Disney in 2024: What’s Coming to Disney Parks and the Disney Cruise Line
We recently looked back on our 2023 Disney vacations. Today, it’s time to look forward to all the changes coming to Disney Parks and the Cruise Line in 2024. We can’t wait to go back!
Walt Disney World
Park passes are dead!
Well, not for everyone. But if you hold a date-based ticket (the most common type of Disney park ticket), you won’t have to make a park reservation to gain entry into any of the four Walt Disney World parks beginning January 9. Annual Passholders and Cast Members still need to play by the Covid-era rules, except on “good-to-go” days, which start no earlier than January 11. Honestly, there are just too many rules. The park passes need to go away for everyone, especially considering…
Guests no longer need to wait until 2 PM to park hop!
This is my favorite rule change for the coming year. And it’s the GIGANTIC loophole to the above park pass rule. As long as you’re willing to scan into your reserved park, you can make a U-turn and head to the park you really want to go to (but couldn’t get a pass for) immediately. I mean, come on.
Caveat: there is the possibility that you’ll be denied entry into the second park if it is at capacity. This will rarely be an issue, especially earlier in the day.
Dining Plan returns
This is a big deal for lots of Disney fans. We wrote all about it a while back.
Genie+ might become less stressful
I’m not a fan of Genie+. We rarely use it. First, we don’t want to wake up at 7 AM every day of our vacation to try to grab that first Lightning Lane. And we really don’t want to have our faces glued to our phones all day trying to grab more. It’s manic. We’d rather wake up late and ride our favorites before the parks close. And save money.
But some of the Genie+ stress might be going away. Disney floated the possibility of allowing guests to book rides and attractions before their vacations begin. Just like we could when FastPasses were a thing. I’m all for this change. I might actually pay for it.
Okay, let’s talk about the fun stuff now.
Magic Kingdom
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be opening in late 2024 summer 2024. This ride is a re-theming of Splash Mountain, a change that has upset many Disney faithful. I’ve only seen two pictures of the ride’s interior, so I’ll reserve judgment until I go down that awesome final drop the first time. But I think I’m going to love it. Splash Mountain was great. Tiana’s will be, too.
Current view of Tiana's Bayou Adventure above the fence line. pic.twitter.com/R7ZjM5mQK6
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) December 31, 2023
Country Bear Musical Jamboree
Disney announced in September that the Country Bear Musical Jamboree is coming to Grizzly Hall in Frontierland. This replacement for “Country Bear Jamboree” is probably long overdue, but once again, not everyone is happy about it. This attraction has not aged well. At all. Some of the “ear-opening” lyrics in the current show would never make it into a Disney Park today.
There was blood on the saddle,
Big Al
And blood all around,
And a great big puddle
Of blood on the ground.
Change is hard, but we always have YouTube.
EPCOT
CommuniCore Hall and Plaza
Five years after it was announced, CommuniCore Hall and Plaza will open in 2024. This is the final piece to the World Celebration project. CommuniCore will include a demo kitchen and mixology bar, as well as a character meet-and-greet space called Mickey & Friends.
Hollywood Studios
Ariel is coming back to Hollywood Studios
We wrote about this last month, but to recap, Disney has announced the lights will once again go on in the Animation Courtyard Theater in Hollywood Studios. The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure is replacing the long-closed Voyage of the Little Mermaid.
Ahsoka is coming to Star Tours
After the success of the Ahsoka series on Disney+, it’s no surprise the character is being added to the Star Tours storyline at Disney World, Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. We love Star Tours for its throwback feel and short lines.
Disneyland
Haunted Mansion grounds
The West Coast’s Haunted Mansion grounds will be reimagined this year.
The stately grounds of the Haunted Mansion will expand with a spirited metamorphosis at Disneyland Resort next year. In 2024, the additions will build on the story and lore of the Haunted Mansion and include an expanded outdoor queue to immerse guests in enhanced theming, as well as a new retail shop adjacent to the attraction’s exit.
Disney Parks Blog
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Disneyland will also open its own Tiana’s later this year. The concept makes more sense in Disneyland than it does in Disney World (it’s located right down the hill from New Orleans Square).
Star Tours and Ahsoka
As I mentioned above, Disneyland’s Star Tours will also be receiving an Ahsoka storyline.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Treasure debuts
The Disney Treasure will set sail in December 2024. This sister ship to the Disney Wish will include some unique spaces and restaurants, like the Haunted Mansion Parlor.
Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
Disney Cruise ships will begin sailing to DCL’s second island in 2024. Concept art for this island is a big departure from what we’re used to seeing on Castaway Cay.
Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point offers a window into the rich culture, warm hospitality and breathtaking natural beauty of The Bahamas. Dig your toes into the blush-sand shoreline, dive into the vivid blue waters and be mesmerized by stunning vistas of the shimmering Caribbean Sea, stretching endlessly into the horizon.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney’s 2024 looks promising, but I think we’ll see much bigger changes in the years to come.
