Disney World has changed A LOT over the past three years.

Since Disney World’s reopening after its historic closure, we’ve seen limited capacity come and go, park pass reservations get introduced, entertainment slowly coming back, and other changes. In January 2023, Josh D’Amaro, the Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, outlined NEW changes coming to the parks. However, he also mentioned that these changes may not “address everyone’s feedback.”

So what kind of changes could he be talking about? Well, we know there are a few things Disney World fans still have questions about, and a LOT of changes those fans would still like to see. So let’s outline them here.

Park Hopping Freedom

When park hopping returned to Disney World, it became way more limited. Before, you could park hop at any time of the day. Now, though, you cannot park hop until after 2PM. Disneyland DID get a bit more park hopping flexibility — guests can hop at 11AM instead of the previous 1PM there.

However, be aware that All-Day Park Hopping will return to Disney World on January 9th, 2024!

Here’s everything you wanted to know about park hopping at Disney World

Return of the Dining Plan

Disney World fans are ADAMANT about the Disney Dining Plan (which allows guests to pre-pay for their Disney dining, which many found to be convenient and more helpful for their budgeting purposes), and many are disappointed that it has not yet returned. Disney DID promise its return way back in 2021, but the company had been mum about it for quite some time since. UNTIL…

The news broke in May 2023 that the Disney Dining Plan is RETURNING for Disney World vacation stays starting JANUARY 9, 2024!

Check out our video for the ULTIMATE GUIDE to the Disney Dining Plan!

Completion Date of EPCOT Transformation

If you’ve been to EPCOT over the past few years, you’ll know it’s a HUGE maze of construction walls in the area previously known as Future World, requiring guests to take the long way around the front of the park to get to just about anything. That’s because EPCOT is undergoing a massive transformation, which included the expansion of the France Pavilion and the addition of the Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction, and SO much more… like the opening of the NEW Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana, which opened on October 16th, 2023!

But the transformation is STILL underway. There’s construction going on for Dreamer’s Point with a new Walt Disney statue, CommuniCore Hall, and Communicore Plaza Festival Area. 

Fortunately, the work is slated to be complete in December 2023!

Here’s EVERYTHING announced for the EPCOT transformation

Annual Passes To Go On Sale Again — UPDATE!

When we initially published this post, MOST Annual Passholder sales had been on hold since 2021. However… 

… NEW SALES for Disney World Annual Passes HAVE RESUMED as of April 20th, 2023! Please be aware that Disney has stated that the number of passes for sale will be limited, and any pass type “may become unavailable for purchase at any time.”

Here’s what you want to know about the Disney World Annual Passholder Program

Return of Parking Trams To All 4 Parks — UPDATE!

Parking trams had both returned to Magic Kingdom (at the Ticket and Transportation Center) and Animal Kingdom by May of 2022. But it was a long time coming before they returned to the EPCOT and Hollywood Studios parking lots.

Thankfully, since we originally published this post, things have changed. Parking Trams returned to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios — at long last — in September 2023!

Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Parking In Disney World

Room Credit For Refusing Housekeeping

Back in the day, Disney World guests could refuse housekeeping and receive a credit on their hotel room bill. However, Disney World’s housekeeping has gone through a lot of changes, too.

For starters, daily housekeeping only returned to ALL Disney World hotels fairly recently (as of February 2023).

Read about the return of daily housekeeping HERE

“Hey, Disney!” In ALL Hotel Rooms

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!

Disney previously announced that its new “Hey, Disney!” Alexa devices would be installed in Disney World and Disneyland hotel rooms in 2022. However, as late late November 2022 only ONE Disney World hotel, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, had installed the devices. 

But in May 2023, we saw that the ‘Hey, Disney!’ Alexa Voice Assistant had been added a room at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, the a reader kindly informed us of that they got to use “Hey, Disney!” at Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter, so the rollout to other Resorts has officially begun in Disney World! 

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

Minnie Vans Providing Airport Service

Disney World’s Minnie Vans are a unique form of transportation that can take you all around Disney World, and at one time, could even take you to and from Orlando International Airport. Minnie Van service returned in 2022, but the airport service is still not available. 

With Magical Express being discontinued, it seems strange to some that Minnie Vans wouldn’t take advantage of that and be available to transport guests to and from the airport again.

Everything You Want to Know About Walt Disney World’s Minnie Vans

Reopening of the OTHER Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques

There are a total of THREE Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique salons in Disney World, where kids can go to be transformed into their favorite Disney princess, Encanto character, knight, and more. However, only ONE location has reopened over the past three years — the location in Magic Kingdom.

The other two Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique locations are still closed — that includes the location in Disney Springs AND the location in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

See Photos From Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique’s Reopening in Magic Kingdom

The Return of Room Service

Before Disney World’s closure, you could get room service at many Disney World hotels (mostly deluxe resorts, but Coronado Springs also offered it). Now? If you want to get food at a hotel delivered to your room at most hotels, you’ll have to Mobile Order, pick it up, and deliver it yourself. 

The only hotel currently offering room service is the Grand Floridian, so many resort guests would love to see it return to other hotels, too. Finding late-night dining is already tricky in Disney World, but room service was often delivered until the early morning hours.

Here are your current options for late-night dining in Disney World

So yes, we did get some positive changes recently at Disney World, including free overnight self-parking at hotels for guests, more flexibility in park hopping for Annual Passholders, and more, there are still some changes that haven’t yet been addressed. We’ll continue to cover any and all changes in Disney World, though, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

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 changes would YOU like to see in Disney World in 2023? Let us know in the comments!