When Walt Disney World Resort reopened after its forced COVID-19 closure, there were a lot of things that made the Disney experience different. And those changes weren’t just felt at the theme parks. Disney World hotel Guests also felt the changes. The hotels all had phased reopenings; many closed for longer periods of time than others, not all rooms were available, and housekeeping services were not done on a daily basis as they had been. While all Walt Disney World Resort hotels are now open, housekeeping still remains one of the COVID protocols still in place.
However, that will soon be changing for select Resort Guests! According to reports, Guests staying at Deluxe Hotels will once again receive daily “Mousekeeping” services beginning January 15. Deluxe hotels include Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Polynesian Village Resort, Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, the Yacht and Beach Clubs, BoardWalk Inn, Old Key West Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, and Animal Kingdom Lodge.
DELUXE Resorts will receive DAILY full housekeeping service.
MODERATE & VALUE Resorts will receive EVERY OTHER DAY full housekeeping service.
Disney Vacation Club Members staying at a DVC Resort will continue to receive housekeeping service based on their length of stay. Disney Vacation Club Members and their Guests may purchase additional housekeeping service by visiting the front desk or contacting housekeeping via their in-room phone.
Full housekeeping service includes: making the bed, replacing towels and amenities, cleaning the bathroom, emptying the trash and recycling, and tidying the room by dusting, wiping counters, and vacuuming.
At this time, housekeeping services will remain every other day at Disney’s Moderate and Value resorts. Disney has not said when it intends to reinstate daily Mousekeeping services at those Resorts yet. However, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them return at some point. Daily housekeeping services have already been in place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House.
It should also be noted that Guests can request not to have daily Mousekeeping services should they not want them. All the Guest needs to do is speak with the front desk at their hotel or put the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the outside of their hotel room door. If a Guest needs additional services, they can speak to Guest services at their Disney Resort either on the phone or in person.
When Disney’s Magical Express ended in 2022, there was a gap in coverage between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Walt Disney World Resort hotels. MEARS Connect seemed to be the frontrunner to replace the service (Disney’s Magical Express was owned and operated by MEARS). However, Sunshine Flyer emerged as a clear stand out.
Neither replacement options are free. Both are comparably priced, with MEARS being a tad cheaper ($32 per supersonic round trip as opposed to Sunshine Flyer at $39 per person round trip). It’s the theming that puts Sunshine Flyer over the top. The motor coaches are themed like Golden Age railroad cars, right down to train conductor uniforms for drivers. It’s just…FUN!
Now, though, they’ve begun a brand new offering: private direct transfers. If group transportation isn’t your thing, you can hire private car transport to and from the airport in advance from Sunshine Flyer. The experience is VIP from start to finish making this an excellent way to splurge on your Disney trip and begin the magic the moment you land.
Rather than traipsing through the airport for a specific meeting location, your driver will meet you at baggage claim and assist with your bags at the airport and your Resort. After that, you’re whisked off to your destination in stylish and modern vehicles that up the wow factor on the entire experience. Unlike with group transfers, your resort is guaranteed to be the one and only stop which cuts down on travel time and starts your fun that much quicker.
There’s also no surprise fees or surge pricing like you typically find with rideshare services. By booking in advance, you’ll also have peace of mind knowing that not only is the cost already taken care of (payment is due upon booking), but you’re guaranteed a ride, even if your arrival is during a peak time. With rideshare services, you often run the risk of lengthy wait times if there are no available drivers once you’re ready to go.
The cars aren’t train themed like the buses but kids receive train themed freebies like conductor hats, stickers and games. Safety certified car seats are included at no extra cost which cuts down on the hassle of having to bring your own from home.
Like any VIP experience, pricing is a bit steep:
For reference their website says a sedan will accommodate up to 3 people and 3 suitcases. A luxury SUV will accommodate up to 6 people and 6 suitcases. The Sprinter Van accommodates up to 10 people and 18 suitcases.
The website lists the hotels serviced by private transfer. All Walt Disney World hotels are included, including Fort Wilderness Campground and Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
If there’s one thing that we know about a Walt Disney World Resort vacation, it’s that it is not a cheap experience. Between the hotel, Park tickets, food, and travel expenses, the average Disney World trip will set Guests back thousands of dollars. Over the past few years, it seems that Disney may have out-priced the average family, and even Florida residents are saying that they are planning to vacation elsewhere. Disney wants to show its Florida love and is bringing back a popular resident ticket offer.
On most days between January 10 and mid-April, Florida residents can purchase a two-day ticket for as little as $175 per person with the Florida Resident Weekday Magic Ticket! Considering a one-day Park ticket is typically over $100 per person, this adds up to significant savings. There are also three and four-day Weekday Magic tickets available, and Guests can even add on a Park-Hopper option or Park Hopper Plus option (which includes water parks) for an additional fee.
Here’s some more information on this great ticket offer that applies to all four Disney World theme parks – Disneys Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom Park.
Florida residents can purchase a 2-Day Disney Weekday Magic Ticket for $175 plus tax —or choose from other great Disney Weekday Magic Ticket options. This ticket can be used on consecutive or non-consecutive days.
Explore ticket options:
2-Day Disney Weekday Magic Tickets 3-Day Disney Weekday Magic Tickets 4-Day Disney Weekday Magic Tickets Disney Weekday Magic Tickets are valid Monday through Friday only, from January 10 through April 27, 2023 (subject to blockout dates from March 13 through March 17, 2023; April 3 through April 7, 2023; and April 10 through April 14, 2023)
Tickets are not valid for admission on blockout dates.
There are several important things to note with the Florida Resident Weekday Magic ticket. First and foremost, in addition to their theme park ticket, Guests will also need to make theme park reservations. So, if you decide to purchase the Florida resident ticket, it is best to make sure the Parks you want to visit are available on the days you want to go. Luckily, weekdays are typically not as busy as weekends, so you may have more luck when trying to book the theme parks of your choice.
It is also important to remember that, because this ticket option is for Florida residents only, proof of residency may be required. So, when you get to the parks, be ready to prove that you live in the state should a Cast Member ask you to. Over on the West Coast at Disneyland Resort, Guests must show their California ID when proof of residency is required, so Disney World may do the same.
Happy New Year from Walt Disney World Resort! 2022 was a big year for us as we continued our 50th Anniversary celebration with cast, guests and the community, debuted our newest groundbreaking attraction with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and reopened beloved experiences from Fantasmic! to the Walt Disney World Railroad.
Josh D’Amaro, chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products (center front right) and Jeff Vahle, president, Walt Disney World Resort (center front left), pose with Disney cast members for a photo in front of Cinderella Castle, July 11, 2020, prior to the phased reopening of Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (David Roark, photographer)
2023 brings even more to look forward to – from the triumphant return of the Happily Ever After nighttime spectacular to the opening of TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom Park, and one I personally can’t wait to experience, Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana at EPCOT!
Today, we’re excited to announce a few other updates we’re making to improve the guest experience and to let our fans know we are listening to their feedback, including Annual Passholders, who are some of our most loyal guests:
Enjoy complimentary self-parking when staying at a Disney Resort hotel
Beginning this evening, Jan. 10, overnight self-parking will once again be offered complimentary to guests staying at Disney Resort hotels at Walt Disney World. This is a Disney difference many of you have asked us to bring back, and we’re happy to reintroduce it to make your vacation a little easier and more affordable – whether you’re road tripping across the country, renting a car or vacationing as a local Florida resident. As a reminder, Disney Resort hotel guests also continue to receive complimentary standard parking at Walt Disney World theme parks, daily early theme park entry (with valid admission and a park reservation) and complimentary on-site transportation options such as buses, monorails and Disney Skyliner.
Walt Disney World Annual Passholders: Park reservation requirements will be relaxed for visits after 2 p.m.*
Beginning in the next few months, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will be able to visit the theme parks after 2 p.m. without needing a park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom Park. Pass blockout dates will continue to apply like they do today. While the theme park reservation system remains important to manage attendance in our parks, especially on busier days, we realize our Passholders enjoy more spontaneous visits – and this change will make that possible. Passholders will also receive access to Disney PhotoPass lenses and one complimentary Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories experience (age restrictions apply). Visit Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories and Disney PhotoPass Lenses for details, restrictions and other information.*
We’ll share a start date with Passholders soon for when these offerings will become available, as well as information about a new offering that is planned where you can create and share short Disney-themed video slideshows with favorite photos from your theme park visits.
Attraction photo downloads will be included with Disney Genie+ service
Beginning in the next few months, guests purchasing Disney Genie+ service will also receive digital downloads of their Disney PhotoPass attraction photos, taken in the park on the day of their purchase, at no additional charge. Attraction photos are taken while in the parks at more than a dozen of our most popular attractions including Space Mountain, Slinky Dog Dash, Test Track, Expedition Everest and more. I always love looking back at family photos at our favorite attractions – it’s a perfect way to remember and celebrate your theme park visit together. An exact launch date will be announced at a later time. Disney PhotoPass terms and conditions and expiration policy apply.
All of these updates are specific to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida – be sure to check out our Disney Travel News post on Disneyland Resort for updates they announced today.
Please know we will keep listening to you and adapting as we focus on making the guest experience even better for more people who visit us here at The Most Magical Place on Earth.
That includes making planning easier for everyone. For example, we recently added the ability to modify Disney Genie+ attraction selections in the My Disney Experience app, began automatically making theme park reservations with the purchase of 1-day, 1-park specific tickets and made our dining reservation policy more flexible if you need to modify or cancel.
As we’ve shared before, we’re also committed to providing a wide range of options to visit, which is why we roll out special offers from time to time for Florida residents and other guests. Visit DisneyWorld.com/Offers for more details, including a few offers we launched to kick off the new year.
Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more updates and be sure to visit planDisney.com for helpful tips and advice on planning your next visit to Walt Disney World.
We hope these updates make your next visit more convenient and enjoyable, so you can focus on making memories with your family, friends and loved ones. We’re grateful for fans like you and look forward to seeing you real soon!
*All offerings are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Walt Disney World Annual Pass Terms and Conditions apply.
This Spring and Summer, you can stay in the magic with special offers at Walt Disney World Resort.
Stay in the magic with this special offer—and make sweet summer memories to savor!
Get up to a $750 Disney Dining Promo Card when you purchase a non-discounted 5-night, 4-day vacation package that includes a room at a select Disney Deluxe Resort or Disney Deluxe Villa Resort and theme park ticket(s).
This offer is valid for arrivals most nights July 1 to July 10, 2023 and August 1 to September 14, 2023. A lower-value Disney Dining Promo Card may also be available when you purchase this package during other select summer arrival dates.
Stay in the magic with this special offer—and spring into fun or make sweet summer memories at Walt Disney World Resort.
You can save on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels:
Save up to 25% on stays most nights April 10 through July 10, 2023
Save up to 20% on stays most nights March 1 through March 31, 2023
There’s magic all around at Walt Disney World Resort. Enjoy even more enchantment with special benefits for Guests of Disney Resort hotels—including early entry to the theme parks 30 minutes before regular park opening to experience select attractions (with valid park admission and a theme park reservation).
This offer is valid for select Disney Resort hotels.
