It’s a good time to be a Walt Disney World fan. The parks are on the precipice of beginning a 5-year plan that’ll lead to new lands, rides, and leisure between now and 2030. The earlier growth cycle is completed, and every little thing is open. On high of that, pent-up demand is over and consequently, there are extra reductions. The phased reopening is completed, and issues are lastly again to regular. Properly, for essentially the most half.
Paradoxically sufficient, that is much like how the companion piece to this publish, Actually Horrible Selections by Walt Disney World, began out. It’s admittedly odd that two polar reverse articles can give attention to among the similar issues, however the actuality is that latest bulletins for Walt Disney World have been blended luggage of excellent, unhealthy, and puzzling.
That is maybe finest exemplified on this yr’s latest addition, Tiana’s Bayou Journey, which (spoiler alert) made neither listing. As we’ve mentioned earlier than, it’s a “warts and all” attraction, with among the finest Audio Animatronics we’ve ever seen from Disney, nice music, quirky characters, and different highlights. Nonetheless, it additionally makes a number of perplexing choices, serves up a jumbled story, has means an excessive amount of lifeless area, unacceptable unreliability, and extra. Relying on who you ask, it may be terrible or superior, which might be as a result of it comprises points of each.
Suffice to say, this has not been an ideal yr for Walt Disney World. However the query I ask with these year-end reflections is whether or not, on the finish of the day, Walt Disney World is in a greater place than it was a yr in the past? For me, it’s a simple sure. However maybe I’m biased as a result of we’re contemporary off our first household Christmas journey with Child Bricker, which was implausible and crammed with enjoyable and memorable experiences.
Even taking a step again, I feel it’s true that 2024 has been higher than 2020-2023 for all the causes touched upon above: decrease crowds, greater & higher reductions, fewer worth will increase, extra leisure, and a higher sense of normalcy. That’s not all. We’ll break down different constructive adjustments that occurred this yr over the course of this text.
This isn’t to say that issues are excellent. The years of 2020 to 2022 had been actually powerful, and Walt Disney World is nonetheless recovering from that darkish time. Many followers rightfully level out that the comeback has been too little, too sluggish…or too late. When Bob Iger returned to the CEO seat 2 years in the past, he instructed he’d sort things. That continues to be a piece in progress, and one which may very well be taking place with much more urgency.
Talking of which, this publish can also be a sequel, of kinds, to What Bob Iger Must Repair at Walt Disney World & Past in 2024. That was written on the one-year anniversary of Disney’s Bob Swap, and is kind of what the title suggests–a want listing of adjustments administration ought to make because it sought to scrub up Chapek’s errors and rebuild.
13 months later, I’m happy to report that a number of that has occurred or progress has been made in the direction of reaching the entries on that listing. Not every little thing pertained to the Disney Parks, and never every little thing is seen from a visitor going through perspective, however listed below are the entries that I feel we will arguably say have had constructive progress made:
- Put Creativity First
- Make an Precise Announcement for Walt Disney World
- Make an Precise Announcement for Disneyland
- Quiet Controversy
- Model Deposits Over Withdrawals
- Enhance Solid Member Morale
- Enhance Visitor Satisfaction
- Choreograph Iger’s Succession Plan
Once more, not all of those have been 100% completed–and whether or not progress has been made in any respect is debatable in some cases. “Put creativity first,” for instance, is nebulous. However I’d argue that the flicks launched this yr have been, by and enormous, significantly better and extra bold than within the earlier 2 years. Disney+ is extra of a blended bag, however there are indicators of life there, too.
Anyway, on with the listing of choices Walt Disney World has gotten proper this yr…
Repairing Relationships
This was a giant yr for Disney repairing relationships with the 2 largest states the place it does enterprise. Issues had been already on the fitting path in California previous to the beginning of this yr, however it had been a rocky highway there for a number of years attributable to tensions between that state and Disneyland. That was a bitter battle on the time, and one which value Disney dearly in not having the ability to reopen its Anaheim parks.
Since then, each CEO Bob Iger and Disneyland President Ken Potrock went to intensive lengths to fixing the connection with the town and the state. Disney did a fantastic job of neighborhood outreach in each the Metropolis of Anaheim and California as a complete, which culminated within the approval of DisneylandForward. That paved the way in which for billions of {dollars} in investments, the primary spherical of which was introduced at D23. (Disneyland Resort acquired the higher slate from an upside vs. draw back perspective!)
It was the same story with Walt Disney World and the standoff with the State of Florida. This had been extra public and bitter, and expensive differently than a closure of the parks. It’s in all probability pointless to rehash all of this because it was newer and excessive profile, however it resulted in lawsuits (plural), Disney shedding management of its particular district and self-governance, that being changed with an overtly hostile board of a brand new particular district, and the corporate threatening to finish investments in Florida consequently.
After a prolonged battle, cooler heads lastly prevailed. Disney and DeSantis settled. A compromise was reached on the composition of the particular district board. Issues have improved a lot that the district is aiding Disney with its allowing course of, relatively than being antagonistic. No matter the way you assign blame in that, the dispute was decidedly “not good” for Disney and it undoubtedly “is sweet” that Disney has executed the arduous work of repairing the connection, irrespective of whether or not the corporate was proper or improper within the first place.
The underside line is that Walt Disney World is completely enormous for Florida’s financial engine, identical to Disney and Disneyland are integral to California as a complete and Anaheim particularly. It’s mutually advantageous for the corporate and the locations it does enterprise to have good working relationships. Everybody loses and nobody wins when these states and considered one of their largest companies are at odds.
Resuming Routine Refurbishments
This yr has seen an uptick in refurbishments throughout Walt Disney World. Whereas this has resulted in complaints from visitors visiting throughout among the closures, we view this as a significant constructive. (We do agree that Walt Disney World ought to schedule routine upkeep with way more advance discover, ideally in lump-sum schedule updates ~6 months upfront.)
As we’ve identified on a number of events, there was a number of deferred upkeep and proportionately fewer closures in the previous few years attributable to pent-up demand and price range cuts. Walt Disney World additionally misplaced a number of seasoned upkeep Solid Members throughout the closure, lots of whom took early retirement or just didn’t return.
That is exactly why “Upkeep & Sudden Downtime” made the listing of Prime 10 Visitor Complaints About Walt Disney World! Trip breakdowns stay a problem and, in our view, these surprising closures are worse than routine refurbishments as a result of you’ll be able to’t plan round them.
Higher common refurbishments may be very a lot nonetheless a piece in progress. Walt Disney World merely can’t accomplish 3-4 years of postponed initiatives within the span of ~6 months. A number of points of interest are overdue for refurbishments and can in all probability get them in 2025 or 2026–the difficult factor can be timing to keep away from having too many “huge” rides down in every park. It’ll assist that pent-up demand is exhausted, staffing has improved, and the cash spigot in Burbank has been turned on for Parks & Resorts, permitting for extra initiatives of this nature to (lastly!) occur.
Positive, common refurbishments and routine upkeep just isn’t as thrilling as brand-new points of interest–and plenty of of you could lament extra rides being closed throughout your trip–however refurbishments are very a lot a necessity for sustaining applicable attraction requirements and making certain that breakdowns don’t proceed to occur at a extra frequent fee. I don’t assume anybody is “excited” for Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad to be closed for over a yr, and though the near-term affect can be destructive, that is an unequivocal constructive within the long-term. That is an underrated entry within the listing that extra followers ought to view favorably!
Killing Genie
There is no such thing as a consensus as as to whether Genie+ because it existed by mid-2024 or Lightning Lane Multi-Cross is healthier. Line-skipping is all the time going to create winners and losers in equal measure. That’s the character of the beast as a result of queueing is a zero-sum sport. Attraction capability is fastened and finite, and didn’t change between the 2 programs. There is no such thing as a magical system the place everybody will get to attend in shorter strains.
The one significant option to truly alter the equation is by truly growing capability. The easiest way that’s executed is constructing extra points of interest. Different methods to extend capability are including leisure, extending working hours, or simply giving visitors different issues to do this both pull them away from rides or dilute the distribution of visitors all through the day. Every little thing else is rearranging the deck chairs, and having totally different visitors come out forward or behind. Walt Disney World lastly acquired the message on all this, and it’s mirrored within the D23 bulletins.
With all of that mentioned, the issues with Genie+ had been two-fold. The primary was that the model was about as poisonous because the identify Bob Chapek, and it wanted a whole and complete overhaul. The botched launch and scattershot adjustments over the next 18 months had poisoned the properly. The second is that Genie+ labored means too properly for energy customers, and by extension, much less so for lots of common visitors. A part of that was in all probability as a result of first purpose–this weblog alone had dozens of articles about hacking Genie, which labored rather well and made sense if you happen to adopted alongside carefully. For everybody else, it was complicated and the ‘guidelines’ turned one thing of a shifting goal.
Walt Disney World’s purpose with the transfer from Genie+ to Lightning Lane Multi-Cross and its suite of different queueing adjustments is healthier stability. Insurance policies and programs that really feel fairer to nearly all of visitors and don’t benefit or drawback anybody an excessive amount of. From what we’ve skilled during the last a number of months, they’ve executed an excellent job of threading the needle with all of those adjustments. That a lot must be apparent by only a few followers loving LLMP or hating it an excessive amount of. The reactions are much less excessive, which alone is a sign that it’s a greater compromise. One other sign is sort of a 90% drop on Lightning Lane posts right here, since there merely isn’t as a lot to speak about or hack!
Bringing Bluey to the Parks
There’s little or no center floor with Bluey. Both you solely have passing data of what it’s, or it means the world to you. That is in all probability as a result of, not like animated motion pictures with enormous advertising and marketing campaigns and theatrical releases, it is a cartoon aimed toward young children. So it’s straightforward to overlook if you happen to’re not the goal demo, until you search it out. (I’ll be sincere–I stored complicated Bluey with The Bear within the Massive Blue Home when it first blew up!)
Regardless, there are a number of the reason why the transfer to deliver Bluey to the parks in 2025 is such a fantastic choice. First, as a result of Disney has had a little bit of a dry spell currently with authentic motion pictures, whereas this yr’s field workplace outcomes have been significantly better, that’s with sequels. No new (vital) characters. Bluey helps fill a niche that was in any other case solely actually occupied by Encanto. Second, as a result of Bluey is ridiculously in style–a world sensation and streaming chart-topper. The explanations for bringing in style issues to the parks must be self-evident; nobody is questioning Common’s choice to create Tremendous Nintendo World (properly, until they’re envious).
Lastly, as a result of Bluey doesn’t belong to Disney. This required negotiating with the franchise’s rights holders, and getting a deal executed. Whereas there are some comprehensible apprehensions about how Disney’s meddling may damage Bluey, my private take is that it’s good to see Disney working with third events when it is smart. It actually is smart right here, and if dealt with accurately, Bluey may very well be an enormous win for Walt Disney World and households with young children within the subsequent few years. However once more, perhaps I’m biased as a result of that’s us.
Good Concepts By no means Dying
Lower than per week after we revealed our listing of the Prime 10 Walt Disney World Rumors We’d Wager Towards, which included the notorious Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster as entry, Disney formally introduced the attraction. To my partial credit score, I did say this: “I additionally assume that there’s fact to the notion that good concepts by no means actually die in Imagineering and that applies to this idea. So I nonetheless assume there are respectable odds this will get constructed someplace, sometime.”
That is the obvious instance, however not the one one. There have been rumors of a Villains Land or Darkish Kingdom or Hearth Mountain coming to Magic Kingdom for many years. Since a minimum of the late Nineties. It’s my understanding that though Imagineering had nice pitches, administration all the time acquired chilly ft concerning the darker tone within the fort park.
And I hate to offer them any credit score right here, however the identical may very well be mentioned to some extent (a a lot lesser one) concerning the Island Tower and Lakeshore Lodge. To be clear, I don’t love and even like both of those ideas. However I do respect that Imagineering has pulled from the previous in making an attempt to make lemonade out of lemons.
Extra broadly, it’s good that Disney and Imagineering takes time to incubate concepts and ruminate on them, relatively than performing impulsively with the flavour of the month. Some followers have criticized Automobiles Land as being based mostly on an “outdated” franchise. Whereas there are many issues with the idea, I couldn’t disagree extra about this one. In relation to everlasting additions, I solely need Imagineering utilizing motion pictures and characters that stand the check of time. (If something, I’m barely fearful that the jury remains to be out on Encanto–that it’s too new for a experience!)
Suffice to say, I received’t be the one complaining if unbuilt points of interest from the pages of previous Imagineering books out of the blue come to life. I simply want these good concepts that by no means die weren’t themselves killing off different good concepts that already got here to life!
Tropical Americas
Tropical Americas will come to Disney’s Animal Kingdom that includes the Encanto Magical Madrigal Casita Darkish Trip and Indiana Jones Journey. It’ll have mini-areas based mostly on each, together with Pueblo Esperanza or the “Village of Hope.”
On the one hand, I’m nonetheless unhappy that Walt Disney World by no means went all-in on dinosaurs and gave the awesomest animal the land they deserve. (See the ‘Horrible Selections’ publish.) However, Dinoland was not good. Tropical Americas will undoubtedly be a large improve as in comparison with what was there earlier than.
Furthermore, of the competing ideas for Animal Kingdom growth and redevelopment, that is the one which I feel works finest. I do know different followers needed to see Zootopia and/or Moana in Animal Kingdom, however I view this as a greater match. And moreover, the long run remains to be vibrant for each of these franchises in Walt Disney World, anyway.
I’m notably excited for Indiana Jones Journey, and getting a 3rd model of this attraction with a storyline that’s distinctive and becoming for DAK. The 2 present incarnations are amongst my favourite rides on the planet, and I’ve heard that this may very well be the perfect of the bunch. The Encanto darkish experience is extra of a wild card. My concern is that expectations are for Mystic Manor: Madrigal Version, and what we get can be extra alongside the strains of the Little Mermaid darkish experience, however with Encanto characters. Right here’s hoping it exceeds expectations, and Tropical Americas finally ends up with two E-Tickets plus a family-friendly flat experience.
Worth Will increase & Reductions
I hesitated to incorporate this one, as a result of costs being too excessive and elevated nickel & diming continues to be a standard grievance. So it looks like only a few of you can be receptive to this, and even consider me.
Regardless, reductions have elevated considerably within the final year-plus. We’ve repeatedly commented on how Walt Disney World introduced again the “2019 playbook” for offers with the return of Free Eating and Bouncebacks. Together with that, there have been increased share financial savings–and for extra dates–in 2024 than any yr since 2019. Ticket offers are extra ample, and never only for Floridians. Particular presents are higher now than in 2020-2022, there’s actually no disputing that.
On high of that, the speed of worth will increase has slowed significantly. Ticket costs, particularly, skyrocketed throughout the pent-up demand interval. Nonetheless, as we’ve additionally identified repeatedly, present admission prices haven’t gone up since December 2022–that’s a reasonably unprecedented two yr stretch. (Costs have elevated barely for 2025.) The price of Lightning Lanes didn’t improve this vacation season, whereas the worth supplied improved!
The rationale this possible received’t be well-received is as a result of costs shot up a lot within the two-year span of pent-up demand that followers are nonetheless reeling, and there’s nonetheless a combination of cost-cutting and will increase on different issues (restaurant menus, upcharges, and so on). Personally, I feel there’s nonetheless work to be executed on this entrance, particularly since notion is actuality. If Walt Disney World doesn’t wish to lose floor to Epic Universe, what is likely to be wanted is flat out decreases, not deceleration of will increase.
Fixing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Mandalorian and Child Yoda getting a brand-new mission in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run was an underrated announcement at D23 Expo. (Actually, assume perhaps they need to’ve saved this one for 2025 Vacation spot D23, the place it may’ve made a much bigger splash.) It’s because, in my eyes, it’s the clearest signal but that Disney is aware of Galaxy’s Edge didn’t fairly hit the excessive notes it ought to’ve, and so they’re giving Imagineers the liberty and price range to “repair” it.
It is a greater deal than you would possibly assume, as a result of Disney seldom invests huge bucks in blockbuster lands or points of interest which might be nonetheless comparatively new. This checks all these packing containers. My honest hope is that that is a part of a much bigger plan to offer Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge a comfortable reboot. I’d wish to see Batuu break the sacred timeline and use the setting of the land as a leaping off level for brand new adventures. (See Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Must Break the Guidelines for my tackle all of that.)
Think about how nice Smugglers Run may very well be if it mixed the settings of Star Excursions with the interactivity and full bundle of the Millennium Falcon?! Bringing a brand new mission with Mando and Grogu may very well be a whole game-changer–elevating Galaxy’s Edge as a complete together with it. I’m additionally optimistic that we’ll see concepts from the failed Galactic Starcruiser begin to trickle out into Galaxy’s Edge.
Ending Reopening Guidelines
It was nearly a full yr in the past at this level, however January 9 was a significant milestone for Walt Disney World. It was then that many of the reopening rule adjustments had been retired, with “limitless” Park Hopping restored, park reservations principally retired, Annual Passholders (the exception to the retired reservations rule) getting ‘Good-to-Go’ days, and the Disney Eating Plan returning.
These had been the headline adjustments, however there was extra to it beneath the floor than that. Advance Eating Reservations turned simpler to guide, and Walt Disney World returned to its previous cadence of offers by bringing again Free Eating and different particular presents. There was by no means a press launch stating as a lot, however it feels just like the parks have lastly returned to their 2019 operations, to the extent that may occur. Earlier than the beginning of this yr, there was nonetheless very a lot the sense that Walt Disney World was within the midst of its phased reopening and getting again to regular.
This yr turned the web page on that and opened a brand new chapter. Not fairly 2019, for higher and worse, but in addition undoubtedly not 2020 to 2023, both (undoubtedly for higher there). Whereas I don’t have perception into present visitor satisfaction scores or Solid Member morale, I’d hazard a guess that each have improved significantly.
Issues aren’t excellent, to make sure, however there’s much less friction and stress. My private notion is that there’s much less rigidity between visitors and Solid Members, which I presume is for the explanations laid out above (fewer guidelines and stress factors within the visitor expertise). Subsequent piece of low-hanging fruit on this mission: eliminating the digital queues for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Tiana’s Bayou Journey.
Disney Starlight Night time Parade
The all-new Disney Starlight Night time Parade will proceed the nighttime spectacular legacy began by the Predominant Avenue Electrical Parade, utilizing the newest know-how to inform new tales concerning the characters you like. All of this is dropped at life by the magic of the Blue Fairy, along with beloved characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios movies “Peter Pan,” “Encanto,” “Frozen,” and extra.
This was my #1 announcement from D23 Expo. I do know Disney Starlight isn’t as huge or thrilling as new lands or points of interest, however we additionally don’t have to attend 3+ years for it and Disney Starlight is among the few issues that may truly function an “reply” to Epic Universe. Clearly, leisure can’t compete with a brand new gate–however it does function counterprogramming to peel some individuals away from Common.
Together with the fireworks, the night time parade units the nighttime temper in Magic Kingdom. It’s greater than that, although. Walt Disney first launched fireworks as his “kiss goodnight” to visitors on the finish of a protracted day, as a option to ship individuals dwelling on a excessive word. It’s similar to the grand finale of the present itself, however for the visitor’s day as a complete. We can’t wait to expertise Disney Starlight as a household, making new recollections collectively and rekindling previous ones alongside the way in which.
Actually, I’d’ve been fairly proud of a recycled night time parade from Disneyland. In the event that they introduced out Paint the Night time, that may’ve been a win. Notoriously entertainment-allergic Walt Disney World administration lastly greenlighting a brand-new night time parade after so lengthy is a extremely huge deal. My hope is that it alerts a change within the resort’s strategy to leisure, and given different latest indicators we’ve seen, I feel that will very properly be the case.
Greenlighting Villains Land
Years from now, Disney followers will nonetheless be speaking concerning the vitality within the room when Josh D’Amaro revealed Villains Land at Magic Kingdom as his “yet one more factor” announcement. Both in a nasty means because it’ll be one other sufferer in pile of unbuilt ideas, or a great way because it involves life.
After being rumored for so long as I’ve been a fan, it’s sort of wild to see Villains Land lastly coming to life at such an epic scale. Villains Land matches the mould for an ideal Magic Kingdom themed land. Despite the fact that it’s develop into a franchise or model, at its coronary heart, it is a extra open idea like the present lands, relatively than a single mental property, film or character. As a lot as I get pleasure from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, I nonetheless assume it feels odd and disconnected from the remainder of Disneyland. So I’m glad to see Villains Land versus Encanto or Coco lands.
Actually, I additionally really feel just like the Automobiles Land can work alongside Frontierland greater than lots of you. I hate what we’re shedding to get it–and actually hope Disney has an excellent plan to make that environment and alive with kinetic vitality (other than simply vroom vroom vroom Automobiles!)–however assume the concept itself has a number of potential. A little bit of an apart, however I additionally disagree with everybody who thinks the Automobiles attraction ought to substitute Tomorrowland Speedway. It will be way more thematically incongruous over there, whereas it may work on the sting of the frontier if Imagineering nails the idea.
Villains Land, although, is an unequivocally implausible choice and a fantastic danger to see Walt Disney World taking. Not solely that, however competing with Common’s Darkish Universe plus the fan enthusiasm for Villains Land means the Imagineers are going to deliver their a-game with Villains Land. Extra importantly, it signifies that as a substitute of continuing with apprehension, Walt Disney World will go all-in on this growth, giving it the price range and area wanted to create one thing actually…properly, magical feels just like the improper phrase.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about motels on our Walt Disney World Lodges Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing you must know!
Your Ideas
What do you assume are essentially the most doubtful choices made by Walt Disney World within the final yr or so? Or do you assume company management is taking part in 4D chess, and followers merely don’t “get” the selections, are blinded by nostalgia and rose-colored glasses, and so on? The rest that qualifies as “actually horrible” for you? Be at liberty to vent within the feedback. You received’t change the course of building and the trajectory of Walt Disney World…however a minimum of it’s therapeutic! Joyful Festivus!
