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

In 2026, the Disney Park Hopper option allows guests with a valid ticket or Annual Pass to visit multiple theme parks on the same day at any time during park hours. This marks a return to the pre-2020 flexibility where you no longer have to wait until 2:00 PM to "hop" to your second park. However, you must still enter the first park you have a reservation for (if required for your ticket type) before you can move to the next one. Hopping is subject to capacity limitations, though it is rare for a park to be completely closed to hoppers except on the busiest holidays. In 2026, you can use the My Disney Experience app to check "Live Park Capacity" and even join Virtual Queues for attractions in your second park after you have officially entered it, making it easier than ever to maximize a single day across the Disney property.

Excellent question! The Park Hopper option for Walt Disney World in 2023 works very similarly to how it has since its post-pandemic reintroduction, with one major, positive change that started on January 9, 2023.

Here’s a complete breakdown of how it works:

The Core Concept:

A Park Hopper ticket allows you to visit more than one of the four main theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom) on the same day.

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The 2023 Rules & How It Works:

1. You MUST Start at a “Park Pass Reservation” Park: You cannot just show up at any park. You must have a theme park reservation (made via the My Disney Experience app/website) for the first park you plan to visit that day. You must enter that park first.

2. You Can Hop AFTER 2:00 PM: This is the key time rule. You can enter your second (or third, or fourth) park any time after 2:00 PM until the park closes.

   • Example: You have a reservation for EPCOT. You enter EPCOT at 10:00 AM. At 2:01 PM (or 3:00 PM, or 5:00 PM), you can head to Magic Kingdom for the rest of the day.

3. NO Park Pass Reservation Needed for the Second Park: Once 2:00 PM hits, you can hop to any other park subject only to capacity closures. You do not need to make an additional reservation for the park you’re hopping to.

   • Very Important: Parks can reach capacity and stop admitting Park Hopper guests. This is extremely rare and typically only happens on the busiest days of the year (like December 31st). You can check the app to see if a park is at capacity before you travel there.

4. You Are Not Limited to Two Parks: You can visit all four parks in one day if you want, as long as you start at your reserved park and all subsequent moves are after 2:00 PM.

5. It Works with the Disney Genie+ Service: If you purchase Genie+ for the day, your Lightning Lane selections are park-specific. When you hop