Got plans to visit Disney World this year? Maybe you’re looking to join in on all the Halloween fun?
Magic Kingdom Halloween
Or, perhaps you’re looking forward to some Christmastime entertainment. Well, if you’re planning to visit the Most Magical Place on Earth this year, there’s one BIG thing that could derail your whole trip.
Before the park closures, if you were planning a trip to Disney World, you mostly just needed to make sure that you had a valid park ticket for the park (or parks) you wanted to visit on a particular day.
So, if you wanted to stop by Magic Kingdom for some corn dog nuggets, and then head out to EPCOT to eat your way around the world, you just needed to make sure you had a valid ticket that would allow you to enter Magic Kingdom and EPCOT on that particular day.
Spaceship Earth
When Disney World reopened, however, it introduced a Park Pass reservation system as part of its new safety measures to limit guest capacity in order to promote physical distancing. With it, guests are limited to visiting only one park per day.
So, now, to enter a Disney World theme park — you must have a valid park ticket for that day, as well as a park pass reservation for the specific park you want to visit for the day. Park Pass availability can differ between those guests who are Annual Passholders, Disney Resort and other select hotel Guests, and guests who have regular theme park tickets.
©Disney
Park Pass Availability Could Be A Problem!
So you may be thinking — okay, no problem, I’ll just get my Park Pass as it gets closer to my trip and we’ve decided what parks we want to go to each day. And right after the parks reopened, that was often a very doable approach.
But now, it’s not that simple. Park passes are getting harder to secure as the parks get more crowded, approaching the capacity limits. As pandemic numbers go down, crowds are increasing. And with the holidays coming — historically the MOST crowded time in Disney World — we’re already seeing signs that parks will indeed reach capacity limits.
Park Pass availability has varied quite a bit over the last few months, and sometimes Park Passes have entirely sold out. Especially if you’re looking to go during a big holiday weekend, getting a Park Pass reservation can be a challenge!
Sunset Boulevard
So far, we’ve seen Park Passes sell out or become extremely limited (at least at certain points) for weekends and holidays like Labor Day weekend. Currently, Park Passes are unavailable for Annual Passholders for Hollywood Studios or Magic Kingdom on Halloween. Availability in October, in general, is also becoming more limited.
Screenshot from Disney Park Pass Availability Calendar — Annual Passholders
Some dates in November are filling up as well, especially for the days around Thanksgiving. Park Passes for some parks are unavailable for select guests during certain dates in November. Already, the calendar is showing that Disney Resort Guests cannot make reservations to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios on November 27th.
Screenshot from Disney Park Pass Availability Calendar — Disney Resort Guests
Of course, this availability is always subject to change. Sometimes that can work in your favor. We’ve seen availability open up at certain parks for some guests even after the calendar showed that Park Passes were unavailable.
We’ve also noticed that certain parks may still be available for reservations, even if the calendar shows they are full — so, it may be worth it to try and see what the system shows you when you actually go into your account to make the reservation.
Hollywood Studios
So, what do we recommend you do so you can (hopefully) prevent a lack of Park Pass availability from derailing your trip? A few main things:
1. Book Your Park Pass Reservations ASAP!
We highly recommend you book your Park Pass reservations as soon as possible so you can hopefully secure your ability to visit the parks you want on the days you want. If you change your mind later, you can try to change your Park Pass through the system, so that’s an option if needed.
It’s better to at least have something in place, rather than wait until later and run the risk that several of the parks become entirely unavailable.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
2. Try to Actually Make a Reservation (Rather Than Just Go By the Availability Calendar)
Like we said, we’ve sometimes been able to make a reservation at a park that the availability calendar shows is full — so, it’s worth it to try and see what the system shows you when you actually go into your account to make the reservation.
3. Keep Checking!
If you couldn’t get a Park Pass reservation for the park you wanted on a particular day, keep checking for more availability! Availability has changed a LOT over the past few months, so be sure to check the reservation system to see if more availability has opened up for your trip.
Mission Space in EPCOT
We’re constantly checking the Park Pass availability calendar for major updates, so be sure to come back for all the latest. And, if you’re trying to make a Park Pass for a SUPER popular holiday weekend…may the Force be with you!
Want more details on the Park Pass reservation system? Click here!
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Hi! Can you please let me know if you all have heard anything about Annual Passes becoming available for purchase? I have a park pass reservation and resort reservation for December. I was able to book the park pass reservations because we bought a 3-day ticket with the intent of applying the cost of that toward an annual pass, assuming annual passes would be available. We’re all set with everything, but I get the feeling annual passes aren’t going to be available anytime soon.
Peter, we haven’t heard anything, but when we do, we’ll report right away!
To cut thru the clutter, the ultimate question is… will WDW ever return to the days of old when annual passes and park hopper tickets are the norm and you can enter any park at any time or day without reservation. Are those days gone forever or will they return in 2 years, 3 years or ? I purchased a home near Disney and would be on property somewhere some time every week. Deciding to see Illuminations at 7Pm and the. Popping over and walking in to catch the show, shop and dine.
How early can you make a park reservation?
Angie, right now, DPP is available to book through September 26, 2021.
Ken, Disney has said that Park Hoppers will return, and they’re even allowing them for 2021 vacation packages. As for when that will happen and when APs will return to their former flexibility, we just have to wait and see, unfortunately.
I was on the phone yesterday, on hold, for over a hour and a half while a cast member tried to get someone from the Technical team, to advise if I could renew my annual Platinum Pass which expired on 3/1/2020. I’m in the high risk group and with covid ramping up at that time, decided not to renew. Then my kids were coming to visit in April so I bought a one day ticket, hoping COVID would be better by then. But Disney closed their doors on either 3/15 or 3/16. There was some discussion about the fact that my pass expired BEFORE they actually closed their doors. There might have been a possibility I could have renewed, but because it was before, I was not allowed to renew it. They told me to keep checking back for updates on when AP might come back.