So do I. I was just looking at the reservation calendar for Oct 2. MK shows available for theme park tickets and resort guests, but NOT for AP. I double-checked myself several times because I couldn't quite believe that theme park ticket holders would be allowed to reserve MK park passes in favor of Annual Passholders.I hate park pass reservations
I guess there are a lot of AP pass holders booking and they are trying to give ticket holders space. AP pass holders have more flexibility than ticket holders. It still stinks though. They do periodically ajust the buckets, from what I have read here. So keep trying or call.
I (luckily) have my MK resort reservations for that Oct 2 (was looking for someone else) but thanks for the suggestion about the park reservation buckets adjustments. I've heard that too. As for the crystal ball - well said. I have the exact same situation as you. One of my party may arrive later on a particular date... so they'll have to tap into Park 1 before being able to join us in park hopping after 2PM. I fail to understand the logic of that rule. Why does it matter to anyone if I tap into Park 1 before park hopping after 2PM? Why? Who cares? I've tried to think about it from a business perspective and I just can't understand it. I know of at least 1 day on an upcoming trip where I plan to bus from my resort to Epcot, hop off, tap in, then bus back to my resort, just so I can go to the MK in the evening if I choose to do so, and assuming the MK isn't at capacity (and I've yet to hear of any situation in which hoppers have been turned away). I usually go along with all of the Disney rules, the outrageous Disney pricing, the lack of park reservation availability for AP's, the fact that hopping is not allowed until 2PM, etc... because I love Disney. But that ridiculous tap in to Park 1 rule just sends me over the edge.
So just book a park pass for park 2 for the one person who won't be joining the others at park 1. I don't see the difficulty here. Not everyone in the party has to have the same park pass.
Yeah. Unfortunately the park I'd like to book for that person isn't available, therein lies the difficulty. Obviously that won't be a problem every time. Just venting about not loving the tap-in requirement.
To do this you will have to know where they are going to hop to or you will be in the same position.
Okay, but that is exactly why they are making it difficult, since they don't want park hopping to be the "back door" people use to get into sold out parks--otherwise every local AP holder could get into Hollywood Studios every day in the afternoon by booking Epcot even if HS is sold out. The tap in requirement is designed intentionally to make it difficult to show up at a sold out park without visiting another park that day first.
True, but I feel like these days, spontaneity is kind of out the window anyway. You pretty much have to know where you are going to hop to in advance, so your can book a TS restaurant at 60 days or place a mobile order at QS in the morning before all the time windows fill up. Unless you are doing the walk up booths at Epcot, in which case, that is the park you'd book for the person arriving later.
I do hear what you're saying. That doesn't mean I have to like it, and as an AP holder, I don't like the tap in rule. I find it petty. Just my opinion.
The situation you described is one I'm facing on an upcoming trip at the end of the month, with one slight difference. I'll be at GF and my park 1 is Epcot, so not a convenient tap-in. I'll deal with it, of course. Like you, I'm out of state, adept at planning, and yet... best laid plans of mice and men... sometimes plans change. Now think about your situation. Who at Disney cared that you tapped-in to DAK before going to Epcot after 2PM? Why did that matter to anyone? What difference did it make to crowd flow? I fail to understand. It seems to me that all it accomplished was creating an inconvenience for an out of state AP holder and Deluxe resort guest. Like you, I'm grateful to have the option to park hop after 2PM. I gladly go along w/changes, restrictions, high pricing, unacceptable customer service call wait times (I called yesterday and was told that it was a 70 min wait time, so I hung up). At the Disney vacation price point, I think petty rules like the park 1 tap-in, should be waived for Annual Passholders (or maybe a combo AP + Deluxe Resort Guest?).
I know, I don't understand the first tap in rule if you are only allowed to enter the second park after 2pm anyway. What does it matter if you stay in your room all morning or are at a park? Unless they want people to get tired out at the first park so that they are less likely to want to hop.
