Does WDW Set Aside Enough Park Reservations For ALL Resort Guests?

[BK2014]

This is my dilemma: We just booked room only resort reservation for 10/01-10/07/21. We do not want to purchase tickets yet, since my understanding is that they are non-refundable. We are hoping we will be able to buy annual passes before then. I know park reservations have already opened up for all of next year. Is it reasonable to think that WDW would at least ensure that there are enough park reservations for on-site guests? Especially this far out, given that a lot of people may not have booked their on-site stays yet?

We don't want to end up with no park options, but we aren't ready to lock ourselves into tickets that cannot be refunded.

I know this is all speculation, but I am interested in what people think?

 

[Naomeri]

If you purchase a package, rather than resort and tickets separately, you don’t get charged for the tickets until you pay off the package 1 month before your trip, so there’s no risk of being locked into anything.

 

[soniam]

They are non-refundable, but the price you paid can always be used toward the purchase of other tickets for different dates and probably for purchasing APs. You can probably upgrade to APs during your trip. Who knows about the resort guest availability. I haven't actually heard of anyone not being able to get one. I think you are far enough out that you can wait a little bit.

 

[katyringo]

I think I would listen to the poster about booking a package with tickets. It’s only $200 down but you can go ahead and make your park reservations end you aren’t locked into anything until like 30 days before.

this is what we did in May. We booked a package(we leave in 5 days!) and we waiting to pay off until the last second but were able to make our park reserveitons and everything.

 

[lanejudy]

WDW clesrly states that a resort reservation does not guarantee theme park access. Capacity of each bucket is unknown, but they do appear to shift those around some. I do think you are far enough out that you can watch yhe reservations for a bit. You can always upgrade regular tickets to an AP if/when they become available.

 

[Bjkandma]

Disney doesn't guarantee a park reservation if you are a resort guest. You need to have tickets and a park reservation to enter the parks. Some guests reserve just a room and never go in to the parks.

as stated above book a package which requires a $200 deposit. It will include your park tickets and you can make your park reservations. Payment in full is due 30 days before vacation. You can cancel ti! 30 days before with no penalty. 2-29 days you cancel you lose your deposit. Day of or no show you forfeit total package cost.

 

[BK2014]

Thank you for all of the responses. Let me see if I am understanding things correctly, as this is my first time booking one of our trips this way:

1) If I book a room only reservation (like I have), if I purchase the tickets separately, they are non-refundable, but I can book my park reservations now, with the ability to later upgrade to an AP (assuming they start selling them before I use the tickets)?

2) If I book a package, it include the room and tickets, but the deposit is only $200, and can be canceled and refunded in full up to 30 days prior? But I could book my park reservations now? So I wouldn't lose any money on tickets if I had to cancel the trip altogether at least 30 days in advance?

 

[Bjkandma]

You are correct. One more thing, if you book a package with tickets, when you arrive at Disney those tickets can be upgraded to annual pa sses. You would need to stop at Guest Relations at the parks or Disney Springs and they can assist you.

 

[katyringo]

Correct.

 

[Naomeri]

Thank you for all of the responses. Let me see if I am understanding things correctly, as this is my first time booking one of our trips this way:

1) If I book a room only reservation (like I have), if I purchase the tickets separately, they are non-refundable, but I can book my park reservations now, with the ability to later upgrade to an AP (assuming they start selling them before I use the tickets)?

2) If I book a package, it include the room and tickets, but the deposit is only $200, and can be canceled and refunded in full up to 30 days prior? But I could book my park reservations now? So I wouldn't lose any money on tickets if I had to cancel the trip altogether at least 30 days in advance?

Yes, you can book park passes now with a package. I booked my package for Nov 30-Dec 8, 2021 yesterday and booked my 8 days of park passes, which I will probably need to switch around once Disney announces Christmas plans for next year, but at least I know I have access to the parks for every day of my ticket.

 

[ctl]

This is my dilemma: We just booked room only resort reservation for 10/01-10/07/21. We do not want to purchase tickets yet, since my understanding is that they are non-refundable. We are hoping we will be able to buy annual passes before then. I know park reservations have already opened up for all of next year. Is it reasonable to think that WDW would at least ensure that there are enough park reservations for on-site guests? Especially this far out, given that a lot of people may not have booked their on-site stays yet?

We don't want to end up with no park options, but we aren't ready to lock ourselves into tickets that cannot be refunded.

I know this is all speculation, but I am interested in what people think?

I actually called DVC member services with the exact same question yesterday. I too have an October 2021 DVC room booked. I was hoping the CM would say I could exchange my tickets and upgrade to an AP if they were available. She told me she could not guarantee that, even though that was the usual protocol before COVID. I repeated the question incase I had misspoken and told her I had done that before. She apologized and said that she could not say if that option would be available. I got the distinct impression there would be no new AP's sold before the end of 2021.

 

[Brett Wyman]

You are definitely rolling the dice since that is the start of the WDW 50th celebration! You have a little breathing room but don't wait too long

 

[yulilin3]

You are definitely rolling the dice since that is the start of the WDW 50th celebration!

Yeah, generally I would say you can wait but Oct 1st will sell out quickly, how quickly? no one knows but if anyone is sure they are coming during that time I would reserve parks right away

 

[Brett Wyman]

And as previously stated you can 100% upgrade to APs while in the parks. Theres zero chance of losing any money here.

 

[Naomeri]

And as previously stated you can 100% upgrade to APs while in the parks. Theres zero chance of losing any money here.

Always assuming that Disney starts selling new APs at some point

 

[Brett Wyman]

Always assuming that Disney starts selling new APs at some point

Definitely true. But at the very least they would just have the tickets they would require for that trip anyway.