NEWS: Disney Announces HUGE Change to Park Hopper Access

Since January 2021, when park hopping returned to Walt Disney World, guests have been limited to when they can park hop. Guests have been only able to park hop after 2:00 p.m., which greatly reduces flexibility and the value of park hopping. It’s been widely unpopular, and thankfully Disney has announced that a change is coming. Learn more below.

Here are all the details from Disney Cast Member Eric Scott:

Big news out of Walt Disney World Resort! Beginning January 9, 2024, guests with a ticket with Park Hopper benefits or an Annual Pass will be able to once again visit another theme park at ANY TIME OF DAY during park hours (subject to capacity limitations). As a reminder, since returning in 2021, Park Hopper access has only been available after 2 p.m. each day. Now, there will be no more waiting – YOU can decide when it’s time to visit another park.

Visit more than one Walt Disney World Theme Park

I cannot wait to start my morning on a safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park before heading over to EPCOT to grab a slice at my favorite lunch spot, Via Napoli Pizzeria. Or kick off the day with a ride on the Millennium Falcon at Disney’s Hollywood Studios before hopping over to Magic Kingdom Park to catch the Festival of Fantasy parade. Guests with Park Hopper benefits will now have more flexibility to explore the Disney World theme parks the way they want and enjoy even more during their visits.

On days when theme park reservations are required for Annual Passholders and certain non-dated tickets, Passholders and guests will be able to take advantage of the updates to Park Hopper access after visiting their first park.* For example, if a Passholder has a reservation at EPCOT and enters the park at 9 a.m. for a quick ride or two, they can then head to another park right after.

And there is even more news for Passholders! “Good-to-go days” will begin sometime in January! With “good-to-go days,” the theme park reservation calendar will be updated periodically and will show Passholders select days when they may visit a Disney World theme park without needing a theme park reservation (blockout dates will continue to apply like they do today).

Disney Trips Made Easy & Simple

Why are we doing this now? We want to make visiting Disney World easier, simpler and more FUN! We know how much Disney means to so many of you, and we continue to make changes so you get more value out of your vacation and to help you, your friends and family enjoy our theme parks the way you want to. Here are just a few of the ways we’ve done that so far:

Now available

• • • Complimentary self-parking is back for Disney Resort hotel stays
    • Annual Passholders may visit the parks after 2 p.m. without needing a theme park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom
    • Digital downloads of select PhotoPass attraction photos taken in the park on the day of visit now included in the purchase of Disney Genie+ service
    • Parking trams returned to all four Disney World theme parks

Coming January 9, 2024

• • • Announced: Bringing back all-day Park Hopper access during park hours
    • Theme park reservations no longer required for date-based tickets (our standard ticket option)
    • Disney dining plans available once again for Disney Resort hotel guests as part of a package

My favorite memories at Disney World with my family growing up are the days when we visited multiple theme parks, from “rope dropping” early in the morning to fireworks on Main Street, U.S.A. in the evening. We can’t wait for all of you to more easily enjoy days like these in just a few short months.

2024 is going to be an incredible time to visit and you can start planning your visit today by going to DisneyWorld.com or contacting your preferred travel planner. As always, if you have any questions, you can get expert advice from the incredible panelists at planDisney.com!

*To use the Park Hopper benefit, Annual Passholders must make a theme park reservation for the first park they plan to visit AND enter that first park prior to visiting another.  Or, they can enter a theme park without a reservation on a “good-to-go” date for that park or after 2 p.m. (except Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays) before visiting another park.  Passes are subject to the Walt Disney World Resort Annual Pass Terms and Conditions. 

RELATED ARTICLE: 10 Changes Coming to Disney World in 2023 and Beyond You Need to Know About

by Chad & Cindy Nykamp

We’re almost done with 2023, and yet there are more offerings and changes coming to Walt Disney World this year and in early 2024. Here are the ten changes coming to Walt Disney World in 2023 and beyond that you need to know about!

1 – October 16 – Journey of Water, Inspired by MOANA

As part of the ongoing transformation of EPCOT, Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, will invite guests to follow the story of water on the planet, inspired by Moana’s connection to the ocean. Previews have already been held, and the attraction is now in a soft opening. It officially opens on October 16, 2023. Learn more at the link below.

Click here to learn more about Journey of Water in EPCOT.

2 – Now – 100^th Anniversary Celebration of the Walt Disney Company

At the D23 Expo in September 2022, Josh D’Amaro, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman, gave a first look at how Disney Parks will mark Disney 100 Years of Wonder (Disney100), the biggest celebration in the history of the company. New décor, specialty food and beverages, character experiences, and more will come to parks around the world, with the heart of the celebration rooted at Disneyland Resort.

The celebration is running now through December 31, 2023, at EPCOT. A brand-new nighttime spectacular will come to the World Showcase Lagoon at EPCOT on December 5 as part of the Disney100 Celebration. Disney100 decor and some novelty items are already available.

3 – December – Completion of World Celebration Neighborhood

The next major milestone in EPCOT’s multi-year transformation will include the completion of the World Celebration neighborhood in late 2023. As part of the EPCOT transformation happening now, the park’s World Celebration neighborhood will offer a beautiful hub divided into several different gardens, with a central planter based on the five-ring EPCOT logo. World Celebration will also include Communicore Hall and Communicore Plaza, which will be the new home for festivals. It will also be home to Dreamers Point, a new area where you can view the new Walt Disney statue, “Walt the Dreamer.” This new statue of Walt Disney will debut in a new location called Dreamers Point in the new World Celebration neighborhood.

4 – Late November – Popular Ghost Coming to Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom

Also, at the D23 Expo 2022, Josh D’Amaro shared the news that the popular Hatbox Ghost from the attraction at Disneyland will materialize at Magic Kingdom sometime in late November 2023. I guess there really was room for one more ghost!

5 – Summer House on the Lake to Open at Disney Springs

Summer House will open a new location called “Summer House on the Lake” in Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort in 2023.

“Lettuce Entertain You is thrilled to be working with Disney to bring Summer House to Disney Springs,” says R.J. Melman, President of Lettuce Entertain You. “Disney is a company we’ve long admired and we’re excited about this upcoming project.”

Summer House on the Lake will feature a California-inspired menu with simple, sustainable ingredients. With flagship locations in Chicago, Illinois and North Bethesda, Maryland, the Summer House brand is known for its breezy, beach house environment. The full-service restaurant will also include an in-house bakery, as well as an extensive wine and handcrafted cocktail list.

“At Summer House, our motto has always been ‘say yes,’” shares Executive Partner and Divisional President, Chris Meers. “Whether that is ‘saying yes’ to a special request on a menu item, or helping to make a celebration memorable, we aim to consistently go above and beyond our guests’ expectations every time they walk through the door.”

For more information, please visit www.summerhouserestaurants.com

6 – January 9, 2024 – Disney Dining Plan

In May 2023, Disney announced the return of the Disney Dining Plan. While the plans don’t necessarily save money, they do offer guests an easy way to enjoy dining at the resort without counting every penny spent. There are two different plans available to purchase with vacation packages with dates of January 9, 2024, and beyond. These vacation packages are now on sale.

7 – January 9, 2024 – Removing Theme Park Reservation Requirements for Date-Based Tickets:

Starting with park visits on January 9, 2024, theme park reservations will no longer be required for date-based tickets. You heard that right! When getting your ticket, you will simply select a start date for January 9, 2024, or later, complete your purchase, and then you will be all set! For reference, date-based tickets are the standard ticket option Disney offers to guests. For other admission types, including non-dated tickets, theme park reservations may be required to help us continue managing attendance and delivering a great experience for everyone. You can check which admission types require park reservations by visiting DisneyWorld.com/ThemeParkReservations before you purchase.

8 – January 9, 2024 – All-Day Park Hopper Access Returning

Since park hopping returned in January 2021, guests have only been able to park hop after 2:00 p.m., a restriction that many guests, including us, have really disliked. Thankfully, Disney has recently announced that guests with a ticket with park hopper benefits or an annual pass will once again be able to visit another theme park at any time of the day during park hours. Annual passholders will still need first to visit the park where they have a park reservation (as noted above, it’s still a requirement for passholders) before entering their second park.

9 – Early 2024 – New Bakery Coming to Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

A new bakery is coming to Disney’s Boardwalk Inn. Disney recently shared more details and photos about this bakery. Here are all the details from Disney Cast Member Nicole Cantore:

Another addition that sweet lovers are sure to be excited about is The Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s BoardWalk. This new location recently began construction to bring the new spot to life and is slated to open in [early 2024]. We recently shared a first look at what you can expect The Cake Bake Shop to look like once it opens its doors on the BoardWalk – just look at how pretty it is. As you walk past this spot, you’ll be able to get a glimpse at some of the tasty dishes that lie ahead once it opens. This restaurant is owned by Gwendolyn Rogers, a self-taught baker with a love for Disney and obviously cakes!

Upon opening, this sweet spot will feature both savory and sweet items on its menu, and of course showcase the incredible cakes that Gwendolyn and her team have created, for brunch, lunch, and dinner. In addition to the regular menu, you’ll also be able to enjoy an elegant afternoon tea service – how lovely! And the offerings don’t stop there. Not only, will there be table-service offerings, but also a quick-service bakery for you to pick up these delicious delights on-the-go.

There aren’t just cakes here. The restaurant and bakery will serve cookies, French macarons, brownies, dessert bars, pies, and cheesecakes in addition to the handmade cakes. These treats aren’t just beautiful but delicious too. The whimsical atmosphere of The Cake Bake Shop and its goodies are sure to be a charming addition to the BoardWalk.

10 – 2024 – Simplifying the Disney Genie+ Experience

Disney 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 Disney announced they are working on ways guests may do this for visits in 2024. Disney’s goal is to give you the opportunity to spend less time planning in the park and more time enjoying your visit with friends and family. While Disney is not yet able to share specific details, they look forward to sharing more information at a later date.