Tripadvisor’s Summer Travel Index for 2024 reports Americans continue to place a high priority on summer vacations. They rank the popular Sunshine State tourist locale Orlando as the #3 most visited domestic destination, largely thanks to Disney World.

The Most Magical Place on Earth dominates global theme park attendance, with its flagship park, Magic Kingdom, reigning as the most-attended park in 2022, according to Themed Entertainment Association’s (TEA) most recent Global Attractions Attendance Report.

Disney World aims to draw big crowds this summer with added incentives and new offerings. The latest headliner attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, opens on June 28 after months of fans anxiously waiting. But even without Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a full lineup of new attractions, entertainment, and more await visitors this summer.

Theme park experts say Disney World continues to provide added value to every vacation package. Summer visitors must take note of these openings and limited-time events to make the most of the time spent.

Headliner Attractions Open at Magic Kingdom

This summer, Walt Disney World celebrates the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure also includes dozens of new Audio-Animatronic figures of characters from the 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog. The addition replaces Splash Mountain, though the beloved 50-foot drop remains. 

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ranks as the most highly-anticipated event of 2024 in Walt Disney World. Scott McConkey, nationally syndicated travel writer and founder of Miles with McConkey, shares his excitement for what the ride will bring to the parks. He notes, “It has tremendous potential to become a new favorite attraction for families. Plus, we get to see more of Tiana’s story.”

In addition to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, guests await the reopening of Country Bear Jamboree. Disney Imagineers rebranded the show, which closed in January, to Country Bear Musical Jamboree. While it stars the same cast of Audio-Animatronic bears, their repertoire will feature classic Disney songs with a country twist. Country Bear Musical Jamboree opens in Magic Kingdom this summer.

Summer Offerings Across Disney World’s Theme Parks

Guests visiting Disney World this summer have multiple opportunities to relish new offerings, including new character meet-and-greets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and a 30th-anniversary celebration of The Lion King in Animal Kingdom.

EPCOT’s multiyear transformation concludes this summer with the opening of CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza. Lindsay Brookshier, content director of Mickey Visit, elaborates, “This is the culmination of a long set of new additions to EPCOT, from Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure to the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind to Journey of Water Inspired By Moana.

“CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza, both multipurpose spaces, will platform character meet-and-greets alongside other entertainment offerings. At launch, guests can enjoy an exclusive Encanto-inspired show. Brookshier continues, “These additions have brought great excitement to the theme park. The center of EPCOT has been under construction for a long time. I am excited to have the construction walls down and a new place for Disney to celebrate fun additions to festivals. This will be the headquarters for new additions and offerings.”

Innovative Nighttime Entertainment

Fans love Disney World’s classic fireworks display, but park experts encourage families to plan their evenings around new entertainment offerings, like the drone display Disney Dreams That Soar. The show, located in Disney World’s dining district, Disney Springs, runs from May 24 through September 2 nightly at 9 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. The nine-minute-long show depicts classic Disney characters taking flight, achieved with 800 drones and a sweeping musical score.

Disney Dreams That Soar tops experts’ must-see list. Brookshier highlights Disney Dreams That Soar as, “the beginning of exciting entertainment for the resort. At Disneyland Paris, we have been blown away by the Main Street Electrical Parade in the sky and are thrilled that this technology is coming to the United States.”

This nighttime entertainment option also benefits young children with more sensitive ears. Sarah Gilliland, founder of On The Road With Sarah, points out how drones, “are a lot less noisy than fireworks!”

A summer vacation to Disney World in 2024 brings added value. Freelance journalist and theme park expert Megan duBois shares, “If you’re going to Disney this summer, know that your ticket is going to include a lot more with the entry fee, including new activations at EPCOT, a new attraction at Magic Kingdom, and this new drone show at Disney Springs.”