2024 will be upon us before we know it!

Will you have this view in 2024?

With the start of a new year will come changes at Disney World. Let’s look at some of the problems you could face in Disney World in 2024.

Unpredictable Crowds

A BIG CHANGE is happening starting Jan. 9, 2024. Park reservation requirements are going away for most people at Disney World. While many Disney fans are excited about this change, it could bring about a nasty problem: Disney World crowds will go back to being a bit more unpredictable.

Crowds at Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Requiring most guests to make a reservation for which park they are going to visit in a day does help Disney World distribute the crowds more evenly among its four theme parks. This has not been much of a factor this summer, as we have not being seeing park passes “sell out” for any of the parks for several months.

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Possible Staffing Shortages

Another way that Disney was using park passes was to staff the parks correctly. Disney knew in advance what the crowd level would be in each of its parks, and it could schedule its staff accordingly. In addition, this was a way to be sure that food and merchandise was stocked accordingly.

Cast Members in EPCOT

Now Disney is widely considered the best in the theme park business, and they have decades of experience in predicting crowd levels and staffing and stocking accordingly. How much were the park passes really helping them with this? Guess we will find out in 2024.

Extreme Weather

While the Florida heat can be brutal every summer, this year has been record-breaking. Hot days in Disney World can contribute to all kinds of nasty problems — including chafing, dehydration, and heat exhaustion. Even if you avoid these issues, the extreme heat at Disney World can suck the energy right out of you — leading you to not get as much done in your Disney World days.

Uzima Pool at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association has announced that the extreme heat we are experiencing in 2023 is expected to persist into 2024, as our current El Nino weather pattern continues. So, be ready for a sweaty summer trip in 2024.

Higher Air Fares

We bring you lots of air fare deals as we find them, but we’re here to say that there are signs pointing to rising air fare in 2024 — and that could create a problem with your vacation budget. ING Group published a report last month predicting an increase in air fares across the globe in 2024 — largely because there is still high demand, and a slowdown in the delivery of new planes.

Air fare could increase in 2024

While the conventional wisdom is that airfare is cheapest 45-60 days before you plan to fly, some travel experts are recommending booking flights as early as possible to avoid potential increases in 2024.

Pool Closures

Disney World has to routinely close areas for maintenance and remodeling, and pools at its resorts are closed regularly to keep them in tip-top shape. If you love hanging out at Disney World pools, you’ll want to make sure you plan accordingly. The pool closures announced for Disney World in 2024 will be in January through April at these resorts:

• Cozy Cone Pool, Art of Animation Resort
• Fuentes del Morro Pool, Caribbean Beach Resort
• Doubloon Lagoon Pool, Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter

Doubloon Lagoon Pool

Fortunately, Disney World plans pool closures during the cooler months of the year, and the resorts have alternative pools, but if you want to swim, you may want to avoid these resorts from January through April.

And that’s a look at 5 nasty problems you could run into on your Disney World trip next year. Keep following DFB for everything you need to know to plan your next vacation! Join our newsletter and we’ll keep you updated!