Every year, we predict whether the upcoming new year is an excellent year to Visit Walt Disney World. Every year there are differences in what you can experience at the resort, including new attractions or special celebrations. For obvious reasons, the last couple of years have been a bit rubbish, not just at Walt Disney World, but everywhere. As we approach the New Year, the world again seems to be going through a period of great uncertainty. Despite this, 2022 could be a great year to visit Walt Disney World.

Dealing with uncertainty

Despite our optimism, you will have to deal with a degree of uncertainty before booking any vacation. While we suspect it is doubtful that Walt Disney World could close again, introducing restrictions due to Omicron or another variant is less certain. Could international borders close again in 2022?

Hopefully, borders will stay open, but the ongoing use of masks at indoor locations seems likely for the foreseeable future.

Could vaccination be compulsory to attend Walt Disney World? We suspect this is unlikely, and the recent decision to stop a mandate that cast members had to be vaccinated makes this appear less likely. However, starting in 2022, compulsory vaccination is required for all guests age five or above on Disney Cruise Line. Would Disney be tempted to introduce a similar policy to their parks if permitted?

If you choose to book a 2022 Walt Disney World Vacation dealing with uncertainty is an unavoidable consequence. It is almost inevitable that the resort rules we now have to deal with as we approach the end of 2021 will change during 2022.

However, despite this uncertainty, we think 2022 could still be a great year to visit Walt Disney World!

Returning Attractions

Walt Disney World is slowly returning to regular service, and several popular attractions are due to return in 2022. The Walt Disney World experience in 2022 will be a lot closer to normal than in 2021. These are some of the returning Walt Disney World attractions we are most looking forward to:

Festival of Fantasy Parade

A proper parade is returning to the Magic Kingdom in 2022. The Festival of Fantasy Parade is scheduled to restart in early 2022. Without its daily parade, the Magic Kingdom hasn’t felt like the Magic Kingdom.

Fantasmic!

Fantasmic! is the best nighttime show at Walt Disney World, and it is returning in 2022. A date hasn’t been confirmed for the reopening of Fantasmic!, but we can’t wait. We were surprised Fantasmic! wasn’t one of the first shows to return to Walt Disney World due to the ease of implementing social distancing in the amphitheater. However, when Fantasmic! reopens, it will not be the show you remember, as it will include an all-new sequence featuring live performers, stunts, special effects, and more!

Visit recently opened attarctions

A lot has opened at Walt Disney World in recent years, and if you haven’t visited for a while, there is a lot of exploring to be done. The following big experiences have opened in the last few years:

• Pandora – The World of Avatar in 2017
• Toy Story Land in 2018.
• 2019 saw the opening of the highly anticipated Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios.
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Hollywood Studios opened on March 4, 2020.
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure opened in Epcot on October 1st, 2021 as part of the 50th birthday celebrations.

These recent attractions are some of the best at Walt Disney World, and even without additional new attractions, they represent a great reason to visit Walt Disney World in 2022.

Walt Disney World’s 50th Birthday Celebrations

“The World’s Most Magical Celebration.” is an 18-month celebration of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, which started on October 1, 2021. Walt Disney World loves a celebration, and 2022 will be a massive party. Already several new attractions have opened as part of the celebration:

• Disney Enchantment a new nighttime spectacular at the Magic Kingdom.
• Harmonious at Epcot is billed as the biggest nighttime show Disney has ever produced.
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure has opened in EPCOT. It had been delayed by over one year but is a big crowd pleaser.

Be among the first to experience a new attraction

Currently, one big E-Ticket attraction is confirmed to be opening in 2022 at Walt Disney World. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be located in EPCOT’s newly renamed World Discovery Neighbourhood. The indoor coaster will star the Guardians of the Galaxy cast, including Rocket and Groot.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be one of the longest fully enclosed coasters in the world and will inevitably be the most popular attraction at Walt Disney World. Expect long waits unless you pay for the inevitable a la carte Lightning Lane.

There might be additional surprises

Disney is keeping the opening dates of new attractions a closely guarded secret, but we wouldn’t be surprised if additional new attractions might open in late 2022. Perhaps the most exciting edition might be Tron: Lightcyle Run

Based on the film Tron, this indoor coaster was meant to be the big new attraction for the resort’s 50th birthday. Unfortunately, various unavoidable construction delays have delayed its opening, but there are still rumors it might open in 2022.

However, will Disney decide that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be enough big new coasters for 2022?

You just need a vacation

Like 2021, 2022 is not likely to be a perfect year at Walt Disney World. It hopefully will be closer to normal, but perhaps that will be the new normal? However, after 2020 and 2021, who doesn’t need a vacation?

In our opinion visiting Walt Disney World is always a fantastic vacation no matter what year it is. Therefore 2022 will be a great year to visit Walt Disney World. However, if you want to wait, 2023 will be great too!

Read More

Visit our Beginners Guide to Walt Disney World to learn more. Our guide includes all the latest information on the reopening of Walt Disney World.

This post is part of our “Road to 2022 at Walt Disney World” series. Check out the rest of the guides for the latest information.

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