Major overhaul of Disney Park Pass reservations and Park Hopping coming to Walt Disney World in the new year

Nov 24, 2022 in "MyMagic+"

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Posted: Thursday November 24, 2022 9:38am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The hugely unpopular Disney Park Pass reservation system will be undergoing a major overhaul for launch in early 2023 at Walt Disney World.

Many guests will no longer need a Park Pass reservation

Based on significant push-back from guests on the current reservation system, much of the existing Disney Park Pass system will be removed and simplified, providing guests with an experience closer to pre-pandemic conditions.

Park hopping will return for date-based tickets at any time and will no longer be restricted to 2pm. Annual Passholders will still be restricted but will likely be able to park hop earlier than the current 2pm limit.

Date-based Walt Disney World theme park tickets will no longer require a Park Pass reservation, with park entry secured upon purchasing the ticket. Annual Passholders will still need a reservation, at least initially.

Most guests will be able to park hop at anytime

Disney introduced Park Pass as a way to control attendance and labor, and these changes in early 2023 may at first appear to be reducing Disney's operational control. However, the new system will control attendance by limiting ticket sales for a given day rather than selling an unlimited number of tickets and restricting access via a Park Pass.

These changes have been in the works for the last few months, and although the system is nearly ready, we understand it will not debut until early 2023, most likely in January.

Although new CEO Bob Iger did not direct these changes, the timing will undoubtedly help Iger as he begins efforts to restore Disney's reputation among guests and its most loyal fans.

Disney is yet to announce the changes, and as always, information should be treated as speculation until officially confirmed.

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Royal Purple Pigment2 days ago

It takes me just as much time and effort to log on and see it is good to go. This reservation system was one of the big differentiators in the AP tiers aside from blackout dates. We rarely even use our reservations and have 5 of 5 available. I understand everyone is different but this whole thing is lame. It is so annoying that they never could incorporate it into the app and you had to launch a different website and log in again. They need to dump this lame system or add something as a tier level replacement to the AP program (free Photopass, etc.)

wdisney90002 days ago

People have simply said its annoying, exactly like you yourself just stated in your post. I don't see anybody making mountains. Individually, the requirements you need to be on your phone for are not that frustrating, but when combined, it just gets ridiculous.

bmr15912 days ago

I mean, do you though? Unless you’re coming on a peak week, reservations are always available to make day of. Heck, my wife and I change ours the morning of often. I don’t disagree that making reservations is annoying, but some of y’all make mountains out of things that aren’t actually issues. It makes sense though, doesn’t it? CPs came from all over to work at Disney because they love Disney. Most don’t care to do anything on their off day except go enjoy the parks. With that said, man, what a scheme. “Come work for us! With the little you make, you’ll give us a portion back in rent. We also know you’ll spend a lot of what you make back with us in the parks.” It’s almost voluntary slave labor.

GhostHost10002 days ago

interesting I would also suspect they spend on average way less than annual passholders

wdwmagic2 days ago

It is way way more than that. CPers alone make up a good number on a daily basis.

Bullseye19672 days ago

The fact that CMs have to make a reservation is absolutely insane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How many CMs are in a park on any given day? 50 or 100?. This is nuts but at least they can go again.

Disstevefan12 days ago

May the force NOT be with APers.

Rich Brownn2 days ago

Star Wars day ("May the Fourth be with you") :D

hopemax2 days ago

So far the good to go days for CMs have matched the AP days. CMs can see them on the calendar when they go to make a reservation.

SingleRider2 days ago

Do good to go days apply to CMs as well? I thought it was only APs.

hopemax2 days ago

This one was surprising. I saw the news about the merchandise VQ on May 1st and my Dad wanted a reservation, but none were available (Main Entrance Pass). Then an hour later, it's a good to go day. Whatever, Disney. Why make this so annoying!

Brian2 days ago

Notable. They must not be expecting a big crowd for DHS's 35th anniversary day.

Fido Chuckwagon2 days ago

Wow, May 4th unavailable for AP reservations at HS. I know it's May 4th, but it can't possibly be that busy given how slow it is this time of year. They just want to push AP's to other parks and/or don't want to staff HS enough to cover the demand. Shameful.