Disney’s theme parks continue to make news this month. In recent days, Disney has unveiled details regarding the return of the Disney Dining Plan, seasonal offerings during Halloween Time at Disneyland, and an update on the work being done to the upcoming ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. If you’re in the midst of planning a vacation to Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort, buckle up—these updates are important.
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Disney Dining Plan Prices and Details Unveiled
The long-awaited return of the Disney Dining Plan is closer than ever with 2024 vacation packages having gone on sale on May 31. This is one of the last vacation planning mainstays to return following the 2020 closures, with the Dining Plan officially returning for vacations beginning on January 9, 2024.
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That said, there are a few key differences that repeat users of the Dining Plan will likely notice. First, Disney is currently only offering its Quick Service Dining Plan and its Disney Dining Plan for 2024 vacations, with the Deluxe Dining Plan still unavailable at this time. Second, most of the 2024 per-night credit allotments will be similar to previous dining plans, though a major change is a reduction from two snacks or non-alcoholic beverages per night to one snack or nonalcoholic beverage per night.
The 2024 Disney Dining Plan costs (per person, per night of stay) are as follows:
- Quick-Service Plan: Adult $57 (up from $55 in 2020), Child $23.83 (down from $26 in 2020)
- Disney Dining Plan: Adult $94.28 (up from $78 in 2020), Child $29.69 (down from $30.51 in 2020)
Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort Sets Dates
If you love all things Halloween at Disney then you’re in luck. Not only do Disney World and Disneyland go all-out with decorations, special treats, and after-hours events, the parks practically make it a full-year affair with announcements for the Halloween season starting in the spring and the earliest Halloween parties beginning in August at Walt Disney World.
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Disney announced that the fan-favorite after-hours event Oogie Boogie Bash will return in 2023 to Disney California Adventure on select nights starting September 5 and running through October 31. The party features villainous meet-and-greets, the Frightfully Fun Parade, and the immersive Villain’s Grove walking trail. Tickets go on sale June 29 with a Magic Key pre-sale starting on June 27.
More details were recently shared about Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort, too, including the return of Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure from September 1 through November 2. Halloween Time at Disneyland Park includes its annual fireworks spectacular Halloween Screams. This means the current fireworks show, Wondrous Journeys, will play its final performance of the year on August 31. (Disney has indicated that Wondrous Journeys is set to return in early 2024 following the holiday season.)
New Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Updates
Splash Mountain had its final day of operation at Disneyland Park on May 30, clearing the path for work to begin on its transformation into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Construction has been underway in Magic Kingdom since its Splash Mountain closed in January, with the new ride inspired by the animated film The Princess and the Frog set to open on both coasts in late 2024.
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Disney has announced several new details about the ride as well, including updates on the musical score that will accompany guests throughout their journey. You can expect to hear an array of familiar songs from The Princess and the Frog as well as some new tunes while in the ride’s queue, all arranged by musician Terence Blanchard, who played Louis the Alligator’s trumpet parts in the film.
Fans who prefer physical set pieces and traditional animatronic characters over screens and projections will be happy to hear that there will be 17 new characters created for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, all of which will be represented as audio-animatronics, per Laughing Place. You \will also encounter Tiana multiple times throughout the ride, adding to that total number of figures.
