First, the honest answer you came for: Disney 100 Years of Wonder is over. It ran from January 2023 through July 26, 2024 a one-time centennial, not an annual thing, and it isn’t coming back. Disneyland has already moved on to its 70th anniversary. Plenty of older articles (this one included, until now) still insist the party’s on. It isn’t.
That doesn’t mean you missed your window to enjoy the parks, though. Walt Disney World is still packed with attractions, entertainment and experiences across its four theme parks. What has changed is the planning: since 2023, Disney has overhauled how you skip lines, and getting that wrong can make a major difference in how much you experience in a day. So here’s the real picture a quick, honest look at what Disney 100 was, then how to actually plan a trip today.
What was Disney 100 Years of Wonder? (2023–2024)
Disney 100 Years of Wonder was a company-wide celebration marking 100 years since The Walt Disney Company was founded in 1923. (Worth noting, since the two get mixed up: this was “100 Years of Wonder” not “100 Years of Magic,” which was a separate, earlier celebration in 2001–2003.)
The heart of the party was at Disneyland Resort in California, where it kicked off on January 27, 2023 alongside the debut of two nighttime spectaculars Wondrous Journeys at Disneyland Park and World of Color – One at Disney California Adventure plus the opening of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
Walt Disney World in Florida joined later that year, with the celebration centered on EPCOT: Luminous The Symphony of Us nighttime show and the new Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana attraction, along with special platinum-toned décor and limited-edition anniversary merchandise across the parks.
That’s the honest picture: a spectacular, finite centennial that wrapped in 2024. Most of the special décor and merchandise has been retired, and the Disney100-specific shows have either ended or moved on as Disney’s current celebrations changed. If you’re going now, you’ll experience the current line-up which is what the rest of this guide covers.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip today
Forget the brochure version. Here’s what actually moves the needle when you book.
Tickets are date-based. Walt Disney World uses date-based pricing, so the cost changes depending on when you go. Theme park reservations are no longer required for date-based tickets, although some other admission types may still require them. Book as far ahead as you can prices and availability can vary depending on your dates.
Lightning Lane replaced Genie+ and this is the one people get wrong. In July 2024 Disney retired Genie+ and rolled out Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass. Disney also offers Lightning Lane Premier Pass. Multi Pass covers multiple eligible attractions, Single Pass is available for select high-demand attractions, and Premier Pass provides one-time entry to available Lightning Lane experiences in a park. It all lives in the My Disney Experience app.
Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels and other select hotels can purchase Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days before their stay, while other guests can purchase them up to 3 days before their park visit.
Best time to go. For thinner crowds and milder Florida weather, the shoulder windows roughly late January to mid-February, and September to early October are often among the more comfortable periods to consider. Summer and the holidays can be busier and hotter. Check Disney’s current park calendars and operating schedules before booking, since crowd levels, weather and park hours vary by date.
First-timer strategy. The single best free trick is showing up before the park opens “rope drop,” in Disney parlance and heading straight for a headliner while everyone else is still arriving. Watch live wait times in the app, and build in genuine rest; people wildly underestimate the walking, and a melted-down afternoon costs you more than any queue. Give yourself a full day per park a four-park trip really wants four days, not a frantic two.
What’s at the parks now
The Disney 100 extras are gone, but the current line-up is strong. Expect the resident nighttime shows Happily Ever After fireworks at Magic Kingdom and Luminous The Symphony of Us at EPCOT plus the full slate of attractions and entertainment across all four parks. Disney’s current entertainment and park calendars list both Happily Ever After and Luminous The Symphony of Us.
If seeing a specific show or ride is the reason for your trip, check Disney’s official site close to your dates, since line-ups and hours can change seasonally.
Staying connected on your Disney trip
A day at Disney World runs on your phone far more than first-timers expect. Booking Lightning Lane, mobile-ordering lunch so you skip the counter queue, checking wait times, finding your Photo Pass shots, and navigating between lands all of it happens through the My Disney Experience app, and having reliable mobile data makes these tasks much easier.
For international visitors especially, roaming charges can add up quickly, and hunting for a US SIM after a long flight is nobody’s idea of a good start. A prepaid travel eSIM is the simpler route: buy a plan before you fly, scan the QR code, and you’re online the moment you land no physical SIM, no roaming bill.
That’s where Airhub fits in. A USA eSIM covers Orlando and the rest of the country, or a global eSIM works if the parks are one stop on a bigger trip. It installs in a few minutes here’s how to install your eSIM, and you can check your phone supports eSIM first (many recent phones do, but compatibility depends on the exact model). Keep your home SIM in for calls and texts, and run the Disney app on the eSIM data.
FAQs
1. Is Disney 100 Years of Wonder still going on?
No. The celebration ended on July 26, 2024, and it was a one-time centennial that won’t return. Disneyland has since moved on to its 70th anniversary.
2. When did Disney 100 Years of Wonder start and end?
It launched on January 27, 2023 at Disneyland and ran through July 26, 2024. Walt Disney World’s part of the celebration, centered on EPCOT, wrapped earlier.
3. Is it still worth visiting Walt Disney World now?
Absolutely the Disney 100 extras are gone, but all four parks continue to offer attractions, entertainment and nighttime experiences. You’ll just be planning around the current experiences rather than the centennial.
4. What replaced Genie+ at Disney World?
Disney retired Genie+ in July 2024 and replaced it with Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass. Disney also offers Lightning Lane Premier Pass. Multi Pass provides access to multiple eligible attractions, Single Pass is available for select high-demand attractions, and Premier Pass provides one-time entry to available Lightning Lane experiences in a park. You purchase and manage Lightning Lane passes through the My Disney Experience app.
5. Do I need mobile data at Disney World?
Yes reliable mobile data is useful at Disney World because the My Disney Experience app is used for Lightning Lane planning, mobile food ordering, wait times, PhotoPass and park information. A travel eSIM or local plan can be especially useful for international visitors.
6. How do I set up an Airhub eSIM for a Disney trip?
Buy a USA or global plan, get a QR code by email, and scan it in your phone’s eSIM settings before you fly. It can be installed before your trip so you’re ready to connect when you arrive.
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