Are you ready for 2024 in Disney World? Let’s find out!

There are so many things coming by the end of this year and into the new one — things like returning fireworks shows, park transformations, and hotel makeovers just to name a few. There are also some big things that Disney World is doing for the FIRST time in 2024 — here’s our full list!

1. Disney Dining Plan

Look, this is probably the BIGGEST change that you’re going to see on this list and the one we’ve been anticipating it greatly! The Disney Dining Plan will be returning on January 9th, 2024, and this will be the first time it is available at Disney World’s newest restaurants. For those who don’t know what the dining plan is (especially since it’s been missing from Disney World since early 2020), it’s a way for Disney World guests who book a vacation package through Disney to pre-pay for their dining costs.

Two plans will be available: the Standard Dining Plan and the Quick Service Dining Plan — here are FULL details on what each plan will offer and here’s a list of all the Disney World restaurants participating in the plan.

Which Disney Dining Plan is Right for You?

2. New Park Pass Reservation Rules

Alright, next up, you know that all Disney World ticket holders must make a park pass reservation for each day they plan on being in the theme parks. That will change on January 9th, 2024 — park pass reservations will NOT be needed for those who purchase date-based tickets. This means that guests who buy theme park tickets tied to specific dates will not need to make a reservation.

However, this change doesn’t affect those with tickets that are not based on specific dates. They will still need to make park pass reservations (i.e. Annual Passholders unless they’re visiting specific parks after 2PM, Cast Members, and other non-date-based ticket types).

Read More About The Park Pass Reservations Change

3. Genie+ Changes

Moving right along, there might be some good news for those who miss the days of grabbing FastPass+ reservations in advance of their Disney World trip. Disney recently shared that they’ve listened to guests who wanted to “plan with Disney Genie+ service and individual Lightning Lane selections before the day of their park visit.” The company has expressed that is now “working on ways guests may do this for visits in 2024.”

However, Disney has not yet revealed any further details on what this means for guests using Genie+, but more details should be released later. Disney did announce a new change to the pricing of Genie+, but we think there are more changes to come in 2024.

Disney Genie+ Has Changed 9 Times — But We’re Still Waiting on ONE Big Update

4. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

A new ride is coming to Magic Kingdom. Splash Mountain closed in early 2023 to make way for a NEW ride themed to Disney’s animated film The Princess and the Frog. The new attraction is called Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and is set to take visitors through the bayous of Louisiana to help Tiana with her new endeavor, Tiana’s Foods.

This ride will pick up the moment after The Princess and The Frog ends and we will “join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring some of the powerful music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.” 

So what actually happens after the film? Tiana opens Tiana’s Palace and requires the riders’ help finding a missing key ingredient for the Mardi Gras party she’s throwing for the people of New Orleans. We’re going to be seeing old and new characters, hearing familiar and new songs, and embarking on a whole new adventure with Tiana! It’s set to open in 2024.

Read all about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure here!

5. Changes Coming to Country Bear Jamboree

Disney has announced that a NEW SHOW is coming to Country Bear Jamboree in Magic Kingdom! In 2024, the beloved bears will be learning an all-new act — they’ll sing their usual songs in new styles like country, rockabilly, and bluegrass. 

Country Bear Musical Jamboree will be a take on the classic variety shows found in Nashville, Tennessee, and Nashville musicians are involved in the new arrangements. For instance. we’ll be hearing a new version of “Bare Necessities” in a rockabilly style! A Disney Imagineer has shared, “The music is going to be amazing, and the show will still have the fun and friendly tone that we all love about the Country Bears.”

6. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is currently constructing some new Disney Vacation Club villas at the resort that are set to open sometime in 2024. This will give DVC members some new options for staying at the resort. The new rooms will feature waterfront views with most also offering balconies.

The new structure will also offer new dining and swimming options, as well as other recreation areas.

Here’s Everything We Know About the New Hotel Rooms Coming to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

7. Disney’s BoardWalk

The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers will be coming to Disney’s BoardWalk in early 2024 (a delay from its initially announced opening of 2023), and will serve more than just cakes. The table service restaurant is expected to also have savory items, and in the afternoons guests can enjoy a spot of tea.

According to The Cake Bake Shop’s website, the restaurant will feature “a whimsical atmosphere that complements the magic of the idyllic charm of Disney’s BoardWalk that guests know and love.” We’re personally waiting on the edge of our seats. We had the opportunity to interview the owner of The Cake Bake Shop and got some exclusive and insider details on the new location. Read the interview here! 

Stay tuned for updates.

Click Here to Learn More About The Cake Bake Shop!

These next few will have opened late in 2023, which will be perfect timing for your 2024 Disney World trip!

Hatbox Ghost is Coming to Disney World

Disneyland’s infamous Hatbox Ghost will finally be making the journey East to appear inside Disney World’s Haunted Mansion. Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, took to the stage at the D23 Expo in 2022 to make the announcement.

Hatbox Ghost is set to start haunting Haunted Mansion guests in late November 2023!

Learn more about Hatbox Ghost Coming to Disney World

Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana

If you haven’t heard, EPCOT has been undergoing an EPIC transformation over the past few years, with much of it set to complete in December 2023. That means that EPCOT visitors will finally get to enjoy a new attraction, Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana. The walkthrough attraction will feature lots of shade, as well as a series of water features.

This attraction will open on October 16th, 2023! Recently, we were able to attend a Cast Member preview of the new attraction and we can now share a look inside — along with a FULL WALK-THROUGH — with you!

Click here to GO INSIDE EPCOT’s Moana-Inspired Journey of Water Attraction! And find our FULL VIDEO WALK-THROUGH here!

World Celebration Completion

Most of the construction at EPCOT is happening at what is now the World Celebration section of the park. The good news is that those construction walls should all be down sometime in December 2023. That means that riders exiting Spaceship Earth will have a good look at Dreamers Point, which will feature a new statue of Walt Disney.

The CommuniCore Plaza Festival Area and CommuniCore Hall should also be complete in December 2023. Communicore Plaza is an outdoor space for visitors to relax while enjoying festivals, although the space can also host concerts and performances. CommuniCore Hall is inside the plaza and will be the first structure built in EPCOT to support festival programming.

Everything You Need To Know About The EPCOT Transformation

New Nighttime Show

EPCOT will also be debuting a new nighttime show in late 2023 as part of the Walt Disney Company’s 100th Anniversary celebration, so make sure to experience it when you come in 2024. That’s right… a BRAND NEW nighttime spectacular will make its debut on December 5th, 2023 in honor of Disney 100 Years of Wonder: Luminous The Symphony Of Us!

Disney shares that the show is meant to “reflect the commonality in all of us,” and that the show invites “everyone to gather around World Showcase Lagoon for a show that will unite us through commonalities of the heart in a dazzling display of fireworks, lasers, music and light. Featuring an original composition along with select songs from the Disney songbook, this new spectacular will remind us that we’re more alike than different, connecting our hearts together as one.”

Until the new production makes its debut, guests can currently enjoy EPCOT Forever, the park’s interim nighttime spectacular.

Click HERE to find out more about Luminous!

So there you have it — 8 things that Disney World is doing for the first time in 2024 and some things to look forward to by the end of this year! We’ll be here to cover all of it and bring you the updates you need to know! Let’s plan some AMAZING Disney vacations together in 2024.

Everything NEW Coming to Disney World in 2024

What change are you most excited about in Disney World in 2024? Tell us in the comments!

The post 7 Things Disney World is Doing for the First Time in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog.