It’s spring break season and lots of vacationers are visiting Orlando. Disney World news March 2024 brings us some exciting restaurant reopening details! Especially for DVC Members who own, or like to stay, at the Grand Floridian. With continued reopenings, regular refurbishments and new rides and restaurants, there’s much more to know!
We’ve got it all for you here each month, including the tips in this Disney World News March 2024 info. Whether you’re planning your next vacation or looking for inspiration to book one, we hope this Walt Disney World news and updates roundup helps to keep you in the know. If you’re planning one, have a magical trip!
A reminder for Members with an August Use Year to bank points by March 31st!
Disney World News March 2024 Dates to Remember
Here we have some dates related to Disney World news March 2024 and beyond.
February 28 – May 27 | EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
March 3 | Easter egg displays and The Grand Cottage Return
March 5 | Reservations for the new 1900 Park Fare open
March 5 | Club runDisney Gold and Platinum Registration opens for Wine & Dine races
March 12| General Registration opens for Wine & Dine races at 10:00 a.m. ET
March 16 | Last operating day before Blizzard Beach water park closes for refurbishment
March 17 | Typhoon Lagoon water park reopens
Continued Reopenings at Walt Disney World Resort
We’ve been covering Disney World’s post reopening come back for quite a while now. Disney World reopened in 2020 running a very lean operation. So many things have returned to the parks and resorts but many have not. There are still many temporarily unavailable closures. Some of which may greatly impact your trips. We want to help you set expectations and plan your trip based on what is available.
What’s not back at Disney World?
- 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian has an opening date finally!
- The tea room at the Grand Floridian is not open.
- The Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage has not returned to Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
- The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques at the Grand Floridian and Disney Springs are not open.
- It’s A Wonderful Shop, Stage 1 Company Store, In Character and Disney Studio Store are still closed at Hollywood Studios.
- Disney says DVC pool hopping is still suspended.
- Saratoga Springs Senses Spa and Beach Club’s Ship Shape Massage Salon Fitness are still closed.
- Services like having your purchases delivered to the front of the park or to your room are paused.
- Disney Annual Passholders still need park reservations to visit parks for a full day.
- Many shows have not reopened yet like: Citizens of Hollywood, Jedi Training, Citizens of Main Street, Main Street Trolley Show, Move It! Shake It! Street Party, Once Upon a Time, The Jeweled Dragon Acrobats, Serveur Amusant, Swotu Waya Pandora Drummers, Pandora Utility Suit Pilot and more.
We do our best to continue to share things as they return.
1900 Park Fare Reopening April 10, 2024
We’re so excited that 1900 Park Fare is finally reopening at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and we’ve got details! Disney announced that the popular, carousel themed spot in the Grand lobby will open on April 10th, 2024. This lines up with the refurbishment that has been happening at the resort. We saw every building blossom through refurbishment over the last few years, including the start of the lobby where this buffet is located. No word on the tea room reopening yet though. The 1900 Park Fare dining experience is all new including menu items and characters who visit. It remains a buffet though and the memorable strawberry soup will still be on the line!
What characters are at the new 1900 Park Fare restaurant?
Disney says Aladdin, Cinderella, Mirabel and Tiana will be the new characters at 1900 Park Fare. Aladdin will be in his Prince Ali look. This is more rare and has been in parades more than anything. Aladdin appears in Adventureland in Magic Kingdom, with Jasmine, but wears his pre-Genie attire. Tiana will be in her new look for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. What do these characters have in common? At 1900 Park Fare they are celebrating the power of a wish.
Prior to the pandemic, the breakfast at 1900 Park Fare hosted a lineup of friends from across the pond. This included Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, The Mad Hatter, Tigger and Winnie the Pooh. Mary Poppins wore her Jolly Holiday outfit and it was pretty hard to find The Mad Hatter anywhere else. For dinner, 1900 Park Fare used to host Cinderella and her Prince, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia and Drizella. Based on what Disney has shared it seems the same characters will meet at lunch and dinner now.
Reservations for the new 1900 Park Fare open on March 5 and we can expect more information then. 1900 Park Fare is a favorite of many and known as one of the best Disney character meals at a resort. We’ll have to see how the new refresh turns out. We haven’t heard if the tea experience in this space will return yet.
DIY Lightsaber Building is Back
At the exit of Star Tours is the bustling Star Wars merchandise store Tatooine Traders. You may remember the lightsaber building experience in this place. You have to walk by it to leave if you ride the attraction. Along with many other touchable experiences, this was modified during the pandemic to increase physical distancing and cleanliness. It looks like the build your own experience is back to normal now.
This is different, and way more affordable at $29.99, than the lightsabers at Savi’s Workshop that cost $249.99 per lightsaber, plus tax.
As for other help yourself style offerings, we’ve seen buffets return to normal at restaurants. However, at quick service dining, like Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café and Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe, toppings bars are still unavailable. After four years since the initial closure, much is still different at Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney World News March 2024
Easter Decorations at Resorts Starting March 3
Disney announced Easter egg displays and The Grand Cottage return to resorts on March 3rd. This is plenty of time ahead of the March 31st Easter holiday this year. For those who haven’t visited to enjoy it, The Grand Cottage is similar to the Grand Floridian gingerbread house. It’s a bright little kiosk in the middle of the Grand Floridian lobby that sells seasonal treats.
Each year, the Grand Floridian pastry team decorates ornate, chocolate eggs themed to Disney movies, characters, attractions and more. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is known for its large Easter egg display that fills the lobby. Some other resorts have smaller ones to enjoy too. You can also find this seasonal fun at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and Disney’s Beach Club Resort. At the Contemporary, you can find treats and an assorted egg lineup. At Yacht Club the display is themed to Moana in 2024. Over at Beach Club, the display takes inspiration from the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. As we always say, Disney Vacation Club resorts have the best amenities!
March Means Spring Break and Higher Prices Like Genie+
With the spring season comes crowds. The 2024 Disney Vacation Club point charts show us that most of mid February through the end of April is in the second most pricey tier. Within that time period, March 24th through the 31st is shown in the most expensive point tier, right next to Christmas week. We know much of Disney operates with variable pricing now. When Disney thinks it will be busier, it’s more expensive. We see this not just with points but with ticket prices and services like Disney Genie+. The paid FastPass replacement was back up to $35 for all parks or Magic Kingdom around Presidents’ Day weekend. We can expect the in app service to be this pricey at points during the month of March as well.
Disney Earnings Call: a Fifth Gate at Disney World?
The 2024 first quarter earnings call for The Walt Disney Company revealed some details Disney fans can look forward to in the future. While the best place for Disney Parks and resorts announcements is typically D23 fan events, we sometimes hear about exciting new additions on these calls.
Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger started the call off by announcing an animated Moana sequel is coming to theaters November 27th, 2024. He also shared that all parks were profitable in the first quarter. Exciting for parks fans, Bob Iger stated capacity expanding additions at all Disney Park destinations around the world are ahead.
A listener asked a question about the more than $40 billion in new parks and attractions coming to Disney destinations. At this point, Bob Iger was specifically asked about a fifth gate in Florida, meaning a brand new theme park.
Is Disney World getting another theme park?
There has been a lot of speculation on this given timeline of the parks opening over the years and Orlando being due for a new Disney Park. With a third park opening at Universal Orlando Resort in 2025, many people are expecting Disney to counter with a new park at Walt Disney World Resort.
Bob Iger did not answer the question but instead glazed over the topic by mentioning new offerings would begin opening in 2025 and continue each year after. It sounded like a new attraction would open next year with additional, annual attractions continuing to open in the following years.
Considering Magic Kingdom opening in 1971, Epcot in 1982, Hollywood Studios in 1989 and Animal Kingdom in 1998, a fifth gate seems more than due. Especially because Disney wants to use the reservation system to limit guests visiting. This sounds like leadership thinks there are more guests visiting than can comfortably fit in the parks? Sounds like we need another.
An official Disney website, Disney Connect, has this commitment as of February of 2024:
“Our investments in Florida will continue as we plan to invest billions in Walt Disney World Resort over the next decade. Our investment will create 13,000 new jobs and thousands of other indirect jobs that will attract more people to the state and generate more taxes.”
We’ve talked about how 13,000 new jobs is enough for a new theme park. It could also be lands and expansions. It’s not clear if that number includes temporary work like construction brought in for building.
For now, this is what’s coming to Disney in 2024 and beyond.
Blizzard Beach Closes, Typhoon Lagoon Opens
The water parks at Walt Disney World are about to trade operational places again. It’s not common place for them both to be open at the same time anymore. This is a pandemic change. Instead one is usually open while the other is closed for refurbishment.
It’s been announced that Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park is available now through March 16th, 2024 and will be closed for refurbishment beginning March 17th. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park will reopen March 17th, 2024.
DVC Buys Back at Grand Floridian
DVC Resale Experts had their first Right of First Refusal buyback in more than a year. In February, Disney Vacation Club chose to buy back a contract at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. This was a $140 per point contract. Before this, the last buybacks for DVC Resale Experts were in December of 2022.
Why does this matter? If you’re thinking about buying at the Grand Floridian, it’s specifically important. These kinds of numbers can help guide your resale DVC offer. Just knowing that DVC might be interested in buying back again in general is good to consider. An Expert will be happy to help you find the right price to offer based on current trends.
It’s also one of the reasons that prices have been down for DVC resale overall. When Disney isn’t buying back, those buying DVC resale can try to negotiate lower if they choose, knowing it’s less likely Disney will take the contract instead. With buybacks in play again, we’ll be watching to see how this could affect the DVC resale market overall.
Refurbishments and a New Snack Stand at Hollywood Studios
The Hollywood that never was and always will be has some Disney World news March 2024 updates. If you love the One Man’s Dream film about Walt Disney, take note. The theater closed for a refurbishment in February. The walkthrough, museum style portion of the exhibit is still open.
A newly constructed walk up food kiosk has opened near the Muppets area in Hollywood Studios. Ice Cold Hydraulics serves savory churros with bacon, specialty cinnamon rolls and slushies. This looks to be a Coca Cola c0-branded collaboration.
For more of what’s going on with refurbishments at the resorts, see our DVC resort refurbishment schedule.
runDisney Wine and Dine Updates
More information has been shared about the Disney Wine and Dine race weekend including when you can sign up. Club runDisney gold and platinum registration opens March 5th and general registration opens March 12th at 10:00 a.m. ET. See race themes, dates, prices and more in our 2024 runDisney events overview.
Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival
The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is in full bloom. The 2024 dates are February 28th through May 27th, 2024. We have more details on this and other happenings in our 2024 Disney World events post.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Opening this Summer in Magic Kingdom
The Disney Parks Blog shared some new details of what we have to look forward to at the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction. Dozens of new audio-animatronics and critters playing instruments made from found bayou materials are part of the fun.
For the soundtrack, there will be new music from industry legends along with songs from the film. Across the way in Frontierland, there is more authentic music coming the new Country Bear Jamboree as well. Frontierland is getting an audio makeover in the best way.
This ride will be different than others we’ve seen. Typically we experience a fun retelling of a film’s story in an attraction. Imagineering has changed over the last decade and tries to immerse guests with new stories. The Disney Parks Blog articles states, “This ride will be all about Tiana after she made her own dreams come true and how we all have the potential to make our dreams a reality.”
The gist of the story as stated on Disney Parks Blog: “In Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, she’s throwing a festive party during Mardi Gras season to thank her family, friends and the entire community for all the support they’ve given her as a successful business owner; it’s incredibly special that we get to celebrate with her.”
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens at Walt Disney World Resort this summer.
The west coast version opens later in 2024 at Disneyland in California.
Even if you’re not brave enough for the 50 foot drop, this is all still good news. This attraction has a large capacity and this should even crowds out a bit around the park at Magic Kingdom. A happy thing for all!
Beignets at Magic Kingdom
Disney snacks and treats are a huge part of the experience and can even influence your itinerary. Over at Magic Kingdom, Frontierland has quite a bit going on. Splash Mountain has been closed for some time as this attraction transforms into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. As we await this attraction opening this summer, we can enjoy a tasty themed treat in anticipation. Nearby at the Golden Oak Outpost, beignets with strawberry sauce are now available for $6.99.
Disney Resort Guests Get Free Water Park Visit on Check-In Day in 2025
Disney surprised us with something brand new and different than we’ve seen before. From Disney: “Disney Resort hotel Guests arriving in 2025 can enjoy water park admission on check-in day—included with your stay! This new benefit is only for registered Guests on the room reservation.” This promotion runs for the calendar year of 2025. What an interesting benefit? Everyone has their thing on check-in day. Some people run to the parks while others settle in at their resort or go to Disney Springs. Now the water parks might be something to try in 2025. This benefit includes Disney Vacation Club resort guests!
Buy and Sell DVC with DVC Resale Experts
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DVC resale prices can pleasantly surprise Members interested in selling DVC. See our resale DVC listings for a look at real time availability and pricing. Ready to sell DVC? Get in touch for a complimentary valuation of your specific contract today. There may be someone waiting on our Buyer Wish List for a contract just like yours.
