Park Reservations - What am I doing wrong?

[Country Bear]

I am a non-FL CM that hasn’t been to the parks since before Covid. My wife and I are thinking of making a trip next year so I figured I would try to re-learn how to visit the parks with my Main Gate and the new park reservation system.

Right now the only tickets I have attached in MDE are my MGP, my 3 guest passes, and my spouse MGP attached to her name.

I tried playing around this morning to see how it worked, but I must be doing something wrong. This is what I did when trying (unsuccessfully) to make a mock park reservation for myself:

1. I checked the CM block out calendar and saw that for June 30th my MGP was blocked at MK and DHS, but not at EP and AK.

2. I then checked the theme park reservation availability website and saw that, for June 30th, the only park with availability was Epcot.

3. I figured I’d be good to go with booking a reservation for myself at Epcot, but when I tried it gave this message: “There are no more Disney Park Pass selections available for the selected date and park. Please go back and select a different date, park, or change your party.”

What am I missing? There must be an easier way than checking multiple websites? Is there some kind of restriction I’m not aware of?

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[joyjanet]

Just because it shows availability it doesn’t necessarily mean it is for your ticket type. It is a hit and miss process! You just have to keep trying. Maybe by the time you come to the parks, things will be different. I have reservations for tomorrow at Epcot with my MGP and guest passes. On Wednesday, I was able to get AK for myself and guest passes. I have people who wanted to go to AK on Friday but only the self employee pass is available. Had to use comp tickets for the other people. The reservation system is no fun.

 

[Country Bear]

Thanks for the reply!

And, wow, a random hit or miss process. I figured that, at the least, there were calendars to reference showing both block outs and current availability. I can imagine the process is pretty cumbersome now for CMs who don’t live in Florida and want to visit for a full week.

Two more questions: is there a limit to how many park days can be reserved on the MGP or Guest Passes? Also, is there some kind of time restriction involved for MGP and guest passes (ie: can’t reserve a day more than 30 days in advance or something like that)?

 

[PatMcDuck]

Well, you can only reserve 3 days at a time on the guest passes for park passes. (not that has been an issue because we have been blocked so much). I remember that. The calendar generally has us blocked until a few weeks in advance.

I am an out of stater who bought multi-day passes for April and September trips. I might convert the Sept passes to APs if they become available, just for a year (if generous DVC discount is back too). It's insane. I know. But I will not continue to do this. I would go and just roll the dice and do some resort only days but my adult special needs son won't understand. He is good, just not much for him to do at the hotel.

 

[Country Bear]

Well, you can only reserve 3 days at a time on the guest passes for park passes. (not that has been an issue because we have been blocked so much). I remember that. The calendar generally has us blocked until a few weeks in advance.

I am an out of stater who bought multi-day passes for April and September trips. I might convert the Sept passes to APs if they become available, just for a year (if generous DVC discount is back too). It's insane. I know. But I will not continue to do this. I would go and just roll the dice and do some resort only days but my adult special needs son won't understand. He is good, just not much for him to do at the hotel.

Thank you! We may try to plan a resort-focused trip this time around and just be grateful if we get any days in the park with our MGPs.

Here’s hoping that this craziness will be a thing of the past before too long. It will be great when CMs can go back to fully enjoying the park benefits that come with their employment. Fingers crossed!

 

[joxer1014]

Thank you! We may try to plan a resort-focused trip this time around and just be grateful if we get any days in the park with our MGPs.

Here’s hoping that this craziness will be a thing of the past before too long. It will be great when CMs can go back to fully enjoying the park benefits that come with their employment. Fingers crossed!

Dont count on it. Come Oct 1 who knows how limited admissions will be with the 50th. You know that October will be mostly unavailable to start. Dont hold your breath for the rest of the year.

 

[joyjanet]

I wish they would get rid of the reservation system but know that is not going to happen right away. I know for a fact that people make reservations and don’t show up (which is sad). This is a loss to Disney. I can’t understand how they don’t see that. With that being said, I do think there will be reservations available. And if not, there are other parks in Orlando that we can can visit without reservations. Yes, it will cost us some money to visit those parks but some of them are worth it. Pixie Dust to everyone.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I wish they would get rid of the reservation system but know that is not going to happen right away. I know for a fact that people make reservations and don’t show up (which is sad). This is a loss to Disney. I can’t understand how they don’t see that. With that being said, I do think there will be reservations available. And if not, there are other parks in Orlando that we can can visit without reservations. Yes, it will cost us some money to visit those parks but some of them are worth it. Pixie Dust to everyone.

You said something that maybe Disney is trying to do.. you can visit their parks as well, but it will cost you money. Think about it. They know if you are desperate enough, you will purchase park passes because once inside, you will get your discounts on food and merchandise. At other parks you won't, and they are counting on that

 

[mmouse37]

Thanks for the reply!

And, wow, a random hit or miss process. I figured that, at the least, there were calendars to reference showing both block outs and current availability. I can imagine the process is pretty cumbersome now for CMs who don’t live in Florida and want to visit for a full week.

Two more questions: is there a limit to how many park days can be reserved on the MGP or Guest Passes? Also, is there some kind of time restriction involved for MGP and guest passes (ie: can’t reserve a day more than 30 days in advance or something like that)?

When we went in March I checked and checked and even though the CM block out calendar showed availability AND the park calendar showed availability it would not let me make reservations on certain days. We had to use our comp passes. I called and was told even though the calendars show availability CMs could not go in......apparently there is an internal calendar that show when there is or is not availability for CMs other than the regular block out calendar. Can be very frustrating.

MJ

 

[Country Bear]

When we went in March I checked and checked and even though the CM block out calendar showed availability AND the park calendar showed availability it would not let me make reservations on certain days. We had to use our comp passes. I called and was told even though the calendars show availability CMs could not go in......apparently there is an internal calendar that show when there is or is not availability for CMs other than the regular block out calendar. Can be very frustrating.

MJ

Thanks for the experiential feedback, and I agree…very frustrating.