CHANGEDOctober 19, 2021
Lightning Lane Single Pass
Resort-wide • planning
Top attractions require a separate per-ride purchase.
- Now
- Per-ride paid access
Source · Walt Disney World
The 2021 record
What changed at Disney World in 2021
Every verified opening, closure and rule change we hold for 2021, with the date and source for each.
- 42 completed
42 records
2021 in full
CHANGEDOctober 19, 2021
FastPass+
Resort-wide • planning
The free advance ride booking system ended permanently.
- Then
- Free 60-day advance ride reservations
- Now
- Discontinued
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDOctober 19, 2021
Genie+
Resort-wide • planning
Skip-the-line access became a paid daily add-on.
- Then
- FastPass+ (free)
- Now
- Paid per-day service
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDOctober 19, 2021
Disney Genie
Resort-wide • planning
A free planning assistant was added alongside the paid Genie+.
- Now
- Free itinerary suggestions in the app
Source · Parkstalgia Research
NEWOpened October 2021
Character Cavalcades
Magic Kingdom • entertainment
Mini-parades introduced in 2020 stayed as a permanent daily offering.
- Then
- Scheduled character meets only
- Now
- Short cavalcades roll down Main Street daily
Source · Parkstalgia Research
NEWOpened October 2021
EPCOT
EPCOT • land
The park's entire layout and naming was restructured.
- Then
- Future World and World Showcase
- Now
- World Celebration, Discovery, Nature, Showcase
Source · Walt Disney World
NEWOpened October 2021
La Crêperie de Paris
EPCOT • dining
The France pavilion expansion added a new creperie.
- Now
- Crêperie in the France expansion
Source · Parkstalgia Research
NEWOpened October 2021
Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
EPCOT • attraction
A trackless family dark ride added to World Showcase.
- Now
- Open in the France pavilion
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDOctober 2021
Enchanted Tiki Room
Magic Kingdom • entertainment
The show returned closer to its original format.
- Then
- Shortened version
- Now
- Longer classic version
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDOctober 2021
EPCOT Entrance
EPCOT • land
The main entrance was demolished and rebuilt with a new fountain and pathways.
- Then
- Leave a Legacy monoliths
- Now
- Open fountain plaza
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDOctober 2021
Resort guest perks
Resort-wide • planning
Morning Extra Magic Hours ended; Deluxe guests get select evening hours.
- Then
- Extra Magic Hours
- Now
- 30-minute Early Entry for all resort guests
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDOctober 2021
Main Street Confectionery
Magic Kingdom • dining
The candy shop was gutted and rebuilt with a visible candy kitchen.
- Then
- Original candy shop
- Now
- Rebuilt with open kitchen and new treats
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGEDOctober 2021
Early Theme Park Entry
Resort-wide • planning
All Disney resort guests get 30 minutes early entry every day.
- Then
- Extra Magic Hours at select parks
- Now
- 30 minutes early at every park daily
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGEDOctober 2021
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours
Resort-wide • planning
Late-night extra hours are now a deluxe-resort perk.
- Then
- Evening Extra Magic Hours for all resort guests
- Now
- Deluxe and Villa guests only
Source · Parkstalgia Research
REPLACEDOctober 2021
Steakhouse 71
Resort-wide • dining
The Contemporary's restaurant was rethemed to 1971.
- Then
- The Wave... of American Flavors
- Now
- Steakhouse 71
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGEDOctober 2021
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Magic Kingdom • entertainment
The storytelling experience returned in a slightly reworked form.
- Then
- Full interactive storytelling
- Now
- Modified version with distancing-era changes
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGEDOctober 2021
Spaceship Earth
EPCOT • attraction
The exit area games and sponsor exhibits were scaled back.
- Then
- Project Tomorrow with sponsor branding
- Now
- Reduced post-show
Source · Parkstalgia Research
NEWOpened September 20, 2021
Space 220
EPCOT • dining
A table-service restaurant simulating dining in orbit.
- Now
- Open near Mission: SPACE
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDSeptember 8, 2021
Memory Maker / parking
Resort-wide • planning
Passholder benefits were restructured by tier.
- Then
- Bundled perks
- Now
- Tier-dependent perks
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDSeptember 8, 2021
Annual Passes
Resort-wide • planning
Pass tiers, pricing and sales availability changed substantially.
- Then
- Legacy pass tiers
- Now
- Four new Florida-weighted tiers
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDAugust 18, 2021
Club Cool
EPCOT • dining
The free international soda tasting moved and swapped several flavours.
- Then
- Inside Innoventions West
- Now
- New location near Creations Shop
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGEDAugust 3, 2021
The Hall of Presidents
Magic Kingdom • attraction
The tradition of adding each sitting president continued.
- Then
- Trump-era show
- Now
- Biden animatronic added
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDAugust 2021
Studios table service
Hollywood Studios • dining
Table-service menus across the park were rebuilt.
- Then
- Legacy menus
- Now
- Reworked menus and pricing
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDAugust 2021
Cinderella's Royal Table
Magic Kingdom • dining
Castle dining moved to a single fixed price.
- Then
- Per-item plus character photos
- Now
- Fixed price per person
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGEDJuly 16, 2021
Jungle Cruise
Magic Kingdom • attraction
Several scenes were rebuilt and outdated depictions of native peoples were removed.
- Then
- Original 1971 scene lineup with dated depictions
- Now
- New storyline with stranded skippers
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGEDJuly 15, 2021
Garden Grill Restaurant
EPCOT • dining
Character dining returned in stages with different service styles.
- Then
- Full family-style character meal
- Now
- Returned with modified service
Source · Parkstalgia Research
REPLACEDJuly 2, 2021
Creations Shop
EPCOT • dining
EPCOT's main store was rebuilt and renamed.
- Then
- MouseGear main merchandise store
- Now
- Creations Shop
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGEDJuly 2021
Resort housekeeping
Resort-wide • resort
Housekeeping frequency changed after 2020 and was only partly restored.
- Then
- Daily full service
- Now
- Light service every other day
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDJuly 2021
Main Street Vehicles (horse trolley reduced)
Magic Kingdom • attraction
Main Street vehicle offerings were scaled back after the 2020 closure period.
- Then
- Full vehicle line-up
- Now
- Reduced operation
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDJune 2021
Coral Reef Restaurant
EPCOT • dining
Operating hours were reduced after reopening.
- Then
- Daily lunch and dinner
- Now
- Dinner-focused operation
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDJune 2021
Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe
Magic Kingdom • dining
Mobile ordering became the primary way most guests order quick service at Magic Kingdom, and some locations lean on it heavily at busy times.
- Then
- Walk-up ordering at registers
- Now
- Mobile ordering is the main path at peak times; walk-up availability varies by location
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGEDJune 2021
Rafiki's Planet Watch
Animal Kingdom • attraction
The train-accessed area returned with a modified experience.
- Then
- Closed since 2019
- Now
- Reopened with adjusted programming
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGEDMay 8, 2021
Festival of the Lion King
Animal Kingdom • entertainment
The show came back in a trimmed celebration format before the full version returned.
- Then
- Suspended
- Now
- Modified celebration format
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGEDMarch 7, 2021
Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach
Resort-wide • planning
Disney now alternates which water park is open.
- Then
- Both water parks open year-round
- Now
- One park open at a time on rotation
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGEDMarch 2021
Disney MagicMobile
Resort-wide • planning
You can enter parks and rooms with your phone.
- Then
- MagicBand or ticket card
- Now
- Phone or watch pass
Source · Parkstalgia Research
GONEClosed January 24, 2021
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom • entertainment
The free interactive scavenger game did not return after the 2020 closure.
- Then
- Interactive card game
- Now
- Retired
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGED2021
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
Magic Kingdom • dining
The self-serve toppings bar has not been part of the regular service since 2020.
- Then
- Full toppings bar
- Now
- Pre-portioned toppings
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGED2021
Park Hopper
Resort-wide • planning
Hopping rules tightened and then loosened again.
- Then
- Hop any time
- Now
- Hop after 2pm, then any time from 2023
Source · Walt Disney World
CHANGED2021
MagicBands
Resort-wide • resort
Resort stays no longer include a complimentary MagicBand.
- Then
- Free band with each resort stay
- Now
- Purchase or use the app
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGED2021
Disney PhotoPass
Resort-wide • planning
Ride and character photos appear in the app automatically.
- Then
- Card-based PhotoPass
- Now
- Linked to app account and MagicBand+
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGED2021
Walt Disney World Monorail
Resort-wide • transportation
Monorail hours are more tightly tied to park hours.
- Then
- Extended late-night service
- Now
- Hours tied to park closing
Source · Parkstalgia Research
CHANGEDJanuary 1, 2021
MagicBand
Resort-wide • planning
The free MagicBand perk ended as phone-based entry took over.
- Then
- Complimentary MagicBands for resort guests
- Now
- MagicBands now purchased
Source · Walt Disney World
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