12 new rides, attractions, changes coming to Disney World in 2024

After a few years of big lands and attractions opening around Walt Disney World, this coming year seems to be a bit light in what we’re exepcting, yet there are some new rides, attractions and changes coming to Disney World in 2024.

Let’s jump right into it:

1. Good-To-Go Days Calendar – Starting Jan. 11, 2024 : To help Annual Passholders create more spontaneous visits without having to make reservations, Disney World is introducing “good-to-go” days for Annual Passholders.

• On good-to-go days, Annual Passholders may enter the theme parks without a reservation (blockout dates will continue to apply like they do today).
• The theme park reservation calendar, Annual Passholder admissions calendar and My Disney Experience app will show days that are good-to-go. The first good-to-go days will be added to the calendars starting Jan. 11, 2024.
• Good-to-go days will be added periodically and may be released days or weeks in advance.

2. All-Day Park Hopper Access Returns – Starting Jan. 9, 2024 – Have a ticket with Park Hopper benefits or an Annual Pass? If so, don’t forget you may visit another theme park any time of the day during park hours. Youu will no longer need to wait until 2 p.m.

3. Dining Plans Return – Starting Jan. 9, 2024: The convenience and peace of mind of pre-paying for meals and snacks returns to Disney World resort guests as dining plans can again be purchased with vacation packages. You can choose from two popular options: Packages that include either the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan.

4. “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” – Fall 2024: A fully reimagined theatrical production inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic “The Little Mermaid,” will debut in the newly refreshed Animation Courtyard theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studies.

5. Cake Bake Shop – Sometime in early 2024: The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers, is a new table service restaurant and bakery that will offer both savory and dessert menus, along with afternoon tea service, in a whimsical atmosphere. Construction has been going on for sometime at the BoardWalk Resort. This replaces the ESPN Club location.

6. Blue Ribbon Corn Dog – Early in 2024: The new booth was supposed to open in 2023 on the Disney’s BoardWalk, but was pushed back. The kiosk looks as it is set to open.

7. CommuniCore Hall – Sometme in 2024: This location in EPCOT was supposed to originally open with the new World Celebration gardens, but construction is ongoing. This area is designed to be the center of festival programming throughout the park. This will also be the new home to a new character greeting location called Mickey & Friends. You’ll be able to meet Mickey Mouse and some of his best pals in this colorful space. CommuniCore Hall will also be the home of a dynamic exhibition space that will transform with each festival throughout the year and a stage for performers.

8. The Country Bear Jamboree Reimagined – Sometime in 2024 – This attraction in Magic Kingdom is getting new songs and the bears will be performing a new act in 2024.Tthe bears will be reinterpreting favorite Disney songs in different genres of country music. The new experience will pay homage to the classic musical revues in Nashville and they’re working with Nashville musicians to get the authentic country sound. The Country Bear Jamboree will still have the fun and friendly tone fans enjoy with the same famous characters like the loveable Trixie, Big Al and others. Now, if they would only bring back the Country Bear Jamboree Christmas edition.

9. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort DVC Tower – Late 2024: Construction continues on the new Disney Vacation Club tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort located between the existing Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Wedding Pavilion where the Spirit of Aloha used to be located.

10. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds Expansion – Sometime in 2024: New Disney Vacation Club options will be aded to the cabins. The more than 350 new cabins will replace the existing cabins at the resort. The cabins are being built with an eye toward the environment, utilizing the footprint of the existing cabins and taking advantage of more energy-efficient features. The new cabins will sleep up to six people.

11. Star Tours New Adventures – Spring 2024: New adventures are coming to Star Tours. Disney has not announced what the new adventures will be other than it will feature Ahsoka Tano.

12. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure – Late 2024: This highly-anticipated change to Splash Mountain is expected sometime in the second half of 2024. A lot of work can be seen on the exterior of the attraction. The story will pick up where the film left off as guests join Princess Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis on an adventure down the bayou as they prepare to host a one-of-a-kind celebration during Mardi Gras season where everyone is welcome. Along the way, guests will encounter familiar faces, make new friends and travel through the bayou to original music inspired by songs from the film.

Still to come

There have been some announcements of attractions and restaurants in the works, but no specific timetable. We could start seeing work on these begin in 2024 and may even be complete by the end of the year, including:

• Test Track at EPCOT being reimagined. Imagineers along with teams from Chevrolet are reaching back into history for inspiration – from the original World of Motion – and bringing that spirit of optimism to the next iteration of the Test Track attraction.
• A new show based on “Zootopia” is being created for the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The current concept for the new “Zootopia” experience has guests visiting the different biomes you only glimpse in the film, traveling along with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and other characters.
• A new Pirates of the Caribbean tavern featuring the return of Peg-Leg Pete, a.k.a. the Barker Bird, is in the works for Magic Kingdom.