Disney recently held a media panel to discuss a key part of the guest experience—the “Disney Bubble.” This term describes the feeling of complete immersion when staying at Walt Disney World, where guests can enjoy everything from parks to hotels without ever stepping outside Disney’s world. But with new competition on the horizon and internal changes affecting the guest experience, how is Disney adapting?
What Is the Disney Bubble?
For many Disney guests, the “Disney Bubble” is an essential part of their vacation. It’s the seamless, all-inclusive feeling of stepping into the magic from the moment they arrive until the moment they leave.
From staying in themed resorts to utilizing Disney’s transportation system, guests can experience an entirely Disney-centered trip without outside distractions. According to Alison Armor, Vice President of Resorts Operations, this is a major factor in why guests choose Disney.
“It’s the anticipation and the expectation that they’re going to live in the magic. And that’s what they walk away with—the feeling of immersion in our story from beginning to end.”
Armor, who oversees more than 29,000 hotel rooms across over 25 resorts, highlighted that maintaining this sense of magic is a top priority for Disney’s operations team.
Changes to the Disney Bubble Experience
While Disney still aims to keep the bubble intact, some past offerings that helped create that experience have been retired or altered. Over the last few years, guests have seen the loss of several key benefits, including:
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Disney’s Magical Express – The free airport-to-hotel transportation service ended in 2022, meaning guests now need to arrange their own transportation.
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Free FastPass+ System – Replaced by the paid Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane services, which now cost extra.
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Resort Airline Check-In – Previously allowed guests to check bags for their return flight directly from their Disney hotel but was discontinued.
These changes have made trip planning more complex, and some longtime visitors feel that the all-inclusive convenience of a Disney trip isn’t quite what it used to be.
Chelsea Filley, Vice President of Customer Experience and Commercial Strategy, acknowledged this shift and emphasized Disney’s focus on making trip planning easier.
“The bubble is what makes the magic, and you want that magic to feel like ‘I’m making the most of my time here.’”
Disney has introduced new planning tools and updates to help improve the experience, but guests still need to navigate multiple paid systems that didn’t exist in the past.
Universal’s Growing Competition
While Disney is working to refine its guest experience, Universal Orlando is about to make a major move. The Epic Universe theme park, opening in 2025, will add a fourth Universal Orlando gate (including Volcano Bay) and bring several new themed lands, attractions, and hotels to the resort.
With this expansion, Universal is creating its own version of an immersive resort experience—one that could challenge the Disney Bubble. Universal already offers:
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More affordable resort hotels compared to Disney’s Deluxe options
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Express Pass included at top hotels (similar to Genie+, but free for some guests)
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A fast-growing transit system to connect parks and resorts
As Universal grows, Disney may need to rethink what makes staying on property special to keep guests fully inside the Disney experience.
What’s Next for the Disney Bubble?
Disney is investing in new offerings, particularly entertainment and seasonal events, to keep its guest experience fresh. New nighttime shows, character experiences, and seasonal overlays are all ways Disney continues to add value.
But with some guest-favorite perks no longer available, the question remains: Will Disney evolve the bubble experience to meet new expectations?
For now, Disney’s team is committed to ensuring guests feel the magic from beginning to end. But with increasing competition and changes to Disney’s own policies, it will be interesting to see how the bubble adapts in the years ahead.
One of the lost perks of staying in the Disney Bubble was that guests could have the souvenirs and merchandise they bought inside the park sent over Guest Relations and retrieve them while exiting the park instead of hauling them all day long making it more difficult for guests on the queues and riding attractions. Wish they consider bringing that perk back.
Magical Express was a big one!!! Another was resort guests having Fastpass & could get that extra time in the parks NO MATTER THEIR FINANCIAL STATUS.
With charging all these extra fees, they might be catching suckers/stubborn people trying to just enjoy their already paid for vacation right now, but I guarantee that well is going to dry up as people start deciding it’s too expensive and refuse to pay for all these “extras” that were FREE just years ago.
Especially when other spots are upping their game and adopting the very things that made people return to Disney in the first place.
One & dones don’t butter your bread, Disney! Return business does. And from my family, we have been repeat guests at least once a year for several years now. It’s becoming not as attractive without the “bubble” and getting less for a lot more money.