Hold on tight — Disney World’s Park Pass system is changing…again.
Magic Kingdom
We’ve seen a number of changes made to the Park Pass Reservation system over the past several months, and most recently saw a major adjustment made when it comes to Annual Passholders looking to go into the parks after 2PM. But now Disney has shared a major park pass update that could significantly impact your next trip.
Soon, Park Pass Reservations will NOT be needed AT ALL for those who have date-based tickets!!! In other words, people who buy theme park tickets that are tied to a specific date or set of dates won’t need park passes to get into the parks at all. This change will take place starting January 9th, 2024.
Date-based tickets are what Disney describes as the “standard” ticket option offered to guests.
EPCOT
Park Pass Reservations will, however, continue to be required for other “admission types” including those who do NOT have date-based tickets. This would include Annual Passholders (the adjustments made recently that do NOT require Passholders to have a Park Pass to visit most parks after 2PM will remain in effect) Cast Members, and other non-date-based ticket types like those who get non-date-based tickets for conventions, as part of student groups, and select promotional tickets.
Park Pass Reservation Rules Are CHANGING
Here’s a handy chart that shows just what ticket types WILL and WON’T require a Park Pass Reservation starting January 9th, 2024.
©Disney
This is a HUGE change and could dramatically alter how you plan your next trip. Chairman of the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products had shared that the previous Park Pass Reservation changes for Annual Passholders were “just the start” and it seems like that was indeed the case.
But wait, there’s MORE. Disney has also announced some huge news about the Genie+ system, the Disney Dining Plan, and more. Check out ALL of the details below:
- TICKET CHANGES Announced For Disney World Annual Passholder and Cast Members in 2024
- BIG Genie+ Changes Being Planned For Disney World
- DISNEY DINING PLAN WILL RETURN in 2024!
- Disney World Announces These HOTEL PERKS Will Extend Through 2024
Disney World’s Festival of Fantasy parade
We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates and let you know what we find, so stay tuned!
Click here to learn about all of the new rides and attractions in Disney World in 2023 and 2024
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The 2023 DFB Guide to Dining in Disney World
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You guys are awesome! so quick! Do you know what this means for park hopping? is it still the same?
So the question is, will Disney still sell a ticket day of to a walk up guest while artificially setting a limit on the passholders on the same day?
Hi Mitch! So far Disney hasn’t made any comments on how this will affect the park hopper tickets or whether or not the 2pm hopping restriction will remain in place. We will likely get more details the closer we get to January 9th, but we will be sure to post all the updates we receive.
Wonder if they will change the Park Hopper time also
Does this mean it’s possible you’re unable to get into a park because it’s full if you’re not right there at park opening?
Hallelujah! Disney is FINALLY doing something right!!
I have been purchasing the military ticket for a long time but I read on another site (Militarydisneytips.com) that our tickets are “non-date based” and therefore we have to still make them. Let’s hope this changes quickly for us, too. I wonder how long before they give us the same option.
Yippee!
What about those of us who have annual passes (because we go twice a year at least) but make Disney hotel reservations because we live far away? When making park reservations, they always had a special category for us since we are more like the Disney guests with date based reservations than annual pass holders who might just visit the parks on a more random basis.
Than Park hopping should no longer have a time restriction (IE only after 2pm). Any news on that front?
I’m a little confused? When you say “park passes” do you mean the current “park reservation” system? Because right now we still have to make a “reservation” for any day we want to use our regular tickets on in the parks . So if you could clarify for me if you mean that in January 2024. the current “park reservation” system will no longer be in effect? Thank you!
How does this affect the chances of getting on the virtual queues?
Well, I guess all these changes (park reservations, dining plan etc.) are great unless you happen to be making a major trip this year (end of November) and won’t repeat for a few years $$$.
C’est là vie!!
Not yet, unfortunately. We will most likely get more information concerning park hopping closer to 2024.
Hi Carmen! We’ll have to see how it works out once the changes are in place, but I think it’s probably unlikely because we have rarely seen fully booked parks aside from Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve and even then it’s usually just Magic Kingdom that reaches capacity.
Thanks, Gigi, that reassures me!
Are these changes valid for Disneyland too?
Seems like you never post my comments Why???? It’s called freedom of speech I do not use fowl language like some I have seen posted
Hi Doris! Sometimes it takes us a while to get through the many comments we receive every day and most times comments are not approved right away. There was one comment that could not be approved because of one or more of the following guidelines: insensitivity, inaccuracy, language, rumors, false information, etc. All comments must be appropriate for our wide audience, and generally not inflammatory or discriminatory in any way. Thanks!
Hi Javier! These changes are specifically for Walt Disney World only at this time.
“Insensitivity”???? Seriously, Gigi? Insensitive to who? Just because Doris is expressing herself doesn’t mean her comments are “insensitive”. By all means, please explain what YOU consider “insensitive” and why does your opinion appear to carry more clout than the average person??
Hi Pris. The comment in question was not published for anyone else to see because it did include insensitive remarks toward a specific group of people. We will not allow those types of comments. Self-expression and opinions are more than welcome at any time, but not at the expense of hurting people. Thank you for your cooperation.
Hi Pris, let’s step back and just Be Excellent too each other. DFB is a great place, with great people. it’s also a private platform, they choose to allow or disallow whatever they like on their own website.
People come here for the Magic, and the best information for Disney on the net.
Let’s keep the comments a nice place to be.
Be excellent.
Thank you so much for your kind words and support, Mitch! We truly appreciate it.
Once the park reservations came to be, I always thought they shouldn’t apply to annual passes since, on some annual passes, there are no blackout dates. Florida residents, in particular, can’t just wake up one morning and decide to go to a park. At least not checking availability. Isn’t that what annual passes are about. At least we can go after 2 pm, except to the Magic Kingdom on weekends. That’s a start
Argh. It still exists. The entire system needs to be terminated. Servers destroyed. Computer rooms burned. The earth salted. This abomination needs to go and never be allowed back into existence.