All four of the Walt Disney World theme parks have reopened, but there are definitely some big changes to consider before your next visit.
Upon reopening, Disney World implemented a number of changes including the suspension of park hopping, parades, fireworks, and character meet-and-greets. However, since then, Disney has been reinstating multiple experiences across the parks, including park hopping, fireworks, character cavalcades, and higher capacities. And, now with Disney World’s 50th anniversary transforming the property, that means other features like Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours are back too! Still, the parks aren’t ENTIRELY back to normal and look different than the Disney World we’ve known in the past.
With all of these changes, who is Walt Disney World for right now? These are the guests most likely to find a Disney World trip to be “worth it” at the moment.
Annual Passholders
With the current limitations, some guests might question whether it’s worth the cost of admission, as they could get more out of a Disney World vacation at a later date. However, Annual Passholders don’t have to weigh the cost of a daily ticket, since they’ve already made the investment in their Pass.
Granted, Annual Passholders were given the option to request a refund for their Passes at one point — which may have been a tempting offer for some, especially given the high demand for Disney Park Pass reservations which are required for entry. But for Annual Passholders who did decide to keep their Pass, it may have been easier to justify a visit to Disney World, since they don’t have to shell out for a daily Park ticket at a time when not all experiences are available.
Of course, we know many Passholders are finding the Disney Park Pass system and the suspension of Park Hoppers to be true deal-breakers for them, so as with all of the entries on this list, we know it won’t apply across the board.
However, now the entire Annual Pass system has been changed in Disney World! There are now four tiers of passes that fit various budgets. Still, it’s important to note that Annual Pass sales are limited, and not everyone will be able to buy each tier. Unlike past Annual Pass options, some features (like water parks and sports access) aren’t be included, and other features (like PhotoPass) cost an additional fee.
Ticket holders can upgrade their tickets to the new Annual Passes, if they so choose. And, we have your most-asked questions about how the new Annual Pass system works here, as well as a full break-down here of everything you need to know!
Florida Residents
Between the reduced travel time and cost, it may also make more sense for Florida residents to visit Disney World at the moment. Especially those who live within driving distance of the World!
Since Florida residents are eligible for discounts on tickets, the daily cost for a day in the Park is less than that of an average guest. It might be difficult for an out-of-state guest to justify spending $100+ per day on a Park ticket, plus the cost of travel and lodging. But since Florida residents can save on tickets while also spending less time and money traveling to Disney World, the price tag for their visit could be “worth it” even with the current restrictions.
Plus, Florida Residents have access to all four tiers of the new Annual Pass system, whereas out-of-state guests only have access to one. So, that allows this group of guests to limit the amount they spend on tickets throughout the year, as well!
Repeat Disney World Guests
Parties planning a trip to Disney World may not want to do so right this second since the 50th anniversary celebrations will last 18 months, the crowds will be pretty big, and new experience will open throughout the year. But, if you typically visit Disney World multiple times a year and know that you’ll be back again soon, now is actually a great time to go!
Since Disney World will be introducing LOTS of attractions, restaurants, shows, and more over the next year and a half, there will most likely be something new each time you visit! Sometimes, going to Disney when things look the same can be a little monotonous, so it’s absolutely an exciting time to be there and experience the parks for the 10th time or the hundredth time during the big 50th anniversary.
People Who Love the Rides
The majority of the World’s rides are operating, and since the reopening, wait times have been shorter than pre-closure for the most part. But, Disney World is also in the midst of debuting brand NEW attractions as well! Starting October 1st, you’ll find attractions like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT. Still, there are even more to come with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, TRON: Lightcycle Power Run, and the Princess and the Frog reimagining of Splash Mountain. So, if you’re all about the rides in Disney World, you’ll be happy to see your old favorites and newbies on the way!
The reopening of Disney World definitely brought along some huge changes. While these differences might be deal-breakers for some, a visit to the Parks might still be “worth it” for others!
The BIG reasons to visit Disney World for the 50th anniversary!
Who do you think Disney World is for right now? Let us know in the comments!
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We visit yearly, so we did go go last week, just to experience the low crowds and enjoy DHS since we haven’t been for a few years. We are ride people, so it was worth it for us do ride everything in MK and DHS.
I have a trip coming up in a few weeks and I am staying on property. I am looking forward to the smaller crowds. I see this visit as another new adventure that hasn’t previously been done. I will miss the fireworks and character meet and greets but am happy about the cavalcades so I can still see the characters and get photos. This is not my first visit. When I lived in Florida, I visited during the Florida discount days. This will be my third visit where i actually on property.
We are annual pass holders who live 6 hours away. So we always stay at resorts. Since we have resort reservations we have never had trouble getting the park pass we want. So for us, the much shorter wait times easily make up for the shorter park hours. We often visit for short trips in fall/winter and a long multi resort trip in summer. We do miss the fireworks and some restaurants, but go often enough that we don’t mind under these circumstances. For now we are going ahead with our fall trips, the AP hotel discount was fantastic. If the shows are not back by next summer, we will definitely be rethinking that trip. So for us we are still quite pleased. I can imagine, if you are local and used to just waking up and deciding to go, you would be frustrated.