Welcome to planDisney, Paul! I'm so excited to hear that you're planning to visit Walt Disney World Resort early next year. I have a vacation booked right around the same time as you, and I'm looking forward to mild weather, the return of the
Disney Dining Plan, and the exciting changes you mentioned in your question, so let's jump right in and chat about
Disney Park Pass reservations and how they're changing next year.
Beginning January 8, 2024, Guests with date-based tickets will no longer be required to make Disney Park Pass reservations. The tickets you purchase directly from Walt Disney World Resort on their own as part of a vacation package are date-based, meaning you must choose the start date of the ticket when you check out, so if you have these tickets you are good to go! Certain types of admission, like
Annual Passes and select ticket types for
military servicemembers, are not date-based and will still require Disney Park Pass reservations, so just make sure that you know what kind of ticket you have when you book your trip.
I hope this answers your question, Paul, and please let us know if there's anything else we can do to help you plan your magical vacation!
Jessica