After an announcement earlier this summer about the end of theme park reservations for select Guests, Disney has an update for us!
Since its announcement and institution, the Disney Park Pass Reservation system has been the bane of many Guests’ Disney vacations. The plan was first implemented as we were coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic to manage crowd levels at the Disney Parks. Per Disney Parks chairman Josh D’Amaro, former Disney CEO Bob Chapek, and Disney CEO Bob Iger, despite Guest complaints, the system is one the Walt Disney Company found effective and helpful, and it continued after the pandemic died down.
However, recently, Disney announced that select Guests would no longer need theme park reservations.
Are Park Reservations Ending at Disney World?
Earlier this summer, Disney announced that beginning early January, Disney would no longer require theme park reservations for Guests who purchased date-based tickets. As Guests know, date-based tickets are the standard ticket option offered to Guests at the Walt Disney World Resort; they have a set start date and are for a set number of days.
Disney Parks Blog took to its platform to share the news in May. The blog also clarified that only date-based tickets would enjoy the removal of theme park reservations.
Now, Disney provided an update on this change. Journalist Scott Gustin explained that Guests who previously booked theme park reservations for visits on or after January 9, 2024, have had the reservations automatically removed from their accounts.
Disney explains,
“We wanted to let you know that a theme park reservation is no longer required to enter the theme parks with this ticket. This will not impact your ability to get into the theme parks as planned during your visit, and there is no action required on your part.”
The reservations are described as “no longer necessary” and have been removed from the My Plans section.
WDW is notifying guests previously booked theme park reservations for visits on or after January 9, 2024 have been automatically removed from their accounts. “These reservations are no longer necessary and have been removed from the My Plans section.” pic.twitter.com/9GLIfox2Js
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) August 10, 2023
Does Disney Still Require Reservations?
Yes. While date-based tickets no longer require reservations, other ticket options still require Guests to make theme park reservations for a Disney World visit. The Disney World website specifies which tickets still need theme park reservations:
- Student group tickets
- Sport and Convention ticket
- Annual Pass
- All other ticket types other than date-based 1-day tickets, date-based multi-day tickets, and vacation packages with date-based tickets
Initially put in place to manage crowds during the pandemic, theme park reservation requirements have now become a way to provide the best possible Disney experience to Guests. Despite Guests frustrations with it, it’s unlikely that Disney will remove it in its entirety anytime soon.
