Introduction
Disney is rolling out several exciting enhancements to its dining reservation system in 2024 that will make it easier than ever for guests to snag a table at their favorite Disneyland and Walt Disney World restaurants. The upgrades address some of the biggest pain points with the current reservation process and introduce helpful new features that will save time and reduce hassle for hungry park-goers.
New Features
One of the most anticipated changes is a new notification system that will alert guests when a reservation opens up at a fully booked restaurant. Currently, guests have to keep manually checking for availability or use a third-party service. The new feature will send an alert via the My Disney Experience app as soon as a table opens up, giving you a chance to quickly claim the reservation. Another major improvement will allow guests to search for available reservations across a range of dates, instead of having to check each date individually.
Simply enter the start and end dates of your trip, and the system will display all available time slots at your selected restaurants during that window. This will make it much faster and easier to find a reservation that fits your schedule. Disney is also making it more convenient to modify existing reservations. Starting in 2024, most restaurants will allow changes and cancellations up to 2 hours before your reservation time without penalty. The previous policy required 24 hours notice to avoid a fee. This added flexibility is a welcome change for guests whose plans often change at the last minute.
Dining Plans Return
In more good news, Disney announced that its popular dining plans will return in 2024 after being suspended during the pandemic. Guests will once again be able to pre-pay for their meals and snacks as part of a vacation package starting January 9, 2024. Two options will be offered – the standard Disney Dining Plan which includes a table-service meal, quick-service meal, and snack per day; and the Quick Service Dining Plan which includes two quick-service meals and a snack per day. Both plans come with a refillable drink mug to use at the resorts.
Conclusion
With a slew of useful new features and the return of the convenient dining plans, the Disney dining experience is poised to be better than ever in 2024. The reservation system upgrades will give guests more flexibility and control over when and where they dine, while saving time and eliminating frustration. Whether you’re craving character dining, international flavors at EPCOT, or a memorable meal inside a Disney icon like Cinderella Castle, these enhancements will help make your culinary wishes come true with a tap and a swipe. We can’t wait to dig in!
