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Planning a Disney World Vacation in 2025 or Beyond? Here Are 15 Key Things to Know

by Leap on April 21, 2025

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Save up to 35% at a Walt Disney World_® Resort hotel for select stays through Oct. 11, 2025! Plus, Undercover Tourist is now offering a flexible deposit option. For a refundable $200 deposit, you can lock in your Walt Disney World_® Resort hotel stay, and pay the remaining balance 30 days prior to check-in.

No matter the year, there's magic waiting around every corner at Walt Disney World! In 2025, we can't wait for the new nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom, Disney Villains show at Hollywood Studios, Test Track reimagining at EPCOT and more. Plus, Disney World hotel guests have a new perk, as of January 2025 — complimentary water park admission on check-in day.

Special events are also in full swing, including Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and EPCOT's iconic festivals. Disney After Hours events have also returned to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, starting in January 2025.

If you're already planning a trip in 2026, Walt Disney World tickets, hotels and vacation packages (for travel dates through October 2026) are now available through Undercover Tourist!

While there's lots of excitement on the horizon, there are some key things you should know when planning a Disney World trip in 2025 and beyond. Let's jump in!

15 Key Things to Keep in Mind If You're Planning a Disney World Trip in 2025 and Beyond

1. Get Familiar with Lightning Lane Passes

For those who haven't been to Walt Disney World since July 2024, you'll want to read up on the new Disney Lightning Lane Passes. For you Genie experts out there, the two new Lightning Lane Pass options operate similarly to the previous Genie+ service (Lightning Lane Multi Pass) and individual Lightning Lanes (Lightning Lane Single Pass). The biggest change with Lightning Lane Passes is the ability to make selections in advance. Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests can pre-book up to three Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections per day, and/or separately purchase up to two Lightning Lane Single Passes, for the entirety of their stay up to seven days in advance. Other guests can book up to three days in advance. Much like the previous FastPass+ system, rides in most parks fall under tiers.

If you don't want to hassle with making reservations, a third option launched in October 2024 — Lightning Lane Premier Pass. This option allows you one-time access to each Lightning Lane experience (no matter if it's usually Single Pass or Multi Pass) without any pre-planning — just show up at the Lightning Lane queue and enter!

2. You No Longer Need Park Reservations for Date-Based Tickets

To manage capacity during post-pandemic times, Disney World implemented a Disney Park Pass reservation system that required all guests to reserve the park they planned to attend on each day of their vacation. However, as of Jan. 9, 2024, guests with date-based tickets no longer need to make Park Pass reservations!

Guests with other types of tickets and annual passholders may still need to make reservations for the day(s) of their visit. But annual passholders can keep an eye out for "Good-to-Go" days, which do not require reservations and are added periodically, days or weeks in advance. Annual passholders can also continue to visit without a park reservation after 2 p.m. unless visiting Magic Kingdom on a Saturday or Sunday.

3. All-Day Park Hopping Access Is Back

Also, as of Jan. 9, 2024, guests with Park Hopper tickets and annual passholders can visit another park at any time of the day (no more waiting until 2 p.m.!). Park hopping is still subject to capacity limitations (though this is most likely to hoppen only on the busiest of days, such as Christmas Day or New Year's Eve).

4. Limited-Time Summer Activities Are Coming to Theme Parks and Hotels

From May 27 to Sept. 1, 2025, be on the lookout for more family-friendly experiences in the theme parks and resorts! New kid zones are coming to Storybook Circus, Tomorrowland (including Stitch) and CommuniCore Hall. Characters will also be out early during Early Entry for resort hotel guests. Plus, at select hotels (Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach and Wilderness Lodge), there will be scheduled character visits and expanded itineraries filled with even more Disney-themed activities.

5. New Attractions Are Coming in the Near (& Far) Future

Planning a Disney World Trip - Disney Starlight Parade

Speaking of what's coming in the future, we have a lineup of attractions debuting in 2025, including:

Reimagined Test Track — late summer 2025
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away (nighttime parade) — summer 2025
Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After (live show) — May 27, 2025
The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure (live show) — May 27, 2025

Disney has also announced future projects that will break ground in 2025. Construction is expected to begin for a Cars Land expansion in Frontierland and Villains Land at Magic Kingdom, as well as Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom and Monsters, Inc. Land in Hollywood Studios.

TriceraTop Spin permanently closed Jan. 13, but DINOSAUR will remain open through 2025.
Grand Avenue will begin to close in phases starting in May, with Mama Melrose's last day on May 10. Then, PizzeRizzo and Muppet*Vision 3D will close June 8. Rock 'n' Roller Coaster will transition to a Muppets theme, but the date is still unknown.

While we're on the topic of construction, Big Thunder Mountain fans should know that the ride isn't going anywhere. However, it is scheduled for a lengthy refurbishment starting Jan. 6, 2025, and is not expected to reopen until 2026. Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin is also getting a major update — it will close in August 2025 and reopen sometime in 2026.

Hop over to our full post to see more of what's coming to Disney World!

6. Virtual Queues Are No Longer Needed for In-Demand Rides

As of Feb. 25, 2025, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Tiana's Bayou Adventure have transitioned to using a standby line instead of a virtual queue! Both rides are also available on the new Lightning Lane Passes, with Guardians available for an additional fee via Lightning Lane Single Pass, and Tiana's available as an option on the Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

7. Mobile Order Is a Must-Do

While it's not required, Mobile Order is all but a must-use for quick-service restaurants. No one wants to spend more time in line for a hot dog than for a ride! Thankfully, with Mobile Ordering at Disney World, you don't have to. It's pretty easy to set up Mobile Ordering using the My Disney Experience app, and we've got a full guide to walk you through it. (Psst ... on the app, you can also check table-service restaurants near you for walk-up availability!)

8. Check Out Special Events

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party are expected to return in 2025. Disney Jollywood Nights — which made its debut in 2023 — should also come back in 2025. If you're planning a Disney World trip around these events, keep in mind that hotels can fill up around these dates, so we'd highly recommend booking your stay in advance if you plan to attend.

Likewise, Disney World has been offering more After Hours events, which are a great way to wait in shorter lines AND beat the heat if you're up for a late Disney night. Did we mention unlimited Mickey ice cream bars?!

9. Both Water Parks Are Open This Summer

For the past several years, Disney's Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks have typically traded off which one is open (usually Blizzard Beach during the fall and winter months, and Typhoon Lagoon during the spring and summer months). But for the first time since 2019, both water parks will remain open from May 21 to Sept. 7, 2025!

Plus, Blizzard Beach is hitting a major milestone — 30 years of splashing fun — and the celebration kicks off April 1, 2025! This icy-cool water park is turning up the fun with a live DJ, surprise character appearances featuring Mickey and Minnie in their winter gear and even snowman bowling. Over at Cross Country Creek, guests can float along in special character-themed tubes. But the party doesn’t stop there! Throughout April, guests can enjoy dance parties, exclusive food and drinks and family-friendly games with themed prizes.

Following the month-long celebration, Blizzard Beach will close briefly between May 1 and May 20. Typhoon Lagoon will reopen starting May 1, 2025.

10. On-Site Guests Get Early (and Sometimes Late) Access

Early Magic Hours are gone, and in its place is the Early Theme Park Entry benefit. Early Theme Park Entry is available for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests and allows entry to any theme park 30 minutes before it opens to the public (the park you can visit aligns with your admission ticket). During busy times, such as the holidays and spring break, this may expand to a full hour. Deluxe and Villa resort guests also have access to Extended Evening Hours at select parks on select nights. If you're planning a Disney World trip, you may want to consider staying on-site to take advantage of these benefits.

11. And Hotel Guests Get A New Water Park Perk

That's right — on check-in day, Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests get free access to a Disney water park! This perk will run through the rest of 2025, and then return in summer 2026 (exact dates to be determined).

12. Now, More Than Ever, You Need to Plan Your Time in the Parks

It is perhaps more important than ever to have a plan when visiting the parks. At the very least, have all of your family members decide at the outset which rides are most important so that no one is left disappointed. If you want more direction than that, we frogs have Disney World park plans that consider these changes to help you plan your best day. We also created a hopful Jump Start Guide to help you get a leg up on your planning. If you're using Lightning Lane, this is especially important so you're ready to make your selections in advance.

13. Dining Plans Are BACK! And you can get a FREE kids dining plan for 2026 packages!

As a special offer throughout all of 2026, guests staying at a Walt Disney World hotel will get a free dining plan for kids (ages 3-9) when purchasing a dining plan for others in their party (ages 10 and up), as part of their Hotel + Ticket package. The kids' age is determined by how old they will be at the time of travel.

The free dining plan depends on the type of dining plan purchased — the Disney Dining Plan is included for kids ages 3-9 when you purchase a Disney Dining Plan for guests ages 10 and up. Likewise, the Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan is included for kids ages 3-9 when you purchase a Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan for guests ages 10 and up.

14. Set Your Alarm

There are a few key dates and times in the planning timeline to make note of:

60 days out: Advance Dining Reservations (for the full length of stay for on-site guests), starting at 6 a.m. ET
7 days out: On-site guests can purchase and make Lightning Lane selections for the full length of stay, starting at 7 a.m. ET
3 days out: Off-site guests can purchase and make Lightning Lane selections, starting at 7 a.m. ET. If you have date-based tickets, you can make reservations for the length of your ticket. Otherwise, you can select passes for any day within the 3-day purchase window.

15. Save BIG on Your Tickets and Hotel Stay

We frogs pride ourselves in saving you time and money! This means we can't round off this list without reminding you that we've got everyday discounts on Disney World tickets. Plus, at select times, you can save even more during promos such as special ticket offers for Florida Residents or even seasonal savings such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Want to bundle everything together? Undercover Tourist now offers vacation packages with park tickets, a hotel stay and optional dining plans! Plus, you can now secure your vacation package with only a $200 refundable deposit, and pay the remaining balance 30 days prior to your check-in date.

Are you ready for your next Disney World trip? Have a tip you think other vacationers would benefit from knowing when planning a Disney World trip? Share it in the comments below!

Keep hopping!

Tags: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, Walt Disney World, Disney World Vacation Package

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Mar 5, 2025 at 5:26 p.m.

TwostepCornbread Says...

So helpful!

Mar 5, 2025 at 5:26 p.m.

TwostepCornbread Says...

So helpful as someone who hasn’t been yet!

Apr 25, 2023 at 3:56 p.m.

Olivia Smart Says...

Thank you for explaining about MagicBands. My sister and I were talking about taking our families to Disney World this summer. I hadn't heard about these before, but I think that they could add to our experience.

Dec 27, 2022 at 4:36 p.m.

Bailey W Says...

I’m worried we booked the Friday/Sat if the upcoming marathon weekend. Friday at MK, Sat at HS. Is there anything we should avoid or think of timing wise?

Dec 27, 2022 at 12:10 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Bailey!

We'd recommend allowing for a little more travel times in the early morning - after about 10 things should settle down, and buses are pretty familiar with navigating around the expected road closures :)

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Dec 20, 2022 at 9:16 p.m.

Todd Says...

I'll be there in January for marathon weekend..wooohooooo

Jul 27, 2022 at 3:40 p.m.

Lauren Says...

Hi we are travelling from the U.K. and will be staying at a Universal hotel for Halloween with my mother, husband, 13 year old and 10 year old. I imagine the Universal evening will be too scary and Mickey's not so scary bash, is booked up. What would recommend we do, please?

Jul 28, 2022 at 2:54 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Lauren!

For the past couple of years, there have been a few daytime Halloween activities at Universal, including trick-or-treating in Islands of Adventure and a Scarecrow Stalk scavenger hunt. If you're open to other theme parks, SeaWorld Orlando and LEGOLAND Florida have Halloween events, as well.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Jul 20, 2022 at 11:46 a.m.

Christine Whiting Says...

Hi, we are coming in August and have gleaned so much information, but I’m wondering what your suggestion would be for grocery delivery to wilderness cabins would be? We are a family of 11 travelling from the UK.

Jul 21, 2022 at 1:34 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Christine!

You can opt for typical grocery delivery services (such as Instacart or Amazon Prime) or Garden Grocer, which exclusively serves guests staying at Disney Resort hotels. Additionally, the Cabins at Fort Wilderness offers its own delivery service! You would print out and select your items from a grocery order form. Then submit your order, along with your cabin reservation details, by email at [email protected], fax (407) 824-1221 or mail to Fort Wilderness Cabins, ATTN: Meadow Trading Post, 4510 North Fort Wilderness Trail, Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830-1000. You can find the details here under the "Come Home to Fresh Groceries" section!

Keep hopping!

Leap

Jun 3, 2022 at 10:09 p.m.

Donna England Says...

Hello, my family and I (8 of us total) are planning a trip to Disney in July. We are going to be doing 1 day at Magic Kingdom and 1 day at Animal Kingdom. We are taking my grandsons, and one of them will only be 2 yrs old, so we thought those parks would be good to keep him entertained.

We want to make this the absolute best days ever for our family. There is SO MUCH information online that it is overwhelming. Can you please provide some examples on what to do and where? We need a plan. Thanks in advance ☺

Jun 6, 2022 at 3:07 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Donna!

Lucky for you, we've got an entire blog! ;) It honestly depends on the preferences of the people in your party. We have a post about choosing the best Disney parks to visit that may help. We also just published a post about tips for visiting during the summer that you'll want to reference to make sure you've got all your ducks (or should I say frogs?) in a row. I'd also suggest taking a look at our park plans! These plans set up 1-Day itineraries for all of the Disney theme parks. And if you have an iPhone, you can also download our app where you can find the same park plans and even customize them for your family. Let us know if you have any other questions!

Keep hopping!

Leap

May 6, 2022 at 10:31 p.m.

Amanda Tuffley Says...

We are a family of 4. 2 adults and 2 children.

One of my daughters are currently going through chemotherapy treatments and as long as everything goes well???? we are planning on the week of July 4th getting four day theme park with water park option. This will be our once in a lifetime experience and just want to be absolutely sure on how to fully make the best of it !! i need some examples on what to do and where . also can we use the water park pass on diff days ?

May 11, 2022 at 4:19 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Amanda!

We're actually going to be posting a complete guide with tips about maximizing your time at Disney World real soon, so keep hopping back! You can go to the water park either on its own separate day or combine it with a theme park visit day.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Apr 10, 2022 at 8:15 p.m.

CV Says...

Bringing a family of 8 with a baby in the Fall for Halloween. Dates are flexible, but there is some confusion as to whether we can really make it happen at this date (we are told we are late). Contemplating whether to ditch or press forward (and we are FL residents). Any thoughts on this? Specifically want the after hours events........TIA

Apr 11, 2022 at 8:10 a.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi CV!

We still don't know the dates for the Halloween special event, so you are not too late with planning your trip! For now, we'd suggest you narrow down a tentative timeline and look into hotel and theme park reservation availability in the meantime. Last year, Disney After Hours Boo Bash took place on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. While we don't know if it will be the same days of the week, we hope it gives you an idea of what to expect. Keep hopping back for Halloween announcements!

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Feb 8, 2022 at 8:24 p.m.

Paul Says...

We are coming in Apr. I have heard that service levels are lower than usual due to staff shortages. Is this true? Hiw bad is it? What is the local outlook?

Feb 9, 2022 at 12:56 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Paul!

If you hoppen to be visiting before Easter (April 17), and even the week that follows Easter, it will be "spring break season" so you will likely experience elevated crowds. You can check out our Crowd Calendar to see our expected crowd levels.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Jan 5, 2022 at 7:41 p.m.

Kelly Says...

We’re going Feb. 28-March 5 and really hoping to get the new MagicBand+ that lights up, etc., before we go! Any word yet on the release date?

Jan 5, 2022 at 3:46 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Kelly!

We still haven't heard any announcements about the MagicBand+ release date, but we'll update once we know!

Keep hopping!

Leap

Jan 4, 2022 at 5:34 p.m.

Linda Self Says...

Myself and family are due to visit from the UK after a delay of two years . Our first visit I will have problems walking and standing for long periods as am awaiting knee replacement any helpful suggestions please

Jan 4, 2022 at 1 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Linda!

For potential mobility issues, we'd highly suggest renting a wheelchair while you're at the parks (and you can hop over to our guide about Using a Wheelchair at Disney World for more info and tips). Disney World does offer a DAS (Disability Access Service) program — however, it's designed to help guests with needs beyond limited mobility. That said, Disney assigns DAS on a case-by-case basis, so it couldn't hurt to check with guest relations to see if they can arrange DAS or alternative accommodations for you. Hope this helps!

Keep hopping!

Leap

Dec 28, 2021 at 6:52 p.m.

Sheila Says...

I just returned from WDW (December 2021) and I would like to add a “19th key thing” to know before you go. Do not expect to take home any really cool souvenirs commemorating the 50th Anniversary. I spent the day at MK (for my birthday) but couldn’t find a t-shirt anywhere! There were a few 50th anniversary clothing items that only fit XS, S and 3X women. Each store blamed the low/no supplies on shipping delays. No magnets, souvenir/history books, mugs or drinking glasses....which were standard purchases in years pass (I also visited during the 20th & 40th anniversaries). What they did have in stock was overpriced for the quality. I was very disappointed that there wasn't better planning to have items available just 10 days before Christmas. This was a big marketing mistake! On a brighter note: shopping was somewhat better at The World of Disney at Disney Springs. While they still didn’t have much selection for 50th anniversary items (still no mugs, magnets, t-shirts or books), they did have some really nice commemorative shopping bags ($3.00 for a large, $2.00 for a small) as well as other items that I found more interesting and worthwhile than what was at the MK park. Some of the popular items have a purchase limit (e.g., only 2 tins of peppermints per person), but at least I was able to buy some nice commemorative gifts.

Aug 21, 2021 at 7:59 p.m.

KTeach Says...

Hi- we are traveling to Disney World this winter. My son has a cognitive impairment and will wear a mask only for a brief time (is vaccinated). I’m wondering if you have any info on if they will allow him indoors at all- if nothing changes with the mask restrictions?

Thank you.

Aug 23, 2021 at 10:48 a.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi KTeach!

Currently, there are no exceptions for face mask policies (though these have been changing as CDC recommendations change, so we'd recommend continuing to check back!).

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Aug 20, 2021 at 3 p.m.

Tracy Says...

Am I reading everything correctly, if you don’t have a mobile device, you cannot get around WDW Resort? My parents do not own a smartphone, nor do they want too, so now have to stay at home,I guess. I have tried looking for an answer, but all I keep coming across is, you need a mobile device, for rooms, attractions and food! Any advice?

Aug 20, 2021 at 10:49 a.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Tracy!

It is definitely possible to go without a smartphone - the experience would just be a little different! You can enter the parks using a physical Keys to the World card (as well as your hotel room) and standby lines remain available. The one aspect they might be left out of is accessing a virtual queue for Rise of the Resistance, which we would recommend they chat with Guest Relations about during their trip to see what options may be available to them. Smartphones are a definite enhancement to the trip, but it is still possible to go without :) We hope this helps!

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Jan 5, 2022 at 1:08 a.m.

AIMEE DELEPHIMNE Says...

It may be a bit late to share this info, but technically only one person in the party needs a "smart phone". All the tickets can be linked to that one person's account in the app. That person then selects which ticket holders want to be included in a lightening lane. We just returned from Disneyland this weekend and that's how it worked there. Currently, DL and DCA aren't offering virtual queues for Rise of yhe Resistance or for Spiderman, but i don't know about WDW. For pictures, the photographers I *think* can still give the picture card to link in the app later.

Jan 5, 2022 at 8:05 a.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Aimee!

It's never too late to share :) You are absolutely correct that only one person in the party needs a smartphone (and even if no one does, it can still be possible by using Keys to the World cards, though a little trickier if riding an attraction that is using a virtual queue). So if someone does not have a smartphone but is in a party with at least one person who does, they should be fine! As far as virtual queues go, Disney World is currently using one for Remy's Ratatouille Adventure (through Jan. 10), but Rise off the Resistance has switched to standby.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Aug 5, 2021 at 5:10 p.m.

Paul Says...

Once my undercover tourist park hopper ticket is used, must it be used on consecutive days? Or can a day be skipped?

Aug 5, 2021 at 3:34 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Paul!

This can vary depending on the type of ticket that you purchased - with park hoppers, there's generally a window of use, and days may not have to be used consecutively within that window. Give us a call at 1 (800) 846-1302, and we'll be hoppy to give you specifics on your purchase! :)

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Jun 29, 2021 at 4:09 p.m.

Robyn Says...

Normally, the beginning to mid-December is an ideal time to go because there are less crowds. Do you anticipate that will be the same for this year?

Jun 29, 2021 at 12:48 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Robyn!

It's hard to say for sure what the crowds will look like for the remainder of the year. With things returning to normal and pent-up demand for travel (plus, the 50th Anniversary Celebration going on), it could very well be busier than usual. But it will still likely be less crowded than the week of Thanksgiving and the second half of December.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Jun 20, 2021 at 10:36 p.m.

Tammy Baumann Says...

We are going to WDW for the first time September 13-18, 2022. We are looking for a recommendation for dinner that will allow us to watch the fireworks. Thank you.

Jul 18, 2021 at 1:35 p.m.

Terry Says...

Just came back two weeks ago. My wife and have been going to WDW for over 30 years. There are now only FastPasses for people with medical conditions in which they can not stand for long periods. This is the first time that we have been to WDW without the FastPass system for everyone. Until Disney returns or puts in a new system sadly we will not return. With 2 and 3 hour wait times for the most popular attractions it makes for a very long day. We calculated that we spent 71% of our time in line at the parks. Even Disney Springs .. 1 hour to get into The LEGO Store and 2.5 hours for The World of Disney. For mask only required on Disney transportation..boat, bus, monorail or skyline ( love the skyline a game changer). But waiting in line for attractions, restaurants or shopping no need. On the 4th of July at Disney Springs there were so many people you could not move.

Jun 21, 2021 at 8:43 a.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Tammy!

For Magic Kingdom fireworks, three popular restaurants for fireworks viewing are California Grill (Disney's Contemporary Resort — temporarily closed but could reopen after fireworks return), 'Ohana (Disney's Polynesian Resort) and Narcoossee's (Disney's Grand Floridian Resort). Though they're outside of the park and you wouldn't be able to see the castle projections, the music is usually piped in. If you'd like to dine inside the park, then your best options would be Plaza Restaurant, Crystal Palace or Casey's Corner (temporarily closed but could reopen after fireworks return). At EPCOT, we'd suggest Rose and Crown Dining Room, La Hacienda de San Angel (or La Cantina de San Angel) and Spice Road Table.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Jun 15, 2021 at 4:04 p.m.

Steve Says...

Any chance the dates on previously purchased tickets will be extended again? We planned on going in April 2020 and had a 4 day park hopper (purchased thru UT), but obviously that didn't happened. We are going in early Jan 2022 and was hoping they would just extend the date, or should we just use the value and pay the difference in price now? Thanks.

Jul 19, 2021 at 10:44 a.m.

Kibi mackay Says...

how are the two girl name

Jun 15, 2021 at 1:04 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Steve!

Please give us a call at 1 (800) 846-1302 — we're hoppy to help!

Keep hopping!

Leap

Jun 15, 2021 at 12:08 p.m.

Stephany B Says...

Hello! We drive out June 25th For WDW. We are staying at all star movies. Any transportation advice? We will have our own car. Should we use resort buses or drive our car? How early should we arrive at each park? Thanks!

Jun 15, 2021 at 1:41 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Stephany!

Usually the parking lots open and transportation services begin an hour before each of the parks open, so if you want to be one of the early birds, we'd suggest leaving for the parks as early as then. We like the convenience and reliability of having our own car — though if the line isn't too long, we prefer bus over personal car when going to Magic Kingdom because the bus station is much closer to the park entrance (if you drive, you have to park at the Transportation and Ticket Center, and then take the monorail or ferry boat). Hope this helps!

Keep hopping!

Leap

Jun 13, 2021 at 9:10 p.m.

Scott Seal Says...

My wife and I will find ourselves in Orlando June 24-28. We don't have Disney tickets or reservations, but were hoping to be able to ride the monorail around to some of the resorts as was possible in years past. Is this possible anymore? Will we need dining reservations or something to pull this off? I really hope this is still a thing that can happen.

Jun 14, 2021 at 2:12 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Scott!

Anyone can still ride Disney transportation. The issue lately has been the inability to park at a Disney Resort hotel unless you're an overnight guest or you have a dining reservation at the hotel. So if you're not entering and parking at the theme parks, you would need alternative plans for parking.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Jun 7, 2021 at 4:06 p.m.

Tiff Says...

Hey! We are headed to Magic kingdom this weekend and was wondering if y’all knew the times for the character parades?! Where is the best place to see characters?

Thanks!!

Jun 7, 2021 at 11:15 a.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Tiff,

The cavalcades don't have any set times, as they hoppen sporadically throughout the day. (In the My Disney Experience app, you can use the search function to look up each cavalcade, and it will show the timeframes of when they may appear.) They still go down the normal parade route, so you can see them in Frontierland, Liberty Square, Main Street, U.S.A and in front of Cinderella Castle. There are also some characters that can randomly pop up anywhere. For instance, you may see Stitch and Buzz Lightyear at the stage in Tomorrowland or the Country Bears atop Country Bear Jamboree, so keep an eye out!

Keep hopping!

Leap

Feb 17, 2021 at 10:41 p.m.

lydia zappia Says...

stopped going to disney a while back, but LOVE

Knotts Berry Farm!!! They are really trying hard to keep their guests happy!!! KNOTTS ALL THE WAY!!!

Feb 13, 2021 at 4:12 a.m.

Amanda Says...

I agree with the magic being gone. The cast members have gone from saying “we hope you have a magical day” to “your mask is slightly sliding down on the left side. Correct it or we will throw you out. “ Everybody is doing the best we can with trying to keep the masks on the little ones.

Feb 3, 2021 at 11:40 p.m.

kami p Says...

February 3, 2021

I am not sure if we are the only ones, but with a recent visit to Disney 1/25/21 to 1/29/21, we have discovered the disillusionment with Disney. We are avid Disney travelers, and feel that Disney had “it” for several years. But this year was different. I understand the abnormal normal, but what I do not understand is the greed Disney has…especially in the times where they are depending on their consumers to keep them out of the hole. Not only have we lost all of the entertainment, but the magic was gone. We stayed at Art of Animation and were hugely disappointed. The main pool was down, dining was poor at best (we had to order a coke and cupcake and wait for over 20 mins to have them bring it to us), the food choices were terrible, the staff was minimal, the cleanliness was questionable, the transportation was awful, the prices were raised and were exorbitant, and the experiences were minimal.

What I do not understand is why the public keeps allowing Disney to operate this way, and not only allows it, but flocks to Disney. The prices go up and up every year, and people keep paying it. We are heading down to the Disney area the end of Feb for a pool weekend of relaxation, and we were ready to stay at a Disney resort, however, has anyone checked out the prices of Disney resorts lately? Since when did Pop Century have a min. of a $200 a night charge? I would never pay $200 a night to stay at a value resort, especially that has no amenities and terrible food!! When are we going to say enough is enough? I think my family is finally saying enough is enough. We will put our money elsewhere to serve the economy better, not a greedy company who keeps giving less and less, but charging more and more for it. The magic of Disney is wearing off fast, and I hope others start to see that… then maybe changes may be able to be made. Disney has no way where the consumer can constructively give criticism. There is no way to voice the publics opinion. Since when did paying $4 for a bottle of water become right?

I am waking up!!

Feb 14, 2021 at 10:37 p.m.

CGFNE Says...

Agreed! Our last encounter with Disney was a Disney cruise in Sept 2019. We had to cancel our 2020 Disneyland plans and just rebooked a stay at WDW for 2021. While I understand that things are different, restricted, and entertainment is curbed right now for the safety of all, I don't understand why Disney would charge for services that they do not have right now. We always stay in concierge level rooms at Disneyland, their cruises, etc. so I know what the prices usually are and the fluctuations through peaks seasons, etc. I would think since there are ZERO club level services right now that the prices for those rooms would reflect that, but they do not. Why would I pay for a service that I'm not receiving? I love Disney and would go just for the rides alone, but, not at the same price as pre-COVID, when you also had the ambience (which is really what made things magical), the wonderful Disney cast members (also part of the magic), and the rest of the magic (close encounters with characters, fireworks, the shows, etc.), with ALL of that gone, why pay the same price? If I'm only going for the rides then I expect the cost to be on par with other amusement parks that we used to frequent, Knotts, Six Flags, Universal, Sea World, and any other parks where the primary draw is the rides. I was always willing to pay more for the Disney "magic" factor, but once that's gone, what are we paying for? Again, I don't mind paying, but the pay should match the service and that is not the case right now. I see the business side of the coin, they want to stay open, keep the cast employed (some at least), help the economy, but this isn't the way to go, at least not for fans. I feel like for Disney fans, it's not worth the decrease in quality. It's like having to watch a pro-athlete come back to play too soon from an injury just to sell some tickets and gravely underperform. I'd rather just wait and shell out the bucks when they're back to 100%. I don't want the 50%, sub par, non-magical Disney, I don't want the disappointment of that after so many years of "the magic". I want the magic back just as much as the next Disney fan and I would pay handsomely for it, like I always have, but not like this. After literally growing up with Disney (minutes away from Disneyland), what they're putting out right now is sad. I'm disappointed but also sad for Disney. My daughters quinceanera event was planned at Disney for 2020 and we had to cancel it, that was disappointing, but I don't think I would have wanted her to have an experience any less magical than all of her previous Disney experiences, especially not on such a special day for her. My apologies for the long reply, but I can't wait for Disney to return to the Disney that we all know and love.

Jun 22, 2021 at 7:22 p.m.

David Says...

This is going to sound like I work for Disney but I promise I don't. What I do understand is the world of hospitality as a former executive member at a high end country club for five years. The world and everything in it is SO tough right now and complaining about all of these things like waiting 20 minutes for a soda, which could happen with or without Covid, really goes to show your privilege. Every single restaurant, hotel, airline, etc. is dying for labor right now - it's just simply not there. Then once you hire, it's a rush to train and get them on the floor, ride, hotel, etc. It's NOT easy by any means. It's a process - especially for Disney as I'm sure their training is much more significant in order to keep that "magic" that you talk about. For example, did you know that Disney staff is trained to never point with one finger? It's always two or more. It's literally the smallest details that they train their staff for. The ones that are working are doing their very best, I am sure of it. So please just be considerate of the world around you and maybe think about how people are really trying, and Disney, who employs tens of thousands of people globally, if not hundreds of thousands, are trying their best to keep their doors open and provide the jobs that also help keep the economy going and people like YOU who are traveling and trying to enjoy your privileged life while they're trying to put food on the table for their families. That is all.

Jun 25, 2021 at 4:27 p.m.

Lisa Says...

Very well said David!

Dec 7, 2020 at 1:38 a.m.

Stephanie Embry Says...

Good to know information. Thanks!

Dec 7, 2020 at 1:38 a.m.

S embry Says...

Good to know information...thanks!

Dec 2, 2020 at 8:56 p.m.

Christie Madsen Says...

I'm looking forward to the 50th celebrations!