Aloha, Frank! Welcome to planDisney and thanks for stopping by with such great planning questions. I love chatting with my Disney 'ohana!
I could not be more excited to hear that you are planning a magical adventure at The Most Magical Place on Earth this summer. And while staying at
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort?! That sounds like a dream come true. The Polynesian is one of my very favorite Disney Resorts Collection Hotels, and with its immersive, tropical theming, fantastic
dining, one of the best pools in all of
Walt Disney World Resort, awesome
resort activities, and location right on the monorail, it's the perfect home away from home right in the middle of the magic. Now, let's get this pixie-dusted planning party started!
Unfortunately, no announcements have been made on when the
Disney Dining Plans will return. But I recommend keeping an eye on the
Disney Parks Blog for this and all official Disney news as soon as it drops. I'm anxiously awaiting their return, as well, so I'll be watching and waiting with you!
Since you are staying at the Polynesian, you will have access to both
Early Theme Park Entry for Disney Resort Hotel Guests and
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours, exclusively for Guests of Disney Deluxe Resorts. And the best part?! Both of these incredible perks are included in your Resort stay! Early Entry allows you to enter all four of the theme parks 30 minutes early
every day, and Extended Evening Hours allow you access to two extra hours of fun in EPCOT and Magic Kingdom Park on select nights. I recommend checking
the schedule for Extended Evening Hours around 60 days before your trip. While you don't have to book Early Entry or Extended Evening Hours, since
Theme Park Pass reservations are required to enter each theme park, make sure you don't skip this planning step!
While FastPass+ has been retired, if you wish to spend less time waiting in line and more time enjoying the magic, your wish is granted with
Disney Genie+. You will be able to purchase Genie+ on your My Disney Experience app on the day of your park visit and can start making your Lightning Lane selections for your favorite attractions right at 7:00 a.m. EST. You will be able to unlock Genie's phenomenal cosmic powers as you make more selections throughout the day. Spending less time waiting in line is the name of my Disney game, and I absolutely recommend using Genie+. When it comes to magic, more is
always better.
I hope this was helpful, Frank, and I hope you have the most magical and memorable time on your summer vacation! Please stop by any time with any planning questions you may have along the way.
'Ohana means family,
Mandy