If you’re headed to Disney World in 2023, there’s a lot to look forward to.

We’re excited to see the celebration of The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary, the opening of TRON Lightcycle / Run in April, and the Figment meet-and-greet, to name a few. But there are also a few things we’re DREADING. Find out all about it here!

The End of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations

Disney World has been celebrating its 50th Anniversary for over a year now, but the huge party will be coming to an end on March 31st, 2023. This event has brought new shows, merchandise, snacks, and more to the parks, and we haven’t heard yet how much of that will end with the anniversary’s official end date.

There are some very tasty 50th Anniversary snacks in the parks right now (we’re looking at you, Tropical Serenade Dole Whip), and we’ll be sad to see those go if they’re removed from the menus after March 31st.

We also know that two nighttime shows will go away, too: both Disney Enchantment at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT’s Harmonious will have their last shows on April 2nd. A new fireworks show will debut in EPCOT in late 2023 to celebrate The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary, and Happily Ever After will return to Magic Kingdom on April 3rd.

Learn more about Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebrations here.

Genie+ Surge Pricing

Back in 2022, Disney announced that Genie+ would be subject to surge pricing going forward. Instead of the flat rate of $15 per person, per day, we have since seen prices range from $15 all the way to $29 on peak dates, such as Thanksgiving. This change began on October 11th, 2022, and it’s expected to continue throughout 2023.

Genie+ is the new paid FastPass system in both Disney World and Disneyland, and with the surge pricing, it can get quite pricey depending on how many people are in your group. You must purchase Genie+ on a daily basis in order to access the much faster Lightning Lanes, which can put a huge dent in your budget.

Genie+ prices are announced daily in the My Disney Experience app but you can prepare by assuming that peak dates, including weekends, holidays, school breaks, and big events will likely price Genie+ on the higher end of the spectrum. If you want the best chance at paying $15 for Genie+, make sure you visit during less popular times.

Read more about Genie+ surge pricing here!

Park Ticket Surge Pricing

In addition to Genie+ surge pricing, Disney World tickets are now also subject to price changes depending on the day. With 1-day, 1-park tickets, each Disney Park now costs a different amount.

You can read below for the price ranges:

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom — $109-$159 (prices stayed about the same)
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios — $124-$179
• EPCOT — $114-$179
• Magic Kingdom — $124-$189

This change went into effect on December 8th, 2022, and will also likely continue throughout 2023. Like Genie+, peak pricing will correlate with popular times to visit Disney World, so you CAN avoid the peak dates and thus save some cash. Otherwise, make sure you budget accordingly if you’re visiting during a busy time.

Learn more about Disney World park ticket pricing here!

Big Crowds

2023 is going to bring some exciting changes to Disney World, and those changes are usually accompanied by big crowds!

For example, we’re expecting to see lots of people in Magic Kingdom once TRON Lightcycle / Run opens on April 4th. And speaking of TRON, this coaster will have a virtual queue (as most newly opened Disney attractions have lately), so we’re not looking forward to battling it out for a spot in that high-demand queue. The ride will also offer the Individual Lightning Lane paid option.

And although Disney hasn’t announced many 100th anniversary events in Disney World (most of them are taking place now in Disneyland), there may still be lots of people heading to the park to celebrate that occasion.

A new restaurant, Roundup Rodeo BBQ, in Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios will open on March 23rd, and we imagine a lot of people will be flocking to that park to try it out!

Click here to learn more about Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration here!

Playing the Waiting Game

There are a few things that will potentially open or reopen in 2023, and we’re just going to be playing a waiting game until Disney announces official dates for those experiences. We’re excited to see the new Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, which is supposed to open in 2023 as well. But as for an exact date? We can only speculate for now.

Some restaurants and other spots still haven’t reopened after the COVID-19 closures, such as Restaurant Marrakesh in EPCOT and Afternoon Tea at Garden View Team Room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. These don’t have reopening dates yet.

We’ll keep watching for more updates from Disney, and of course we’ll let you know when we hear anything about opening or reopening dates!

Click here to learn more about The Cake Bake Shop.

Annual Pass Renewals

If you haven’t renewed your Annual Pass for Disney World recently, get ready to spend just a little bit more in 2023. Price increases for Annual Passes went into effect on December 8th, 2022, and that includes price increases for renewals.

Here’s a look at the new prices for Annual Passes:

• Incredi-Pass: Old price: $1,299 — New price as of December 8th, 2022: $1,399
• Sorcerer Pass: Old price: $899 — New price as of December 8th, 2022: $969
• Pirate Pass: Old price: $699 — New price as of December 8th, 2022: $749
• Pixie Dust Pass: Old and new price: $399 (no price change there)

Disney announced that Annual Passholders will get the same percentage discount as before, which means that renewal prices increased with the December 8th changes.  Increases are between $43 and $100, depending on the pass type.

Learn all about Annual Pass renewals here.

Heading to Disney World in 2023? We’ve got a great resource for you when you plan your next Disney World trip – our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. We wrote our ebook after decades of visiting Disney World, so that we could help you have a stress-free vacation! Click here and use code WDW2023 to get 25% off!

And stay tuned to DFB for more tips and all the latest Disney news.

Here’s when Disney World will sell out in 2023!

Are you visiting Disney World in 2023? Tell us in the comments!