Things change pretty regularly in Disney World, so it’s hard to keep up with everything going on!

But, that’s why we’re here — we keep up with EVERYTHING so we can tell you about it without you having to hunt down all of that specific info on your own. What’s closed, what’s open, what’s new, what’s gone forever — we’ve got you covered. If you’re going to Disney World soon, it’s important to know about some things that might be different compared to the last time you visited. So, let’s break down what you need to know!

The Most Current Updates to Disney Genie

Disney Genie was introduced in October of 2021 at Disney World and has seen several changes since it debuted. If you’re unfamiliar with the service we have the ULTIMATE guide for you that you can check out right here. But, it’s basically a tool that you can use through your My Disney Experience app to help you plan your day. Disney Genie is free, but Disney Genie+ is not.

Disney Genie+ is a part of Genie and it’s what replaced the FastPass system at Disney World. It started out being $15 per day, per person. But now, there is surge pricing for the service. So, if you’re going to the parks on a more popular day, it could cost you more — like $22 per person, depending on the day. And, you can’t purchase Genie+ until the day of your park ticket, so there’s no  planning in advance involved here (unless you count buying it at midnight advanced planning).

We’ve seen the prices fluctuate, but you can pretty much count on the service being more than $15 if you’re going on very popular days, like around big holidays. Make sure you leave some flexibility in your budget if you want the option to buy the service!

Genie+ lets you make reservations for the Lightning Lanes of rides, which are the old FastPass lanes. So, you essentially get to skip the normal line. You can only hold one reservation at a time, unless you take advantage of that 120-minute rule and stacking reservations, which you can find out more about here.

The rides offered on Genie+ do NOT include all of the rides in Disney World, but it is a pretty big list. The list has also changed since the service first debuted. First of all, the super popular rides were not initially included on Genie+. They were only available as Individual Attraction Selections, which means you would have to purchase access to their Lightning Lanes individually. Some of the popular rides are still in that category, but others have been added to Genie+.

For example, Expedition Everest, Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Space Mountain, and Minnie & Mickey’s Runaway Railway are ALL available through Genie+ now, meaning you gain access to make reservations for all of them with the purchase of Genie+.

The rides that remain Individual Attraction Selections are Flight of Passage, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Rise of the Resistance. Keep in mind that the pricing for the individual Lightning Lanes can go up or down depending on demand as well.

We want to specifically talk about Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, too, since it’s a newer ride. The ride opened in the spring of 2022 and does NOT have an actual standby line — only a virtual line. It’s the only ride in Disney World still using the virtual line boarding pass system like Rise of the Resistance used to use.

So, the only way to get on the ride is to snag a boarding pass (read more about that here) or to pay for an individual Lightning Lane.

Click here to learn more about Disney Genie!

What’s Recently Reopened & Returned

Many things have been reopening and returning to Disney World in the past several months, so let’s talk about what’s back! First of all, character meet and greets have returned back to normal, meaning you can hug characters, get your picture right next to them, and get their autographs. Not ALL of the character meet and greets are back, but a lot of them are.

Character dining has also returned to a bunch of places! Crystal Palace, ‘Ohana, Cape May Cafe, and more all have their character meals again. And, at places who had character meals return before that, the characters can now interact with you like normal again.

Buffets are back, too! A lot of spots have shifted from family-style meals back to their original buffets, like Hollywood & Vine, Tusker House, and Crystal Palace. And, some spots reopened with their buffets, like Boma.

Full restaurants have been reopening in Disney World, too. Like Monsieur Paul and Akershus in EPCOT, Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (which just got a bunch of renovations), Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Jiko at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, and more. Oh! And the amazingly fun dinner show Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue has returned as well!

Another spot that is reopening soon is Blizzard Beach Water Park! It’s been closed since the beginning of 2022 and it’s finally opening back up. The park has received some renovations, and we’ll also see some new food offerings as well as special holiday offerings!

Miss getting a makeover at Disney World? Well, you’re in luck, because two popular spots reopened in Disney World as well — Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Harmony Barber Shop are both back in Magic Kingdom. We definitely recommend making reservations for both of these experiences!

Last but certainly not least, Fantasmic! is BACK in Hollywood Studios! The show has been closed for what feels like forever, and it’s FINALLY back. There have been some changes made to the show, like a whole new scene added, and it’s currently scheduled to take place every night at the park.

There will also be Fantasmic! Dining Packages you can use after Thanksgiving, so make your reservations now if you want them!

Click here to learn more about the return of Fantasmic! in Disney World!

What’s Still Closed & Unavailable

Although many things have reopened and returned, some things still aren’t back. A handful of restaurants are still closed, like over in EPCOT, where Restaurant Marrakesh and Takumi-Tei both remain closed. Over in Hollywood Studios, several things are still closed, like parts of Star Wars Launch Bay, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, and It’s a Wonderful Shop over in Grand Avenue.

1900 Park Fare is still closed at the Grand Floridian, as is the ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. Breakfast is also still unavailable at Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom. And, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Ariel’s Grotto, and Pete’s Silly Sideshow all remain closed in Magic Kingdom as well.

Things that are still unavailable include the Citizens of Main Street in Magic Kingdom and the Citizens of Hollywood in Hollywood Studios. Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular and the Once Upon a Time nighttime spectacular have also not returned. Typhoon Lagoon is also closing again, now that Blizzard Beach is reopening.

And, another thing to keep in mind is that some other options aren’t available anymore, like the Disney Dining Plan. The Dining Plan has been gone since the parks shut down in 2020, and although Disney has said that it WILL return, they have given no details as to when that might be.

The other thing not available right now are most Annual Passes, meaning they aren’t available to buy. The only pass you can grab right now is the Pixie Dust Pass, which is just for Florida Residents and has the most blockout dates. You can renew your AP if you already have one, though, no matter which pass you have.

Click here to learn more about the Disney World Annual Passholder Program!

What’s Going on for the Holidays

The holidays have arrived in Disney World and there are a TON of things to do! First of all, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is back for the first time since 2019, and it has a ton of fun food, entertainment, ride overlays, and more. The event has proven popular though, because it’s currently sold out for most nights!

If you’re not going to the party, don’t worry, there are still a lot of ways you can celebrate in Disney World. You can check out all of the decorations, like the trees at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, or the gingerbread displays at the hotels. We’ll also see a lot of decorations over at EPCOT for Festival of the Holidays!

EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays begins the day after Thanksgiving (November 25th) and features food, entertainment, and decorations from around the world. We know about all of the booths coming to the festival, and we’ll let you know the full menus once they’re released!

There are also a lot of festive foods you can try around the parks, hotels, and Disney Springs. We have a FULL list for you right here, including a guide that you can print out and take with you on your trip.

Speaking of Disney Springs, that area will be decorated as well, with activities like the Christmas Tree Trail and Breakfast with Santa Claus!

Click here to learn more about EVERYTHING happening at Disney World for the holidays!

What’s Happening with Anniversary Celebrations

Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration is still happening, folks! The celebrations go on until March of 2023, and we’ve got a full guide to everything right here. Just know that those special food offerings, decorations, character outfits, and more are only going to be available until then for the anniversary.

But, if you miss out on the 50th Anniversary celebrations, you can enjoy the 100th Anniversary instead! And no, you don’t have to wait 50 years. The 100th Anniversary of The Walt Disney Company begins in 2023, and there will be some fun celebrations happening at Disney World!

We don’t know much about what’s coming to Disney World yet, but we’re sure to see some merchandise at the very least. And we also do know that Harmonious will be ending at EPCOT in 2023 to make way for a 100th Anniversary-inspired fireworks show. But, don’t expect it until the second half of 2023. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the celebrations!

So, that’s what you need to know about Disney World if you’re taking a trip soon! For more on Disney World, check out 5 ways to save $1,000 on your Disney trip, what to do if you can’t get the Disney World hotel reservation you wanted, and the ultimate 1-day plan for Magic Kingdom.

Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news, tips, tricks, and info!

These Will Be the Hardest Disney World Dining Reservations to Get in 2023

What are you looking forward to the most on your next Disney World vacation? Tell us in the comments!

The post The 5 BIGGEST Things You NEED to Know If You’re Traveling to Disney World Soon first appeared on the disney food blog.