“When will Walt Disney World stop requiring Park Pass reservations?” is a typical query amongst company annoyed in regards to the additional step to go to Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom–or with issues when totally booked. This submit addresses the problems with reservations, together with the newly-filed lawsuit by passholders, causes for reservations, and crowd management targets. (Updated November 29, 2022.)
Disney Park Pass is the advance theme park reservations system for reserving entry to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. It provides three separate “buckets” for reservations: single or multi-day ticket holders, on-site resort company, and Annual Passholders. In actuality, these first two buckets now pull from the identical pool (and thus have the identical availability or lack thereof) and APs are additional damaged down by tier.
Walt Disney World’s reservation system was initially launched because of the parks working at considerably diminished capability when the parks reopened two years in the past. At that point, attendance was capped at ~20% of regular ranges, a quantity that step by step elevated to 35% the next spring. With well being security protocol now gone completely, many followers surprise when the Disney Park Pass reservation system can even be retired.
November 29, 2022 Update: On his first day again this week on the Walt Disney Company’s company headquarters in Burbank, California, newly-returning CEO Bob Iger took questions from workers and Cast Members throughout a company-wide digital and in-person Town Hall assembly. He was requested a variety of questions, together with about the way forward for the Disney Park Pass reservation system.
In response, Iger famous that he has not used it, however that he has “read about it,” and that “a lot has been said, and not all of it positive.” Iger indicated that he wanted to be taught extra in regards to the theme park reservation earlier than commenting additional. He added that he wants to debate the system with Josh D’Amaro who runs the parks enterprise and might present Iger with higher perspective about its objective.
This would possibly look like a non-answer, and it might be precisely that. During the Town Hall, Iger was requested a few vary of various subjects, and his response was largely (paraphrasing): ‘I haven’t been introduced in control on that but, however I’ll look into it.’ There had been only some notable exceptions the place he actually went past that, and the park reservations system was considered one of them.
It needs to be famous that Iger chooses his phrases rigorously (not like Chapek) and it’s unlikely he would’ve conceded listening to unfavorable issues in regards to the reservations system if he thought it was really “here to stay,” as Josh D’Amaro mentioned in a previous interview. To the opposite, this looks as if the type of non-committal reply that Iger would give if adjustments are deliberate, however Iger is uncertain of scope, scale, or specifics–or if these issues haven’t but been determined upon.
At this level, the one parks which can be recurrently working out of reservations are Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. This has been occurring on many days no matter wait instances, with each parks unavailable from time to time with 5/10 or decrease crowd ranges.
This implies that Walt Disney World is now utilizing reservations to redistribute attendance on these days. By and enormous, the system is not getting used to cap capability (besides on the handful of busiest days per 12 months), scale back staffing ranges, or as an essential supply of information for useful resource allocation.
Walt Disney World is utilizing park reservations to redistribute attendance by limiting availability at Magic Kingdom–and thus pushing folks in the direction of Animal Kingdom and EPCOT to extend the utilization of these parks and normalize numbers throughout all 4 parks. This is an occasion of the notorious “yield management” being mentioned by executives on earnings calls and in interviews. There truly are advantages to this strategy, together with making for a extra nice visitor expertise and easing staffing shortages.
However, there are additionally downsides to this strategy for Disney. If somebody is touring to Florida and desires their children to expertise Walt Disney World, they in all probability is not going to going to be happy if solely EPCOT or Animal Kingdom can be found. Rather than make reservations to these two parks, some company will select to not purchase tickets in any respect and easily not go to Disney if they can not do Magic Kingdom. (For many causal guests, Magic Kingdom is synonymous with Disney; EPCOT and the remaining usually are not a comparable substitute.)
This is exactly why Walt Disney World is eliminating reservations for single-day tickets on December 8, 2022. It’s additionally why there’s a very good likelihood the identical will occur for multi-day tickets sooner slightly than later. There has been a refrain of credible rumors that large adjustments are deliberate for early 2023, probably in January. After that time, it’s probably reservations are solely a problem for Annual Passholders with out an on-site resort keep.
Prior to this newest replace, two nameless Annual Passholders sued Disney over the Park Pass reservation system in late October. The plaintiffs contend the reservation system successfully blocked its highest tiers of passholders on sure days, regardless of Disney previously promoting the premium passes as permitting limitless entry. The APs allege that Walt Disney World is “unfairly favoring” guests with single and multi-day tickets over Annual Passholders “in order to make a larger profit.”
They contend that on some days, reservation slots are full for Annual Passholders whereas Walt Disney World continues to promote single-day tickets and supply reservations to different company. (This is true–there are completely different buckets of reservations for various classes of shoppers.) They additional contend that Disney is participating in predatory enterprise practices with the reservations system.
Disney spokesman Avery Maehrer launched the next assertion in response: “Annual Passholders continue to be some of our biggest fans and most loyal guests. We’ve been upfront with Passholders about the updates we’ve made, and we offered them the flexibility to opt in or opt out of the program early in the pandemic, including refunds if they desired. This lawsuit mischaracterizes the program and its history, and we will respond further in court.”
This follows an analogous Annual Passholder (Magic Key) lawsuit filed in opposition to Disney within the Central District of California final 12 months. That makes virtually similar allegations–and as such, that lawsuit is instructive as to outcomes at Walt Disney World. Even as that California litigation superior, Disney has maintained park reservations and continued promoting Annual Passes. While it survived a movement to dismiss, it’s unlikely to end in substantive adjustments to Annual Passes or park reservations.
Disney may simply keep away from future authorized legal responsibility by clearly defining blockout dates and the way these perform in relation to reservations. Since the passes initially went on sale final fall, further verbiage has been added to its advertising doing precisely that. When Disneyland started Magic Key renewals, much more was added to make it abundantly clear that “it may be difficult or not possible” to get park reservations. That addresses this difficulty going ahead, which means there’s no authorized publicity for future Annual Pass gross sales or reservation necessities.
Accordingly, it’s our view that this can don’t have any influence on the reservations system at Walt Disney World. To no matter extent there have been deficiencies with advertising Annual Passes and the Disney Park Pass reservation system, these have been remedied by further language clarifying the constraints and restrictions in making park reservations.
Beyond that, there’s nothing inherently “unfair” (as a matter of legislation) about favoring one class of shoppers over one other. If it had been unlawful to favor prospects who spend extra money “in order to make a larger profit” nearly each enterprise in America would have authorized publicity. That’s not fairly the declare the plaintiffs appear to assume it’s.
Even as soon as reservations are ultimately retired or minimized for purchasers who buy single and multi-day tickets, it’s extremely probably the Disney Park Pass system will stick round for Annual Passholders (for the explanations mentioned beneath). This lawsuit doesn’t change that. If something, it’s going to derail or delay deliberate adjustments anticipated to roll out in January 2023.
Speaking of which, there have been rumors for months that Walt Disney World intends to make adjustments to its reservation system in early 2023. What we’ve heard is that reservations for normal and resort company might be rolled into the ticket shopping for stream or eradicated completely in some unspecified time in the future within the not too distant future. This is exactly what’s taking place on December 8 for single-day tickets, and apparently that’s merely step one–a lot of different adjustments are on the horizon.
However, we’ve been listening to variations of this rumor for nearly a 12 months, and initially anticipated the previous (integration with the acquisition course of) to debut on January 1 of this 12 months. Obviously, that didn’t happen. You thus would possibly need to take the whole thing of this/these rumors with a grain of salt. Plans may at all times change and even be deserted completely. With Walt Disney World, nothing is for certain till it occurs…and even then, tweaks happen after preliminary rollouts.
Beyond this, Walt Disney World continues to function at a considerably diminished capability, though that improves with every passing month. This would possibly come as a shock to anybody who has visited within the final a number of months, particularly on dates when wait instances hit their highest ranges in two years.
However, the bigger crowds are a byproduct of staffing shortages, plus much less to do and fewer time to do it, which consolidates crowds. In a nutshell, if sure leisure and experiences are lacking or the parks are unable to function for as many hours as regular, total park capability decreases. Wait instances are longer although total attendance is (considerably) decrease as a result of extra company are consolidated into fewer choices.
During the Walt Disney Company’s two most up-to-date earnings calls in 2022, former CEO Bob Chapek indicated that that is precisely what’s taking place. According to Chapek, Walt Disney World’s “capacity constraints are self-imposed capacity constraints and are really a function of our food and beverage mitigation…because people spend a long time in our parks and resorts, the food and beverage component is a big one.”
During the second quarter earnings name, each Chapek and CFO Christine McCarthy spoke to the park reservation system as soon as once more. McCarthy mentioned that “there were many days in the quarter, where we saw demand exceed 2019 levels; however, we are continuing to control attendance, through our reservation system, with an eye on delivering a quality guest experience.”
When requested about greater demand and attendance, McCarthy indicated that numbers might be greater, however that Disney is “choosing to limit attendance using the reservation system, which goes back to trying to balance demand, and attendance throughout the year. Not have days when consumers in the parks when guests aren’t enjoying the experience. So, attendance is something that we’re controlling, but we’re doing it to have a better consumer experience.”
Chapek credited the “balanced reservation system” that helps the corporate handle worth per day and yield administration, which has structurally allowed the corporate to extend per capita spending meaningfully with out having to rely solely on elevating ticket costs. “We don’t see any end in sight” to the sky-high demand and robust spending numbers at Walt Disney World, mentioned Chapek.
While we will’t communicate as to whether there’s truly “no end in sight” to Walt Disney World’s robust pent-up demand, Chapek and McCarthy are proper about many dates within the final quarter when demand exceeded provide. For a lot of the 12 months, there was no Disney Park Pass availability even a pair weeks prematurely.
Looking ahead, it’s more likely to be an analogous story for the rest of 2022. Although the height weeks of Christmas and New Year’s Eve nonetheless have good availability as of proper now, that can probably change to a point as these dates draw nearer. Last 12 months, these had been the 2 busiest months of the 12 months–and that isn’t more likely to change. Our expectation is heavy crowds by way of January 8, 2023.
As for the why of this, there are a couple of causes past what Chapek and McCarthy have mentioned throughout earnings calls. During a number of interviews about the way forward for the theme parks over the course of the final two years, Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro has talked about how Walt Disney World is “choreographing” the visitor expertise, pushing expertise in a means that Disney has needed to for a very long time. He pointed to the Disney Park Pass reservation system, in addition to Mobile Order, contactless fee, and varied digital queues.
D’Amaro has famous that these applied sciences are main to raised Cast Member and visitor experiences, and has mentioned that many are in all probability right here to remain. In previous interviews, D’Amaro has not mentioned with any specificity which parts will stick round. His feedback have been extra to tout Walt Disney World’s use of expertise, and point out they’ll proceed to take action going ahead. Which needs to be apparent.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, D’Amaro particularly mentioned that reservations are right here to remain: “One way to manage the returning crowds…will be to continue requiring that ticket holders also book a reservation for the day they want to use their tickets.”
However, it’s value noting that interview primarily involved Disneyland, which has had points with Annual Passholders overcrowding the parks for years. In reality, the Disney Flex Pass truly debuted a reservation system for Annual Passholders over a 12 months earlier than the closure. Requiring reservations for APs is thus unsurprising, and was probably a long-term purpose even pre-closure.
Disney’s need to raised leverage expertise additionally mustn’t come as a shock. The multi-billion greenback NextGen initiative—together with My Disney Experience, QuickPass+, MagicBands, and interactive queues—was envisioned as a means for Walt Disney World to function extra effectively. There had been grandiose plans for a way the undertaking would supply Disney the information essential to streamline operations, deploy on-demand leisure, handle staffing, and successfully make the most of different sources.
Aside from the guest-facing parts like QuickPass+ and MagicBands, virtually not one of the large targets that justified the colossal funding had been realized. In massive half, that is why My Disney Experience wasn’t ported to different parks across the globe; as an alternative these parks cherry-picked varied features of the system to construct their very own, stripped-down incarnations. (See “The Messy Business of Reinventing Happiness” and “Behind the Scenes at Disney As it Purged a Favorite Son” if you happen to’re enthusiastic about extra on the trials and tribulations of NextGen.)
The lesson to be realized from the targets of NextGen as imagined versus what got here to fruition is that Disney’s plans don’t at all times come true. While executives salivate on the prospect of leveraging large information and analytics to lower staffing and obtain extra environment friendly operations, all of this solely works to the extent that there’s visitor buy-in. (Not to say the tech “playing nice” with Walt Disney World’s legacy IT–one thing that nonetheless hasn’t completely occurred with the NextGen additions.)
Quite merely, Walt Disney World can’t unilaterally push by way of extra stringent and regimented planning “resources” with out regard for the visitor expertise and satisfaction. While QuickPass+ was initially met with skepticism by long-time followers (one thing true of actually any change at Walt Disney World), it was ultimately embraced by company. Some nonetheless criticized it or expressed a desire for paper QuickPasses or no digital queues in any respect, however it was sufficiently common.
It’s additionally value emphasizing that My Disney Experience rolled out at a time when Walt Disney World’s attendance had began to soar, giving the corporate some latitude in making selections not warmly embraced by company.
The circumstances are very related at this specific second in time. In his interviews, D’Amaro acknowledges that Disney is benefitting from pent-up demand–we’ve been discussing “revenge travel” at Walt Disney World for 2 years at this level. While pent-up demand remains to be going robust (even seeing a second wind with the resumption of worldwide journey), it’s going to ultimately subside.
A ton of journey locations that usually wouldn’t began requiring reservations final summer time as a result of overwhelming and unprecedented demand. That doesn’t imply they’ll proceed to take action when demand drops and issues revert to regular. In reality, a number of of our favourite U.S. National Parks have already dropped their reservations methods, indicating they had been not essential to average demand.
Disney Park Pass is only an obstacle and one other reservation to make. It creates uncertainty, complications, and lots of company blame the reservation system for planning issues or rigidity of their holidays. Some have been shut out of visiting completely as a result of Park Pass, and have an unfavorable opinion of it because of this.
Among Annual Passholders, the Disney Park Pass reservation system is likewise unpopular. It has diminished the worth of their Annual Passes and been an all-around irritating course of. In the grand scheme of Walt Disney World “approval ratings,” Park Pass falls someplace between Stitch Ate the Page! and Stitch’s Great Escape.
Nevertheless, Walt Disney World would make the calculated determination to plow ahead in utilizing the theme park reservation system if their positive aspects outweigh the diminished visitor satisfaction and complaints. So…do they?
Let’s begin with vacationers, the place there’s truthfully not a ton to be gained by Walt Disney World in holding the reservation system round as soon as provide and demand normalize.
From an effectivity and useful resource allocation perspective, Walt Disney World ought to already have the ability to fairly precisely forecast vacationer attendance due to each resort occupancy charges and the date-based theme park ticket system. In reality, it’s probably that the latter system might be tweaked barely to supply Disney precisely the information it might like with out introducing much more friction and pointless hoops to the method.
A Walt Disney World trip is already needlessly difficult and convoluted (even when many followers benefit from the planning, that’s not true of informal company who discover it overwhelming), so it behooves Disney to simplify the method the place attainable. In quick, it’s completely attainable to attain the identical positive aspects amongst vacationers with out Park Pass.
Now let’s flip to Annual Passholders, the place dissatisfaction is significantly greater. However, so too are the advantages to Walt Disney World in persevering with such a park reservation system. Even with blockout dates and a variety of tiers, Annual Passholders can throw a monkey wrench into Walt Disney World operations.
We’ve witnessed this firsthand. On days when climate is unseasonably good, a brand new particular occasion begins, one thing debuts, or there’s another sudden draw, Annual Passholder visitation can spike. This can lead to lengthy traces on the parking toll cubicles, bag verify, the turnstiles, and (clearly) greater crowds throughout the park. As Central Florida’s inhabitants has exploded, this has been exacerbated.
As such, it’s our robust perception that Disney Park Pass is right here to remain for Annual Passholders–not less than within the close to and medium time period. Things may change within the long-term, however we’ve got no doubts in anyway that Annual Passholders will nonetheless be making theme park reservations in 2024.
The reservation system was baked into the smooth relaunch of Walt Disney World APs final 12 months, with just about each tweak to this system (apart from pricing) revolving round reservations. One of the “perks” of upper tiers of Annual Passes is holding extra simultaneous reservations, and the way in which the blockout calendars now work in tandem with Park Pass offers Disney plenty of management over AP attendance.
Speaking of which, since debuting the Park Pass system, Walt Disney World has quietly prolonged the reservation calendar on a lot of events. It was initially going to finish the week earlier than Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary. That was undoubtedly strategic, as that was the corporate’s goal date for operational normalcy again when the parks reopened.
Obviously, that didn’t occur. With the next launch of 2023 Walt Disney World trip packages, the Park Pass calendar was prolonged once more. Currently, it runs till January 18, 2024. This doesn’t imply it’ll proceed till then, nor does it imply it’ll cease then. Our expectation is that it’ll be in use for Annual Passes lengthy after that date, and can finish for company utilizing common tickets nicely earlier than then.
With demand nonetheless exceeding diminished capability at Walt Disney World as of Late 2022, it doesn’t look like the Disney Park Pass system might be retired anytime quickly. Even if Disney is ready to handle its labor scarcity within the coming months (uncertain, as this drawback has endured for over a 12 months), the corporate clearly likes the theme park reservation system.
Executives like speaking it up on company earnings calls, presenting it as an asset to “balance demand” or enhance the “consumer experience” (amongst different issues) whereas probably not talking to its continued necessity as a result of staffing shortages and different operational woes. Even when requested immediately about staffing, McCarthy pivoted to speaking factors about “managing attendance” and different purported advantages.
It appears impossible that Disney will need to give that up anytime quickly. That is, except the staffing shortages are addressed or demand dies right down to the extent that the Disney Park Pass calendar is a sea of inexperienced. At which level, the advantages the reservation system serves might be minimal, and it gained’t should be touted on earnings calls to gloss over operational challenges dealing with Walt Disney World.
Our hope and expectation is that the tides are beginning to flip, and that Walt Disney World will maintain the Park Pass system for the Halloween and Christmas season “just in case.” It would additionally make sense for a clear break because the calendar turns to 2023.
Ultimately, our expectation is that reservations might be dropped someday in January 2023 for normal ticket holders or the system might be rolled into the method of buying tickets. As issues proceed returning to regular, there might be much less want from a capability perspective for Disney Park Pass. From a useful resource allocation perspective, the reservation system already provides little benefit over what already exists–it’s simply additional friction in an already difficult trip planning course of.
By distinction, there’s no finish date in sight for Annual Passholders needing to make reservations. Personally, as an AP, I’m anticipating to be required to make reservations for the remainder of my days visiting Walt Disney World. At the easiest, perhaps the protocol might be relaxed, with much less stringent insurance policies for late arrivals or one thing of that kind.
In concluding, we’ll as soon as once more supply the caveat that that is completely speculative and we might be completely improper. Walt Disney World has been far more conservative over the past couple of years than we’d’ve anticipated. With extra visitor suggestions and elevated staffing to facilitate extra reopening, we will’t assist however surprise if that strategy adjustments. What Disney has completed to date has achieved blended outcomes, however staying the present course till January 2023 does make sense.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about motels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To get monetary savings on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a novel have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for all the pieces it is advisable to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you count on the Disney Park Pass reservation system to be retired in some unspecified time in the future, or proceed endlessly? Think Walt Disney World regrets requiring resort company and theme park ticket holders to make use of Park Pass? Any questions we may help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!