Disney World is always changing!
Cinderella Castle
And while there are changes we LOVE, like the newest Disney World app update (easier dining reservations, y’all!), we’ve noticed a trend in Disney World changes that we definitely do NOT love. And it doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon.
The Disney World trend we just can’t get behind is replacing free perks with paid versions! Let’s take a look at these changes.
Magical Express Replacement
Magical Express used to be a free transportation service for hotel guests. Magical Express would pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel. When your stay was over, Magical Express would take you back to the airport.
We miss you Magical Express!
A similar service is in place now that is not free or in partnership with Disney. If you are looking for a bus service to and from your hotel, you can now use Mears Connect Driven by Sunshine. Mears was the same company that ran Magical Express, so they know a thing or two about transporting you to and from the airport.
Mears Connect
This service is no longer free and is a pay-per-person bus option. Prices do vary based on whether you choose standard or express service.
Mears Connect Desk
No More Free MagicBands
If you booked a stay at a Disney World hotel between 2013 and the end of 2020, you and your party would receive free MagicBands before your stay at Disney World.
Get a load of all those MagicBands!
This perk is no longer offered. When booking you can still choose your MagicBands ahead of time. While MagicBands are no longer free, you can still get a discount if you order ahead. MagicBands have seen upgrades in design throughout the years and Disney now offers MagicBand+. These MagicBands have more technology in them that allows them to light up and interact with certain elements in the park.
Encanto MagicBand+
FastPass+ Replaced with Genie+
BEFORE your trip even started, you used to be able to make FREE FastPass+ reservations. You could book three experiences in advance. You would be able to use this system to skip certain lines through FastPass lanes.
FastPass+ Entrance
FastPass+ and FastPass lanes were replaced with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. While the concept is still similar. Genie+ is a paid-for system that varies based on date, park, and demand. Not all rides are included with Genie+ and require you to spend more money to skip the line by purchasing individual Lightning Lanes.
Lightning Lane at Peter Pan’s Flight
Now, there are still a lot of free perks at Disney World, so let’s take a look at some of them!
Current Hotel Benefits
Today, hotel guests still get some benefits included in their stay. These benefits include Early Theme Park Entry, where hotel guests can enter one of the four parks 30 minutes before opening. Those staying at a deluxe resort get the benefit of Extended Evening Hours where certain nights of the week, the parks stay open two hours past close.
Early Entry into Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Soon, another hotel benefit will be added in 2025. On the day of check-in, those staying at a Disney World hotel will receive free admission to one of Disney’s water parks!
Blizzard Beach Water Park
While these benefits are nice and definitely a perk of staying on property, you have to pay for a room to be able to use these perks. So what is actually still free in Disney World? Let’s take a look!
Transportation
Disney World is huge! With over 25 hotels, four theme parks, two water parks, two mini golf courses, and a shopping district, it is easy to get lost at Disney World! So let Disney be the one to take you around the resort!
Skyliner
Transportation is still free all around Disney World. You can travel around the resort via a bus, watercraft, monorail, or even Skyliner! Some of these transportation options can even be rides in themselves!
EPCOT Monorail
Free Genie
While the days of skipping lines for free are gone, there is still a free tool to help you maximize your park day! You can use Genie to help plan your day. This can be confusing as there is a paid-for version of Genie, called Genie+.
Genie
Genie is a FREE perk that can be found in the My Disney Experience app! Genie can create a customized itinerary for you and your party. You can put in your interests and what you want to get done, and Genie will create an itinerary based on your needs! If you are not sure where to start your day, using Genie is a great tool.
Click Here to Read More About the Differences Between Genie and Genie+!
Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi is available across the resort in all the theme parks, resorts, water parks, Disney Springs, and other public places across the property! A lot of your Disney day can revolve around using your phone to access My Disney Experience, so having a Wi-Fi connection is super helpful!
Bus WiFi Sticker
We will say, the Wi-Fi is not perfect. A lot of people across the large property are using the Wi-Fi all at once. If your phone is running slowly, you may want to disconnect from the Wi-Fi, especially if you are trying to join a virtual queue.
Free Buttons and Stickers
If you want to take home a souvenir from Disney World, but don’t want to open your wallet, there are two free souvenirs! We are talking about buttons and stickers!
Celebration Button
You can get your celebration buttons at most gift shops and front desks around the resort. Did you know that the water parks even offer temporary tattoos instead of buttons? If buttons and temporary tattoos are not your thing, you can collect stickers around the park! Certain lands, hotels, Cast Members, and gift shops have different themed stickers. When in doubt, you can always approach a DVC stand for free stickers.
STICKERS!
While Disney World has gotten rid of a lot of perks that used to be free, there are still some free gems remaining and we hope that Disney keeps them free forever!
Click Here to Read More About Current Hotel Benefits!
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The one we miss the most of the ones that you mentioned is FastPass+. The one we miss the most that you didn’t mention is resort package delivery, although we are concerned that will be topped by the Fort WIlderness cabins going DVC, because that change could actually end our Disney trips altogether. We’re too addicted to all of the benefits of the cabins, and the next best options just aren’t close enough. DVC is not the right option for us, and renting points when they’re not refundable is just too risky.
What about the perk of staying on property and having your park shop purchases delivered to your hotel???
My dream day is a day that the computers go down and not Genie+ or LL can be sold and everyone would have the same line. No line stopping for for Genie+ or LL just a constant flow of people on and off the rides, Wow what a great day that would be.
Having gone to Disney World 30 times with my growing family since 1984, the free hotel perks are INSULTING. Was it the Pandemic or just plain GREED that eliminated The Magical Express and replaced the WONDERFUL FREE PAST PASS WITH THE TERRIBLE, COSTLY AND INCONVENIENT GENIE PLUS AND INDIVIDUAL ATTRACTION. Please tell me WHY