Last month, Disney introduced 3 BIG Changes Coming to Walt Disney World to Improve Guest Experience & Value. One of these is that Annual Passholders will be capable of enter the parks after 2 pm with no need to make a reservation, with some exceptions. We now have extra particulars about this and share these together with Park Pass commentary right here.
Already within the final two months, the Disney Park Pass system has modified considerably. Back in December, Walt Disney World stopped requiring reservations for single-day tickets. With these tickets being each date-based and now park-specific, reservations can be redundant. As such, Walt Disney World’s system robotically makes a reservation for that ticket kind.
However, that change was just for guests who buy 1-day, 1-park tickets. That’s a giant chunk of company, however in all probability not most individuals studying this. The overwhelming majority of different company will proceed to make theme park reservations. As earlier than, Annual Passholders, Park Hoppers, and multi-day tickets nonetheless must make reservations. As of early 2023, there have been no adjustments to the Disney Park Pass system for these ticket varieties but. But that’s about to alter.
Beginning April 18, 2023, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will be capable of go to the theme parks after 2 pm with no need a Disney Park Pass reservation, besides on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom. All Annual Pass blockout dates will proceed to use (h/t Scott Gustin).
Visiting any park earlier than 2 pm will proceed to require a Disney Park Pass reservation, as is the case at the moment. Moreover, Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom will work the identical approach as now–Annual Passholders can nonetheless go to Magic Kingdom on weekends after 2 pm when you’ve got a park reservation (and have entered) a unique park.
The timing of this variation is unsurprising for those who’ve learn our 2023 Spring Break Crowd Calendar for Walt Disney World. Spoiler: that’s the day after the favored faculty break season ends and shoulder season begins. That’s why it’s additionally the date we beforehand recognized because the more than likely time for Annual Passes to return. (I’m guessing Walt Disney World received’t make this variation and reintroduce APs on the identical day, so now you may need to attend a bit longer for that to occur.)
What’s unclear to me, and what this announcement doesn’t resolve, is whether or not you possibly can enter EPCOT and not using a reservation at 2:01 pm on a Saturday, instantly exit and take the monorail to Magic Kingdom, and enter that park and not using a reservation. The verbiage of the announcement (“and” as an alternative of “or”) suggests this could not work, however I’m skeptical. Currently, tapping into one park is what “unlocks” the others in Walt Disney World’s system.
Another unknown is whether or not Annual Passholders planning after 2 pm visits will nonetheless be capable of buy Genie+ within the morning and “stack” Lightning Lane reservations for his or her afternoon arrival. Likewise, will they be capable of be part of the digital queue for Cosmic Rewind (assuming it nonetheless exists) or TRON Lightcycle Run if it’s nonetheless accessible after they enter after 2 pm.
My guess is that the reply to all of those questions is “yes.” Of course, this assumes there’s an inner logic to all the pieces and Disney IT follows clearly-defined guidelines…moderately than being a patchwork of programs that make little sense, often battle with each other, and are principally held collectively by duct tape. (I’ve inquired about all of this and am awaiting a response–I’ll replace accordingly when I’ve it.)
As we’ve beforehand mentioned, this rest of Disney Park Pass insurance policies for Annual Passholders is considered one of many adjustments we’re anticipating this 12 months. Frankly, I’m shocked that is occurring earlier than adjustments for multi-day ticket holders and Park Hoppers, however Annual Passholders have been fairly vocal of their complaints. I suppose let this be an instance: the squeaky wheel will get the grease!
There’s an excellent probability that one thing just like the prior adjustments for 1-day, 1-park tickets will happen earlier than Summer 2023 for multi-day tickets. The expectation is that reservations shall be built-in into the shopping for movement for these tickets, or be dropped completely. After that time, it’s probably reservations are solely a difficulty for Cast Members and Annual Passholders with out an on-site resort keep. As for when that’ll occur is anybody’s guess–I’ve been advised repeatedly that this was simply across the nook for nicely over a 12 months. I’m not holding my breath at this level.
Don’t get too excited in regards to the rest of reservation guidelines for Annual Passholders occurring first. As we’ve indicated repeatedly, the more than likely long-term state of affairs is that Disney Park Pass is right here to remain for Cast Members and Annual Passholders in some capability, however shall be eradicated completely or at the very least built-in into tickets for everybody else. Josh D’Amaro was at Disneyland when the Flex Pass debuted there, and was reportedly an advocate for the reservation system for Cast Members.
Retaining reservations for APs and CMs provides Disney management over the attendance combine, and permits the corporate to prioritize vacationers who spend extra per go to on common. Although Disney desires Annual Passholders and Cast Members to go to–and spend cash–when there’s extra capability, the circumstances are totally different when the parks are busier.
It thus is smart that Walt Disney World would need to prioritize resort company and different vacationers and never fill the parks with Annual Passholders on the expense of extra profitable vacationers throughout busier dates. Hence the compromise of no reservations after 2 pm most days for APs. That’s additionally why we don’t anticipate park reservations to be retired for Annual Passes in 2023. (Perhaps a super-expensive ‘no-reservations’ AP shall be launched, however even that’s uncertain.)
At this level, the one parks which can be usually working out of reservations are Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. This had been occurring on many days no matter wait instances, with each parks unavailable once in a while with 7/10 or decrease crowd ranges final fall. This meant that Walt Disney World was utilizing reservations to redistribute attendance on these days, moderately than truly working out of reservations.
Thankfully, that is occurring much less and fewer. It occurred once more for the week of Presidents’ Day and Mardi Gras, however that’s truly extra about anticipated crowd ranges being excessive than it’s Walt Disney World attempting to artificially manipulate attendance dynamics. Here’s hoping the corporate discovered that strategy backfired, and has eased up on it.
Using park reservations to redistribute attendance by limiting availability at Magic Kingdom pushes 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” strategy 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 glad 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 aren’t a comparable substitute.)
Beyond this, Walt Disney World continues to function at a considerably decreased capability, though that improves with every passing month. This may 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 consolidate 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 though total attendance is (considerably) decrease as a result of extra company are consolidated into fewer choices.
Since debuting the Park Pass system, Walt Disney World has quietly prolonged the reservation calendar on a variety 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 following 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.
Ultimately, eradicating reservations for Annual Passholders after 2 pm–except Magic Kingdom on the weekends–is a step in the proper route. One of the massive complaints from locals is that Disney Park Pass eradicated spontaneity and the power to “drop in” to the parks after work or faculty.
This successfully eliminates that criticism. It’ll as soon as once more be simple for native Annual Passholders to do an after 4 pm go to to EPCOT to graze the meals cubicles, catch a late displaying of Fantasmic, or do a late night time in Magic Kingdom when the climate is sweet. All of these are concrete examples of issues which can be truly widespread with APs, and that they haven’t been in a position to do up till now with pre-planning. Bringing again that spontaneity is an efficient factor. Sure, it doesn’t assist non-local Annual Passholders who nonetheless should choreograph day by day of their trip with reservations…nevertheless it’s a begin. (Beyond the scope of this publish, however there’s a motive why Disney doesn’t favor non-local APs!)
It’s nonetheless our expectation that Walt Disney World will drop reservations someday in 2023 for normal ticket holders or the system shall be rolled into the method of buying tickets. As issues proceed returning to regular, there shall be much less want from a capability perspective for Disney Park Pass for normal multi-day tickets.
From a useful resource allocation perspective, the reservation system already affords little benefit over what already exists–it’s simply further friction in an already sophisticated trip planning course of. With that stated, Walt Disney World has been far more conservative throughout the previous few years than we might’ve anticipated. With extra visitor suggestions and elevated staffing to facilitate extra reopening, we are able to’t assist however surprise if that strategy adjustments. What Disney has achieved so far has achieved blended outcomes, however staying the present course till after Spring Break 2023 does make sense.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
How do you’re feeling about Walt Disney World principally dropping reservations after 2 pm for Annual Passholders? If you’re an AP, does this variation provide you with sufficient freedom and spontaneity, or is it nonetheless not sufficient? Do you anticipate the Disney Park Pass reservation system to be retired in some unspecified time in the future, or proceed perpetually? Think Walt Disney World regrets requiring resort company and theme park ticket holders to make use of Park Pass? Any questions we may also help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!