In order to help manage attendance, Disney World has implemented a theme park reservation system — which means that there’s one more element that guests will need to plan for their vacation!
You’ll be walking THOUSANDS of steps each day.
As with all new processes, there is likely to be a bit of a learning curve — and since we know how important Disney World vacation planning is, we’re here to help! Here are five mistakes you’ll want to avoid while making your theme park reservations!
1. Not Making a Reservation for Each Day of a Multi-Day Ticket
Okay, let’s start out with a biggie — you’ll need a separate reservation for each day in a theme park! So, if you have a multi-day ticket, don’t snag your reservation for Magic Kingdom on the first day and assume that you’re good to visit the park for the length of your trip!
Cinderella Castle
Yes, you can visit the Magic Kingdom on multiple days if you’d like — but you’ll need to secure a reservation for each day of your ticket. And keep in mind that the reservations are subject to availability! Which brings us to our next point…
Click here to learn how guests REALLY feel about Disney’s park pass system!
2. Waiting to Make Your Theme Park Reservations
Prior to the theme park closure, many guests enjoyed having some spontaneity in their Disney World vacation — maybe you’re used to deciding which park to visit based on how you feel when you wake up in the morning. If that sounds like you, you might want to switch up your planning style and make your theme park reservation as early as possible.
Spaceship Earth
The reservations are subject to availability, so if you wait until the last minute, you might end up missing out. Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ first few days sold out quickly on the program’s first day!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios entrance
So, when can you make your reservations? As soon as you purchase your park tickets or book your vacation package, you can select your park pass reservations.
Theme park availability WILL be visible before you buy! Prior to purchasing, be sure to check theme park reservation availability for the dates of your visit. Remember different types of tickets, such as Annual Pass or packages, may have different availability. So, if you’re planning on heading to Disney World in the next year or so, be sure to snag your theme park reservations ASAP.
The Disney World rides you should visit FIRST!
3. Not Linking Your Hotel and Park Tickets to My Disney Experience Ahead of Time
Guests will need to use their My Disney Experience account to make theme park reservations. So, if you don’t have an MDE account, start by making one at DisneyWorld.com!
Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios
Your tickets (and eligible hotel stays) must be linked to your account so that the Park Pass system recognizes your ticket eligibility, so you’ll need to be sure to link your park admission ticket numbers (usually listed on the back of the ticket) and Disney Resort hotel reservation BEFORE you try to book park passes.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Each person in your travel party (e.g. the people you want to visit the parks with) must have their valid admission linked. And this can be a surprisingly time-consuming process, especially if you run into any confusion — so we suggest taking care of this as far ahead of time as possible to minimize any delays in your theme park reservation selections!
Disney has CHANGED the way Annual Passholders get discounts!
4. Not Linking Your Friends and Family Ahead of Time
Within My Disney Experience, guests will find their Family & Friends list.
My Disney Experience screenshot
With the theme park reservation system, guests will need to have all of the members of their party added to their Family & Friends list in order to add them to the park reservation. Again, don’t underestimate the time it can take to get your party connected — your friends will need to confirm that they approve of linking their MDE account to your list!
So, make sure that all of the members of your travel party are added to your Family & Friends list ASAP to prevent delays in snagging those park reservations!
What to know BEFORE making Disney World dining reservations!
5. Not Deciding on a Plan With Your Family Ahead of Time
There are a few additional factors to consider with the theme park reservation system. First, guests with park hopper tickets choose the park where they want to start the day. Park hopping is allowed after 2pm, but you don’t need a reservation to visit other parks once park hopping hours begin. However, if the park you want to hop to is at capacity, you’ll won’t be able to go in. Also, everyone in your selected travel party will need to go to the same park that you snagged a reservation for, so again, there is less opportunity for spontaneity than in the past.
EPCOT’s France Pavilion
With those things in mind, it’s important to talk to your family as early as possible to formulate a plan. Which park(s) are your absolute must-dos? Have more than 4 days? Which parks do you want to repeat?
Keep in mind that a few rides and attractions may be unavailable. Check out our list of closures and refurbishments so you’re not disappointed when you get there.
Expedition Everest
Expedition Everest at Animal KingdomBe sure to decide as a family where your priorities lie and make your reservations accordingly!
Click Here For The ULTIMATE GUIDE To Planning Your First Disney World Vacation!
As with any new process, there is definitely a learning curve with the theme park reservation system. But, by avoiding these mistakes, you can simplify the process and set yourself up for a successful visit to Disney World!
Click here to check out our tutorial for the Disney World theme park reservation system!
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What do you think about the theme park reservation system? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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Does it matter if the reservation system doesn’t work for their most loyal guests? Absolutely disgusted. For all the posts that they were working in that glitch of 3 day limitations, nope. THEY did nothing to help DVC Members, AP holders or any other resort guests. NBA, all set!
Hi, what about people who have resort only reservations for 2020 who still need to purchase park tickets
Virginia, Disney says new ticket sales for 2020 will resume later this summer. We don’t know exactly what day, but when we find out, we will update.
Good morning all, have you heard what Disney is planning on for park capacity. I was just curious. Have a good day.
I wonder how likely they are to keep the shortened park hours long term. We’ve always enjoyed a mid-day nap/rest with park visits early and late in the day, but these new hours will change things for sure. I hope to enjoy late nights in the parks again someday. Hoping for success in these early months of reopening so we know what December may hold for our rescheduled plans.
Hi Sara ,
Thanks for the quick response !
It doesn’t seem to make sense that they are going to allow people to purchase park tickets and reservations for 2021 ahead of people who have been holding 2020 resort reservations for almost a year !
Opening ticket sales later this summer to 2020 resort holders may not have anything left to choose from for the parks.
Extremely frustrating and stressful .
Not very Magical 😔
Serena, Disney doesn’t publicize its Park capacity, even during typical, non-reopening times. The only thing we have are guesses from Disney folks online.
Virginia, the timing must be very frustrating. I do think the reasoning behind the 2020 sales resuming is because they want to see what they have left for space in the Parks this year while they know capacity will be low and possibly fluctuate over time. Hopefully you’ll get a resolution soon!
Dear DFB,
Any word on Passholder Discounts Room Only?
I strive not to pay Rack Rates! Thanks for you time;)
We have Annual Passes and a resort reservation July 5-9 and were going to try to go back to the Magic Kingdom for one day on the 27th of July since our trip was planned just prior to them reopening the parks. I tried to make a park pass reservation for that date but it said there wasn’t any availability so I checked other dates and everyone I selected told me that there wasn’t any availability. My resort reservation is on the MDE app and I can see it on the Disney website as well so I assume that means it’s all linked. Does anyone know if because my resort reservation is before the parks actually reopen if that’s why it won’t allow me to reserve a park pass yet?
Kim, I can’t tell based on your description of the problem if you’ve got a Resort stay planned for the 27th as well. If not, I think the issue is that APs without Resort reservations are only able to make Disney Park Pass reservations beginning on the 26th. If you DO have a stay planned at a Disney Resort on the 27th, it seems like you should be able to make a Park Pass reservation, so you may need to reach out to Disney or keep trying.
Craig, I have not heard anything about this recently, I believe.
The REAL show will begin on June 28th when those of us who have Park Tickets but are staying “off campus” will try to get Park Reservations! After all the hotel guests and AP Holders go through the dates, there may be only a few “breadcrumbs” left for the rest of us. Luckily, I’m not going during the summer, so my fall dates may be available! Fingers Crossed….
Steven, crossing!
Had a bit of a wait at the castle and an extreme anxiety but all went much better than I expected and I got all the parks that I wanted. Whew I think the more complicated your reservation the more glitchy it was.
Hi. I’m an annual passholder and a little confused. On Friday, I can only reserve 3 dates for 2020 or for 3 dates in 2021? Is this why they are giving the option to cancel our plans? Thanks in advance for clarifying!
Mel, tomorrow you can make three Disney Park Pass reservations for any available dates.