During the initial Disney Park Pass system launch, some Annual Passholders reported not being able to make any additional theme park reservations outside of the ones they were able to make tied to their resort booking. Now, Disney has updated verbiage on the site to indicate that Annual Passholders can make theme park reservations for up to 3 days at a time and for their length of stay if staying at a Disney Resort or other select hotel.
UPDATED – Annual Passholders staying at select Disney Resort or other select hotels with valid theme park admission are eligible to make theme park reservationsfor each day of their stay(s), and now in addition, all Annual Passholders are eligible to make theme park reservations for up to 3 days at a time on a rolling basis. Once you use a theme park reservation, you can make another reservation for a future date.
It seems Annual Passholders are no longer limited to either 3 Disney Park Pass reservations or a set number of reservations allotted through a resort booking.
If you’re an Annual Passholder, make sure you go in and book your extra reservations!
In just a few more days, we’ll begin welcoming the first guests back to the theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort, starting July 11 with Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and followed July 15 by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We’re continuing to prepare for these openings in a measured and deliberate way, implementing health and safety measures with cast members and guests in mind.
As you may recall, earlier we had temporarily paused 2020 ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel bookings so we could focus on helping existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders plan their visits with the new Disney Park Pass theme park reservation system. We are glad to share that beginning tomorrow, July 9, we will resume ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel bookings for 2020. Guests will soon be able to purchase new tickets and plan future visits throughout this year with the Disney Park Pass system, which we are using to help manage attendance during this reopening period.
For those looking to make their plans right away, please note that tickets and Disney Resort hotel bookings may be released at different times throughout the day tomorrow. In addition, we will use virtual waiting rooms as needed to manage the high volume of guests looking to plan their visits.
All guests with valid admission are required to make a reservation in advance for each park entry, so be sure to check the park reservation availability calendar before purchasing any new tickets and then go directly to DisneyWorld.com/DisneyParkPass after your purchase to make your park reservations. Reservations are limited and subject to availability. Please note that, during this phased reopening, some tickets, ticket options and Disney Resort hotels are unavailable, but there are still a variety of options to choose from.
Though the experience may be different than the last time you visited, there is so much to look forward to, with many favorite attractions and dozens of entertainment offerings, including special new character cavalcades and the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.
If you’re planning a visit for this year, we recommend checking out our “Know Before You Go” page at DisneyWorld.com/Updates, where you’ll find tips and information like how to make park reservations after purchasing your tickets.
We are so close to the reopening of Walt Disney World after a nearly four-month closure. Disney has shared with us information on what we can expect to see and interact with characters when the parks reopen this week.
1 – New Character Magic
Part of the magic of a Walt Disney World Resort theme park visit is seeing beloved Disney characters. With traditional parades and character greetings on hiatus to promote physical distancing among guests, theme park character experiences have been reimagined in new and different ways. From cavalcades down Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom Park to sailings down Discovery River at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and much more, characters from dozens of favorite Disney stories will surprise and delight guests across all four theme parks. These are just some of the reimagined experiences guests will discover as the theme parks begin their phased reopening.
2 – Magic Kingdom (reopening July 11)
“The Royal Princess Processional” – Several times daily, favorite Disney princesses travel through the streets of Magic Kingdom. Princess Merida leads the way on her steed Angus, followed closely by a gazebo float and crystal castle carrying Cinderella, Tiana, Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Rapunzel and others.
“Mickey and Friends Cavalcade” – Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their pals pop up throughout the day, inviting everyone to “Get Their Ears On” as they wave to guests along the park’s parade route.
Cinderella’s Evil Stepsisters – From time to time, guests in Fantasyland may spot the dastardly Anastasia and Drizella and can interact with them from afar while they’re perched on a balcony of Cinderella Castle.
Goofy Cavalcade – Goofy will star in “A Goofy Cavalcade!” when Magic Kingdom Park reopens July 11, 2020, at Walt Disney World Resort.
3 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom (reopening July 11)
“Donald’s Dino Boat Bash!” – Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Launchpad McQuack wave to guests from their party boat as “Donald’s Dino Bash!” moves from DinoLand U.S.A. to Discovery River.
“Discovery River Character Cruise” – Throughout the day, guests can see Timon and Rafiki or Pocahontas with Meeko, who will set sail on the parks’ waterways.
Discovery Island Drummers – These high-energy percussionists cruise along Discovery River, entertaining guests on the shore with an energetic beat.
4 – EPCOT (reopening July 15)
“Mickey and Friends World Tour” – As guests travel around World Showcase, they may come upon Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto and Goofy all out sightseeing and waving to their friends.
“Frozen Promenade” – Queen Anna and Elsa venture into the unknown around World Showcase, journeying from country to country and waving hello to guests along the way.
5 – Disney’s Hollywood Studios (reopening July 15)
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – While living their own adventures in a galaxy far, far away, guests are likely to come across some familiar faces as they explore Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu:
Heroes of the Resistance, including Rey, Chewbacca and Vi Moradi, may be spotted on platforms above the garage in Black Spire Station or surveying activity around the spaceport where the Millennium Falcon has landed.
A contingent of First Order Stormtroopers join Kylo Ren in patrolling the landing platform at Docking Bay 9 beneath their TIE Echelon assault vehicle.
“Pixar Pals Motorcade” – Some of the biggest stars from Pixar Animation Studios’ films arrive on Hollywood Boulevard, from The Incredibles to Toy Story pals and more. They’ll wave to their fans as they head down the avenue accompanied by a celebratory musical score.
“Disney Junior Stars Motorcade” – Throughout the day, Disney Junior stars including Fancy Nancy, Doc McStuffins and Vampirina will cruise down Hollywood Boulevard waving to fans from colorful custom convertibles.
A federal judge has ruled in favor of Walt Disney World after an Orlando disability advocate sued the company on behalf of her adult autistic son to get him immediate access to the FastPass lines at the theme parks.
The main entrance to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Photo courtesy, Walt Disney World)
According to the Orlando Sentinel, it’s the first legal victory for Disney on the issue. Tampa attorney Andy Dogali said earlier this year he has filed about 60 other similar civil lawsuits in Florida and California that are awaiting trial.
“Disney Parks have an unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all our guests. We are pleased with the court’s decision,” Disney spokeswoman Andrea Finger said in a statement.
The lawsuit came after Disney World changed its policy in 2013 in response to reports of tourists hiring people with disabilities and terminally-ill children to help them go to the front of lines and ride multiple times.
Out of the controversy, Disney created its new system the Disability Access Service Card, or DAS, that lets people with disabilities get return times for rides, similar to a FastPass, so they don’t have to wait in a line.
Donna Lorman, president of the Autism Society of Greater Orlando, sued in Disney in 2014, saying she wanted 10 passes to the Magic Kingdom so her son could ride his favorite attractions by going directly into the FastPass line.
Otherwise, her son had to get an advance reservation to come back later. The extra waiting was hard for her son who didn’t understand the concept of time, his mother said, accusing the parks of not accommodating his disability.
But Disney argued it isn’t required to provide unlimited, front-of-line passes for every ride under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Otherwise, the general public in the stand-by lines would wait longer.
In a decision reached June 22, U.S. District Judge Anne Conway sided with Disney, ruling it was “unreasonable” for Disney to give such access to Lorman’s son. It would make Disney’s system ripe for abuse — again, Conway wrote.
“Requiring the modification, based on the history of the former system, would lead to fraud and overuse, lengthen the wait times significantly for non-disabled guests, and fundamentally alter Disney’s business model,” Conway wrote.
During the trial, Lorman testified that her son, who was 22 when she filed the lawsuit, has moderate to severe autism that made communication difficult and following a routine essential. Otherwise, her son, who is 6-foot-6 and weighs 300 pounds, could melt down. At Disney, he needed to visit the rides in a particular order, she said. “We understand our chances wouldn’t be very good because we don’t have the funds,” Lorman said. “But it was the right thing to do for our kids.”
A Walt Disney World Cast Member tasked with issuing refunds to unhappy Disney guests is accused of misdirecting more than $100,000 into her and her friends’ bank accounts.
According to WESH2, The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Jennifer Alejandra Insuasti, 32, of Kissimmee, is charged with one count of grand theft of $100,000 or more. She turned herself in on Monday in Osceola County.
Insuasti worked as a Guest Experience Services Coordinator at Disney. As part of her job, she would field complaints from unhappy guests and then offer them refunds, free tickets or free resort stays to resolve the issue. Investigators said Insuasti would directly issue refund money into her own bank account, or bank accounts belonging to her friends and family.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Disney handed over records showing 41 fraudulent debit or credit card refunds and four fraudulent check refunds. Guests still received their refunds, but money was stolen directly from her former employer.
Investigators said the incidents of fraud occurred beginning in March 2016 and continued through July 2018. Investigators said that Insuasti would use old refund accounts as a cover when she redirected money into her personal account or the accounts of her friends.
The family members and friends who received some of the fraudulent refunds are also being investigated by the FDLE. Investigators said they have probable cause to prove seven other people committed conspiracy and grand theft.
Insuasti is being held at the Osceola County Jail on $100,000 bail.
