6 Major Changes to Expect on Your Next Disney World Trip

Changes to Virtual Queues and Park Entry

• 🚫 Virtual queues are currently suspended for popular rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Tron Lightcycle Run, and Tiana's Bayou Adventure, meaning traditional standby lines are in place.
• ⏰ Magic Kingdom's Early Theme Park Entry and Rope Drop have been updated; guests can now access rides in Frontier Land, Liberty Square, and Adventureland, as well as Tron, during the early entry period.
• 💡 Early entry guests can also use Tron lockers starting at 8:45 AM, allowing them to be ready for the ride's opening at 9:00 AM.
• 🤝 Character meet-and-greets are now happening during early entry for select characters, offering a chance to see them before the park officially opens.

New Shows and Entertainment

• 🎭 Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After is a new show in Sunset Boulevard featuring villains pleading their case through dance and song, with audience voting determining the outcome.
• 🧜‍♀️ The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure has debuted in the Animation Courtyard, retelling Ariel's story with live actors, puppets, and digital animation.
• 🎆 A new nighttime parade, Disney Starlight Dream the Night Away, will launch in Magic Kingdom in Summer 2025, featuring characters from new and classic Disney films.
• 🦁 Zootopia: Better Zoo Gather, a 4D show, is planned for Animal Kingdom by Winter 2025.
• 🎉 Epcot continues to feature live entertainment during its festivals, with Commuter Car Hall currently transformed into Goofy Core for the Cool Kids Summer event.

Expanding Beyond the Disney Bubble

• 🎢 Universal Orlando's Epic Universe is now open, offering an alternative or addition to a Disney World vacation.
• 🚗 Traveling between Disney and Universal requires separate transportation, as Disney's free transportation is not available for this.

New Adult-Focused Offerings and Dining

• 🍸 GO82, an adults-only lounge, has opened in Epcot at the exit of Spaceship Earth, requiring advanced dining reservations.
• 🍹 Several other locations like Trader Sam's Grog Grotto, Space 220, California Grill Bar, Atlantic Dance Hall, Lava Experience, and Edison's Mixology Series cater to guests 21 and over.
• 🍽️ High-end restaurants such as Miss Paul, Victoria & Albert's, and Tacuinites have age restrictions for diners.
• 🎮 Level 99, a futuristic arcade and entertainment center with challenge rooms, is coming to Disney Springs.
• 🏴‍☠️ A new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge, The Beacon Barrel, is set to open in Magic Kingdom in late 2025.
• 🏨 The Grand Floridian Resort is undergoing extensive refurbishment, including a new lobby bar inspired by the iconic birdcage elevator.
• 🥩 Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina will open at the Swan and Dolphin later this summer.

Navigating Construction and Evolving Priorities

• 🚧 Disney World is undergoing significant construction, with new lands like Encanto and Indiana Jones at Animal Kingdom, Monsters Inc. at Hollywood Studios, and Cars Land and Villains Land at Magic Kingdom planned for the future.
• ⚠️ Several areas, including Dino Land USA, Muppets Courtyard, and Rivers of America, are closing to make way for new developments.
• ✈️ Visitors may consider delaying trips until 2027-2029 to experience new attractions post-construction or adjust expectations to focus on open areas like World Showcase and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.
• 🔄 It's crucial to re-evaluate priorities for each trip, as individual interests, travel companions, and the sheer impossibility of experiencing everything in one visit mean itineraries should not be static.
• 🗓️ Discussing priorities with your travel group before each visit is recommended to ensure everyone's interests are considered.