IMPORTANT UPDATE: Please be aware that, as of January 9th, 2024, Disney World no longer requires a Park Pass Reservation for most guests. Anyone who buys a regular date-based ticket from Disney (either on its own or as part of a vacation package) no longer has to reserve their park visit in advance. (Date-based tickets are what Disney describes as the “standard” ticket option offered to guests.)

However, select guests including — but not limited to — Disney World Annual Passholders and Cast Members STILL REQUIRE Park pass Reservations (with some exceptions). For example, Disney has provided the list below to show the tickets types that still REQUIRE Park Pass reservations:

“No Theme Park Reservation Required

• Date-based 1-day ticket
• Date-based multi-day ticket
• Vacation package with date-based tickets

Theme Park Reservation Required:

• Student group tickets
• Sport and Convention tickets
• Florida Resident Disney Thrills Ticket
• Disney Military Salute Ticket
• Annual Pass
• All other ticket types not mentioned above”

The Disney Park Pass System is an online tool that allows guests to make reservations (when required) to visit the four Walt Disney World theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Originally introduced as part of new safety measures to limit guest capacity in order to promote physical distancing upon Walt Disney World’s reopening in the summer of 2020, the Disney Park Pass System enables guests with valid theme park admission to make any required reservations that may be needed (depending on ticket-type, as noted above) to enter a theme park.

Park Reservation Eligibility

The Disney Park Pass System is open to guests with valid theme park admission.

The number of park reservations available to guests may vary. For example. Walt Disney World Annual Passholders can make a different number of reservations based on the type of Pass they carry. (Additionally, Annual Passholders can make reservations for their length of stay if booked at a Disney Resort or select hotel).

• • Disney Incredi-Passholders may hold up to 5 reservations at a time*
  • Disney Sorcerer Passholders may hold up to 5 reservations at a time*
  • Disney Pirate Passholders may hold up to 4 reservations at a time*
  • Disney Pixie Dust Passholders may hold up to 3 reservations at a time*

*Walt Disney World Annual Passholders and Cast Members are also eligible for “Good to Go” days which do not require a Park Pass reservation, and do not count against your Park Pass reservation allotment. 

CURRENT EXCEPTIONS to Park Pass Reservation Requirements

Again, Park Pass reservations are NOT required for Date-based 1-date tickets, Date-based multi-day tickets, and Disney World Vacation Packages that include date-based tickets.

Additionally, Annual Passholders are now able to visit the Walt Disney World theme parks after 2PM WITHOUT a Park Pass reservation. However, there are some exceptions: Passholders still need to schedule reservations for Saturdays and Sundays in Magic Kingdom. If an Annual Passholder wants to go to Magic Kingdom on Saturdays or Sundays, they’ll need a Park Pass regardless of what time they want to visit.

And Walt Disney World Annual Passholders and Cast Members are also eligible for “Good to Go” days which do not require a Park Pass reservation, and do not count against your Park Pass reservation allotment.

Keep in mind, Annual Passholder blockout dates continue to apply, so you’ll want to take a close look at those when planning your visit.

Disney Park Pass System Step-By-Step

Disney has provided the following steps-at-a-glance for this system.

Step 1: Link Your Valid Theme Park Admission to Your Disney Account

Guests will need to create or login to their Disney Account. (You can begin the process here.) This allows guests to access the My Disney Experience online planning tool.

Guests (and everyone in their party) will need to link their valid admission to their account (and Disney Resort hotel booking, if applicable) following the prompts in My Disney Experience.

Step 2: Create Your Party in Your Disney Account

As you start to make a reservation, you’ll be prompted to Create Your Party from your existing Family & Friends list.

Select any friends who will be joining you on your reservation, then “Continue.” (You can choose to Add a Guest to include additional guests with valid theme park admission.)

Step 3: Select the Date and Park You Wish to Visit

Upon creating your party, you will see prompts to:

• 1 – Select a date from the available options on the calendar. (PLEASE NOTE: Disney World Annual Passholders will see a unique integrated calendar, which you can learn about by clicking here.)

• 2 – Select the theme park you wish to visit

Step 3: Confirm (or Modify) Your Plans

Review your plans, and select “Confirm.”

Note that you will need to agree to the Terms & Conditions in order to confirm. (If you’d like to make changes, you’ll have the chance to select “Back” to modify your selections.)

Upon confirmation, your theme park reservation will appear under “Future Plans” in your My Disney Experience account.

You will also have the opportunity to “Make Another Reservation,” if you wish and are eligible.

Conversely, if you wish to cancel your reservation, you will be able to view your reservation under “My Plans” and select “Reservation Details” to proceed.

Remember:

• Dates and theme parks are limited and subject to availability;
• Reservations are not guaranteed until they are finalized;
• Guests who have a multi-day ticket will be required to make a park reservation for each date of their visit.

Modify a Park Pass Reservation

PLEASE NOTE: You can modify your date and/or your park for your Park Pass Reservation WITHOUT canceling it first (which was the only previous option). The My Disney Experience app presents a button that says “Make or Modify Park Pass Reservations” instead of just “Make Park Pass Reservations.”

Step 4: Enjoy the Magic*

(*We added this step!)

Checking Park Availability

Here is a handy additional feature: guests are able to view park availability before making their reservation… and even prior to purchasing tickets!

The availability calendar is posted for viewing on the Walt Disney World website. Disney allows guests to filter the availability view by booking eligibility, and also provides a color-coded key (as pictured above) so guests can see:

1. If Some (yellow), All (green), or No (gray) Parks are available through the month at a glance; and
2. Availability of specific parks on an exact date (as seen under “Parks with Available Reservations”).

DFB PRO TIP #1: If you’ve got your heart set on entering a certain park on a certain day, but the reservations are all booked, don’t fret. At least not yet, anyway. Disney will typically open more reservations up later. Usually, this happens in advance of the day in question, but sometimes it can happen the day of. Just check back often to make sure that the dates haven’t been granted more availability.

DFB PRO TIP #2: Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom book up faster than EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. When booking your vacation, grab your reservations for Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom FIRST so that you don’t have to worry about them.

Click HERE for Secrets to Getting Disney World Park Passes When They’re Sold Out

What About Park Hopping?

Park Hopping is the ability to visit more than one of the Walt Disney World theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom — in one day.

PLEASE NOTE: In order to Park Hop, you need to have a ticket with Park Hopper benefits or an Annual Pass. 

STEPS to Park Hopping:

STEP ONE: Make a Disney Park Pass reservation (using the process as described on this page) for the FIRST PARK you plan to visit during the day.

STEP TWO: VISIT your first theme park on the day of your Disney Park Pass reservation.

STEP THREE: VISIT ANOTHER theme park — no additional Park Pass required! HOWEVER, guests MUST book a Park Pass at their first park of the day AND enter that first park in order to Park Hop. (For example, if you book Animal Kingdom as your first park with plans to Park Hop to EPCOT, you cannot skip visiting Animal Kingdom then show up at EPCOT and expect to get in. You MUST enter your chosen park — for which you have a Park Pass — first.)

Note that Park Hopping to each park is limited by the parks’ capacity limitations. Typically, reaching capacity only tends to occur on the busiest of park days, such as New Year’s Eve. However, if you have any concerns about the parks reaching capacity when you visit, you can call the Disney World park capacity number — (407) 560-5000.