Theme park reservation no longer needed?

[petunia]

We havent been since last year, bought the same package (thru wdw) this year and its giving an option in MDE to make a park reservation, but when I select it, it lists our party and says these tickets dont require a theme park reservation..just wanted to confirm Im not missing something?

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

That is correct. AP members still need a reservation, but otherwise, the tickets you are buying are for a specific park on certain dates. So you don't also need a reservation anymore

 

[erionm]

We havent been since last year, bought the same package (thru wdw) this year and its giving an option in MDE to make a park reservation, but when I select it, it lists our party and says these tickets dont require a theme park reservation..just wanted to confirm Im not missing something?

If you have newish date based tickets (you had to select a start date), then park reservations are not required.

Annual Passes and select other tickets still require them.

 

[petunia]

Thats the thing, I didnt pick any park dates? We're only there for a short visit, but still got 2 park days and havent selected the dates/parks? Says valid any 2 days.

 

[sponica]

Thats the thing, I didnt pick any park dates? We're only there for a short visit, but still got 2 park days and havent selected the dates/parks?

You booked a package with tickets though, the ticket start date is the check in date.

 

[focusondisney]

Thats the thing, I didnt pick any park dates? We're only there for a short visit, but still got 2 park days and havent selected the dates/parks? Says valid any 2 days.

Those tickets are only good for the dates of your package. So they already know & plan that you’ll be in the parks sometime during those dates. Unlike an AP, that could go in a park 365 days, or no days. So an AP (& other non date specific tickets) needs a reservation. For your package ticket, they no longer care which park on which day.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

I was surprised to see "no reservation needed" for a particular day - AP/DVC Resort stay. I did have to make them for some days; others said there was no need. The message showed all parks green and said to go back and select the next date I wanted for reservations. Makes me a little anxious that they are so confident - it was for a Sunday in August.

 

[focusondisney]

I was surprised to see "no reservation needed" for a particular day - AP/DVC Resort stay.

Within the last year Disney initiated “Good to Go Days” when AP holders don’t need park reservations. There seem to be a few every month. We’re out of state so plan our park days anyway. I’m sure it helps local AP holders be more spontaneous instead of having to pre plan every visit.

 

[honeymo78]

I was surprised to see "no reservation needed" for a particular day - AP/DVC Resort stay. I did have to make them for some days; others said there was no need. The message showed all parks green and said to go back and select the next date I wanted for reservations. Makes me a little anxious that they are so confident - it was for a Sunday in August.

Was it Aug 4? If so, that's a passholder "Good to Go Day" as focusondisney described and no park reservation is required - you can head to whichever park you want on that day.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

Was it Aug 4? If so, that's a passholder "Good to Go Day" as focusondisney described and no park reservation is required - you can head to whichever park you want on that day.

Leads me to believe Disney thinks it will be a very slowwwww day.

 

[petunia]

Mine includes a Saturday in July so I was surprised not to have to make one.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Park reservations have not been required for most date based tickets since January.
If you have a package that includes hotel and tickets then you have date based tickets and its not required just as the website indicates.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Mine includes a Saturday in July so I was surprised not to have to make one.

Yea, it no longer has anything to do with the day of the week or time of year, it's about the type of ticket you're using for the park.

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

Mine includes a Saturday in July so I was surprised not to have to make one.

Again, you don't have to make a reservation. That's why. Under the current policies, it would only be a surprise if you had to make a reservation

 

[Simba's Mom]

Within the last year Disney initiated “Good to Go Days” when AP holders don’t need park reservations. There seem to be a few every month. We’re out of state so plan our park days anyway. I’m sure it helps local AP holders be more spontaneous instead of having to pre plan every visit.

When/how do you get notice of "Good to Go Days"? As a new AP holder, I need to know about this. I still don't understand why we even have to make reservations. Can I make park reservations that morning? I used to love going to the bus stop and just getting on the firs bus that came and that's the park I would be going to. I'm hoping that since with an AP, I have to make park reservations, I could just make park reservations while I'm on the bus (assuming that I make park reservations on my phone through the MDE app).

 

[thanxfornoticin]

When/how do you get notice of "Good to Go Days"? As a new AP holder, I need to know about this. I still don't understand why we even have to make reservations. Can I make park reservations that morning? I used to love going to the bus stop and just getting on the firs bus that came and that's the park I would be going to. I'm hoping that since with an AP, I have to make park reservations, I could just make park reservations while I'm on the bus (assuming that I make park reservations on my phone through the MDE app).

You don't really get notice of the GtG days, you have to look them up. You can see them on the app or web site. They don't tend to go very far out, though - maybe a few weeks. We actually had 2 GtG days identified DURING our stay while we were there in January - not very helpful. But you absolutely can make a park reservation the morning of, assuming there's availability. You could also modify and change a park reservation that morning if your plans change. And yes, you can make/change park reservations on the MDE app.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Just to follow-up, if you go on MDE and bring up your Annual Pass in the app. Underneath you will see when park reservations are available, and when park reservations are not required. It's the not-required days that are considered Good To Go. Just looking now, I see 7/21,22,27,28,29,31 and 8/4. There will be more.

 

[RedHead0186]

When/how do you get notice of "Good to Go Days"? As a new AP holder, I need to know about this. I still don't understand why we even have to make reservations. Can I make park reservations that morning? I used to love going to the bus stop and just getting on the firs bus that came and that's the park I would be going to. I'm hoping that since with an AP, I have to make park reservations, I could just make park reservations while I'm on the bus (assuming that I make park reservations on my phone through the MDE app).

If you go into where you make park reservations, the calendar will show a green star (at least I think it's a green start. Regardless, the legend on the calendar will tell you).

Yes, you can make park reservations the same morning (assuming there are still reservations available that day for the park you want to go to). But, it's pretty rare that there aren't.

 

[maryryanbogard]

So even though I didn't say which parks when I purchased two two-day Park Hoppers, we can still start in the Magic Kingdom one day and go to Hollywood Studios for dinner at Hollywood & Vine (part of a Fantasmic Dinner Package, no less) and at least start in MK the second day (CRT breakfast)? No additional reservations needed? MDE still warns that restaurant reservations do not guarantee park access; I would still need valid park admission and "park reservations"?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

So even though I didn't say which parks when I purchased two two-day Park Hoppers, we can still start in the Magic Kingdom one day and go to Hollywood Studios for dinner at Hollywood & Vine (part of a Fantasmic Dinner Package, no less) and at least start in MK the second day (CRT breakfast)? No additional reservations needed? MDE still warns that restaurant reservations do not guarantee park access; I would still need valid park admission and "park reservations"?

If the park hoppers have a date or range of dates associated with them, you need no park reservations - just like the pre-park reservation days prior to the pandemic. And unless you're going to a park on the busiest of busy days when they might close entry for a very brief time, you will not need to worry about getting in for a CRT breakfast.