Annual passes and park reservation stop

[Leigh123]

I did not renew our annual passes last year because I did not want to have to make theme park reservations. I just went with park hoppers for 3 trips. Unfortunately, with the amount of times we go per year it just makes financial sense to buy APs. My question is do I still understand correctly, that even if I have a resort reservation I still have to make a park reservation? Thanks in advance

 

[gottalovepluto]

Yes you do unless it’s after 2pm (exception MK weekends).

It’s totally NBD. Park reservations are plentiful and easy to change day of unless you’re doing like NYE.

 

[imbelle]

Yes, they are still penalizing AP holders by having us make park reservations, even if we are staying in a Disney resort. It may not sound like a big thing but it's a PITA for us on every trip. For example, this last trip on our Epcot day I switched my park reservation from Epcot to go pick up an item on Main Street during MK Resort Early Entry while the rest of my party slept in. When 7am hit, MDE would not let me include myself on the Guardians of the Galaxy because I no longer had a park reservation for Epcot.

 

[Leigh123]

Thanks so much for the replies that’s what I was afraid of. I hate to be limited to those park reservations, even if it’s not a big issue, but how can you not do it for multiple trips and the resort discounts

 

[FreeTime]

Thanks so much for the replies that’s what I was afraid of. I hate to be limited to those park reservations, even if it’s not a big issue, but how can you not do it for multiple trips and the resort discounts

It is hard to justify to not have an AP. I let mine expire whereas the rest of my family didn’t. I am debating whether to buy one for an upcoming trip or just to buy a two day ticket. I believe the park reservation requirement is a way Disney is pushing us to not have an AP. I wouldn’t be shocked if they phase out AP’s slowly. It isn’t their bread and butter.

 

[Geomom]

You should definitely get an AP if you're doing multiple trips. DD24 is doing the Disney College program (for a full year after extending)and we'll end up with 6 trips on our AP by the time she's done. We couldn't afford the visits if we didn't have AP (and our DVC timeshare).

Park reservations are annoying, but rarely an issue. If you have a resort reservation, you can book all of those days vs being limited to a certain # of reservations at a time. Disney does occasionally have 'good to go days' with no reservations needed, but not announced more than a couple weeks in advance (usually midweek). It's better now that they let you enter parks without a reservation after 2pm (except Magic Kingdom on the weekends), and park hopping can start as soon as you enter the first park vs waiting until 2pm.

 

[Miffy]

Yes, the park reservations are not amusing but even less amusing is having to purchase tickets for multiple trips and realizing the money one would've saved with an AP.

I've never understood why an AP holder staying on-site would need park reservations. You're showing them exactly when you're going to be there, same as a date-based ticket. And, yes, I've written to them about this since I always stay on-site. But my pleas have gone unanswered.

 

[emmabelle]

yup I hate that we still have to do this mostly because to get a VQ you have to have a ressie for that park. #firstworldproblem

 

[hertamaniac]

I just came back from a staycation as an AP holder with a couple of days as good-to-go. It was so easy on those days, but the AP reservation system seems antiquated at this point. Just like I did in 2019 when I purchased my Pixie Dust pass, I plan on letting this one expire in January 2025.

I took a 5-year sabbatical from the parks and looks like I'm going to do it again. There's nothing really new in terms of attractions, so my monies will go to Universal and Epic for a little while. The only way I can see buying another Pixie Dust AP is for the resort/dining discounts. It paid for itself staying a few nights at YC this past spring.

 

[focusondisney]

I believe the park reservation requirement is a way Disney is pushing us to not have an AP.

IMO the $1500 price of an out of state AP is how they’re doing it. The inconvenience of park reservations is nothing compared to that cost.

 

[Minnie1222]

I wouldn’t be shocked if they phase out AP’s slowly. It isn’t their bread and butter.

Yup, our coast-to-coast APs (Premier Passports) were abruptly ended.

 

[1lilspark]

I switched my park reservation from Epcot to go pick up an item on Main Street during MK Resort Early Entry while the rest of my party slept in. When 7am hit, MDE would not let me include myself on the Guardians of the Galaxy because I no longer had a park reservation for Epcot.

if you weren’t tapping into MK until after 7 fun fact you could get your GoTG VQ than swap the reservation to Magic get what you wanted there than hop back to Epcot

 

[Dave006]

I've never understood why an AP holder staying on-site would need park reservations.

The reason that AP holders and guests with non-dated tickets are still required to make park reservations is so Disney can manage resources at the parks. Just became you are an on-site guest does not imply that you will visit a specific park or any parks during your stay.

Yes just by having a dated ticket does not mean you will be in a park it does provide Disney with the data to try to balance a park experience over their operating schedule. I always use the example of Restaurants that use reservations and walk-up lists vs making all guests use a walk-up wait list. The restaurants always are trying to balance resources and expenses.

While we can chose to agree or disagree automation and scheduling is now a key part of all park operations.

Dave

 

[Miffy]

The reason that AP holders and guests with non-dated tickets are still required to make park reservations is so Disney can manage resources at the parks. Just became you are an on-site guest does not imply that you will visit a specific park or any parks during your stay.

Yes just by having a dated ticket does not mean you will be in a park it does provide Disney with the data to try to balance a park experience over their operating schedule. I always use the example of Restaurants that use reservations and walk-up lists vs making all guests use a walk-up wait list. The restaurants always are trying to balance resources and expenses.

While we can chose to agree or disagree automation and scheduling is now a key part of all park operations.

Dave

Thanks for this, Dave.

I guess because I'm in at least one park every day of my on-site stays (exception: arrival and departure days if my plane times don't work out) I wasn't thinking about people who weren't doing that exact thing.

 

[imbelle]

if you weren’t tapping into MK until after 7 fun fact you could get your GoTG VQ than swap the reservation to Magic get what you wanted there than hop back to Epcot

I had heard that works but since I hadn't had personal experience with trying it, I didn't want to risk complications. Ridiculous that AP holders have to finagle the system but thanks for confirming that it works.

 

[BarbLynnM]

We have annual passes, so speak from experience with the exception of the Magic Kingdom.

I have made a mistake and arrived at Epcot when my reservation was for Hollywood. Being at the Friendship Gate, I simply went into MDE and canceled DH and added Epcot, waited a couple of minutes, and was able to tap in.

I make an exception of the MK as I know that can get crowded and if the dates are near a Holiday I’d not bet the farm that you’d be able to get into the park. But then, usually the reservation page would inform if the park has reached capacity one would think.

Either way, while it’s a pain to make the reservations, I’ve yet to see a non holiday day be so crowded you can’t make a same day reservation if you were so inclined.

(Edited to add, I didn’t make the link to the my Disney experience site. This is the second post I’ve made that links to sites, and I have no idea why it happens or how to stop it from happening)

 

[Miffy]

We have annual passes, so speak from experience with the exception of the Magic Kingdom.

I have made a mistake and arrived at Epcot when my reservation was for Hollywood. Being at the Friendship Gate, I simply went into MDE and canceled DH and added Epcot, waited a couple of minutes, and was able to tap in.

I make an exception of the MK as I know that can get crowded and if the dates are near a Holiday I’d not bet the farm that you’d be able to get into the park. But then, usually the reservation page would inform if the park has reached capacity one would think.

Either way, while it’s a pain to make the reservations, I’ve yet to see a non holiday day be so crowded you can’t make a same day reservation if you were so inclined.

(Edited to add, I didn’t make the link to the my Disney experience site. This is the second post I’ve made that links to sites, and I have no idea why it happens or how to stop it from happening)

Yes. I've had a similar experience, changing my park reservation to Epcot while I was on the bus to Epcot. Maybe I was foolishly sure it'd be okay, but since it turned out it was okay, I didn't feel foolish.

 

[Dave006]

(Edited to add, I didn’t make the link to the my Disney experience site. This is the second post I’ve made that links to sites, and I have no idea why it happens or how to stop it from happening)

The Forum software adds the Hyperlinks to select words that provide links to Information on the DIS Web site. It is actually useful to many new Forum members as they learn the Disney terms and abbreviations that we use all the time...

Dave

 

[BarbLynnM]

The Forum software adds the Hyperlinks to select words that provide links to Information on the DIS Web site. It is actually useful to many new Forum members as they learn the Disney terms and abbreviations that we use all the time...

Dave

Tks for the explanation. The first time it happened, I mentioned something travelers get to insure their vacations, and it linked to a kind of sketchy looking site. I didn’t understand why, so I ended up just deleting the paragraph. When it linked again, it bothered me as I’ve never had that happen before.

I don’t like it (especially after the first site) but I guess I’ll just have to live with it.