Walt Disney World has changed quite a bit during the span of this year. Many of our favorite Disney services that were once free have now been ended. Guests are now being notified about the final end of FastPass at Disney World. Here’s how.
Changes this Year
Last year we announced that Walt Disney World would close the magical portals of the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. At that time, Disney announced that it would be replaced with a new and improved game, but after 9 months, that announcement has yet to be made.
We have even seen extra perks such as MagicBands and Luggage Tags being altered for Guests at Disney Resorts. And we were shocked when Walt Disney World announced that they would no longer provide the Magical Express transportation service for Guests staying at the Disney Resort.
When Walt Disney World reopened in July 2020, many things were a bit different. One of the most notable changes was the suspension of the free FastPass system. Many felt that this was simply due to crowd capacity limits and that this free service would return in the near future.
New Disney Genie
Recently, Disney shared that they would discontinue the use of the free FastPass system available at Walt Disney World. They introduced the Disney Genie. This allows Guests to use the free Genie service through the My Disney Experience app, pay for the Genie+, or purchase the Individual Lightning Lane.
Is that a lot to take in? We think so, too. Be sure to check out this great article that helps to breakdown the difference between each of these options HERE.
Guests Notified of End of FastPass
When Guests purchase Park tickets, they can request their ticket to be mailed to them. This ticket resembles a gift card and many still show a Disney FastPass+ logo in the corner.
In an effort to correct any confusion with these preprinted tickets, Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom today were notified that it is time to say goodbye to our favorite Disney service: FastPass. This new informational sheet states:
“We are excited to welcome you to Walt Disney World Resort and look forward to creating magical memories for you and your loved ones. Disney FastPass+ service has now been retired, so we wish to correct the language on this ticket.“
“While the FastPass+ service is no longer available, we are excited to share new ways to experience our Theme Parks now and in the future. As we prepare for our milestone 50th anniversary with “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” starting later this year, there are many new and exciting experiences for you to enjoy.”
Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom today were notified that it is time to say goodbye to our favorite Disney service, the FastPass.
This leaflet not only says goodbye to the FastPass but hopes to excite Guests that the new Disney Genie will soon be released from his magical lamp.
What do you think of the new Disney Genie? When do you think the Disney Genie will be released? Do you miss the FastPass service already? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook Page.
Disney world is nuts now we may not even stay on property aymore. Cost is nuts. Been going since 2005… well might be a while now. Prices are too high. No benefit of staying on property. We still know how to gsme the system and get around. We have been more than 20 times. But now we have kids and need to figure out how to go with them.
Wow….Disney is not the home we remember that is for sure.
I remember when my family was young and riding the magic express they where so excited and the suit cases magically appearing in our room…..
After hours did cost but it was not terrible, and as the kids got older it was worth it. No little kids winning because they should be settling down for the night of course there where free early hours for the young kids as the older ones slept in lol.
Magic bands where awesome especially for the older kids, no phone no money to worry about getting lost….it was a wonderful time. I could keep going ….
Walt never intended to out price a family vacation….I’m happy my family had this but feel terrible for those who never will.
Yeh iv cancelled my august 2022 visit. Its suddenly too expensive to do what we did in 2019. Itll cost around 2000 More and that’s also downgrading from moderate to value hotels. So no thanks. We’re doing Japan instead. Which has turned out way cheaper.
Disney world is not worth it to go anymore. The execs ruined it.
Wow, Disney is getting very greedy. No more Magical Express, if you then rent a car, you have to pay for parking at your hotel, and the theme parks? Or, you could depend on the late busses, or the monorail that seems to lose power, or the skyliner that suspends you above on a string! Call me crazy, but this is not my idea of a good time. Then, the ticket prices increase! Then you have to pay for the Genie+ or you can always pay even more for lightning lane pass to get a time (at the park’s schedule) to get on a ride. What about those dining reservations you made? You do know they charge your credit card a $10.00 per guest cancelation fee if you need to cancel within 24 hours of your reservation time. Not to mention the ride closures and breakdowns. I could go on, but I think you get the idea.
Universal is better now.
“We are excited to welcome you to Walt Disney World Resort and look forward to creating magical memories for you and your loved ones. Disney FastPass+ service has now been retired, YOU may be excited but I sure am NOT! You could plan your day 60 days out and this is a mess with trying to work around dining reservations. If you finish one who is to say you could get another that you want. This is a disaster and I HATE it! I have to pay more for an AP that has many blackout dates, and no longer do I get Memory Maker as well as other items that previously were included you must pay additional for.
If this were the only issue, okay. But I keep saying this. Ticket prices up, loss of free fast passes, all food prices and resort prices have gone up as well as special events way higher. The end of the year no more Magical Express and on and on and on. Of course Disney is excited but they are killing the rest of us! Along with the Genie +, those who do care to spend again more money the lines will be even longer and we get overflowing trash cans and dirty rest rooms. Service has gone down and prices up..If I pay for a premium experience I expect a premium experience which has not happened. Almost every time I look at the internet a resort is being evacuated or a ride or two are down every day. You rarely used to see this.
Disney is just making it too complicated to go and enjoy the parks! I want to go enjoy myself and not have my phone in hand every minute. I take a vacation to get away from all of that and now must be glued to my phone. Even Magic Bands are going away and they were free and now I must pay for them. Disney has become an EXPENSIVE technical nightmare!
There are no guarantees with Genie that you’ll get the ride you want or when. I loved making three Fast Pass reservations a day, 60 days out, and knowing my dining reservations would work around it. Waiting until the day of, and scrambling to get only one reservation, is so frustrating. We were planning to buy APs for our family after Covid-19, but now I’m planning to go to Universal next. I don’t know when we’ll go to Disney now.
Universal is looking better at this time.