Disney4me Posted 2 hours ago Report Posted 2 hours ago There are some new Disney World hotel rules to prepare for ahead of this Christmas season! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge The holiday season is one of the busiest times in Disney World, and for good reason! Between the seasonal events, gorgeous decor, and special treats, the vibe around the resort is extra-festive. But before you plan the itinerary for your Christmas vacation in Disney World, we expect that some new hotel rules will be in place, which might mean you need to adjust your holiday traditions! Disney Springs Hotel Transportation Restrictions Earlier this year, Disney officially implemented a new rule that the Disney Springs buses and boats are only available to guests with a hotel stay or a reservation for a meal or experience at one of the Disney hotels. Disney Springs Transportation Rule Reservations must be within two hours in order to be granted access to the buses and boats, and Cast Members near the entrances of the transportation areas will scan Magic Bands and passes to confirm a valid hotel stay or reservation before letting people enter. Disney Springs transportation rules. If you’ve previously visited Disney Springs to do some holiday shopping, then hopped over to the hotels to check out the Christmas decor from there, heads up that you’ll no longer be able to access the Disney Springs transportation unless you’re a hotel guest or have an upcoming hotel dining reservation! Christmas Decorations Intended for Hotel Guests Only Another major holiday tradition that’s getting a shake-up this year is hotel holiday decor. Disney recently announced that the iconic life-size Grand Floridian gingerbread house is officially retired. In its place, the hotel will feature a few small gingerbread displays made by Disney’s culinary team. Grand Floridian Gingerbread Display (2024) But while the end of the era that was the Grand Floridian gingerbread house got most of the hype, there was another detail in Disney’s recent announcement about holiday festivities that also caught our eye. In a post about the upcoming holidays, Disney said, “For guests staying at the resorts or for those with valid dining reservations, the Disney Resorts Collection offers a wide array of bright and merry holiday decor.” Christmas Tree at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge The inclusion of “for guests staying at the resorts or for those with valid dining reservations…” at the start of that statement makes it look like Disney is pretty serious about cutting down on guests “resort hopping” to take in the various Christmas displays. If you typically look forward to visiting different hotels to soak in the details of their holiday decorations, beware that you’ll need to have an Advance Dining Reservation if you aren’t a hotel guest! Limits on Mobile Ordering at Hotel Restaurants Disney World’s My Disney Experience app recently added a major new mobile ordering change that has restricted mobile ordering at certain locations. There are currently several Disney World hotel restaurants that don’t allow mobile ordering unless you’re physically at the restaurant, including Gasparilla Island Grill at the Grand Floridian Resort, Capt. Cook’s at the Polynesian Village, Contempo Cafe at the Contemporary Resort, and Geyser Point at Wilderness Lodge. Chocolate Mickey Choux from Gasparilla Island Grill If you try to place a Mobile Order at one of the restaurants included in the restriction, the app shows an error message that says “You’re too far away” and prompts you to move closer to the restaurant to place an order. Cupcake from Capt. Cook’s Disney didn’t make an announcement about this change, so it’s possible that it might be either a glitch or a temporary restriction. But considering Disney’s other attempts to cut back on non-hotel guests visiting the hotels, we think it’s definitely possible that this change has a similar intention! With that in mind, we’re preparing ourselves for the potential limits on Mobile Ordering at hotel restaurants, especially during the busy holiday season. Don’t let these Disney World hotel changes catch you off guard during your Christmas vacation! We’ll continue to be on the lookout for more news about other rule updates from the hotels and beyond, so stay tuned for the latest info! Three Disney World Hotels Fans Aren’t Booking in 2027 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will any of these rule changes impact your Disney World vacation plans? Let us know in the comments! View the full article Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.