Many things at Disney Parks are returning to pre-closure normals. We’ve seen the end of temperature checks at both Disney World and Disneyland, and we’ve seen both parks end mask requirements for fully-vaccinated guests.
Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland
We’re even seeing the return of fireworks to Disney World and Disneyland soon. But there might be one post-closure change that will stick around for a while.
One of the biggest changes after Disney World reopened — as well as after Disneyland reopened — was the requirement that guests make park pass reservations for the park they wish to visit on any given day. This is even a requirement for park-hopping — guests must make a reservation for the first park they plan to visit.
Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland
Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, spoke to the L.A. Times and made comments about the reopening of Disneyland that suggests that park pass reservations might be sticking around for a while. According to L.A. Times, “One way to manage the returning crowds, he said will be to continue requiring that ticket holders also book a reservation for the day they want to use their tickets.” As of right now, Disney World park passes can be booked through early 2023.
Disneyland entrance
Josh D’Amaro also called Disney’s virtual queuing system a “solid tool” that allows all park guests a chance at visiting new areas of Disneyland, which are highly popular. This was adopted in 2019 to manage crowds at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge but is in use now for the newly-opened Avengers Campus. When crowds are light, guests can go into Avengers Campus, but when busier, they must enter via the virtual queue for the WEBSLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure ride.
Avengers Campus
Disney seems to have taken some of the lessons it learned after reopening its parks to apply to its future operating procedures. “I feel like we have done a really nice job of setting up for this next era of theme park experience,” Josh D’Amaro said.
Stay tuned because we’ll let you know if we find out anything else by the continuation of the park pass reservation system. In the meantime, be sure to make those park pass reservations ASAP when you’re planning your Disney World or Disneyland trip!
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As a 30 yr Disney veteran who has literally spent months in the parks, we won’t be back until the reservation system is scrapped. Spontaneity is a large part of our fun.
Not a crowd control. Just limit the number of people. Disney messed our park passes/reservations up last trip two weeks ago. Had me by myself and my son, granddaughter by themselves. Talk about stress until we got to Boardwalk and the Cast Member talked to the computer experts who corrected it. Tried ROTR three times. No luck. We didn’t even try Studios last trip. It’s the luck of the draw…😥🎬
If they do, they need to make Annual Passholders get more than 3. Or change the windows or something. If you’re planning to go 6 months out during a busy time, you have to choose whether to go before then or choose to risk your days being available during a busy time of the year.
disney park passes stink!
They should discontinue the park reservations. There are enough rules and hoops to jump through for a Disney vacation. Not to mention the outrageous prices that should make a trip easier, not harder.
Another Disney disappointment.
Definitely need annual passes. We’re coming down from Toronto in September for 23 days and bought a 10 day pass that has to be used within 14 days. With an annual pass we’d be at Epcot every nite for dinner.
Not everyone carried or wants to carry a cell phone around 24/7. For those guests Disney is blocking them from enjoying those attractions.
THis is not a fair and practicial system.
This CEO will destroy the basis of the base revenue source which is the pass holders. His comments of the unimportance of pass holders vs 4-5 day visitors will be his demise. We have been the revenue backbone of Disney during the pandemic and hard to understand his comments! Walt should be rolling in his grave with this leadership as his intention in building these parks was for the sole intent of family. Greed and the stock market will be the demise of the ultimate family experience. Sad that profit has over ruled family fun !! Good thing is that this CEO will be gone in no time with his tactics!!
They want us to make park reservations, but they won’t give us the flexibility of Annual Passes!
This is the worst of both worlds.
Agree on scrapping the reservations. We many times would head over to one of the parks for drinks and dinner. Further the fast passes need to be brought back. It keeps us out of long lines thus spending money elsewhere in the parks.
Disney was a great experience prior to covid regardless if it was busy or not. The fast passes need to be brought back so one can pre select attractions vs standing in long lines.
If they don’t bring back fast passes and eliminate the reservation program we after many years being an annual pass holder will not be renewing
Has anyone noticed that Disney is charging the same for admission even though many attractions are closed? Seems that if the value is reduced then the price for admission should be reduced
It’s hard to understate how much I hate the park reservation system. I have been visiting Disney since the beginning and cannot wait for it to end.