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

Nov 24, 2022 in "MyMagic+"

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.

 

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.

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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Sirwalterraleigh5 days ago

Right…prior to the last couple of years that week grew in magnitude by leaps and bounds. Literal foul on my part

Brian5 days ago

Should be very quiet with the initial battles of the second civil war and whatnot. ;)

threvester5 days ago

Didnt you just say the parks havent been busy for 2 years? According to you, you are 100% wrong about the parks being busy for Jersey week...respectfully

Sirwalterraleigh6 days ago

Jersey week. Been a thing for about 20 years… It falls on an election week often…it’s not slow People stay home for elections now?

SoFloMagic6 days ago

Election day and the day after. Should be slow

Sirwalterraleigh6 days ago

lol…jersey week? 🤪

SingleRider6 days ago

“Oh, welcome back, unfavorables! We have a few less busy days, so please come to our parks!”

DCBaker6 days ago

November 5 and 6 have been added to the calendar as Annual Passholder good-to-go days. The last good-to-go days were September 29 and October 1.

Sirwalterraleigh10 days ago

The hubris is what is shocking. I get that people were caged and Americans aren’t geared for that…so there was an artificial demand created…but that will subside and the cost will look insane. Disneyland has a totally different landscape. There is ZERO reason to have reservations for APs at wdw. They’re just trying to hold on to their desire to make you go where they want. I know of what I speak: those parks are NOT crowded and haven’t been for 2 years. Every “the parks are mobbed” is 100% wrong. You don’t know what you’re looking at and what to gauge. Respectfully 😎

SoFloMagic10 days ago

That sucks. For sure. But they clearly advertise that it's subject to bookings. Now they don't make it known that 100k locals want to get in each weekend, but.... I don't think I'll even understand disneyland culture.

Sirwalterraleigh10 days ago

Double layer of restrictions Blackout windows up front and a first come, first serve (so they say) on top of that stretches the bonds of logic

IanDLBZF10 days ago

DLR does not do that at this time.

SoFloMagic10 days ago

They're sold as requiring reservations. We just don't like it. Although it's not bad at WDW as we can enter after 2 with no reservations. Not sure if DL does that.

Sirwalterraleigh10 days ago

Crazy idea: honoring an annual pass as they are sold