Hi Melissa! You're in for some magical details. It's wonderful that you are considering a trip to Disney.
So much has changed at Disney World since your 2017 trip and it’s going to feel both familiar and brand new to you once you arrive on property.
To start, FastPass is gone and has been replaced with
Lightning Lanes, which work through the
My Disney Experience app to help you skip standby lines for certain rides.
On the fun side, there are new attractions you didn’t get to experience last time, like
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at
EPCOT,
TRON Lightcycle / Run at
Magic Kingdom, and
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios, complete with Rise of the Resistance and Smugglers Run. There have also been updates to some of the classics, new nighttime spectaculars, and the festivals have grown even bigger.
However, there is plenty that you will remember and cherish. Our beloved Disney pals are still making appearances and making us smile and laugh like nothing has changed.
As for whether to use a planner, that's up to you! If you like having someone take care of the details, a Disney travel planner can be a huge help, especially with all the new systems like Lightning Lanes and
Advanced Dining Reservations. The best part is that Disney-authorized planners don’t cost you anything extra; they’re paid by Disney, not you.
If you’d rather keep full control, you can absolutely plan it yourself, but having a planner can save you stress, especially if you haven’t kept up with all the changes.
If you'd like to make plans on your own, you can absolutely do that! Currently, you'll need a $200 deposit to secure your resort room, theme park tickets, and the optional dining plan. You can secure this reservation by logging into your My Disney Experience account or by calling and speaking with a Cast Member who can make that reservation for you.
Start looking through the website to determine which resort you'd like to stay at, the dates that are best for you to travel, and you'll be ready to secure your
package.
Melissa, stop by and see me or any of my planDisney friends for help on which resort you might like or which dates are best to visit during the year.
Toodles,
Korliss