One thing that’s inevitable in Disney World is change.

New attractions open, while old ones close. There’s always some kind of construction going on. That’s all part of Walt Disney’s original vision, after all — parks that change and expand and grow with the times. So one thing we can be sure of in 2023 is that there’s going to be even MORE change from 2022.

UPDATE: 2023 is a WRAP! We’re tracking changes coming in Disney World in 2024 HERE!

So what will change in Disney World in 2023? Well, let’s take a look!

Resort-Wide

End of 50th Anniversary Celebration

The 18-month long 50th anniversary celebration at Disney World came to an end on March 31st, 2023.

We absolutely LOVED sharing the 18-month celebration with you all here on the DFB!

100th Anniversary Celebration

Where one celebration will end, a new one begins… The Walt Disney Company is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023! EPCOT is serving as the HOST of the 100th Anniversary celebration in Walt Disney World! The festivities officially kicked off on September 22, 2023 and will last through December 31, 2023. 

LOTS of new additions have joined the park for the occasion, including a new, platinum Mickey Mouse statue, a character-filled mural, and more platinum decorations in World Celebration, and an evening light show on Spaceship Earth (set to “When You Wish Upon a Star”). And of course, Mickey and Minnie are decked out in their best for a new meet and greet in the Imagination! pavilion.

Click HERE to check out everything you need to know about the Disney100 Celebration!

Park Pass Reservations Are Changing

Park Pass Reservations were a controversial change when Disney first introduced them, but in 2023, park pass requirements have relaxed for Annual Passholders! As of April 18th, Annual Passholders are now able to visit the Walt Disney World theme parks after 2PM WITHOUT a Park Pass reservation (with some exceptions).

The exception applies to Annual Passholders wanting to visit Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays. If an Annual Passholder wants to go to Magic Kingdom on Saturdays or Sundays, they’ll need a Park Pass regardless of what time they want to visit. Keep in mind, Annual Passholder blockout dates continue to apply, so you’ll want to take a close look at those when planning your visit.

Read more about this change for Annual Passholders HERE!

P.S. Though this post is about changes in 2023, you can click here to learn about MAJOR Park Pass changes for ALL guests that are coming in 2024!

NEW Sales Resume for Disney World Annual Passes

In November 2021, Disney paused the sales of three out of the four Disney World Annual Pass options: the Pirate Pass, the Sorcerer Pass, and the IncrediPass. But NEW SALES for Disney World Annual Passes RESUMED as of April 20th, 2023! 

There are four different Annual Pass tiers. The new sales include all four: the Incredi-Pass, Sorcerer Pass, and Pirate Pass, and the Pixie Dust Pass (which has been available for purchase). Please be aware, though, that Disney has stated that the number of passes for sale are limited, and any pass type “may become unavailable for purchase at any time.” 

Hoping to purchase an Annual Pass? Find more details HERE!

Disney Genie+

A MAJOR change came to Disney Genie+ on June 27th. Disney World guests now purchase Genie+ based on the park that they want to visit.

Guests can either buy a single-park Genie+ option or a multi-park option. See the new purchasing process HERE.

As of March 20th, 2023, guests who purchase the Disney Genie+ service are now able to download their on-ride attraction photos on the day of purchase at no additional charge!

These photos are available at many attractions throughout the parks, including Space Mountain, Slinky Dog Dash, Test Track, and Expedition Everest, and more!

Click HERE to see ALL the On-Ride Photos You Can Get for FREE with Genie+ in Disney World

Magic Kingdom

TRON Lightcycle Run

Disney World has SEVERAL new attractions under construction right now, and some of those have opened or will open in 2023. We’re going to start in Magic Kingdom with TRON Lightcycle Run, which opened in Magic Kingdom on April 4, 2023!

This new attraction takes guests into the grid from the Tron films to race on two-wheeled lightcycles on a 59-mile-per-hour adventure.

Note that, in order to ride TRON during its opening phase, guests need to secure a Boarding Pass via Disney World’s Virtual Queue system OR purchase an Individual Lightning Lane through Disney Genie, as this attraction does NOT offer a Standby line.

P.S. TRON also offers an on-ride attraction photo through Disney PhotoPass, AND utilizes a new complimentary locker system for guests to store their belongings!

WE RODE TRON in Disney World — Here’s Everything You Need to Know! And you can CLICK HERE to see our full ride-through VIDEO!

Splash Mountain

Splash Mountain in Frontierland is — as of January 23, 2023 — permanently closed. The crowds came out in full force on January 22nd for one last splash on this attraction which opened in July of 1989. The ride has closed to make way for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

The retheme of the ride will bring characters from Princess and the Frog, along with new music, new animatronics, and a new storyline. The new ride is expected to open in late 2024.

(Keep in mind that this closure could also potentially affect wait times for other rides in Magic Kingdom.)

Disney Didn’t Share These Details About Tian’s Bayou Adventure Ride — But We Will

Disney Enchantment Ends and Happily Ever After Returns

Magic Kingdom’s nighttime spectacular, Disney Enchantment, was introduced in 2021 as part of Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration. However, the show — which made its debut on the 50th Anniversary of Magic Kingdom (October 1, 2021) — ended its run with its final showing on April 2, 2023.

Then, April 3, 2023, delivered the RETURN of the Happily Ever After fireworks show to Magic Kingdom! The return of this beloved spectacular has a nod to Disney Enchantment, though, as Happily Ever After now features all-new projections which come to life all the way down Main Street, U.S.A.!

Click HERE to see the return of Happily Ever After!

MORE Character Experiences Are Returning AND Debuting!

Guests can spend time with even MORE Disney Royalty, as Disney Princesses have returned to Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom as of February 28th, 2023!

This restaurant has been presenting a modified experience with Cinderella greeting guests from a distance since it reopened in September 2020 (a few month after Walt Disney World reopened from its temporary closure). But now it is a full-fledged Character Meal featuring several Disney Princesses once again! In fact, Character dining around the Resort has slowly been bouncing back since Disney World reopened from its temporary closure in 2020, and we are thrilled that we can add Cinderella’s Royal Table to that list!

See pics of the RETURN of the PRINCESSES to Cinderella’s Royal Table HERE!

Character Meet-and-Greets continue to return to — and debut — in Disney World! For instance, Mirabel from Encanto now (as of September 15th) has her own meet-and-greet in Magic Kingdom!

Fairytale Garden (on the path to the right facing Cinderella Castle) has been “transformed with whimsical decor inspired by La Familia Madrigal,” so you’ll get an extra special experience if you stop by to say hello to Mirabel. Not only that, but Mirabel’s uncle, Bruno, is a new part of the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade, also at Magic Kingdom! (We finally can talk about Bruno, apparently. 😉 )

Click HERE to see the MIRABEL Meet-and-Greet!

If you’ve been to Disneyland — or seen this year’s Haunted Mansion film — you might be familiar with the Hatbox Ghost, one of the spooky characters that inhabit the mansion at the ride in Disneyland Park. Even though this haunting character is well-known for living (or, umm… NOT living) in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion attraction, he hadn’t previously appeared in Disney World’s Haunted Mansion ride…but that has now changed!

The Hatbox Ghost has been added to the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom! You can see him near the endless hallway scene in the ride.

Check out the Hatbox Ghost in Disney World here!

New Eatery

Welcome to Energy Bytes! This new futuristic spot opened up on March 20th right near TRON Lightcycle / Run in Tomorrowland.

Those BYTES include doughnut holes and cold brew coffee, and a few more sweet snacks and sips.

Click HERE for a First Look at Energy Bytes!

EPCOT

Harmonious

Like Disney Enchantment, Harmonious was introduced for the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World. And sadly, this EPCOT fireworks show ended on April 2nd, as well.

With Harmonious ending on April 2nd, 2023, EPCOT Forever returned for a temporary run on April 3rd. Disney brought back this classic show as a placeholder while the Entertainment team prepared the World Showcase Lagoon for an entirely new production to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of The Walt Disney Company!

You see, a BRAND NEW nighttime spectacular made its debut on December 5th, 2023 in honor of Disney 100 Years of Wonder: Luminous The Symphony Of Us!

The production brings guests together nightly around World Showcase Lagoon.

Disney shares that the show is meant to “reflect the commonality in all of us,” and that the show invites “everyone to gather around World Showcase Lagoon for a show that will unite us through commonalities of the heart in a dazzling display of fireworks, lasers, music and light. Featuring an original composition along with select songs from the Disney songbook, this new spectacular will remind us that we’re more alike than different, connecting our hearts together as one.”

Click HERE to see pics and videos of LUMINOUS!

Journey of Water, Inspired by MOANA

Journey of Water, Inspired by MOANA is NOW OFFICIALLY OPEN in EPCOT as of October 16th, 2023! 

The attraction is a walkthrough trail where guests can “play with magical, living water” in an immersive way. We’ve enjoyed sharing a look inside — along with a FULL WALK-THROUGH — with you!

Click here to GO INSIDE EPCOT’s Moana-Inspired Journey of Water Attraction! And find our FULL VIDEO WALK-THROUGH here!

World Celebration Updates

EPCOT’s lengthy transformation is coming to a close, and some of the construction walls came down to reveal EPCOT’s all-new World Celebration Gardens as well as the Walt the Dreamer statue in early December 2023!

However, the opening of CommuniCore Hall and Plaza — which was set to debut in late 2023 in World Celebration — has met with delays.

The new area will serve as a central location for EPCOT’s rotating festivals throughout the year. While CommuniCore was previously set to open in late 2023, Disney has now confirmed that it will open in 2024. 

We’ll continue to keep our eyes peeled for updates!

Tokyo Dining AND Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya

Tokyo Dining in EPCOT has permanently closed in EPCOT’s Japan pavilion, but the great news is that when the location reopened on August 15th, 2023…

… it did so as a whole new restaurant! That’s right! A brand new restaurant is NOW OPEN in EPCOT’s Japan pavilion: Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya! 

The menu features “Japanese delights like sushi and teppan items,” plus an open sushi bar and grill. Sushi fans can enjoy the Kobore Sushi, Tokyo Negi Roll, and Funamori. Not only that, but you can enjoy Japanese Izakaya, a type of casual pub-style restaurant that puts an emphasis on drinks and conversations with friends.

The restaurant is located in the Japan Pavilion, on the second floor — above the Mitsukoshi Department Store (where Tokyo Dining was previously located), so it boasts the same World Showcase and fireworks views that guests loved at Tokyo Dining!

JOIN US for our Opening Day visit at Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya HERE!

Get ready to eat like royalty because breakfast and lunch are BACK at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in EPCOT’s Norway Pavilion as of May 14th, 2023! (Until this date, Akershus did not begin serving daily until 2:45PM.)

Akershus offers a beloved Disney Princess Character Meal, and you can check out the breakfast menu here!

Hooray! You can now start your EPCOT day with Chip ‘n Dale, Pluto, and Farmer Mickey once again as of June 14, 2023… that’s when BREAKFAST returned to Garden Grill!

This family-style breakfast is All-You-Care-to-Enjoy!

Click HERE to check out BREAKFAST at Garden Grill!

As of September 10th, Figment is NOW MEETING GUESTS in the Imagination Pavilion in EPCOT!

If you’re planning to meet Figment, we definitely suggest checking that My Disney Experience app consistently to keep track of his appearance times, and be prepared for a potentially hefty wait time!

Come with us to MEET FIGMENT in EPCOT!

And Moana is now meeting guests in EPCOT’s World Nature, right near the entrance to Journey of Water!

The upcoming CommuniCore Hall will also be the location of a new Mickey & Friends meet-and-greet!

So far, Disney hasn’t shared too many details about the new meet-and-greet, other than its location and that we can expect the experience to open “later this year.”

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Roundup Rodeo BBQ

A NEW Table Service restaurant is NOW OPEN in Toy Story Land!  Roundup Rodeo BBQ officially opened on March 23, 2023. 

The new table service spot serves barbecue fare, and you can see the FULL MENU for this Family-Style dining experience here.

Though this spot is NOT a Toy Story character meal, the theming is pretty incredible nonetheless!

During a media preview, we got the chance to step inside the NEW Roundup Rodeo BBQ, and there is SO MUCH TO SEE!

We also got to DIG IN to TONS of BBQ fare… TOY STORY-style!

Find out our thoughts on the FOOD at Roundup Rodeo BBQ here!

Take a FULL PHOTO and VIDEO TOUR of Roundup Rodeo BBQ HERE!

A new meet and greet with Ariel from the live-action version of The Little Mermaid officially opened on May 26, 2023 — the opening date of the film — in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

You can meet the live-action Ariel in Walt Disney Presents. 

See pics and videos of this NEW Meet-and-Greet HERE!

Animal Kingdom

Moana is now greeting guests in Disney’s Animal Kingdom! If you want to meet her, you can find her on Discovery Island (of course, she’s on an ISLAND for her meet and greet) at Animal Kingdom. As you walk over the bridge towards the Tree of Life, make a right turn towards DinoLand. The entrance for visitors will be right before the DinoLand sign.

For times on when you can meet Moana, be sure to check the My Disney Experience app when you’re in Animal Kingdom!

Click HERE to check out the NEW Moana Meet-and-Greet with a VIDEO!

Resorts

Free Overnight Parking

For a while now, you had to pay to park at a Disney World hotel overnight. In 2023, that rule is changing — overnight parking is FREE again to all resort guests!

There are so many little costs that add up during a Disney vacation so it’s nice to see one of them lifted!

Learn more about overnight parking here!

“Hey, Disney” Devices

A new complimentary perk is currently in the process of rolling out to guests at the Disney World hotels.  “Hey, Disney!” offers “custom voice assistance” to guests staying at Resort hotels in Walt Disney World! The service, which works with Alexa on Amazon Echo devices, assists guests with room amenities, guest services, planning, and weather info… AND it will bring along LOTS of extra Disney MAGIC to make all of these things a lot more FUN!

In late November 2022, “Hey Disney!” made its debut in a testing phase in a limited number of rooms at Disney World’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Disney had previously shared that this initial launch is taking place “before expanding in phases to additional Disney Resort hotel rooms across Walt Disney World.” 

In May 2023, we saw that the ‘Hey, Disney!’ Alexa Voice Assistant had been added a room at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, we’ve also been informed that “Hey, Disney!” has arrived at Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter and Saratoga Springs Resort, so the rollout to other Resorts has officially begun!

 You can see “Hey, Disney!” in action HERE!

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

In the BoardWalk lobby, Carousel Coffee has already opened! They offer up some pastry options, as well as coffee and tea.

The coffee shop took the place of the gift shop that used to be in the BoardWalk Inn’s lobby.

See the FULL Review of Carousel Coffee here!

And stay tuned for The Cake Bake Shop, which will also open in early 2024 along the BoardWalk!

Read about all the changes coming to Disney World hotels here!

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023! And, it’s getting a bit of a sprucing up for its birthday, too. The resort has undergone a LOT of changes in recent years with the opening of new Disney Vacation Club villas, an updated Narcoossee’s restaurant, and changes at Citricos and Victoria & Albert’s, too.

And the renovations continue! The Disney World website does warn that the hotel “is currently undergoing refurbishment. Guests will be able to see and hear construction around the resort – including the lobby – during daytime hours.” But, they note that “Most Resort hotel amenities will remain available.”

Ultimately, the lobby itself will also receive its own refurbishment. Disney has shared that the new look “will maintain the classic theming [guests] know and love with some fresh new enhancements.”

Check out the new Grand Floridian Resort rooms here.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

Trail’s End Restaurant at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground closed in mid-April to undergo a MAJOR refurbishment and it reopened on July 27th! The family-style table service option is gone, and the restaurant now features “a marketplace concept with expanded quick service options.”

The “refreshed marketplace concept” includes an on-stage pizza station where you can get just a slice or a whole pie. Both chilled and hot items are offered in the Grab and Go section and include items such as pecan-smoked whole chicken or brisket, and a rack of pork ribs — and fried chicken! Sides are available by the pound — including macaroni & cheese, plant-based cowboy beans, and mashed potatoes. Homestyle meals and classic Quick Service options are also on offer. WHEW! But that’s not all…

Click here to check out the NEW Trail’s End!

Crockett’s Tavern also reopened on the same date!

Crockett’s Tavern has been refreshed as a lounge with expanded seating, both indoors and outdoors. The inside of the restaurant has new seating and continues to feature lots of charming rustic accents.

Get a FIRST LOOK at the reopened Crockett’s Tavern HERE!

Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Hotels

In March, Rosa Mexicano opened its first Orlando-area location at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin! The new restaurant offers “an elevated fiesta dining experience” which includes signature menu items and award-winning margaritas.

You can check out our very first visit HERE!

Step inside the NEW Rosa Mexicano with us by clicking HERE!

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

In May 2023, Disney announced that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser would be closing permanently. The final voyage for the Star Wars Hotel took place from September 28th-30th, 2023. 

Here’s the statement a Disney spokesperson has released on the matter: “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is one of our most creative projects ever and has been praised by our guests and recognized for setting a new bar for innovation and immersive entertainment. This premium, boutique experience gave us the opportunity to try new things on a smaller scale of 100 rooms, and as we prepare for its final voyage, we will take what we’ve learned to create future experiences that can reach more of our guests and fans.”

Read about the closure of the Galactic Starcuiser here. 

Disney Springs

Summer House on the Lake and The Cookie Bar

Summer House on the Lake opened on December 14, 2023 in Disney Springs! You’ll find it on the West Side near Jaleo, Splitsville, and Salt & Straw.

So that means YOU can look forward to California-inspired bites including everything from pizza and pasta to fresh salads and sandwiches during your next visit to Disney Springs! (Oh, and don’t forget the weekend BRUNCH!) You can enjoy any of these meals on one of the three expansive patios. And tucked inside Summer House on the Lake you’ll find The Cookie Bar! The Cookie Bar is “a dessert-focused market” that serves “freshly baked cookies and house-made pastries.”

Step INSIDE Summer House on the Lake with us!

EET by Maneet Chauhan 

EET — a new restaurant by James Beard Award-winning chef and Food Network star Maneet Chauhan together with hospitality entrepreneur Vivek Deora — has officially opened in Disney Springs!

The new location serves Indian cuisine. Disney shares that EET presents a “modern, fun Indian-inspired concept.”

Click HERE to check out the NEW restaurant, eet by Maneet Chauhan!

Other Changes

Price Increases

We saw ticket price increases, Genie+ price increases, and food price increases in 2022, and there are areas we have seen price increases in 2023; and guests should be prepared for that to happen.

For example, surge pricing is in effect for both Genie+ and tickets; as a result, April 2023 delivered a new record high price for the one-day purchase of Disney Genie+.

Here’s Your Ultimate Guide to Genie+, Lightning Lanes, and More!

More After Hours Events

After Hours events returned to Disney World in January 2023. They kicked off on January 4th in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and on January 9th in Magic Kingdom. 

New in 2023, After Hours has come to EPCOT! The event kicked off at EPCOT on June 1st, 2023.

After Hours events are separately ticketed parties where you can stay in the Disney theme parks for 3 hours after the park closes. There are specialty treats and drinks included in your ticket, and because the number of tickets sold for the parties is limited, you can often find lower wait times than usual on the rides and attractions.

NEW Holiday Offerings

The Holiday Season will officially kicked off on November 11th in Disney World (though select festive events began before then), and along with returning classic experiences like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the Merry Menagerie at Disney’s Animal Kingdom there will be NEW festivities to enjoy this year!

For instance, a new Frozen show is now taking place in front of Cinderella Castle throughout the holiday season called “Frozen Holiday Surprise!” This new show brings Olaf and more than a hundred of his Snowgie siblings along with Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff in new holiday looks to decorate the castle for the festivities. The show culminates with Elsa adding shimmering and sparking touches which “transform Cinderella Castle into a shimmering crystallized palace.”

This show kicked off on November 7th and is occurring nightly throughout the holiday season. There will be two performances on nights when Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is taking place in Magic Kingdom: one at 6:15PM and another at 8:15PM. On nights when there’s no holiday party, only one show, starting at 6:15PM, will take place. (You do NOT need to have a ticket for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in order to see the show, since that 6:15 show takes place BEFORE the exclusive holiday party begins!)

And Disney Jollywood Nights is a new, separately ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that is now running on ten select nights from November 11th through December 20th, 2023. 

As part of the event, guests can view the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! nighttime fireworks and projections spectacular, enjoy exclusive treats, meet rare characters, and more! Tickets are NOW ON SALE.

Click HERE for LOTS of details on Jollywood Nights!

2023 has been a year of HUGE change for Disney World again, and this doesn’t even take into account some of the things that haven’t returned or reopened since Disney World’s historic closure and reopening. Many experiences and entertainment remain unavailable without any word on if or when those things might actually return.

2023 is a WRAP! We’re tracking changes coming in Disney World in 2024 HERE!

Hold up for a sec! Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, check out our DFB Guide Everything Bundle here. You will get ALL of our best-selling eBooks with details on Disney World Dining, EPCOT Festivals, the BEST snacks in each park, and soooooo many tips and tricks we’ve learned over decades of visiting our happy place. 

 

What are you looking forward to the most in Disney World in 2023? Let us know in the comments!