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Will Disney ever remove reservations?

Disney World Park pass reservation requirements from January 9 2024. Starting with visits on January 9, 2024, theme park reservations will no longer be required for date-based tickets.



As of early 2026, Disney has significantly relaxed but not entirely removed its theme park reservation system. At Walt Disney World, reservations are no longer required for most date-based tickets (those where you select a specific start date at purchase). However, reservations are still mandatory for several other categories, including Annual Passholders (on most days), Disney Military Salute tickets, and certain non-dated promotional fares. To offer more flexibility, Disney introduced "Good-to-Go Days" for Annual Passholders, which are select dates when they can enter the parks without a prior reservation. At Disneyland Resort in California, the reservation system remains more firmly in place for all ticket types, though the booking windows have become more generous. While many fans hoped for a complete return to the "show up and scan" era, Disney executives have indicated that the data provided by the reservation system is essential for managing staffing, food inventory, and crowd distribution, suggesting that a hybrid model of "dated tickets vs. reservations" is the likely permanent standard.

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Standard tickets for Disneyland Resort don't really sell out, however, theme park ticket reservations do fill up for dates. Theme park ticket reservations are needed along with a valid ticket for entrance to either of the Disneyland Resort parks.

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Starting January 9, 2024, guests with Park Hopper benefits or an Annual Pass will be able to visit another theme park at any time during park hours. This is a significant shift from the previous rule that allowed Park Hopper access only after 2 p.m. This change gives guests the freedom to plan their day as they wish.

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GRAPHIC: The best times to visit Walt Disney World in 2024
  • January 16-31 (light to moderate crowds, cool temps)
  • February 1-9 (light to moderate crowds, cool temps)
  • May 6-23 (light to moderate crowds)
  • August 5-29 (some of the lowest crowds of the year)
  • September 3-19 (some of the lowest crowds of the year)


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Today, Disney is still using the park reservation system, presumably to continue tracking the expected number of guests in each of its parks on a given day to better plan for staffing, food needs and more logistics.

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You don't need a parks pass reservation for any parks you visit after 2PM after you visit your first park, however you do need to start your day at that first park with a parks pass reservation. You cannot simply show up at any park after 2PM if you haven't first used a park pass reservation to visit a park.

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Reservations for all the restaurants at Disney World currently open up exactly 60 days in advance. Note: This used to be 180 days, but the current process is 60. That means: The most foolproof, surefire way of getting any reservation is to book 60 days before your trip begins.

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You can only hold 3 park reservations at a time (unless you have a resort stay booked). It's recommended you book Disney's Hollywood Studios first, as this reservation goes the quickest.

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While buying in person is possible, I highly recommend that you purchase your tickets ahead of time to avoid the worry of being able to get same-day reservations. In order to enter the parks, you need both a ticket and a theme park ticket reservation.

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If a Magic Key holder has a reservation and does not show up for that reservation date, you do get a strike. According to the Magic Key Terms and Conditions, if you are a no-show for three reservations in any 90-day period, you will not be able to make any new reservations for 30 days.

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If a Magic Key holder has a reservation and does not show up for that reservation date, you do get a strike. According to the Magic Key Terms and Conditions, if you are a no-show for three reservations in any 90-day period, you will not be able to make any new reservations for 30 days.

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Off-peak times fall around January, February, September, and early November. Discounts on vacation packages booked directly through Disney (which combine park tickets and hotel stays) can be found year-round, though they're most common at these less-crowded times.

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What is the least busy time of year at Walt Disney World?”
  • The middle of January to the middle of February.
  • The last few days in February and the first week of March.
  • The last week of April.
  • Weekdays in the first half of May.
  • The second half of August.
  • September is pretty great to visit (except avoid Labor Day).


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Disney's 100th Anniversary is officially underway at Walt Disney World, with new things to do at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and the resort hotels. This guide to the 100 Years of Wonder Celebration offers info, what to see & do, and other assorted tips. (Updated September 22, 2023.)

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