Disney Announces Return of the Dining Plan in 2024, Plus Changes to Park Reservations and More

Disney sneak peeked exciting news today in advance of 2024 vacation package releases on May 31. Most of the news doesn’t affect guests visiting for the rest of 2023. But starting in early 2024 visitors can look forward to the return of the dining plan, not needing to make park reservations if you have a date-based ticket, and maybe even some updates to Genie+. What did Disney actually say? Let’s dive in.

When Are We Going to See These Changes?

There’s lots of exciting news ahead, but before you boot up your email client and ask your travel agent what can be added to your trip this summer, we’ve got to inject a little reality. The announcements today apply to 2024 Tickets and Vacation Packages, which will be released on May 31, 2023. Of course, Disney can change their minds at any time and may decide to roll out some of these changes ahead of schedule. (After all, they did do a soft opening for TRON!) But right now, this news is about 2024, not 2023.

Of course, if you’re thrilled by what you hear and want to make sure to get a 2024 trip on the books as soon as it’s possible to book one, feel free to reach out to our agents at TouringPlans Travel for a free quote. You don’t need to wait, get your dates in now and we’ll contact you as soon as pricing is available.

Return of the Disney Dining Plan

Guests will be able to add the Disney Dining plan to their vacations beginning on or after January 9, 2024, which can be booked beginning on May 31. When last we left the Disney Dining Plan story, there were four plans available: Quick Service, Regular, Plus, and Deluxe. Disney has only confirmed the return of the Quick Service and Regular options, and may adjust details of what will be in them. As soon as we know, you’ll know!

Note: The official Disney Dining Plan page on the Disney World website does list what’s included in the two plans that will be offered. But we think it’s very likely there may be tweaks between now and May 31. Here’s what it currently says:

Disney Quick Service Dining Plan

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 stay —along with 1 Resort-refillable drink mug. Meals and snacks can be redeemed at any time during the stay.

Disney Dining Plan

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.

The End of Park Passes (mostly)

Yes, I do not know anyone who really loves the Park Pass system. Disney has heard us! Beginning on January 9, 2024, park reservations will no longer be required for date-based tickets. Hoorah!

Park reservations will still be needed for Annual Passholders, and there’s no word on whether the requirement will be lifted for days that fall within a Disney World resort stay. We’ll keep you posted as news develops. But there is some good news for Passholders …

“Good to Go” Days for Annual Passholders

In 2024, select days will be designated as good-to-go days where Passholders can visit the parks without a reservation. Good-to-go days may vary by park (for instance, on a given date you might be good-to-go at EPCOT but not at Hollywood Studios), and pass blockout dates and capacity limitations will still apply. Once introduced, Disney will roll out the days on an ongoing basis, although there’s no word about how far in advance days will be marked as good-to-go. Another thing we don’t know: how this will mix with the “bonus reservation” system.

ETPE and EETPH Will Continue

Early Theme Park Entry allows guests staying at qualifying Disney World hotels to enter the parks a half-hour before they open to offsite guests. For those staying in Deluxe Resorts or Disney Vacation Club Villas, Extended Evening Theme Park Hours allows them access to park attractions for two hours after closing in select parks on select nights. Both Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Theme Park Hours will be available to guests visiting Disney World Resort in 2024.

You might not remember, but Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Theme Park Hours were originally announced as benefits associated with Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. There was no guarantee they’d continue through the end of 2023, so it’s great that they’ll be back in 2024. Now, if only they could find some catchier names with easier abbreviations …

Mysterious “Changes to Genie+”

Here is what Disney said:

We have heard from guests that they would like ways to plan with Disney Genie+ service and individual Lightning Lane selections before the day of their park visit, and we want you to know we are working on ways guests may do this for visits in 2024. … While we are not yet able to share specific details, we look forward to sharing more information at a later date.

Do you know what that means? I do not know what that means either. We can all speculate that it might mean advance booking, advance purchase, or any one of a number of things. We will just have to wait and see.

Are you excited to hear about these changes? Which one will make the biggest difference to your vacation? Let us know in the comments!