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We are quickly approaching the end of the 2023 and the beginning of 2024. We must also prepare for the new year for some changes coming to Walt Disney World. Some of these changes could cause guests significant issues during their Disney vacations.
If you have a Walt Disney World vacation planned for 2024 or are thinking about planning one, take a moment to look through these challenges that you might face. By being aware that these concerns might show up during 2024 ahead of your trip, you can decide whether 2024 will be the right time to visit the Walt Disney World Resort for your family.
Related: Critical Change in 2024
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Extreme Flight Cost
When making your vacation budget 2024, you might need to add a zero or two regarding your airfare. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the rising airfare prices will slow down as we head into 2024.
Many airlines, such as Southwest, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta, have flights out through the first part of 2024. Most guests are finding flights that are more expensive than anticipated. As airlines adjust to the high demand for travel once again, flight prices remain high.
Those who want or need to fly to Walt Disney World in 2024 will want to budget slightly more for flights. It is typically recommended that you purchase flights between 45-60 days before you plan to fly for the cheapest flights, but as we continue to see the cost of flights increase, booking early might be the best option for 2024.
Credit: Disney
Pool Closures
We love that Walt Disney World is constantly updating experiences for guests throughout Disney Parks and Disney Resorts. As this maintenance and updates happen, some experiences must be closed, which can significantly impact the Disney experience.
If you plan a trip in 2024, check out the Disney website to see what pool closures will happen throughout 2024. Currently, there are three major pool closures for 2024. Cozy Cone Pool at Art of Animation, Fuentes del Morro Pool at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and the Doubloon Lagoon Pool at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter are all scheduled to be closed between Janurary and April.
Although all three of these Disney Resorts offer other pools for guests to enjoy, having the main pools closed can significantly impact resort experiences. Before you lock in a Disney Resort for your 2024 trip, make sure you look to make sure closures won’t impact your overall experience.
Credit: Haydn Blackey/ Flickr
Crazy Crowds
A significant change that will greatly impact 2024 is the removal of Park Pass Reservations. Since reopening in 2020, Walt Disney World has required guests to make Park Pass Reservations after purchasing valid tickets.
Starting on Janurary 9, 2024, these reservations will no longer be required for guests with a date-based ticket. This could mean that theme park crowds could be highly unpredictable. Requiring a Theme Park Reservation allowed guests to be more evenly distributed between the four Disney Parks. Without these being required, we could see a vast crowd fluctuation at Disney Parks.
Another factor that could add to this is the return of park hopping at any time during the day. Previously, guests who had purchased a Park Hopper ticket could only hop after 2 p.m. Again, this was a way for Disney to control the crowd levels in each Disney park for most of the morning.
With guests able to park hop at any time starting in 2024, the four Disney Parks could see a significant increase in crowds in the late mornings and early afternoons that we typically weren’t seeing before. This might mean that Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lanes could be even more important.
We look forward to 2024 and all the magic we can expect at Walt Disney World. Being aware of these concerns before we arrive is essential. Disney is magical, but large crowds and closed experiences can put a huge damper on a vacation. Don’t let that happen to you.
Related: Everything That Went Wrong On Our Last Disney Vacation
I hope they bring back package delivery to resorts in 2024. I’ve stopped shopping at the parks…to expensive to ship home, and items come broken, and large bags are a PITA to carry around all day. Time to bring it back!!