to two theme parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Each Disney Park includes something for Guests of all ages and sizes to experience. Being this popular, Disneyland has made it where Guests can purchase Genie + or Lighting Lanes for attractions.

At Disneyland, there are two main ways to experience an attraction: the “Lightning Lane” and the “Standby Line.” The Lightning Lane is a new paid service that allows Guests to bypass the traditional standby line and access rides more quickly. Disney Guests can either purchase Genie +, which includes Lightning Lane or Guests can just purchase Individual Lighting Lane for certain Disneyland attractions.

The Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane services work by allowing Disney Park Guests to make reservations for certain attractions in advance. These reservations can be made using the Disneyland app or at kiosks located throughout the theme park. Guests who have made a reservation for an attraction using Lightning Lane can bypass the standby line and use a separate entrance to access the attraction. Prices for the service vary based on the time of day and the popularity of the attraction. It should also be noted that you’re not guaranteed to be able to book a time to ride your favorite attractions as reservations can go quickly, especially for popular rides.

While Guests who chose to use the Standby Line, which is the traditional queue, may wait longer than those who are going through the Lightning Lane, there are no extra fees. But, it seems that Disney is facing some pressure from Guests who are upset with the service.

In a social media post, many have started to get angry with the treatment of Guests using the Lighting Lane instead of the regular Standby Line. In this post, Guests were waiting for a popular Disneyland attraction and they say the line was moving slowly. Though the regular wait time said 105 minutes, this Guest waited over two hours. When they got to the front, the Disney Cast Member was reportedly only allowing four Standby Line Guests to go at a time, filling the rest of the space with Lightning Lane Guests.

“Yesterday I noticed when we were in line for Guardians at DCA the line was moving rather slowly. Estimate was 105 min but it ended up being over 2 hours. As we made it into the front before preshow I saw the CM could only let 4 standby guests at a time MAX into the room, the rest was full of LL. Does anyone know why? (I get LL has priority) Preferably a CM explain it. I am honestly just curious because I never noticed it to be like that?”

Genie+ Guests

While Lighting Lane or Genie + does not mean you will be at the front of the line ,Guests who purchase will have an advantage over Standby Line, allowing them to pick a certain time and get on the attractions faster. Though many Guests have called for Genie+ to come to an end, it would seem that the controversial system is here to stay.