Disney World Dining Plans are returning on January 9, 2024. If you book a resort package with a stay on or after January 9th, you can now add a dining plan to your trip.

A dining plan allows you to prepay for a certain number of meals and snacks at Disney restaurants and kiosks based on the length of your trip. However, even though you are allocated the number of meals listed below per night of your stay, you can use them at any time of your trip. So, if you want to use all your snack credits in one day, you can do that. Likewise, certain table service meals require two table service credits per meal so you would use more on those days. Any unused credits will expire at midnight of your check-out day.

There are two available plans to choose from, with the main difference being that the main dining plan also provides for meals at table service restaurants, in addition to the quick-serve restaurants.

Disney Dining Plan

– 1 Quick-Service Meal
– 1 Table-Service Meal
– 1 Snack/Nonalcoholic Drink

Quick Service Dining Plan

– 2 Quick-Service Meals
– 1 Snack/Nonalcoholic Drink

You will also get one Resort-Refillable Drink Mug per person per stay. Mugs are eligible for refills from self-service beverage islands at any Disney Resort hotel’s Quick-Service location, not refillable in the park restaurants.

Plans must be purchased for the entire length of your stay and your entire party (ages 3 and up). Table service restaurant reservations are still needed and can be made within 60 days before your check-in day. Not all locations accept the dining plan though and restaurants are subject to availability.

Note: In the past, Disney would let you convert extra Quick Service credits to use as multiple snack credits instead, but that is no longer allowed now. So, make sure to plan out your meals to use up your credits correctly.

For more details on the dining plans, visit the Disney Dining Plan page.

If used well, these plans can provide you with some savings on your trip meals. I suggest you view the menus of the restaurants you may want to eat at and calculate how much that meal would cost you if you paid directly vs using a dining plan credit.

If you want to chat more about adding a dining plan to your trip, feel free to contact me.

Note: this is different from the Play, Stay, and Dine Promo Card Offer, discussed in a separate post.

Pics ©Disney

Disney World will have a new after-hours holiday party this year in Hollywood Studios called Jollywood Nights.

You can dance the night away with live bands, see festive stage shows, and cap the night off with the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! nighttime spectacular.

Enjoy lower wait times for your favorite attractions, meet beloved characters dressed in their holiday finest, and feast on new holiday treats.

Jollywood Nights takes place on the following nights in 2023:

• Saturday, November 11
• Saturday, November 18
• Monday, November 20
• Monday, November 27
• Wednesday, November 29
• Monday, December 4
• Wednesday, December 6
• Saturday, December 16
• Monday, December 18
• Wednesday, December 20

This special event takes place from 8:30pm to 12:30am but ticket holders can enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios as early as 7pm on the date of their ticket. No theme park reservation is needed to enter after 7pm. Ticket prices start at $159. Come dressed to impressed.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit the Jollywood Nights page below. Some dates are already sold out.

• Disney’s Jollywood Nights

This adds a new Disney nighttime holiday party to Hollywood Studios, in addition to the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom.

As always, feel free to contact me if you want to chat about adding these events to your Disney trip.

Pics ©Disney

Disney World is currently offering a Disney Dining Promo Card when you purchase a non-discounted package that includes a resort stay and park tickets on select resorts and days from late 2023 to early 2024.

The promo gives you a certain amount of dining credit on a digital gift card that can be used to purchase meals, snacks, treats, and beverages at participating dining locations across Walt Disney World Resort. The amount will vary depending on resort category and length of stay. A minimum stay of 4 resort and ticket days is required.

The offer is valid for stays that start on the following arrival dates:

• Most nights October 27 to November 1, 2023
• Most nights November 25 to November 29, 2023
• Most nights December 9 to December 25, 2023
• Most Sunday to Tuesday nights January 9, 2024 to March 5, 2024

The amount you get will be calculated approximately as such:

• Up to $200 per room, per night at most Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts
• Up to $120 per room, per night at most Moderate Resorts
• Up to $60 per room, per night at most Value Resorts

The number of packages available for this offer is limited so book soon. If you already have a stay booked on the eligible dates, you can call to see if this promo can be applied to it. Everyone in the same room must be on the same package. For more details about this offer, visit the Disney Play, Stay, and Dining Promo Card offer page.

Feel free to contact me if you want to chat more about this or anything else related to planning your Disney trip.

Note: this is different from the Dining Plans, discussed in a separate post.

Heads up if you have a Disney World trip planned for January 2024. Disney just announced the following closures for the Skyliner for its annual maintenance.

• Jan. 16-21, 2024
  • The line between Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will be closed.
  • The line between Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be closed.
• Jan. 16-27, 2024
  • The line between Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, and International Gateway at EPCOT will be closed.

Buses will be available for affected Skyliner resort guests to get to/from EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, which are the only parks normally accessible via the Skyliner.

If your trip is affected or if you want to chat about any other aspect of a Disney trip, feel free to contact me.

Disney announced that a new Frozen Holiday Surprise show will be coming to the Magic Kingdom at Disney World.

Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf, and over 100 of his Snowgie siblings will decorate Cinderella Castle for the holidays, with Elsa transforming Cinderella Castle into a “shimmering crystallized palace” with her frozen fractals.

The show will start November 7, 2023 and will occur nightly during the holiday season. This means you can watch them light up the castle even if you’re not going to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

Don’t miss the holiday events at the other parks either. The Merry Menagerie, life-size, artisan-sculpted animal puppets, will return to the Animal Kingdom, the International Festival of the Holidays will be taking place in EPCOT, and a new Jollywood Nights party will be held on select nights at Hollywood Studios. More info coming soon on that one.

Disney also shared that preparations are underway to create the beautiful gingerbread houses and displays at the Disney resorts. They should start going up around mid-November. This year, there will be gingerbread displays at the following resorts:

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s BoardWalk Resort
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Disney Springs will join in the holiday fun with new decor and dining starting November 10th. You can also visit Santa and look for all of the incredibly themed trees on the Christmas Tree Stroll presented by AdventHealth. They are amazing!

Are you excited for the holidays at Disney? It is an especially beautiful and magical time to go.

Feel free to contact me if you want to chat about planning a Disney trip.

Pics ©Disney

Disney World’s Blizzard Beach water park will reopen on November 6, 2023! This winter-themed tropical wonderland is ready for another fun season!

If you don’t know, the two Disney water parks alternate closing for refurbishment in the winter months. Currently, Typhoon Lagoon is open, but it will close for a bit once Blizzard Beach reopens.

New this year, you can buy a Disney Water Park Seasonal Pass valid for unlimited visits at either park from now until May 24, 2024 for $79 (adults) or $73 (child). Considering that a one-day ticket is just a few dollars less, it’s worth it to buy the annual pass if you visit two or more times before it expires. The seasonal pass has no block-out dates and no reservations are necessary.

Have you ever been to the Disney water parks? It’s a good way to do a semi-rest day and cool off between multiple theme park days. We love the water slides, wave pool, and lazy river. Don’t forget about the mini donuts either! Sooo good! There will be new churros and other snacks this year too.

If you want to chat about adding the water park pass or single-day tickets to your Disney trip, feel free to contact me.

Pics © Disney