By far, one of the most confusing and inconvenient aspects of a Walt Disney World vacation is making a Park Reservation. Not only do Guests have to purchase a dated ticket, but they also have to check theme Park Reservation availability to ensure they don’t purchase a ticket they cannot use.
For many Guests, it’s simply an extra step in the process. An extra confusing step. This practice was first introduced during the pandemic in an attempt to keep Disney Park availability at half capacity, keeping excursions to Walt Disney World Resort as safe as possible.
Ever since the practice was adopted during the pandemic, Guests have been waiting for Walt Disney World Resort to finally drop it, but to no avail.
But today, Disney news reveals that the Walt Disney Company has finally made the ultimate decision to retire the theme Park Reservation requirement!
NEW: Walt Disney World is bringing back the Disney Dining Plan next year *AND* will no longer require theme park reservations for date-based tickets starting with visits on Jan. 9, 2024. Bookings for 2024 open on May 31.
Beginning on January 9th, 2024, Guests purchasing date-based tickets will no longer require a Park Reservation. That means any date-based Park ticket (as in, the standard Park ticket option) beginning on January 9th, 2024, or later will not require a Park Reservation.
However, non-dated Park ticket events may still require a Park Reservation in order to keep track of attendance.
As if this Disney news could get even more exciting, Walt Disney World Resort bookings for 2024 begin at the end of the month on May 31, so Guests can begin planning right away.
Plan the ultimate Disney vacation without the pesky Park Reservation system in your way starting May 31st, creating a more convenient and streamlined process!
For more information on this exciting update, check out Disney’s official announcement.
Guests need a Park reservation to visit each of the four parks at Walt Disney World. Guests can still park hop, but they will need a valid ticket and reservation date to do so. Guests also need to wait until 2 p.m. to visit their second Park.
Once Walt Disney World and Disneyland reopened to Guests after temporarily closing due to the ongoing pandemic, the theme parks implemented a new reservation system to help monitor Park capacity called the Park Pass system. In order to enter a theme park at Walt Disney World or Disneyland, Guests must not only have valid Park admission but a valid Park Pass reservation.
NEW: At Walt Disney World, Annual Passholders will be able to visit theme parks after 2 p.m. without needing a park reservation. The only exception is Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/9DsOwLsKKo
At Walt Disney World, Annual Passholders will now be able to park hop after 2 p.m. without needing a reservation. There are exceptions, however, with Magic Kingdom being unaffected by this new policy on Saturdays and Sundays.
To enter a theme park, you will need a theme park reservation and valid admission for that theme park—for each day you’d like to visit:
Before You Make a Purchase
Please check to see if your desired date and theme park is currently available before purchasing your ticket, Annual Pass or vacation package. Keep your reservation date preference in mind when selecting your ticket, Annual Pass or package. Different types of admission—such as tickets, Annual Passes or packages—may have different reservation date availability.
Disney has announced some major changes to the Park Pass Reservation System at the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort in California and those changes go into effect, August 23, 2022. (And we have to admit, we kinda like at least some of these changes!)
Disney’s Park Pass Reservation System is among those things that many Guests would rather not have to deal with as a part of their Disney vacations. It is a product of the coronavirus pandemic that began in 2020, but it has remained in place at the parks, largely as a means of crowd control. (Though we don’t know that the system necessarily helps with crowds in the parks.)
Here’s a look at what’s changing:
The User Interface
One of the first things Guests will notice is an update to the Park Pass user interface. This means that the new interface will gel with other systems already in place at Disneyland and at Disneyland Paris.
Every Guest will be able to use the same Park Pass Reservation System. Before the changes took effect, Annual Passholders and Guests with multi-day tickets had to use a different interface and a different system. Park Pass reservations already in place will move over to the updated interface, and Guests with reservations won’t need to do a thing.
Reservations Tied to a Ticket
Previously, park pass reservations were linked to a Guest, and not to a ticket. But effective August 23, Park Passes will be tied to a ticket, meaning Guests can hold different types of tickets, such as an Annual Pass, a single-day ticket, etc., and choose which ticket to which a Park Pass reservation will be linked.
Ease of Use
Now Guests will be able to book Park Pass reservations for any ticket type–and all in a single transaction. Guests will also have the ability to book those reservations for as many as 30 Guests per transaction. (Formerly, Guests were limited to reservations for only 12.)
Guests will also have the ability to change the email address associated with a specific reservation. This allows for Guests to use an email address that is different from the one used with their My Disney Experience account, though this doesn’t change the email address used with the account. Sadly, Guests are still unable to make a Park Pass Reservation via the My Disney Experience app. (We’ll just keep our fingers crossed on that one!)
A few other things to note
The update to the Park Pass Reservation System allows Guests to have the ability to modify their reservations without canceling an existing reservation first.
Guests must still make their respective reservations via the official Walt Disney World website.
Click here for more information about the new updates to the system and to find answers to some of your questions about the Park Pass Reservation System.
After addressing capacity, Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke about theme park technology today at the J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media, and Communications Conference.
Chapek cited the new Disney Park Pass theme park reservation system and virtual queues, such as the boarding groups for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, as examples of how technology helped guests stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Virtual queues are a hot topic in the theme park community, with many guests either loving or hating the system. However, the virtual queue process has already undergone many changes to make it easier for guests, and Disney will likely continue to hone the process.
Chapek specifically stated that the Disney Park Pass theme park reservation system would remain in place beyond the scope of the pandemic. However, this is not new information as the Park Pass calendars for Walt Disney World already extend into 2023.
Long considered a beacon of happiness around the world, Walt Disney’s original Disneyland Park reopened to the public, along with Disney California Adventure Park, on Friday, April 30, 2021. Guests entered the theme parks filled with joy and excitement as they discovered the magic is here once again, as enchanting and timeless as ever. On this historic day, cast members welcomed guests back to the parks to explore favorite attractions, wave hello to beloved Disney characters, don a pair of Mickey Mouse ears and savor iconic Disney treats.
Just prior to the gates of Disneyland opening for the first time in more than a year, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company Bob Chapek participated in the daily ceremony to raise the American flag and shared brief remarks of inspiration for the cast members who were preparing for the momentous day.
Guests returned Friday for the magic of Disney storytelling and the immersive theme park experiences only Disney can deliver. Once again, guests are stepping back into the realm of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, embarking on a swashbuckling voyage on Pirates of the Caribbean and launching into an “Incredible” adventure on the Incredicoaster. They’re setting sail with children from around the globe on “it’s a small world,” taking photos alongside Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater, and zipping along Route 66 on Radiator Springs Racers.
Guests will experience new magic on some classic attractions, as well. The newly reimagined Snow White’s Enchanted Wish opens to guests for the very first time; the Haunted Mansion has been enhanced with some eerie surprises, and King Arthur’s Carrousel has been fancifully refurbished.
The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort are welcoming guests back to the magic with a phased reopening. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa reopened on April 29, 2021, with limited capacity. Disney Vacation Club Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa plan to reopen May 2. Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel will reopen at a later date.
Because theme park capacity will be significantly limited to comply with state requirements and promote physical distancing, the Disneyland Resort is managing attendance through a new theme park reservation system that requires all guests to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance. To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date are required for guests ages 3 and older. A Disney account is required to make theme park reservations. Theme park reservations are limited and subject to availability. Until further clarification from the state, only California residents are allowed to visit the Disneyland Resort theme parks, in groups no larger than three households.
The health and well-being of guests and cast members is a top priority. With enhanced health and safety measures, operational changes are in place at the theme parks and hotel based on guidance from health authorities and learnings from Disney parks around the world to promote physical distancing, enhanced cleanliness and reduced contact. These measures include appropriate face coverings required for all guests ages 2 and older, temperature screenings prior to park entry, capacity measures and cashless transactions. Cast members throughout the Resort are dedicated to assist with questions, and guests may check Disneyland.com/update for the current health and safety measures.
1 – Classic attractions and fun-filled favorites
Classic and favorite attractions will begin to open at both parks – from epic experiences like the new Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance to family-friendly experiences like Peter Pan’s Flight and Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind.
At Disneyland, the fun awaits on colorful, spinning cups at Mad Tea Party and on thrilling escapades at Indiana Jones Adventure, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. At Disney California Adventure, guests will be immersed in the stories and adventures of Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT!, Toy Story Midway Mania!, The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, and more.
In Fantasyland, a timeless tale comes alive in new ways on Snow White’s Enchanted Wish. Dazzling new scenes include a dancing figure of Snow White joining the dwarfs in their cottage as the scent of a baking pie wafts through the air. Vibrant new shadow projections show the dwarfs as they march off to the mine happily singing “Heigh Ho,” and the new lighting, glittering jewels and shimmering effects make the mine sparkle. Guests then travel through the Queen’s den to see a new library of spell books, glowing potions and bubbling flasks, toward the famous magic mirror. In the end, Snow White and her Prince ride joyfully into a golden sunset to live happily ever after.
On the “must-do” list for many guests will be a journey to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the largest and most technologically advanced single-themed land expansion ever in a Disney park. Guests are transported to a galaxy far, far away at the Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu, where they can take the controls of the most famous ship in the galaxy on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. The newest attraction in the land, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, opened in January 2020. It takes guests aboard a full-size transport shuttle before they are captured by a Star Destroyer, finding themselves in the middle of a climactic battle between the dark side of the First Order and the light side of the Resistance.
Avengers Campus, a completely new land where guests can live their Super Hero dreams, will open June 4, 2021, at Disney California Adventure.
2 – Characters are part of the magic
From surprise appearances along Main Street, U.S.A., and Pixar Pier to playful interactions, characters from dozens of favorite Disney stories entertain and delight guests across both parks. Beloved characters will pop up in new ways and sometimes in unexpected places as they remain mindful of physical distancing.
At Disneyland, guests may see Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse waving from the train station, or Disney Princesses such as Mulan appear at the Royal Theatre to wave and pose at a distance for guests taking selfies. At Disney California Adventure, Pixar pals may wave from the bandshell at Pixar Pier, and guests can share a laugh while taking photos with Mater and Lightning McQueen along Route 66 in Cars Land.
Certain experiences that draw large group gatherings – such as parades and nighttime spectaculars – will return at a later date.
3 – Themed dining and world-famous food and drinks
Tasty, tantalizing and ready for social media, Disneyland Resort snacks and dishes are a food-lover’s fairytale wishes come true. Park favorites such as the DOLE Whip®, corn dogs and churros are fun treats offered alongside memorable dining experiences that include lobster nachos and novel drinks at Lamplight Lounge, brisket mac & cheese at River Belle Terrace and Mediterranean-California fare at Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining. The parks offer a multitude of food and drink options, from uniquely themed candy apples and specials like Walt’s Chili to the always popular Plaza Inn fried chicken.
At several locations around the resort, mobile ordering* on the official Disneyland app now is the primary way to order food and drinks. Dining reservations are recommended for table-service restaurants. Other convenient features also include the ability to view menus with QR codes, join a mobile check-in walk up list for dining or mobile check-in for dining reservations, all through the Disneyland app.
4 – Check in to the magic at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
After playing in the theme parks, guests may relax with an overnight stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, where they are surrounded by stunning Craftsman-style architecture reminiscent of the turn of the 20th century. Guests are treated to genuine hospitality and quality service, just steps from the Downtown Disney District and Disneyland Resort theme parks. The enchanting Disney magic includes well-appointed accommodations, sparkling pools and a chance to request a wake-up call with greetings from some favorite Disney characters.
Guests with valid theme park admission who are planning a stay at a Disneyland Resort hotel will need to also book theme park reservations in advance, as a hotel stay does not guarantee a park reservation. Hotel capacity will be limited. Guests may book hotel stays for Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, or a nearby Disneyland Resort Good Neighbor Hotel, by visiting Disneyland.com or contacting a travel professional.
5 – Digital technology helps guests make the most of their visits
To make the most of a visit to the Disneyland Resort, guests will have digital tools right at their fingertips with the Disneyland mobile app. Guests are strongly encouraged to download the latest version of the Disneyland app before they arrive, and plan ahead with mobile ordering* for food and beverage purchases from select locations. For Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, the virtual queue is only accessible via the Disneyland mobile app, and you can only experience the attraction by joining the virtual queue, which is limited and subject to availability. Guests also can use the app to check park hours, make dining reservations, and view maps and other important resort updates. Mobile waitlist (subject to availability) and mobile check-in options are available for table-service dining at select locations. Disneyland Resort also recommends cashless transactions such as electronic payment to reduce contact.
6 – Check Disneyland.com for the latest updates
For everything they need to know about their visits, guests are encouraged to check Disneyland.com regularly for updated information, including ticket and reservation information, and which experiences are currently available or will be offered.**
Along with must-do experiences throughout the theme parks, guests will find unique shopping and dining experiences throughout the Downtown Disney District. The World of Disney store offers the latest Disney merchandise.
The reopening of Disneyland Resort is a phased approach and subject to change, to align with guidance released from time to time by health authorities and appropriate government agencies. This guidance is fluid and applicable at any given time as community situations change. With that guidance, many factors will determine the timing of when offerings may be available, and the status of indoor and outdoor experiences.
* Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.
** Upon reopening, certain parks, hotels, restaurants, attractions, experiences and other offerings will be modified or unavailable, will have limited capacity and will be subject to limited availability or even closure, and park admission and offerings are not guaranteed.
