Is Disney changing park hopping?

Big news out of Walt Disney World Resort! Beginning Jan. 9, 2024, guests with a ticket with Park Hopper benefits or an Annual Pass will be able to once again visit another theme park at ANY TIME OF DAY during park hours (subject to capacity limitations).



Yes, Disney has significantly relaxed its Park Hopping rules for 2026. At Disneyland Resort in California, the "11:00 AM" restriction was officially removed in early 2026, allowing guests with a Park Hopper ticket or Magic Key to move between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure at any time of day, provided they have scanned into their first reserved park. At Walt Disney World in Florida, "all-day" park hopping returned for all ticket types in 2024, and in 2026, this remains the standard. This shift toward "spontaneity" is a major part of Disney's strategy to improve guest satisfaction. While you still typically need a reservation for your "starting" park, the freedom to "hop" as early as 9:00 AM allows for better utilization of Lightning Lane entries and dining reservations across the entire resort footprint.

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