Disney World’s website flooded with reservation requests as Disney Dining Plan returns

The Disney Dining Plan is (almost) back at Walt Disney World in Florida. The prepaid meal plan doesn’t officially return until January but bookings began Wednesday, as vacation reservations opened up for the coming year.

Disney’s reservations website has been slammed all day, with guests waiting to book trips. Many fans have been asking for dining plans since the pandemic. Their return is one of two big changes Disney announced earlier in May. The other is theme park reservations will not be required for most people visiting the Orlando-area resort starting Jan. 9.

Several other updates aimed at improved guest experiences have already taken effect this year, like rolling back overnight parking fees at Disney resort hotels and offering same-day attraction photo perks with Genie+.

Here’s what travelers planning trips to Disney World should know.

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What comes with the Disney Dining Plan?

Guests who book Disney vacation packages with park tickets and accommodations at Disney resort hotels may now purchase Disney Dining Plans for stays beginning Jan. 9. They allow guests to prepay for meals at a discount, but must be purchased for the full duration of stays.

There are two different options: The Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan and Disney Dining Plan.

The Quick-Service Dining Plan costs $57.01 per adult and $23.83 per child per night of stay, including tax. That's up from $55 per adult and down from $26 per child per night of stay in 2020. The plan includes:

• 2 quick-service meals per night of stay

• 1 snack or non-alcoholic drink outside of meals per night of stay

• 1 refillable drink mug for use at resort hotels

The standard Disney Dining Plan costs $94.28 per adult and $29.69 per child per night of stay, including tax. That's up from $78.01 per adult and down from $30.51 per child per night of stay in 2020. There's also one less snack daily. The plan includes:

• 1 quick-service meal per night of stay

• 1 table-service meal per night of stay

• 1 snack or non-alcoholic drink outside of meals per night of stay

• 1 refillable drink mug for use at resort hotels

The Deluxe Disney Dining Plan, which cost more and offered more table-service credits, is not being offered.

Travelers should note kids age 10 and up count as adults for pricing. Select character dining meals, fine and signature dining meals and dinner shows require two table-service credits. Additional details, restrictions and participating dining locations can be found on Disney World’s website.

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Are reservations required for Disney ticket holders?

Effective Jan. 9, park reservations will no longer be required for guests with date-based tickets. Date-based tickets are the standard tickets available on Disney’s website. Most tickets are date-based.

“For other admission types, including non-dated tickets, theme park reservations may be required to help us continue managing attendance and delivering a great experience for everyone,” Disney explained in a press release.

Examples of non-dated tickets include those tied to specific conventions or seasonal offers, as well as annual passes.

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Annual passholders, cast members will have more flexibility

Currently, annual passholders may enter any theme park after 2 p.m. without a reservation, a change announced in January, which took effect in April. Starting next year, Disney will introduce select dates when reservations will not be required at all for passholders or cast members.

Disney has not yet revealed when these “good-to-go days” will begin, but said they will be rolled out periodically throughout the year and will be visible on annual passholder calendars. “Good-to-go days may vary by park, and pass block out dates and capacity limitations continue to apply like they do today,” according to Disney.

Do Disney resort hotel guests get extra time at parks?

All guests of Disney resort hotels may enter Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom 30 minutes before the parks open to everyone else. Early theme park entry perks will continue next year.

Additionally, extended evening hours will continue to be available to guests of Deluxe resorts and villas on specific nights at select parks.

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Is Genie+ is changing?

Details haven’t been released yet, but Disney World is working on changes to Genie+ so guests won’t have to spend as much time on their phones at the parks.

“We have heard from guests that they would like ways to plan with Disney Genie+ service and individual Lightning Lane selections before the day of their park visit, and we want you to know we are working on ways guests may do this for visits in 2024,” Disney World said in its press release. “Our goal is to give you the opportunity to spend less time planning in the park and more time enjoying your visit with friends and family.“ More information will be released down the line.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Disney Dining Plan goes on sale, but wait isn’t quite over