Annual pass park reservation requirements question

[Disneydawg74]

Thanks for the insight! We are arriving on a Saturday and leaving Saturday, so I may have my parents reserve MK for the one Sunday we will be doing the parks just in case we decide to go there.

I have just started yesterday looking at the Genie+ and ILL info, so I will do more research and have the kids look into it as well. I'm thinking they are probably going to just pick a few park-heavy days that they may want to purchase it for. We would like to experience some of the new attractions as well as the nostalgia of the ones from their childhood, but also want to enjoy the resorts, lounges, and theming so I don't think it would be worth it to purchase for everyone for every day.

Big changes coming to Genie+

https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...-disney-world-starting-july-24.3948850/unread

 

[tzolkin]

Big changes coming to Genie+

https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...-disney-world-starting-july-24.3948850/unread

I was just reading that thread when your notification popped up Guess maybe I should wait a bit longer before doing too much research since our trip isn't until next May just in case everything has changed by then.

 

[Miffy]

Thanks for the insight! We are arriving on a Saturday and leaving Saturday, so I may have my parents reserve MK for the one Sunday we will be doing the parks just in case we decide to go there.

I have just started yesterday looking at the Genie+ and ILL info, so I will do more research and have the kids look into it as well. I'm thinking they are probably going to just pick a few park-heavy days that they may want to purchase it for. We would like to experience some of the new attractions as well as the nostalgia of the ones from their childhood, but also want to enjoy the resorts, lounges, and theming so I don't think it would be worth it to purchase for everyone for every day.

You'll be able to figure that out, but if you want to experience the top-tier attractions, like Rise of the Resistance in DHS, I would recommend that you spring for the bucks and purchase ILL$. Especially for RotR, which is not to be missed, even if you're not a Star Wars fan . . . unless you're going to an after-hours event at DHS.

 

[lanejudy]

the two of them be stuck at park they randomly picked in advance

Worse comes to worse, all they need to do is go tap in at their reserved park and they can leave right away to hop to wherever the rest of the family has gone. Not convenient, but not "stuck" anywhere either.

 

[Simba's Mom]

You must have a ticket that’s valid for the date you want to book a park reservation for. So if you have another type of ticket that would get you into the park that day, you can make a reservation. But if you don’t have admission to a park, you can’t make a park reservation.

That brings up an interesting dilemma I may have. Currently I have an AP voucher. The CM linked it to my reservation on MDE. When I get to WDW, the first morning I go to GS outside any park to get my paper annual pass (come to think of it, are paper APs even a thing any more?) Based on the current situation can I make any park reservations before I get to WDW or will I have to wait until I get there and have gone to GS, then make my park reservation (for that day) and pray it's available.
Second question-suppose I want to go to park A first thing, just ride a couple rides, then hustle on over to Park B for lunch and the rest of the day. I can do that, right-I no longer need to wait until 2:00 to go to park B? Do I still only need a park reservation for park A, not a reservation for park B?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

That brings up an interesting dilemma I may have. Currently I have an AP voucher. The CM linked it to my reservation on MDE. When I get to WDW, the first morning I go to GS outside any park to get my paper annual pass (come to think of it, are paper APs even a thing any more?) Based on the current situation can I make any park reservations before I get to WDW or will I have to wait until I get there and have gone to GS, then make my park reservation (for that day) and pray it's available.
Second question-suppose I want to go to park A first thing, just ride a couple rides, then hustle on over to Park B for lunch and the rest of the day. I can do that, right-I no longer need to wait until 2:00 to go to park B? Do I still only need a park reservation for park A, not a reservation for park B?

Your voucher should allow you to make park reservations. And you should be able to park hop without restriction..... (need park res in Park A, not Park B!).

I'd definitely stop by GS outside any park (or Disney Springs) to make sure it's ready to go and also prioritized properly if you have any other stray tickets in your MDE accounts.

 

[dioxide45]

are paper APs even a thing any more?

They aren't paper. They are a plastic card, like a credit card. You will want to pick it up to get any discounts. Though you could show it in your MDE account on your mobile device.

 

[RedHead0186]

They aren't paper. They are a plastic card, like a credit card. You will want to pick it up to get any discounts. Though you could show it in your MDE account on your mobile device.

Many places actually now ask for the pass in your MDE (as opposed to the plastic card). It varies widely, but I've definitely had times that they specifically asked to see if in my app.

 

[dioxide45]

Many places actually now ask for the pass in your MDE (as opposed to the plastic card). It varies widely, but I've definitely had times that they specifically asked to see if in my app.

Yeah, we have had varying results too. Just like how they sometimes do and sometimes don't ask for ID when parking on an AP. Though we notice we don't get asked for ID very often. The only times we do is when we don't have our ID ready.

 

[Miffy]

Yeah, we have had varying results too. Just like how they sometimes do and sometimes don't ask for ID when parking on an AP. Though we notice we don't get asked for ID very often. The only times we do is when we don't have our ID ready.

Recently, during our May trip, everyone wanted to see the app. I don't even have an up-to-date plastic card anymore.

 

[CarolynFH]

I’ve read they’re now asking for the app because it shows an expiration date for the AP. The card didn’t.

 

[Miffy]

I’ve read they’re now asking for the app because it shows an expiration date for the AP. The card didn’t.

A CM usually wrote the expiration date with a black marker on my card, but, I mean, anyone could write anything they wanted on it. The app doesn't lie.

 

[Upcharge]

An AP requires a park reservation to enter any park before 2PM, 7 days a week.
An AP requires a park reservation to enter MK at any point in the day from park open to park close on Saturdays and Sundays.

OMG- it really is this simple! Why can't Disney just say it exactly like this?

 

[elvispursley]

OP corrected their answer further down the thread.

An AP requires a park reservation to enter any park before 2PM, 7 days a week.
An AP requires a park reservation to enter MK at any point in the day from park open to park close on Saturdays and Sundays.

So no park hopping at all to MK on Sat/Sun?

 

[scrappinginontario]

So no park hopping at all to MK on Sat/Sun?

No, I did not say that. An AP (and everyone) can park hop 7 days a week.

The question I was specifically responding to was about an AP entering their first park of the day.

Once a guest (any guest, AP or non-AP) taps into their first park of the day, they are free to hop to a different park.