Hiya Brittany!
I first wanted to give you a warm welcome to planDisney, the most magical place on the internet! I am so glad you asked us this question, as things definitely change quickly over at the Walt Disney World Resort. Walt Disney himself said that the parks "would never be complete as long as there is imagination left in the world" and would "always be in a state of becoming." Well, he said those things about Disneyland and EPCOT, but they still apply!
Many things have certainly changed throughout the last couple of years, but you can be sure that the magic still remains. First, you will have to
make a theme park reservation for each day you intend to visit after purchasing your tickets. Do you remember the craziness of getting to the theme parks before they hit capacity on jam-packed days? Thanks to the theme park reservations, those days are gone! By making a theme park reservation for each day of your visit, you will be guaranteed entry to each of those parks. When using the Park Hopper Option, you will only have to make a reservation for the first park you intend to visit. Then, starting at 2 P.M., you can go to your second park without making an additional reservation. Also, the water parks do not currently require theme park reservations.
Next, if you would like to make the most of your vacation, there is a whole new world for you to discover! The
Disney Genie+ system is a one-time purchase made on the day of your visit that allows you to pick return times for your favourite rides. In addition, you can also buy
Individual Lightning Lanes, which will also give you a return time and enable you to skip the line. Think of it this way: Individual Lightning Lanes are basically like purchasing a single FastPass. Both of these things and the
complimentary Disney Genie service that helps you plan your visit are available on the My Disney Experience mobile app.
The theme park reservations and Disney Genie services are the main differences to learn about when planning your vacation. Of course, a few experiences have yet to reopen since the beginning of the pandemic. However, the Walt Disney World Resort offerings are constantly returning, and you truly never know when these experiences might reopen! Since all of the information I have provided is valid on the day I am writing this (March 24th, 2022), I would highly recommend keeping an eye on the
Walt Disney World website and
Disney Parks Blog. These rules and experiences are subject to change, so these two sources are great to stay informed about the latest Disney Parks news.
I hope this was helpful, Brittany, and that you and your family will have the best day ever on your upcoming Disney vacation! If you have any other questions in the time leading up to your visit, please don't hesitate to reach out! You and me, we're in a club now, and you're as welcome as can be.
Have a magical day,
Ariane