Since Walt Disney World reopened in summer 2020, Disney has used a new reservation system to manage capacity at the parks! In this post, we’re going to discuss the park reservation system that is used to control access to the parks.
Updates for Trips Beginning January 9, 2024
Disney has announced significant changes to the parks pass system for trips beginning January 9, 2024. As of that date, date-based tickets will no longer require a Park Pass reservation to visit the parks.
Some tickets still require reservations, including annual passes and, for example, the special Florida Resident Disney Thrills Ticket. However, since these issues do not impact most guests, and because the details of it are going to be so niche, we’re going to retire this post.
Our Guide to Disney World Annual Passes will remain updated with the reservation-related issues specific to passholders.
Generally, you should be able to quickly consult the official Disney World site here for any questions about park pass reservations.
Update 1: Reservation Requirement Dropped Jan. 9 2024 for Most Tickets
Date-based tickets will not require reservations for trips beginning January 9, 2024.
If you’re planning a 2024 trip this probably impacts you because most Disney World tickets are date-based tickets. If you’re buying a ticket that provides for entry during a select date range, you won’t need a reservation.
If you have an annual pass, you will still need a parks pass reservation, subject to certain exceptions. If you have some other sort of non-standard ticket, you may still need a parks pass reservation (consult with Disney). Once tickets for 2024 go on sale we hope to have any remaining details clarified (i.e. a big banner on the page where you buy tickets that says you won’t need reservations…that would be nice).
Update 2: Park Hopping Restrictions End Jan. 9 2024
Beginning January 9, 2024, guests with park hopping privileges will be able to hop at any time of day. There will no longer be restricted park hopper “hours” that begin at 2PM.
Update 3: Passholders and Cast Members Get “Good to Go” Dates in 2024
Select dates in 2024 will be marked as “Good to Go” dates for annual passholders and Cast Members. On these dates, those groups also won’t need reservations. Blockout dates will still apply.
What is the Disney World park reservation system?
Since the parks reopened, all guests require reservations to access the park (subject to very limited exceptions discussed soon). Reservations can be made through the Disney Parks Pass System. In order to visit the parks, you’ll need to use the parks pass system.
Who needs a reservation to visit Disney World parks?
Everyone—with a few very limited exceptions we discuss in this post. If you are planning to visit a Walt Disney World theme park in the future you will need a parks pass reservation, so make sure you understand the system (i.e. keep reading this post).
What are the exceptions to the parks pass requirement?
There are three exceptions:
First, guests who have a ticket for an event like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party don’t need a parks pass reservation to enter the park—they can simply use their event tickets.
Second, annual passholders may enter the parks after 2PM without a reservation, except for Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays. Blockout dates still apply for these guests.
Third, and most important, there is a partial exception for guests who are park hopping, which we’ll discuss next.
How does Park Hopping work with Parks Pass?
Park hopping has returned, with a few small twists. Here’s how you park hop at Walt Disney World right now:
Book a parks pass for any of the four Disney World theme parks for your date
Visit the park you booked on that date
At the start of park hopping hours (usually 2PM), go to any of the three other parks
You don’t need a parks pass reservation for any parks you visit after 2PM after you visit your first park, however you do need to start your day at that first park with a parks pass reservation. You cannot simply show up at any park after 2PM if you haven’t first used a park pass reservation to visit a park.
Do I need a reservation for Early Theme Park Entry?
Yes. Early Theme Park Entry is a perk of staying at Disney hotel that gives these guests an extra 30 minutes in the park each morning. However, guests still need a reservation for the park they plan to use Early Entry at if they want to take advantage of that perk.
Do I need a reservation for Extended Evening Hours?
Extended Evening Hours is a perk offered to guests of Disney’s deluxe hotels that grants them access to select parks on select nights for a few hours after the park closes. A park reservation is required to use Extended Evening Hours—you either need a park reservation for the park with the perk, or you need to follow the rules for park hopping and hop to the park with the perk.
How Can I Get A Reservation To Visit The Disney World Parks?
For starters, you’ll want to check the availability calendar here. The calendar is broken into sections for resort guests, passholders, and other ticket holders. Here’s a snapshot of what the calendar looks like:
At the top, you select the group you’re in. If you have a resort stay—even if you’re an annual passholder—you’re a “Disney Resort Guest.” Otherwise, you must have an annual pass or theme park ticket to make reservations.
Grey dates are no parks available, either because they’re all closed or because they’re all booked for the group you’re in. Yellow dates mean at least one park has space remaining, but at least one park is full. And green means all four parks are available.
Note, again, that availability varies by which of these groups you’re in. Availability can shift and change.
You don’t have to confirm availability before jumping into the system, but it makes sense to do so. Now, let’s talk about the booking system itself. Here’s a set of screenshots followed by the step-by-step (use the arrows to view all the screenshots):
You may encounter waiting screens along the way, not pictured above. Note the system is web-based—you DO NOT make reservations via the My Disney Experience app. You need to use a web browser.
Here’s the step-by-step, with some discussion below…
Log into My Disney Experience (MDE)
Link your park ticket to your MDE account (always do this ASAP after buying a ticket)
Make sure all hotel reservations are linked to your MDE account
Visit the park reservations page, click through to Make a Disney Park Pass Reservation
Alternatively to 4, go directly to the Create a Party Page here
Create your party (from your Friends & Family List)
Select a date
Select a park
Select a time
Review and confirm plans
Reservations shows up in your “My Plans” page
Note step 2—you still need a separate park admission to make a reservation. This system is in addition to buying a park ticket, not instead of it. Even if you already have a ticket or annual pass that covers a day, you’ll still need a reservation to visit the parks.
The reservation will then be linked to your My Disney Experience account, and your Magic Band or park ticket card will grant you access to the park.
Who has access to park reservations?
Anyone with a park ticket or annual pass can make a park reservation. Once the park ticket is linked to your My Disney Experience account you should have no problem making a reservation for the applicable dates.
What about annual passholders?
There are a few important things for annual passholders to know. (We also have a separate Disney World Annual Pass post, where we cover these and related issues.)
Annual Passholder Park Reservations Are Limited
Annual Passholders can make reservations for the length of a hotel stay. If you have a Disney / partner hotel reservation, you’ll be able to make reservations for the length of your hotel stay.
The number of other reservations passholders can hold depends on their pass. In addition to days booked during hotel stays, passholders can hold the following number of future reservations for the respective passes:
Pixie Dust Pass — 3 future dates
Pirate Pass — 4 future dates
Sorcerer Pass — 5 future dates
Incred-Pass — 5 future dates
Finally, annual passholders have access to bonus reservations. Every so often a day will have a bonus reservation (denoted by a star in the passholder reservation availability calendar). Bonus reservations allow passholders to book the specific park for the specific date without counting it against their reservation limit mentioned above.
How Long Will Disney Require Theme Park Reservations?
Disney has announced that date-based tickets won’t require reservations beginning January 9, 2024. Annual passholders will still require parks pass reservations, subject to the exceptions noted above. Other non-standard tickets may still require reservations. Contact Disney if you’re unsure whether your ticket requires reservations after January 9, 2024.
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
Don't be overwhelmed by Disney World planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you'll not only be an expert, but you'll save big $$$ along the way.
Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Don't forget to master your Disney World Genie+ and Lightning Lane strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Epcot Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Animal Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, and Hollywood Studios Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.