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Credit: DisneyWhen Walt Disney World reopened to the public in July 2020, Disney put multiple new health protocols in place in order to operate safely during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
From the requirement of face masks to social distancing measures, Walt Disney World went above and beyond to ensure all Guests and Cast Members can stay safe while visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth during this unprecedented time. One of those new safety protocols is a brand new Park Pass system which requires Guests to book a theme park reservation in advance.
This new system requires those who wish to visit a Walt Disney World theme park — including Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom — to have both a valid ticket as well as a reservation for the park you wish to visit on that day. The Park Pass system allowed Guests to book any theme park for any day all the way through January 2022 — Until now.
Overnight, Walt Disney World quietly opened up additional Park Pass days, moving the availability even further into the future. In fact, Guests can now book a Disney Park Pass reservation up until January 14, 2023. Yes, you read that correctly! Disney has extended the Park Pass system a whole year!
Related: Annual Passholders: How to Get Help with Disney Park Pass
In 2020, Chairman of Parks, Experiences and Products Josh D’Amaro indicated that the newly implemented Park Pass system is a “new normal” that isn’t going away anytime soon, if ever, so seeing the calendar extend into 2023 isn’t too surprising.
But it is also important to keep in mind that anything is subject to change at any given time. Be sure to keep up with Inside the Magic for all the latest information regarding Walt Disney World Resort!
Additionally, it has been confirmed that the same Disney Park Pass system will be used at Disneyland Resort when it eventually reopens in California.
Keep in mind, as Disney has shared in the past — If you want to visit a Walt Disney World theme park, such as Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you will need a Park Pass along with a valid ticket. At this time, there is no reservation required for Disney Springs — Disney World’s outdoor shopping and dining district.
- You’ll need a My Disney Experience account, as this is where your Walt Disney World Resort plans are stored and managed.
- You’ll also need a valid theme park ticket or Annual Pass that’s linked to your My Disney Experience account.
- If you have a Disney Resort hotel reservation, be sure to link it to your My Disney Experience account beforehand, as well.
The official Walt Disney World website states:
Please note that park reservations are limited in number and subject to availability. Availability can change until the park reservation is finalized.
Purchase Tickets
Explore a variety of ticket options. Once you purchase your tickets, then you can make your park reservations.
If you have a room-only reservation at a Disney Resort or other select hotel, please call the Disney Reservation Center or call your travel professional to upgrade to a vacation package with tickets—and then make your theme park reservations.
Room-and-ticket packages may also be available.
Please review any advisories or restrictions in place for travel to Florida, and do not travel to or enter Walt Disney World Resort unless you are free of any COVID-19 symptoms and otherwise comply with the requirements of such advisories and restrictions.
Additionally, there are three different options of Park Passes depending on which type of theme park ticket or reservation you have. For example, if you are an Annual Passholder you will have a different tier of availability as an existing ticket holder or a Disney World Resort Guest. The official Disney World website states:
Park attendance is managed via the Disney Park Pass reservation system—now available to Guests with valid admission. To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date are required for Guests ages 3 and up.
Booking Your Park Reservations
The Disney Park Pass system is now open to Guests with valid admission. The number of theme park reservation days you can hold at one time varies based on your plans:
Disney Resort and other select hotel Guests can make park reservations for dates during their stay for the number of days that they have valid theme park admission.
Annual Passholders can make theme park reservations for up to 3 days at a time, and for their length of stay if staying at a Disney Resort or other select hotel.
Existing ticket holders can make reservations for the number of days of valid theme park admission.
For more information, visit Walt Disney World’s official website here.
If you want to plan a vacation to Disney World, but aren’t sure where to begin planning, don’t hesitate to reach out to our friends at Academy Travel. Get started with your free quote today!
Do you like the Disney World Park Pass Reservation system? Are you excited to see it extended into 2023? Let us know in the comments below.