There’s no doubt about it — whether you’re a casual Disney fan or your personal motto is “all Disney evvvvverything,” keeping up with the many Disney World changes and updates can be tricky!

Well, the good news is that we’re here to help with all the important 2024 Disney date deets to make your future visits a little easier! Here are some of the dates you should definitely be aware of if you’re planning to visit the parks and resorts in 2024.

NOTE: We’ll update this article when new dates and experiences are announced!

Dates We Know

January is obviously a huge month for Disney fans, as in addition to all this, Disney also recently announced that sometime in January, passholders will have access to “good to go days.” Here’s the deal on what that means: basically, the theme park reservation calendar is going to be updated periodically to show passholders days when they can visit Disney World WITHOUT a Park Pass reservation. 

It’s important to note that blockout dates will still apply, but if the Park Pass reservation system has been giving you headaches since its summer 2020 implementation, this, my friends, is a definite win!

Check out more info about the Park Pass reservation system updates HERE!

January 3-7, 2024: Disney World Marathon Weekend

This is a big weekend for runDisney participants, as many different races (including a 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon) will take place, all in the Disney World area! These are undoubtedly cool events bringing lots of awesome Disney fans together, but they will definitely make the parks way more crowded after the races end, so these dates are important to keep in mind so you can decide for yourself if visiting during this time works for you!

Insider’s tip: if you’re not participating in the races but you decide to visit on a RunDisney day, visit in the morning while the runners are resting after their race or changing for a fun day at the park! You’ll get some premium ride time in, and you’ll be oh-so glad you did!

January 10th: After Hours Events Return to Disney World

Disney After Hours is a special ticketed event that allows only a limited number of people to stay in the parks for three extra hours after park close. Starting in January 2024, you’ll be able to have access to the parks after hours with lower wait times and complimentary treats. You’ll get to see Cinderella Castle and Spaceship Earth twinkling under the night sky for an additional three hours! Yep, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT are all getting new dates for Disney After Hours Events.

These events will take place starting January 11th through April 8th, 2024 in Magic Kingdom from 10PM to 1AM. Over at Hollywood Studios, you can stay late from 9:30PM to 12:30 AM starting January 10th through April 10th, 2024. And EPCOT will host the events from 10PM to 1AM starting February 2nd through April 4, 2024. All three parks will let you start your visit at 7PM for even extra excitement!

Click HERE for the full list of dates and prices for Disney After Hours!

January 12 – February 19, 2024: EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

This EPCOT Festival — the park’s first in the calendar year celebrates three artistic disciplines: the Culinary, Visual, and Performing Arts.

While we await more details on next year’s festivals, check out our favorite eats from 2023. You can watch our video right here!

February 22-26, 2024: runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend

Speaking of Disney marathons, a really fun weekend of races with super cute theming comes through Disney at the end of February: the RunDisney Princess Half Marathon! 

The 2024 event consists of four different races themed after some of your favorite Disney princesses: Ariel, Rapunzel, Tiana, and an Anna/Elsa 2-day combo, because they complete each other, y’all! Note that guests can also join the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon virtually! Once again, be sure to keep in mind the traffic around the parks this weekend whether you run or not, as it very well could be major!

Find more info about the Disney Princess Half Marathon HERE!

Here’s EVERYTHING we know about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure so far!

Star Tours Ride Update

Speaking of seriously awesome rides, another fan favorite is getting updated again soon: Star Tours! That’s right, last month at Destination D23, Disney announced that they plan to add some new, exciting scenes to the ride in spring 2024 to include Ahsoka! These updates will also be made at Disneyland and Disneyland Paris, as well as Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 

We can’t wait to experience exactly what these updates consist of, and we’ll keep you posted when more info is shared!

Check out more about Genie + HERE!

The Opening of Cake Bake Shop on Disney World’s Boardwalk

Originally expected to open in late 2023, Cake Bake Shop, the seriously charming spot expected to serve sweet and savory menus as well as afternoon tea, has been excitedly anticipated by visitors to the Boardwalk. Disney recently pushed the opening date to 2024, and it can’t get here fast enough!

Construction on the restaurant is in progress, and we’ll definitely keep you posted when more info is shared! In the meantime, we’ll be dreaming dreams of champagne and cream puffs!

Check out our interview with Cake Bake Shop owner Gwendolyn Rogers!

Country Bear Jamboree Changes

They’re up there with Winnie the Pooh in terms of our all-time favorite bears, and in 2024, the Country Bears will open a brand new show! Don’t worry, they’ll still be singing their same songs over at Country Bear Jamboree, but they’ll add some new styles to the mix in tribute to the classic variety shows of Nashville — that’s right, our bears will take on country, rockabilly, and bluegrass as well as a new version of “Bare Necessities,” which is worth the visit alone!

This was one of the changes Disney announced last month at Destination D23, and while no specific dates have been announced yet, we couldn’t help but get excited! We’ll keep you posted when more info is shared!

Check out more info on the new Country Bears Jamboree HERE!

March-July 2024: EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival

The Flower and Garden Festival is an absolute highlight of Spring in Walt Disney World, and has been since it began in 1994. The 2023 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival was held March 1st through July 5th! 

This spring and summer festival features beautiful topiaries featuring Disney characters, outdoor kitchens serving up seasonal treats from around the globe, and the Garden Rocks concert series.

Check out the best eats at the 2023 Flower and Garden Festival!

July-November 2024: EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival

The EPCOT Food and Wine Festival is a regular Disney World crowd favorite, and boasts over 25 Global Marketplace booths. This year, the popular event will run from July 27th through November 18th and also includes a Concert series as well as other family-friendly activities. If you haven’t been, you’ll definitely want to mark your calendar, especially if food + wine + Disney is your jam!

The festival often includes not only delicious (and we mean delicious!) food and beverages, but also visits from celebrity chefs, culinary and beverage demonstrations, and grand tasting events, bringing Disney fans and food lovers visit this festival from all over the world. Can you blame them?

Check out photos of the booths’ food and menus from this year’s event HERE!

September-October 2024: Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month

This year, Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month has been an absolute delight — not to mention absolutely delish — including special appearances by some of our favorite Disney characters like Mirabel in Magic Kingdom and limited-time food items like the Passion Fruit Tres Leches at Port Orleans French Quarter Resort and the Encanto Cupcake at Animal Kingdom.

The celebration ran from September 15th through October 15th at both Disney World and Disneyland, and we expect it to return next year around the same time with even more surprises!

Check out our review of the Mango-Chamoy Funnel Cake at Epic Eats!

August-November 2024: Halloween/Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

It’s the most…wonderful time…of the year! Well, it is for those of us who been celebrating Halloween since the 5th of July, anyway! Seriously, Halloween at Disney World is a whole mood and we’re totally here for it! This year’s season has included special character meet and greets and spooky (and sometimes sweet!) snacks, as well as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which is a must for all ages! Not only is there trick or treating at various locations around Magic Kingdom as well as the opportunity to visit your favorite rides, but it’s one of the only times guest 14 and over can visit the park in costume (there are rules though, so make sure you know them). This year the party is running on select nights between August 11th-November 1st, and it includes a Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular and a Halloween fireworks show, Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular. 

Note: this is a separate ticketed event, and it sells out quickly! So when ticket sales open, be prepared to act fast! Also, if you’re taking little ones for the first time, be sure to plug in some nap and/or rest time late in the afternoon before the event starts. The event usually runs until the park closes at midnight, and trust us, it’s a lot more fun when the crankiest monsters aren’t the ones you’re pushing around in strollers!

Check out Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle in costume as the Sanderson sisters HERE!

November-December 2024: Holidays at Disney World/Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

The holidays are undoubtedly a special time at Disney World — if you thought it was impossible for Disney to get even more magical, you haven’t visited at Christmas, and you definitely should! The holiday season typically brings new seasonal food items, special character appearances, holiday overlays on your favorite rides (oh, hello, Space Mountain: Holiday Run!), and of course, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!  This party is a super fun seasonal Magic Kingdom event which also requires a separate ticket, and in 2023, it will run on select nights from November 9th to December 22nd. 

One of the highlights we’re looking forward to is the Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show!

Check out more about the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas HERE!

November-December 2024: EPCOT International Festival of Holidays

Not gonna lie, we’re really looking forward to this one! EPCOT International Festival of Holidays is an opportunity for park guests to experience holiday traditions from around the world all at World Showcase. It’s honestly such a cool, unique experience — it’s basically like Food and Wine Festival, holiday edition! — and it includes special events, music, and cuisine presented in food booths that are called “food kitchens” during the season.

This year’s festival is taking place from November 24th through December 30th, and we can’t wait! Honestly, we could only be more excited if they tell us the cookie stroll is coming back, because having an opportunity to eat cookies from several different locations and then turn in the evidence to win a prize is the kind of fun we’re looking for in 2024!

Click HERE to see the 2023 Holiday Kitchens menus

November-December 2024: EPCOT Candlelight Processional

Lastly, mark your calendars for what is one of the most visually beautiful and meaningful events of the Disney World holiday season: The EPCOT Candelight Processional! This event is the retelling of the Christmas story by celebrity narrators (this year’s group includes Eva Longoria, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, and Audra MacDonald) accompanied by a choir, orchestra, herald trumpets, and the Voices of Liberty.

Candlelight Processional

Which 2024 events are you most looking forward to? Tell us in the comments!

The post 2024 Dates You Should Definitely Know NOW If You’re A Disney World Fan first appeared on the disney food blog.