We all are already counting down the days until Walt Disney World reopens its theme parks to the public. They will be reopening the theme parks in phases — Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will open on July 11 while EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios open on July 15.
Upon reopening to the Walt Disney World Resort to the public, the company is implementing a new reservation system in order to manage capacity. Part of this reservation system includes Annual Passholder entry. At first, we weren’t sure how Disney would be managing guest capacity or their Anuaal Passholders, however, Disney is now speaking out on the subject.
We know that Disney values their Annual Passholders but due to this unprecedented time, an annual pass will not guarantee park entry.
Related: Disney Hints at Who Could Visit Parks First When Disney World Reopens
Our Annual Passholders are some of our most loyal and valued Guests. We truly can’t wait to welcome you back—and we will do it with great thought.
With that in mind, when the parks reopen, park capacity will be significantly limited—and may continue to be for a period of time, based on guidance from health experts to promote physical distancing.
We understand how much excitement, thought and time goes into planning your Disney visits and realize some new changes may be disappointing. For example, during this unprecedented time, an annual pass will not guarantee park entry and Annual Passholders will be required to make an advance reservation to enter a park.
Please note that:
- During the limited capacity period, it may be difficult for Annual Passholders to get park reservations to visit on certain dates. To help manage capacity, total reservation days held at one time will be limited. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.
- Some pass benefits and features will not be available during periods of limited capacity. Also, park experiences and offerings will be modified and subject to limited availability or even closure.
- Annual passes are subject to blockout dates. Guests should ensure their pass type is valid for park entry prior to making a park reservation.
As we prepare for the reopening of the parks, we’re planning a special preview opportunity for Annual Passholders. We look forward to sharing details with you soon.
Please know we will be here to help you as we remain focused on delivering a wonderful experience for everyone who visits.
If you have any questions, please contact V.I.PASSHOLDER Support at (407) 939-7277. Options to manage your annual pass continue to be available during the closure period.
More On Disney World’s Reopening
With Disney World reopening to guests come mid-July, things will look a lot different. In fact, in a recent interview, CEO Bob Chapek provided more details on the reopening of the theme park saying “Well, it’s really a function of working backwards…How much time we need to open up responsibly…Procedures we’ll have to change dramatically. There’s going to be a lot more training, a lot more sanitation, a lot more hygiene, and, of course, social distancing.”
Chapek also stated “And we’re also going to be introducing the brand new reservation system, so these things take time; And what we want to do is get it right the first time. Make steady progress and eventually be able to accommodate more and more Guests.”
Walt Disney World Resort also recently shared an update on new ticket sales and hotel reservations, dining and experiences, and FastPass+ and Extra Magic Hours. You can read more about that here.
At this time, Disney Springs is opened to the public with select restaurants and retail stores welcoming guests.