After a temporary closure in 2020 due to COVID-19, Walt Disney World Resort reopened its theme parks with new procedures in place, including a park reservation system to manage daily attendance. As of Jan. 9, 2024, theme park reservations are no longer required for date-based tickets (the most common admission type), plus park hopping is once again available all day! Certain types of admission may still require a park reservation. Here's everything you need to know about Disney Park Pass reservations, if you still need to make them.
All of the Details on Disney World's Theme Park Reservation System
For select ticket types, you still need valid admission and a Disney Park Pass reservation for the same park on the same day. (Prior to Jan. 9, 2024, this was required for all guests). If you're looking to park hop, you'll only need to make a Disney Park Pass reservation for the first park you will be visiting. This post will walk you through all of the specifics so you can reserve your spot at Walt Disney World Resort!
Who Needs to Make Disney Park Pass Reservations?
As of Jan. 9, 2024, theme park reservations are no longer required for date-based tickets. This is the standard ticket most people purchase that requires you to choose a start date. Reservations are still required for student group tickets, convention tickets and all other admission types, such as Annual Passes and Cast Members. So for most of you reading this, that means you don't have to make a park pass reservation anymore!
While Walt Disney World Annual Passholders must still make reservations, they do not need to book a theme park reservation to visit the parks after 2 p.m. There is one exception, though! Reservations will still need to be made for Magic Kingdom Park on Saturdays and Sundays (regardless of the time of day you visit). Pass blockout dates will continue to apply. This allows more flexibility for locals to make spontaneous evening visits. This year, passholders also have select "good-to-go days" where they will be able to visit the theme parks before 2 p.m. without a reservation.
Get excited park hoppers as all-day park hopping is back! Four parks in one day, here we come.
What to Know Before You Make Your Disney World Reservation
Before you make your Disney World reservation, there are a few important things to remember:
- Reservations are not required for all date-based tickets, including 1-day tickets, multi-day tickets and vacation packages with date-based tickets.
- If your ticket or pass requires park reservations, they must be made for each day of entry. If you have a multi-day ticket, you must make a park reservation for each day of your visit.
- Reservations are limited and subject to availability, and not guaranteed until a reservation is finalized.
- If your ticket or pass includes the Park Hopper option, you will only need a Disney Park Pass reservation for the first park you wish to enter. Once you've entered the first park for the day, you can hop to another any time. More on this below!
- If you have previously linked your theme park tickets or hotel information in My Disney Experience, we recommend that you log in and double-check that the information looks correct in the system.
- If you have not already linked your hotel reservation or tickets in My Disney Experience, you'll want to make sure they are linked ASAP. They are required before you can make a reservation in the new system.
- Annual passholders without a hotel reservation are limited to a set number of park passes at a time (depending on the level of their pass). Once you use a park pass, you may obtain a new one.
- Guests ages 2 and under do not need a Park Pass.
- You can view a Disney Park Pass Availability calendar here.
- If you are looking to reserve in-park dining, you will also need a Disney Park Pass reservation for the same park, on the same day; a dining reservation does not guarantee you entry to the park. (If, for example, you'd like to dine at Hollywood & Vine at Disney's Hollywood Studios, you'd also need a valid ticket and Disney Park Pass, all for the same day as your dining reservation.) Dining reservations can be made 60 days in advance. If you're planning to park hop to your dining reservation, note that it still does not guarantee you entry into the park — and that you won't need a Disney Park Pass to enter.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Disney Park Pass System
1. Register or Sign in to StartYourDisneyExperience.com and Link Your Admission
If you haven't already, you will need to register for an account at StartYourDisneyExperience.com and then link your park admission. (If you've already linked your tickets in My Disney Experience, you'll just need to log in to My Disney Experience, press the plus sign and navigate to Make or Modify Park Reservations.) Press "Make Theme Park Reservation." If you're using the app, you may be prompted to log in on a browser.
2. Create Your Party
Then, you'll be prompted to create your travel party based on eligible tickets. Check those in your group you'd like to make a reservation for.
3. Select a Date and Park
Choose the date and the theme park that you'd like to visit.
4. Review and Confirm Your Plans
That's it! You'll be able to see your Park Passes in My Plans in My Disney Experience at any time.
5. Need to Cancel a Reservation?
It's easy-peasy to cancel a reservation if your plans change. All you have to do is view the specific pass under My Plans in My Disney Experience and click on View Details. There will be an option that says Cancel This Reservation. What if you don't want to cancel the reservation for everyone? No problem! Before you confirm the cancellation, it will ask you to select the guests that you wish to remove from the Park Pass reservation.
How Does Park Hopping Work with the Disney Park Pass Reservation System?
All-day park hopping is back! As of Jan. 9, 2024, you may park hop as early as you want (for many years, park hopping began at 2 p.m.). If your ticket still requires park reservations, you must make a Disney Park Pass reservation for the first park you plan to visit and enter that first park prior to visiting another. A park reservation is not required after the first park.
Well, there you have it, everything to know about the Disney Park Pass reservation system. Let us know any questions you may have in the comments below!
Related: Best Times to Visit Disney World in 2024
Hoppy planning!
