Writer’s Note, News & Views
Apologies. Travel and personal matters interfered with publishing a Walt Disney World Resort Update longer than usual.
As we head in to Memorial Day Weekend, one of the many “official” starts of the summer season, and the expected uptick in crowds, we Walt Disney World Resort fans eagerly await the new “Disney Dreams That Soar presented by AT&T” show which is scheduled to debut tonight, Friday, May 24, 2024, at Disney Springs. This is the Resort’s first drone show for the public since 2016, and Disney Live Entertainment’s biggest one yet, using 800 show drones.
Subject to weather conditions, the new 10 minute show is scheduled for two nightly performances through September 2, 2024. As of publication, the showtimes are 9 p.m. and 10:45 p.m., and, as the drones will maneuver over the lake between Disney Springs and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, Disney says that the best views “will be along the waterway in the Disney Springs West Side.”
As Disney Springs does not charge admission, parking is free, and the prime viewing area is not very large, I expect Disney Springs will be quite crowded for, at least, the first several performances of this new show. Indeed, for those that want to see the show, or even if you just have dinner reservations at a Disney Springs restaurant, or plan to attend a showing of “Drawn to Life” by Disney and Cirque du Soleil, or a movie at the AMC Disney Springs 24 Dine-In Theaters, or a concert at House of Blues, be mindful of these cautions:
If you are staying at a Disney Resort, you probably should first consider Disney Transportation (busses or Minnie Vans) to get to and from Disney Springs. If you are driving, you will probably want to get to Disney Springs well-before nightfall, as the parking garages can and do fill up during busy times. Back when Disney Springs presented the Starbright Holidays drone show in 2016, the parking areas often filled up long before showtime, and, indeed, at the same time, Disney Springs was also filled with holiday shoppers and its original version of the Christmas Tree Trail. Remember also that since those 2016 shows, Disney added security screening areas to Disney Springs, and those choke points can get crowded too.
As for the show itself, Disney says the drones will form characters that are larger in size than Cinderella Castle and larger than Spaceship Earth. “We are presenting Disney characters who have had a dream of flying. Not just the idea that they can fly, but the idea of taking their lives to the next level.” said Show Director, Tony Giordano. “We put a lot of thought in making sure that no matter how old you are, or how much of a fan you are, you’re going to see a character that you love.”
Disney shared images of an off-property test showing of “Dreams that Soar.” The show officially debuts tonight at Disney Springs. Images courtesy Disney Parks.
And for anyone visiting Central Florida, remember too, that as May gives way to June, forecasts usually call for 90º or more during the daytime, with increasing humidity. The forecast for the Memorial Day Weekend is very hot, with forecast highs approaching 100º and overnight lows that do not dip below 70º (be mindful that the low temperature is usually just before dawn rather than anytime near sunset). Be prepared and stay hydrated! It is not yet the rainy season, and there are no rainstorms predicted this week, but Florida weather is never entirely predictable, and isolated pop up thunderstorms do happen.
Finally, the National Hurricane Center marks the official start of tropical storm season as June 1. They are predicting it will be an active one. If you are heading to Florida this summer, be sure to look at the storm forecasts and, in the event Walt Disney World gets in to the path of one of the bigger storms, be sure to check the Walt Disney World website for its latest operating information, as it often suspends cancelation penalties and such when it starts to consider closing the parks and low-lying areas of the resort for storm preparation and guest and cast safety.
With Monday being Memorial Day, next week’s Update will not appear before Wednesday absent major breaking news. In the meantime, follow along on social media, as I plan to be among the crowds viewing the first showings of “Dreams that Soar” over the weekend while Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix will be welcoming the return of Fantasmic! to Disneyland.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Opens at Magic Kingdom on June 28, 2024
Magic Kingdom’s newest attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, officially opens at Magic Kingdom on June 28, 2024. Notwithstanding all the noise and controversy across social media, at its core, this attraction remains what it was when it last operated as Splash Mountain, a log flume “dark ride” with music and lots of animatronic characters that culminates in a 50-foot drop down a flume which may (or may not) get guests wet or possibly soaked. Disneyland’s version of this attraction is expected to open later this year.
In Disney’s terms, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a re-imagination of an attraction that now puts Princess Tiana from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog in the spotlight as a business owner in the bayou after the timeline of the film along with songs from the film and lots and lots of critters that Disney has shared in the weeks leading up to the attraction’s debut. As Disney Parks Blog describes:
You’ll join Princess Tiana on an adventure through the bayou as she prepares to host a one-of-a-kind celebration during Mardi Gras season where everyone is welcome. Along the way, you will see some familiar faces, make new friends and travel through the bayou into the next chapter of Tiana’s story. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will also feature original music and some familiar tunes from the beloved movie, and so much more … including an incredibly thrilling 50-foot drop!”You’ll join Princess Tiana on an adventure through the bayou as she prepares to host a one-of-a-kind celebration during Mardi Gras season where everyone is welcome. Along the way, you will see some familiar faces, make new friends and travel through the bayou into the next chapter of Tiana’s story. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will also feature original music and some familiar tunes from the beloved movie, and so much more … including an incredibly thrilling 50-foot drop!”
And, as Disney has said a number of times since this project was announced a few years back, and as I am sure we will repeat in a few more upcoming editions of the Update, Disney has gone to great lengths to attach this new chapter of Tiana’s story to authentic aspects of New Orleans culture, including working with New Orleans artisans in creating aspects of the attraction and its decor. The latest piece of that story, Disney Parks Blog shared just yesterday: Walt Disney Imagineering took the fact that in the film, Tiana’s father, James, was a veteran of World War I, and built upon his story inside the attraction to provide a salute to U.S. military service and veterans.
Passholder previews were announced since we last posted an Update. They will be held on June 13, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 20, and the usual requirements for entering Magic Kingdom on those days applies, including reservations (which long-ago filled) for entering before 2 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays (and park hopping subject to the usual capacity caps Disney imposes as crowds swell). There are the (what has become the usual) two virtual queue entry opportunities in the My Disney Experience app for each preview day at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., but the wrinkle here is that Passholders must have a reservation for Magic Kingdom to attempt to enter the 7 a.m. virtual queue, and/or must have a reservation for one of the Walt Disney World theme parks to attempt to enter the 1 p.m. virtual queue (though Passholders do not need to have entered Magic Kingdom before 1 p.m. to make this attempt, Passholders must first visit the park for which they have a reservation before hopping over to Magic Kingdom and, if Magic Kingdom has reached capacity, the Passholder will not be able to park hop). As always, entering the virtual queue does not guarantee that the Passholder will get to experience the attraction. Passholders are allowed to hold boarding groups for the preview virtual queue and an attraction virtual queue at the same time, so, in theory, a Passholder could have both a TRON Lightcycle / Run virtual queue position and Tiana’s; or, for successful park hoppers, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind virtual queue position and Tiana’s.
Disney Vacation Club Members with resort reservations may also have received emails with instructions relating to preview opportunities, though I have not personally seen them. Cast member previews are also likely, and, yes, MousePlanet and many others have been invited to a media preview of the attraction a few days before the Passholder previews.
When the attraction officially opens on June 28, it will open with the same two daily opportunities to enter the virtual queue in the My Disney Experience app: 7 a.m. or 1 p.m. While a standby queue will not be available during the attraction’s initial opening days, we expect to open a standby queue soon after the attraction’s opening. The only difference from the Passholder previews is that for the 7 a.m. queue, a park reservation is only required for non-date-based ticket holders (like Passholders, cast, and some promotional Florida resident tickets); and for the 1 p.m. queue, guests may only attempt to join the virtual queue if they have already entered Magic Kingdom before 1 p.m.
For those not familiar at all with Disney’s use of virtual queues, if you plan to visit the parks and you want to visit attractions where they have been implemented, be sure to read about the details on https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/virtual-queue/. The gist of the process is that all members of a party that wants to experience an attraction together need to have their My Disney Experience accounts linked together in the app before the virtual queue opens and that all members of the party have to have all the qualifying admission requirements met before they will even have a chance: indeed, sometimes every second after the queue opening window counts. The good news here is that Disney says it expects to transition the attraction from a virtual queue to a traditional standby queue “soon after” the attraction opens.
Unlike the other attractions that recently opened with virtual queues, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will also be included as a Lightning Lane entrance in Disney Genie+ service rather than the à la carte individual Lightning Lane access. Subject to the usual dynamic pricing that is posted daily at midnight, this service purchased on the My Disney Experience app can help guests get on some attractions faster through Lightning Lane entrances throughout the day. The service also includes digital downloads of select Disney PhotoPass attraction photos taken in the park on the day of your purchase at no additional charge. Be aware that Genie+ service can sell out and if you are unaware of this service that replaced the old free FastPass and FastPass+ services, the details are at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/genie/genie-overview/. Guests can only obtain one Genie+ Lightning Lane entrance reservation per attraction, and can hold only one such reservation at a time (or, if the entrance time is more than two hours later, an additional reservation can be made two hours after obtaining the first one, and so on).
For those looking for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure merchandise, starting on its opening day, the themed merchandise will be available at Emporium on Main Street U.S.A. At some point after the attraction debuts, the merchandise will move over to the new Critter Co-Op in Frontierland. This detail, of course, suggests that the merchandise location may not be ready for opening day.
This & That & Reminders…
…NEW: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is now scheduled to reopen on July 27, 2024. It has been closed for refurbishment since early January. Notwithstanding early internet rumors, Disney has described this extended refurbishment as “routine.”
…UPDATED REMINDER: Walt Disney World Resort salutes Passholders with “v.i.passholder days” through June 26, 2024. That catch-all term includes a number of limited time perks, including some perks that are only available for an even more limited time. For example, the DisneyStore.com discount ends today, May 24. This past week, Disney announced dining discounts will increased at certain locations starting May 28.
- NEW: Increased Dining Discounts at Select Walt Disney World Resort locations: May 28 through June 26, 2024
Passholders dining at select locations at Walt Disney World Resort between May 28 and June 26, 2024, can save 20% on food and nonalcoholic beverages. It is always a good idea to ask a host or server about discounts upon arrival at a restaurant. Discounts cannot be combined and there are other published restrictions and limitations, including, that for restaurants located inside the theme parks, the usual requirements for entering a park remain in place. The published locations participating in this increased discount are:- Magic Kingdom
- EPCOT
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
- Disney Resort Hotels (and, yes, this does include Disney’s Vero Beach Resort on the Atlantic coast)
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Boma – Flavors of Africa, Jiko – The Cooking Place and Sanaa
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Resort – Flying Fish and Trattoria al Forno
- Disney’s Caribbean Resort – Sebastian’s Bistro
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort – California Grill, Chef Mickey’s and Steakhouse 71
- Disney’s Coronado Resort – Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood and Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Villa del Lago
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – Cítricos, Grand Floridan Cafe and Narcoosee’s
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort – Olivia’s Cafe
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – Kona Cafe and ‘Ohana
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Boatwright’s Dining Hall
- Disney’s Riviera Resort – Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort – The Turf Club Bar and Grill
- Disney’s Vero Beach Resort – Wind & Waves Grill
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White and Whispering Canyon Cafe
- Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts – Ale & Compass Restaurant, Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, Cape May Cafe and Yachtsman Steakhouse
- Complimentary Passholder Magnet at Creations Shop, EPCOT: Through June 26, 2024
A complimentary Stitch-themed Passholder magnet is available at Creations Shop at EPCOT through June 26, 2024. Usual park entry requirements apply; Passholder must show valid pass or MagicBand or similar plus a matching photo ID; limit one per Passholder while supplies last (and, usually, they do last the entire period of the magnet distribution periods). - Passholder Exclusive Stitch Treat at Sunshine Seasons, EPCOT: Through June 26, 2024
The Stitch Cake Cone features vanilla chiffon cake with coconut buttercream and mango crisp pearls. This Passholder exclusive treat is available at Sunshine Seasons in The Land pavilion at EPCOT during its regular hours through June 26. Be aware that Sunshine Seasons often has limited hours of operation, and those hours are not published in the My Disney Experience app, so if you want this treat during v.i.passholder days, be sure to have proof of your pass, a valid photo I.D., and stop by this location earlier in the day, as we have often found limited or no operation at this location after 4 p.m.
A Passholder-exclusive Stitch Treat coming to Sunshine Seasons. Image courtesy Disney Parks. - Passholder PhotoPass Photo Opportunities at World Celebration Gardens, EPCOT: Through June 26, 2024
Passholder-exclusive PhotoPass magic shots will be available during regular park hours at EPCOT near Dreamers Point in the World Celebration Gardens area. (Usual park admission required and to obtain the photos, the Passholder must have a downloads option, or Memory Maker, or the photo may be purchased individually in the My Disney Experience app). Through May 30, a giant Mickey Mouse ice cream bar prop will be available and a Stitch Magic Shot; from June 1 to June 26, an oversized Mickey Mouse donut photo prop will be available and a Stitch Magic Shot. - Passholder Lounge at Restaurant Marrakesh, EPCOT: Through June 18, 2024
A Passholder Lounge is scheduled to operate in from noon until 8 p.m. daily in the former Restaurant Marrakesh space at EPCOT’s Morocco pavilion. It is designated a “Passholder Exclusive,” requiring a valid pass and matching photo I.D. (standard park admission rules apply too), and the description of the perk does not include any non-Passholder guest admissions. Complimentary snacks and water, mobile device charging stations, and a complimentary Passholder button will be available in the lounge. Social media posts have shown character appearances by Genie, for example, have happened within from time to time. Be aware that you may encounter a significant wait to get in the venue.
The Passholder lounge at former Restaurant Marrakesh was rather popular on its opening weekend, with lines snaking through the Morocco pavilion's courtyard. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka (faces purposely obscured). - ENDS TODAY: Passholder Discount at DisneyStore.com: Through May 24, 2024
Through TODAY, May 24, 2024, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders can save 20% on purchases at DisneyStore.com. Be sure that your Annual Pass is linked to your My Disney Experience account, that you use the same log-on information for My Disney Experience and the Disney Store website, and that you use promo code WDW20 at checkout. Terms and exclusions are spelled out on this page of DisneyWorld.com.
…UPDATED REMINDER: EPCOT’s CommuniCore Hall and Plaza, including its new Mickey & Friends meet and greet area are scheduled to open on June 10, 2024. The opening will also mark the debut of a new limited-time show, “¡Celebración Encanto!” which is scheduled to run several times daily from June 10 until September 6. This sing-along on the CommuniCore Plaza stage features songs and the story of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Encanto. Disney says Mirabel and Bruno “may” appear.
…REMINDER: Also starting June 10, Joy from Inside Out and Inside Out 2 will begin making appearances at Pixar Place in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Meanwhile, June 10 also marks the beginning of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s celebration of the 30th anniversary of the release of Disney’s animated classic The Lion King with special menu items and merchandise, Timon and Rafiki meeting and greeting at Rafiki’s Planet Watch, and the opportunity to learn to draw characters from the film at Animation Experience. That celebration is scheduled to run through September 6.
…NEW: Disney Vacation Club sent members notice this week of an upcoming temporary closure of the Disney Vacation Club Member Lounge at EPCOT from June 2, 2024 to July 13, 2024. The temporary closure is due to a planned refurbishment. The Lounge is scheduled to reopen on July 14, 2024. During the temporary closure, there will be a temporary Members lounge inside The Odyssey, located between Test Track and Mexico Pavilion. There will be a sectioned space available for eligible Members with “comfortable seating, complimentary beverages and snacks as well as access to additional paid food and beverage offerings within The Odyssey.” The temporary lounge will be open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (subject to change), and the standard Member Lounge eligibility and rules apply to the use of this location.
…NEW: Disney Vacation Club finally provided a brief update on the on-going expansion tower project at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, as the new addition will be called, is projected to open in December 2024. Island Tower will feature a variety of room types that will sleep from two to nine guests, such as duo studios (the room-type that debuted with the opening of Disney’s Riviera Resort), one- and two-bedroom villas, and brand-new two-bedroom penthouse villas. Disney says that many rooms will feature spectacular views, and given its prime location on the shore of Seven Seas Lagoon, rooms facing that direction could have fireworks views, at least during the few shows each year where a launch location is added to the middle of Seven Seas Lagoon. Since the concept art for the new tower was released several years ago, it has been the subject of many negative posts on social media, but Disney Parks Blog says that the “original concept designs for Disney’s Polynesian Resort featured a prominent tower as the heart of the resort” and that the “Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows will complete the vision created by Disney Imagineers decades ago while embracing the rich culture from the Polynesian Islands.” Starting June 4, 2024, DVC members can make cash rental reservations for Island Tower by calling Member Services at (800) 800-9800 (points-based reservations will be available later). Starting June 5, 2024, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders can book rental reservations by calling (407) 934-7639. Starting June 6, all guests can make reservations online or by contacting (407) 934-7639.
Concept art courtesy Disney.
…UPDATED REMINDER: As you may recall, 350 new cabins are coming this summer to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort as a new part of Disney Vacation Club, and like all DVC properties, they will be available to Members using points, or anyone through central reservations for cash. The new cabins have the same footprint as those at Fort Wilderness that they are replacing, with 527 square feet of living space plus an outdoor deck. The cabins are categorized as one bedroom units that sleep up to six guests with a queen sized bed and a bunk bed in the bedroom, and a pull-down queen sized bed in the living area. Each unit also has a full kitchen, a bathroom with a shower, and a separate vanity. Unlike many DVC one bedroom villas, these cabins do not have soaking or whirlpool tubs and they do not have laundry facilities in the cabin (there are laundry facilities around the Fort Wilderness Resort). Disney invited MousePlanet and other media sites to the Central Florida warehouse where the cabins are being pre-fabricated and gave us a tour of one of them this spring, and we have been invited to the grand opening on July 1st. The captions of the photos below will take you through the details we saw and you can read more in our First Look post.
Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.
…REMINDER: Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic event nights are scheduled on select nights into the summer of 2024. The complimentary, after-hours events feature select attractions with shorter-than-usual wait times, plus character greetings, entertainment and more. The remaining events are:
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park – June 4 and July 11.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios – August 27.
Early registration opens for eligible Disney Vacation Club members (namely, those that have bought a certain number of points directly from Disney) with a qualifying Disney Resort hotel reservation on the event date(s). Pending availability, all other eligible Members may try their luck at reservations for the event on the other General Registration specified dates. A link to the event registration queue is posted online shortly before the registration windows open. If you are an eligible member and have a hotel reservation for an event date, keep an eye on your email for a registration reminder which also includes the link. All of the relevant 2024 registration dates are now posted on the event website. The relevant dates for the remaining 2024 Moonlight Magic events are:
| Moonlight Magic Event | Dates | Hotel Reservation Finalization (Party Size) by 11:59 p.m. Eastern | |
| Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park | June 4 | July 11 | |
| Early Registration | CLOSED | CLOSED | |
| General Registration | CLOSED | June 27 | N/A |
| Disney’s Hollywood Studios | Aug 27 | ||
| Early Registration | Aug 1 | July 28 | |
| General Registration | Aug 15 | N/A | |
…REMINDER: On June 9, as a salute to U.S. Armed Forces and Veterans, The American Adventure at EPCOT will get a new exhibit, Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors, from the George W. Bush Institute. The exhibit features 60 oil paintings by President Bush of service members and veterans who have served in military uniform with honor since 9/11, and whom the President has come to know personally since leaving office. Each painting will be accompanied by the inspiring story of the veteran depicted personally written by President Bush. While May marks the start of National Military Appreciation Month, this exhibit is part of Disney’s admiration for those who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces and veterans, with additional events to be shared and then followed by the 2024 return of the Department of Defense Warrior Games at Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, June 21-30.
…REMINDER: Tutto Italia Ristorante at EPCOT Walt Disney World has extended its 20% Annual Passholder discount through September 30, 2024. Although the news we received did not explicitly say so, assume the prior restrictions apply: offer applies to regularly-priced food and nonalcoholic beverages and exempting certain holidays, special events and dining packages.
…REMINDER: Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs has increased its Annual Passholder Discount to 20%. The discount applies to all regular priced food and non-alcoholic beverages during lunch hours, which run from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday through Monday. The offer excludes service at the sushi bar, as well as major holidays, including Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
…REMINDER: Jaleo at Disney Springs is offering a Florida residents discount (for an unspecified time). According to a promotional email without a lot of specifics, “As a token of appreciation for our local community, all Florida residents can now receive in a 20% discount on their total bill at Jaleo. Just present your Florida ID to your server, and the discount will be applied at the end of your meal.”
…REMINDER: Give Kids the World Village, the 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit resort in Kissimmee that provides cost-free week-long trips to critically ill children and their families, announced that its Gingerbread Run is returning this fall and will take place at night – under the holiday lights! On Saturday, November 23, you’ll have the chance to run, roll or stroll a 5K or family fun run through the whimsical storybook Village illuminated by thousands of holiday lights. Information and registration is available on this page of the Village’s website.
…NEW: Also coming up at Give Kids the World Village, Bill Motz and Bob Roth, the writing and producing team behind classic Disney animated films and television shows including The Ghost and Molly Mcgee; Lego Star Wars: All Stars; The Legend of Tarzan; Phineas and Ferb; Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas; Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, and more will be discussing their legendary careers as part of the Give Kids The World Speaker Series on Saturday, June 1, 6:30 p.m. Tickets and more information available on this Eventbrite page. Parking is free and proceeds benefit the Village. A VIP ticket is also available which includes viewing a director’s cut of Phineas & Ferb along with a private meet and greet and photo op with Bill and Bob.
And there are other ways to support the Village at live events even if you are not in Central Florida. Coasting for Kids: Summer Inversion Tour offers one-of-a-kind behind-the-scenes experiences and opportunities to witness the magic behind classic coasters at a number of parks around the country, with proceeds supporting the Village. Visit this page of GKTW.org, choose your parks, learn the details and register for the limited spots.
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Resort Reservations, Ticket Advice & Special Offers
Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Walt Disney World Resort Update.
SPECIAL OFFERS FROM OUR TRAVEL PARTNER GET AWAY TODAY
AVAILABLE FOR A VERY LIMITED TIME
Through May 28, 2024, MousePlanet’s travel partner Get Away Today is offering Adults at Kids’ Prices on all regular 3-day and longer Walt Disney World Resort tickets including Base Tickets with or without Water Park & Sports Option, Park Hoppers and Park Hopper Plus. These tickets allow you to customize your vacation to whatever you’d like it to be! Save up to $208 with the 4-Park Magic Ticket that allows you to visit each of the four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks one time for travel now through September 22, 2024 (also must book by May 28, 2024). These ticket deals can be combined with Get Away Today’s Walt Disney World Resort hotel offers – including reduced rates and even free nights at Orlando area hotels! Get Away Today can book your Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets too, and you may save a little bit of extra cash.
*** THIS CONCLUDES THE SPECIAL OFFERS FROM OUR TRAVEL PARTNER GET AWAY TODAY***
Disney Springs area hotels have special rates are available to book through July 15, 2024 for stays through July 31, 2024, based on availability. Some blackout dates may apply, and availability may be limited. The rates do not include the Resort Services Fee or daily parking fee (if applicable), taxes or gratuities. The offer is not valid with any other special offers, promotions, existing reservations, or for groups. Rates and more information for the seven official hotels is available at https://disneyspringshotels.com/magic/.
The 4-day Florida Resident Discover Disney Ticket is $235 ($59 per day), plus tax, and offers admission to one theme park per day. The ticket is valid through September 28, 2024, and park reservations are required. The ticket can be used on consecutive or non-consecutive days, and there is no fuse, so you can use the first admission in April and space out your remaining visits over the summer.
A 3-day version of the ticket is also available for $219 ($73 per day).
Both of these tickets also offer optional upgrades:
- Park Hopper Option
—$40 More Per Ticket, Plus Tax.
Visit more than one theme park on the same day.
- Water Park and Sports Option
—$35 More Per Ticket, Plus Tax.
Visit one theme park per day. Plus, get a certain number of visits to a water park, golf course or miniature golf course based on the length of your ticket. For example, if you purchase a 3-Day Florida Resident Discover Disney Ticket with the Water Park and Sports option, you can visit a Walt Disney World theme park on 3 days with an advance theme park reservation—and visit a Disney water park on 3 additional days by September 28, 2024.
- Park Hopper Plus Option
—$55 More Per Ticket, Plus Tax.
Visit more than one theme park on the same day. Plus, get a certain number of visits to a water park, golf course or miniature golf course based on the length of your ticket. This option is a combination of the Park Hopper option and the Water Park and Sports option.
It really is important to stress the necessity for making your park reservations as soon as you complete your purchase. Disney is only setting aside a limited number of reservations for this ticket type each day, and states, “Reservations may be unavailable for any particular date or park, especially as you get closer to the date of visit or ticket expiration date.”
If you are not a Florida Resident, or you are, but park reservations are not available for the dates you want to visit, Disney is also offering the 4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket from $99 Per Day, Plus Tax (Total Price from $396, Plus Tax). The 4-Park Magic Ticket includes one admission to each of the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks—Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios—for a total of 4 admissions, on 4 separate days. Limit one admission per theme park, one theme park per day. This is a date-based ticket, so it does not require a theme park reservation to enter a park, but you must pick a start date through September 22, 2024, and the ticket must be used within 7 days of the selected start date. This ticket cannot be used to enter the same theme park more than once.
If you are willing to skip Magic Kingdom, Disney is also offering a Special 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom only, starting from $89 per day, plus tax (total price starting from $267, plus tax). This is also a date-based ticket that does not require a theme park reservation to enter a park, but you must pick a start date through September 24, 2024, and the ticket must be used within 5 days of the selected start date.
Disney+ subscribers can get a FREE dining plan when purchasing a non-discounted 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel and theme park ticket with a Park Hopper option. This offer is valid for arrivals most nights July 1 through September 30, 2024. Visit DisneyWorld.com/SpecialOffers for additional offer details!
Disney Rewards Visa Card users can get a free dining plan when using the card to purchase a non-discounted 4-night/4 day Walt Disney Travel Company Package including room at select hotels and tickets with Park Hopper Option for arrivals most nights July 1 – 31, September 1 – 7, and December 9 – 21, 2024. More details, restrictions, information, and the opportunity to book are on this page of the DisneyWorld website.
Florida residents can save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels, valid for stays most nights from July 8 through October 3, 2024. Which resort qualifies for which discount and booking opportunities are available on this page of DisneyWorld.com.
Details and more special offers are available on this page of DisneyWorld.com.
MousePlanet’s travel partner Get Away Today is available to help you book rooms and packages.
REMINDER: Get Away Today’s Walt Disney World Resort vacation packages can now be booked completely on its website! No cumbersome quotes needed! Simply compare all your favorite Walt Disney World Resort hotels and Get Away Today’s hand selected off-property hotels in a few clicks, and then customize for your included tickets for your vacation.
Get Away Today’s Walt Disney World Resort vacation packages now have the option to add Layaway Plans, which allow you to pay the total balance up to eight days prior to travel. You can also add their popular “Peace of Mind Plan” when booking a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, which allows any reschedules and cancellations up to five days prior to travel with no penalty.
When booking with Get Away Today, all Walt Disney World Resort on-site packages include Get Away Today’s e-concierge, which includes its Best Price Guarantee, Dining Reservation Reminders, access to their Concierge Team email for help before and during your vacation, and more.
Looking to go beyond Walt Disney World Resort when visiting Central Florida? Check out Get Away Today’s Universal Orlando Resort ticket offers too.
Only purchase Disney theme park tickets directly from Disney, an authorized seller, or a travel agency like MousePlanet travel partner Get Away Today! As always, we remind our readers that Walt Disney World Resort theme park tickets are rarely offered at deep discounts unless you are a resident of Florida or eligible for U.S. Military Personnel benefits. Historically, non-Florida residents tend to benefit the most by purchasing tickets in advance (and, of course, being mindful of the rules relevant to those tickets). Don’t get scammed! Never buy tickets from an unofficial or secondary outlet, such as through eBay or Craigslist. Never rent or purchase tickets from people approaching you outside Disney property stating they have remaining days or leftover tickets. This practice is against the terms of use for Walt Disney World Theme Park admissions, and may result in denial of entry. There is no way to determine if these tickets are valid until you try to use them to enter the parks.
