Disney has announced that it will be removing reservation requirements for date-based tickets. Beginning Jan. 9, 2024, theme park reservations will no longer be required for date-based tickets. For other admission types, including non-dated tickets, theme park reservations may be required to help manage attendance.

In 2026, the park reservation system has been significantly scaled back but not entirely removed. At Walt Disney World, reservations are no longer required for most "date-based" tickets (standard 1-day or multi-day tickets purchased for a specific start date). However, reservations are still required for Annual Passholders (on most days) and for guests with "non-dated" tickets, such as those used by Cast Members or certain corporate groups. At Disneyland Resort in California, the reservation system remains more strictly in place for all guests, including standard ticket holders and Magic Key members, as the smaller parks face more extreme capacity constraints. Disney's leadership has stated that reservations are a "critical tool" for managing staffing and food inventory, so a total removal is unlikely in the near future. The good news for 2026 visitors is that "Park Hopping" has become much easier; you no longer have to wait until 11:00 AM or 2:00 PM to move between parks, provided you have entered your first "reserved" park of the day.