Park hopping begins January 1 2021 but will not see the return of the EPCOT monorail

Park hopping returns to Walt Disney World theme parks on January 1, but park-to-park transportation options will not include the monorail.

The EPCOT monorail will remain closed for the start of park hopping

Park-to-park bus transportation will begin shortly prior to the 2pm start of park hopping. Cast Members will be verifying eligible park tickets prior to boarding. Other transportation options will include watercraft and Disney Skyliner where service is available.

The EPCOT monorail beam has remained closed despite EPCOT reopening in the summer of 2020. Disney has said that the closure remains temporary, and that it will evaluate monorail operations based on needs.

Here is a rundown of how the modified park hopping process will work:

Starting Jan. 1, 2021, guests who purchased a ticket or annual pass with Park Hopper benefits will be able to visit more than one park per day, with some new modifications as part of ongoing focus on health and safety.

With the updated Park Hopper experience, guests must make a Disney Park Pass reservation for the first park they plan to visit AND enter that first park prior to visiting another. At this time, a park reservation is not required after the first park, however, reservation requirements are subject to change.

Additionally, Disney will set specific Park Hopper hours during which this option will be available. Park Hopper hours will start at 2pm each day and end at the park’s scheduled close time. Guests will soon be able to check DisneyWorld.com/ParkHours and the My Disney Experience app for the most up-to-date Park Hopper hours, as they could start earlier at a later date, depending on the day and park.