Everything Park Reservations - Please Read Post 1

[Aimeedyan]

There's no parks at all, unless you're AP! And there's no APs!

Wouldn't Disney want the full price guests? This makes no sense!

There are AP's - lots of them, in fact - but many live within driving distance and visit more often OR stay offsite. Since we only get 3 reservations at a time, we're not going to book our late June dates until we finish visiting in May and early June. Check the AP calendar a week or two out; it'll be sold out completely. For an AP, park reservations are booked in a much shorter window than someone who is flying in a year out and knows their dates.

(I am visiting this weekend and next so I won't book later June dates until this weekend is over)

That said - some AP's are blocked in June/July/early August so the demand is not quite as high so typically, Disney will move some of those AP slots over to resort/ticket holders but not until AP's get an actual chance to book what they want.

 

[RoseGold]

There are AP's - lots of them, in fact

I mean Disney will not sell me an AP. And I almost bought those AP cards at the AAA right before lockdown...

If I had an AP, I could reserve. But because I'm full price, nope.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I mean Disney will not sell me an AP. And I almost bought those AP cards at the AAA right before lockdown...

If I had an AP, I could reserve. But because I'm full price, nope.

Gotcha - when you said there was no AP's, I read it as "no passholders" (ie - they're holding park spots for people that don't exist) not that they won't sell passes. All the abbreviations start taking on new meanings for me

I bet they move AP space over in a couple weeks - I would just check constantly. Super frustrating, I know. I miss the spontaneity but am hopeful once capacity is 100% again, reservations will be a piece of cake to snag even last minute.

 

[FCDub]

I mean Disney will not sell me an AP. And I almost bought those AP cards at the AAA right before lockdown...

If I had an AP, I could reserve. But because I'm full price, nope.

You keep saying “full price” like you’re more valuable than an AP holder and thus entitled to something different.

AP holders, for years, (possibly rightly) complain about getting the short end of the stick for committing yearly to a pass. Whether it’s “extras” like a $0.10 magnet or only being able to hold X amount of park reservations of days of FP+ at a time.

So it’s all a matter of perspective. AP holders think they’re being screwed, and now you as a non-AP holder think you’re getting screwed. I hope you’re able to get what you want, ultimately, but the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

 

[RoseGold]

You keep saying “full price” like you’re more valuable than an AP holder and thus entitled to something different.

AP holders, for years, (possibly rightly) complain about getting the short end of the stick for committing yearly to a pass. Whether it’s “extras” like a $0.10 magnet or only being able to hold X amount of park reservations of days of FP+ at a time.

I mean, yea, that's pretty much what the earnings call said to shareholders.

So, that's why I'm surprised they won't take full freight customers and will take AP holders? It's like they want me to go to Universal...

I'm just trying to go to AK on a random Wednesday for full price, which I didn't think would be this complicated!

 

[jbish]

On our upcoming trip Sun 6/20 - Sat 6/26, I have one day (Tues 6/22) where we don't have a park reservation. The current plan is to go to BB that day and just have a really relaxed day - sleep in, etc. But all of these reports of the advantages of closing down parks is making me wish we had the opportunity to go to a park for the evening. But there are no reservations available that day (though APs have full availability all week). I could easily tack on a day to our 6 day hoppers. Any advice?

I know my family will enjoy the day off, but I have FOMO!!! LOL

 

[Gehrig1B]

On our upcoming trip Sun 6/20 - Sat 6/26, I have one day (Tues 6/22) where we don't have a park reservation. The current plan is to go to BB that day and just have a really relaxed day - sleep in, etc. But all of these reports of the advantages of closing down parks is making me wish we had the opportunity to go to a park for the evening.

That describes what we think of as a rest day. We make a park every day, even if it's only for dinner and a few attractions to close a park. We are APs and with a little diligence, you can usually get a same-day park reservation by the afternoon. You are taking a risk though.

 

[jbish]

That describes what we think of as a rest day. We make a park every day, even if it's only for dinner and a few attractions to close a park. We are APs and with a little diligence, you can usually get a same-day park reservation by the afternoon. You are taking a risk though.

Yeah, that's the thing, I can only secure a reservation once I actually add on that day and I wouldn't want to spend that money unless I knew I could get in a park. Chicken-egg dilemma. Oh well.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

Does anybody know? Are park reservations a permanent thing? I really hate having to make a park reservation so far out. I truly hope we go back to a time prior to Covid when we didn’t have to have a park reservation...

 

[FCDub]

Does anybody know? Are park reservations a permanent thing? I really hate having to make a park reservation so far out. I truly hope we go back to a time prior to Covid when we didn’t have to have a park reservation...

They're in place through 2022 I believe. I don't see it going away ever, though.

 

[GBRforWDW]

Does anybody know? Are park reservations a permanent thing? I really hate having to make a park reservation so far out. I truly hope we go back to a time prior to Covid when we didn’t have to have a park reservation...

Yes, Chapek stated a couple weeks ago, it's here to stay:

https://blogmickey.com/2021/03/disn...uture-of-disney-park-pass-reservation-system/
Though, like anything else at Disney here to stay, it will Probably won't be "forever", lol.

 

[GBRforWDW]

On our upcoming trip Sun 6/20 - Sat 6/26, I have one day (Tues 6/22) where we don't have a park reservation. The current plan is to go to BB that day and just have a really relaxed day - sleep in, etc. But all of these reports of the advantages of closing down parks is making me wish we had the opportunity to go to a park for the evening. But there are no reservations available that day (though APs have full availability all week). I could easily tack on a day to our 6 day hoppers. Any advice?

I know my family will enjoy the day off, but I have FOMO!!! LOL

I hope you're on this morning, new passes became available. June 22 has all 4 parks available now

 

[jbish]

I hope you're on this morning, new passes became available. June 22 has all 4 parks available now

Thank you!!!

 

[CSPAGHETTI]

Trying to plan a last-minute trip (difficult, I know). Epcot is the only park still available with reservations. I'm thinking I'll reserve Epcot and plan to hop to other parks later in the day if capacity allows. However, I'd like to keep searching for MK reservations in case something pops up closer to our arrival date. My question is, will the Disney system let me search for park availability if I've already got a park reservation, or do I have to release my Epcot reservation to be able to see if there are other openings available? I've heard the availability calendar isn't always accurate, but I don't know that I want to release the Epcot res. and risk losing any park reservation whatsoever.

 

[heagandy]

You'll still be able to search for reservations. You can just look at the availability calendar, you don't need to be logged in to do this. You will have to cancel your current reservation before being able to make another one.

 

[CSPAGHETTI]

I read somewhere else that the availability calendar isn't always accurate and reservations may pop up if you're looking to actually book them (I don't really know what the difference is though)

 

[scrappinginontario]

Trying to plan a last-minute trip (difficult, I know). Epcot is the only park still available with reservations. I'm thinking I'll reserve Epcot and plan to hop to other parks later in the day if capacity allows. However, I'd like to keep searching for MK reservations in case something pops up closer to our arrival date. My question is, will the Disney system let me search for park availability if I've already got a park reservation, or do I have to release my Epcot reservation to be able to see if there are other openings available? I've heard the availability calendar isn't always accurate, but I don't know that I want to release the Epcot res. and risk losing any park reservation whatsoever.

I read somewhere else that the availability calendar isn't always accurate and reservations may pop up if you're looking to actually book them (I don't really know what the difference is though)

You are correct that the Availability Calendar is not updated real-time. In order to actually check for availability you would need to drop your current reservation and try to get a new one. It is risky as there is no guarantee that you will be able to get your current reservation back if you are unsuccessful getting a new one.

If the calendar shows availability at Epcot it is less risky trying to get your original reservation back if you are unsuccessful getting the new one.

 

[wareagle57]

I just came here to celebrate because no one else understands how big a deal it is. I was finally able to make MK reservations for Oct 1!!! I almost broke down crying I was so relieved. We've been going through a lot of other stuff so it's not like I'm THAT crazy, but it was just nice to get a win.

I have been having trouble not even being able to enjoy my happy place that we took a risk to move to so we could be here for the 50th and just enjoy ourselves for a few years. Both with Corona and how I've felt cheated as a loyal customer. I was never given a real chance to get reservations and have just felt so defeated and like I needed a break from Disney. But now knowing I'll be there on Oct 1 has reawakened my love for the Mouse. I am so happy I will be there!

 

[MaggieBags]

Hi -

We threw together a quick trip towards the end of June and am trying to track down Magic Kingdom reservations. I've searched and read previous threads but still have questions.

• Where is the best place to look for openings when you have tickets and are staying on property? Someone mentioned not using the calendar itself, but going into your account and then trying to find openings there. I might be going about this the wrong way. In My Disney Experience it tells me my party already has reservations for that day so I can't even see if MK is available. Or do I just need to be logged in and then I'll see the calendar update in real time?

• If some should pop up, do I need to first cancel excising reservations, then scramble to reserve the new ones before they disappear? That sounds like a recipe for disaster.

• Do I have any chance? Just make peace it's not happening? I'm looking for Friday, June 25th, could make Thursday the 24th work too.

Total first world problem, going with a young girl on her birthday who has never been to Magic Kingdom before. We'll have fun no matter what, just a bit bummed for her she'll miss out.

Thank you!

 

[bffer]

Hi -

We threw together a quick trip towards the end of June and am trying to track down Magic Kingdom reservations. I've searched and read previous threads but still have questions.

• Where is the best place to look for openings when you have tickets and are staying on property? Someone mentioned not using the calendar itself, but going into your account and then trying to find openings there. I might be going about this the wrong way. In My Disney Experience it tells me my party already has reservations for that day so I can't even see if MK is available. Or do I just need to be logged in and then I'll see the calendar update in real time?

• If some should pop up, do I need to first cancel excising reservations, then scramble to reserve the new ones before they disappear? That sounds like a recipe for disaster.

• Do I have any chance? Just make peace it's not happening? I'm looking for Friday, June 25th, could make Thursday the 24th work too.

Total first world problem, going with a young girl on her birthday who has never been to Magic Kingdom before. We'll have fun no matter what, just a bit bummed for her she'll miss out.

Thank you!

You don't have to cancel your existing reservation to see availability. Look here first for availability. Then you DO have to cancel your current park pass to reserve a new park pass.

If you can't make it work, you can always park hop after 2 to Magic Kingdom.