Disney Takes Confusing Stance on Park Reservations

For more than 120 days, The Walt Disney World Resort kept its gates closed as the world battled the COVID-19 pandemic. When The Most Magical Place on Earth reopened on July 15, 2020, there were a lot of health rules and regulations in place to help keep Guests safe. Guests were required to wear masks at all times, social distance, and only take their masks off when eating in designated areas. The theme parks were also kept at a lower capacity and Park Hopping was not allowed at first.

One of the most unpopular and controversial changes was the implementation of theme park reservations. Disney required all Guests to pick the park they wanted to visit, choosing between the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This was in addition to having a theme park ticket. Reservations remained even when Park Hopping returned, with Guests needing to choose which Park they wanted to begin their day in. This reservation system included Guests who had an Annual Pass as well.

For years, Guests have been begging Disney to end its reservation system and Park Hopping restrictions — the only COVID-era changes that are still in place. For as long as Guests have been complaining about the theme park reservations, Disney has been defending the choice to use them. Now-fired CEO Bob Chapek famously spoke about the “family from Denver” who would have the chance to visit because of the Disney Park pass reservation system.

When Bob Iger stepped back into the CEO role, he made several big changes, but kept the reservation system. He never spoke out against the system and said that he would look into ways to improve Guests’ Disney experience.

Finally, in early May, Disney announced that beginning January 9, 2024, it would be getting rid of theme park reservation requirements for Guests who purchased date-based tickets. Annual Passholders would also be given reservation-free days to visit. And now, the company seems to have done a complete 180 on its view of theme park reservations.

On August 9, The Walt Disney Company held its third-quarter earnings call. Shortly after the call, the company released what it considered to be “business highlights.” One of those highlights was getting rid of the reservation system. The same reservation system it defended for three years.

Disney listed removing park reservations for date-based tickets at WDW in 2024 as a “recent business highlight.”

We were told REPEATEDLY park reservations were good for us. And now, the removal of park reservations NEXT YEAR is a business highlight. 🥴

We were told REPEATEDLY park reservations were good for us. And now, the removal of park reservations NEXT YEAR is a business highlight. 🥴

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) August 10, 2023

Disney has made it clear that, at some point, they will end the reservation system altogether. While they may most likely come sometime in 2024, there is no guarantee. Disney has also not confirmed if they will get rid of Park Hopping restrictions sometime soon as well.

Disneyland Resort also has Park Hopping restrictions, but those end daily at 11 a.m. Guests visiting Walt Disney World must wait until 2 p.m. every day to Park Hop. Unlike Walt Disney World Resort, all Disneyland Resort Guests are still required to have a reservation in order to visit one of the Parks.