2021 in Walt Disney World has brought many changes, but as life slowly begins to move back to “normal” and the parks and resorts are getting busier than ever, here is a list of the top five changes you should expect during your dream vacation. With a little before-trip planning, your vacation is sure to be seamless.
1. Park Hopping. While guests are allowed to park hop from park to park now, this new system has some major differences. First, you will have to make a Disney Park Pass reservation at the first park you intend to enter for the day. If you would like to park hop, you can head to your next park at 2 pm, no earlier. Currently, no reservation is needed for the second park but guests' ability to park hop may be limited depending on the park’s capacity. After 2 pm, you can hop to as many parks as you would like.
2. No more Extra Magic Hours, but we are getting back Early Entry! Later this year, all four parks will open thirty minutes earlier every day for on-property resort guests. This will be another huge perk of staying at those coveted Disney resorts!
3. Resort and Park Reopening. While all four theme parks have been reopened, only one of the two water parks is currently open. Guests can currently enjoy Disney’s Blizzard Beach, which reopened in March 2021. There has been no official report on when Disney’s second water park, Typhoon Lagoon, will reopen. Guests can also look forward to staying in some of their favorite Disney resorts again. Disney’s Beach Club is slated to open May 30, 2021, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge- June 6, 2021, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort late July - with newly remodeled Moana-themed rooms!
4. New Attractions and Rides. We are expecting a ton of new rides, attractions and restaurants. One most notable is the opening of the on-property hotel - Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. This immersive two-day experience has been incredibly anticipated by Star Wars fans. Think all-inclusive meets a cruise meets Star Wars!
The 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World’s open eighteen-month celebration kicks off on October 1st, with the launch of the world’s most magical celebration. We can also expect the debut of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the France Pavilion in Epcot that day.
5. Transportation Changes. With the retiring of the Minnie Van service and the soon-to-be retiring of the Magical Express, now more than ever, guests need to have a good idea of the transportation available to them during their vacation. Consider a resort that will offer the transportation you need, whether in the monorail, Skyliner, buses, etc.
With all of these new additions, make sure you are getting the most of your vacation by knowing what you can plan on experiencing during your trip!
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