Credit: Inside the MagicDisney World is sending out a new warning to its most loyal customers.
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Walt Disney World has begun sending out a new warning regarding the upcoming restrictions for Annual Passholders at the Magic Kingdom. New notifications have been added to the Walt Disney World Resort website as well as the My Disney Experience app, reminding passholders they will need to have a valid theme park reservation to enter the Magic Kingdom starting later this summer.
Guests visiting the Annual Passholder section of the app will see this new warning, which is also displayed inside the app’s notification center.
These new restrictions officially begin when the park’s new Disney Starlight nighttime show debuts on July 20, 2025. For the few days leading up to July 20, Annual Passholders can visit the theme parks without a reservation on a good-to-go day or after 2:00 p.m.
Starting July 20, Annual Passholders will not be able to visit the Magic Kingdom at any time of the day without a valid theme park reservation.
Guests will still be able to visit Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios after 2:00 p.m. without a reservation.
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Disney first announced these restrictions earlier this summer. If it all sounds a little confusing, it’s because it kind of is. To break it down into its simplest form, Annual Passholders are currently able to enter any of the four theme parks after 2:00 p.m. without a reservation. Starting July 20, Passholders will be able to enter EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios without a reservation, but will need one to enter the Magic Kingdom.
Before July 20 – Passholders will be able to visit all four theme parks without a reservation on good-to-go days like normal.
Starting July 20 – Passholders will need a theme park reservation to visit Magic Kingdom at any time during the day. Passholders will still be able to visit EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios like normal.
This new restriction is being put into place due to the higher crowd levels Disney expects to see as Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away debuts at the Magic Kingdom.
This new nighttime show is inspired by Disney’s iconic Main Street Electrical Parade and will feature all kinds of classic and modern Disney characters. The parade takes place along a route starting at Main Street, U.S.A., and ends up going through Frontierland.
Are you excited about Disney Starlight?