Disney World doing away with park reservations, bringing back dining plan

Disney World doing away with park reservations, bringing back dining plan

Disney World visitors will see some big – and highly anticipated – changes in 2024.

Starting Jan. 9, 2024, theme park reservations will not be required for most people visiting the Florida resort, USA Today reported. Also, dining plans, which offer people a chance to prepay for meals at set costs, are also returning.

“We know our guests – and families in particular – have missed dining plans, which offer guests the convenience and peace of mind of pre-paying for their meals and snacks,” Disney World said in a press release.

Disney first instituted park reservation requirements amid the pandemic to handle crowds, requiring people to pre-plan which park they would visit and prohibiting “park-hopping,” or visiting another park, until after 2 p.m. However, after Jan. 9, park reservations will not longer be required for guests with date-based tickets.

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“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,” Disney said.

Non-dated tickets are those tied to specific conventions or season offers, as well as annual passes, according to USA Today.

Dining plans will be available to those who book Disney vacation packages with park tickets and accommodations. They will include Quick Service Dining Plan and Disney Dining Plan that includes sit-down options.

List of locations accepting the plans will be available on Disney’s website at the end of the month. Booking for most 2024 vacations opens May 31st.