With all of the changes that Walt Disney World has had in the past few years, we’ve definitely seen a good amount of complaints, but it is also pretty clear that a lot of people still really love Disney! If you’ve visited during busy times, you’ll see that the post-pandemic days of empty parks and no lines are a thing of the past. Let’s take a look at some of the big changes we’ve seen recently.
Genie + and Lightning Lane
The introduction of the new reservation system Genie + and individual Lightning Lane has been a huge change! Fast Passes are gone and now guests must use the new pay-to-ride system. This definitely caused a lot of complaints as this system can definitely get costly for large families (or really any size family). However, we are seeing some individual Lightning Lane access passes actually sell out, so people must still love Disney enough to not only still come, but also pay to ride.
Magical Express
Disney’s complimentary shuttle service, Disney’s Magical Express will be permanently retired as of January 1, 2022. A new service called MEARS Connect will be taking its place- for a price, that is. Many guests were upset about losing this huge convenience and don’t appreciate the new service not being complimentary. But, if you love Disney enough- you’ll pay the extra fee and use the new service. We will definitely be keeping tabs on the new service and how it’s working in the new year once it debuts!
Park Pass Reservations
This has been one of the biggest changes! Now, all guests must have valid theme park tickets AND park pass reservations made for the desired park. Disney vacations do require a little more planning with this new system, and park hopping is only permitted after 2 pm. While we definitely saw a lot of complaints about this new system, it’s safe to say everyone is getting used to it and park attendance doesn’t seem to be suffering! In fact, Disney just had to pause the sale of new annual passes, so there are still a lot of people out there who love Disney!
Face Coverings
Face coverings are currently still required to be worn in all indoor locations and in all lines. Guests are not required to wear face coverings in common outdoor areas while walking through the parks. Of course, this requirement was made by Disney and guests have differing opinions about wearing facial coverings.
Obviously, everyone has different opinions and views about changes, and Disney people can be VERY opinionated regarding any change to our beloved happy place. But, the Disney parks really don’t seem to be hurting judging from crowds. Many people definitely still LOVE Disney!
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