Disney Just Told Annual Passholders When They Are Allowed to Visit The Theme Parks

The relationship between Walt Disney World and Annual Passholders has evolved significantly in recent years, particularly with the introduction of park reservation systems. Before the pandemic, Passholders enjoyed the spontaneity of visiting the parks without advance planning.

However, after reopening, Disney implemented a reservation system, requiring all guests, including Passholders, to secure specific park reservations before visiting. This change diminished the value and flexibility of annual passes, turning spontaneous visits into planned events.

To alleviate some of the impact, Disney allowed Passholders to enter parks after 2 p.m. without a reservation on most days, though Magic Kingdom still requires reservations on weekends. In 2024, Disney introduced Good-to-Go Days, during which Annual Passholders can visit any park without reservations, typically during lower-attendance periods. New Good-to-Go Days have been added, providing Passholders with more opportunities for spontaneous visits.

New Good-to-Go Days for January 2026

Walt Disney World has added January 26, 28, and 29 as Good-to-Go Days for Annual Passholders. These dates allow Passholders to visit any of the four theme parks without making park reservations in advance, providing the kind of spontaneous visit flexibility that used to be standard for all annual pass holders before the reservation system was implemented.

The Good-to-Go designation applies to all Annual Pass types and all four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Passholders can arrive at any time during regular park operating hours on these dates without securing advance reservations.

Understanding the Disney Reservation System

For Annual Passholders unfamiliar with current policies or considering purchasing passes, understanding how the reservation system works is essential for maximizing pass value. Under normal circumstances, most dates and times require Annual Passholders to make park reservations before visiting. This means logging into your My Disney Experience account, checking reservation availability for your desired park and date, and securing that reservation before showing up.

However, Disney allows Passholders to visit any park after 2 p.m. without reservations on most days. This 2 p.m. rule provides some spontaneity for Passholders who don’t mind arriving later in the day and missing morning hours. The significant exception is Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays, which requires reservations regardless of arrival time due to consistently high weekend attendance.

Good-to-Go Days remove these restrictions entirely, allowing arrival at any time without advance reservations. This makes them particularly valuable for Passholders who prefer morning visits or who simply don’t want to deal with the reservation system at all.

What Good-to-Go Days Indicate

The designation of specific dates as Good-to-Go Days typically signals that Disney anticipates lower than average attendance on those particular days. By removing reservation requirements, Disney encourages Annual Passholders to visit during periods when the parks might otherwise operate below ideal capacity levels.

This benefits both Disney and Passholders. Disney fills parks during slower periods, generating additional revenue from food, beverages, and merchandise purchases. Passholders get to experience parks with potentially lower crowd levels, shorter wait times, and generally more pleasant conditions compared to peak attendance days.

The late January dates recently added as Good-to-Go Days fall during a period when attendance typically drops following the holiday season and before spring break travel begins. Many families have exhausted vacation time and budgets during the holidays, and kids are back in school, creating a natural lull in tourism.

Disney Pass Tiers and Benefits

Walt Disney World offers multiple Annual Pass tiers with different price points, blockout dates, and benefit levels. Understanding which pass type best fits your visiting patterns and budget helps maximize value.

The different pass tiers include varying numbers of blockout dates, different levels of discounts on merchandise and dining, and access to different perks like free parking or PhotoPass downloads. Higher-tier passes provide more flexibility and benefits but cost significantly more than entry-level options.

Good-to-Go Days apply equally to all pass types, meaning even entry-level Passholders receive the same reservation-free access on these designated dates as premium pass holders. This represents one of the few benefits that doesn’t scale with pass price.

Planning Around Good-to-Go Days

For Passholders with scheduling flexibility, organizing visits around Good-to-Go Days provides the best of both worlds: reservation-free spontaneity and potentially lower crowd levels. If you can adjust your plans to visit on January 26, 28, or 29 instead of surrounding dates that require reservations, you eliminate planning friction while possibly enjoying better park conditions.

However, it’s worth noting that Good-to-Go Days aren’t guaranteed to be the slowest days. Other factors including weather, special events, and overall tourism patterns affect daily attendance. But the designation at least indicates Disney’s expectation that these dates won’t reach capacity levels requiring reservation management.

The Broader Disney Passholder Experience

Good-to-Go Days represent Disney’s attempt to add value back to Annual Passes after the reservation system diminished spontaneity and flexibility. While they don’t fully restore the pre-pandemic experience where every day was effectively a Good-to-Go Day, they do provide periodic opportunities for reservation-free visits.

For Passholders evaluating whether their annual pass still provides sufficient value given current restrictions and requirements, Good-to-Go Days factor into that calculation alongside park-hopping rules, blockout dates, discount levels, and other benefits that vary by pass tier.

Checking the Disney Calendar

Annual Passholders should regularly check the Good-to-Go calendar through their My Disney Experience account or the official Walt Disney World website to stay informed about newly added dates. Disney typically announces these additions with relatively short notice, meaning opportunities for reservation-free visits can appear suddenly for dates in the near future.

With January 26, 28, and 29 now designated as Good-to-Go Days, Passholders have three upcoming opportunities to visit Walt Disney World theme parks without dealing with the reservation system that otherwise governs most visits.