When did this 1PM park hopper limitation materialize?

[whoever]

Seriously.... I just read about this "when park hopping opens up" and had to go look at Disney's website. 1PM? The heck? Is there any way around this say if you want reservations at a restaurant in the other park? I'm sitting here scratching my head to understand in what universe this makes any sense...

 

[Skyegirl1999]

April 30.

There are no exceptions that I know of. (Well, I assume VIP tours can go back and forth earlier.)

 

[dieumeye]

This started when the parks opened back up with the reservation system. I suppose it’s a way to manage crowd flow since it makes it clearer for Disney how many people are going to be in each park from open until 1pm.

And since the reservation system is here to stay, so is this 1pm limitation. However, there is language in the Magic Key fine print that indicates that the 1pm time May move earlier in the future.

If you want a dining reservation at a certain park before 1pm, you should make that your starting park.

 

[avalon451]

Seriously.... I just read about this "when park hopping opens up" and had to go look at Disney's website. 1PM? The heck? Is there any way around this say if you want reservations at a restaurant in the other park?

Nope. Been that way since reopening. It was initially for distancing, capacity and crowd control purposes, I believe. There’s some discussion that it may get pushed back to earlier as capacity and staffing increases. It’s tough, I know.

 

[disland7]

I’m bummed about it too. I stay at the VGC and we always walk through DCA to get back to the hotel for a midday break, most of the time before 1. Not a huge deal but I’m still bummed about it. Here’s hoping they move it up sometime soon.

 

[gelatoni fan]

I think you can buy two one park tickets for the same day and use one for each park respectively. Should be cheaper than the VIP tour option.

 

[StormyCA]

It was the same at WDW, but it was at 2pm. And it was IF the park you wanted to hop to wasn't 'reserved' to or at capacity for the day.

I don't know if that 2nd part is the same at DLR, but it wouldn't surprise me. Doubtful if DCA would ever be reserved to capacity, but I can see it for DL at times, especially if people starting their day at DL decide not to hop to DCA until later in the day.

 

[whoever]

I’m bummed about it too. I stay at the VGC and we always walk through DCA to get back to the hotel for a midday break, most of the time before 1. Not a huge deal but I’m still bummed about it. Here’s hoping they move it up sometime soon.

Should be 11AM at the LATEST.

 

[Matrixleos]

Reopening let the cat out of the bag for Disney. This reservation system will never go away and I wouldn't be surprised if the limitations of late park hopping won't be removed anytime soon.

Disney loves the control and ability to predict park capacity on a daily basis, especially in the mornings before hopping becomes available. If you think Disney is willing to give that up at this point, then you're really not being realistic on YOUR expectations.

 

[whoever]

Reopening let the cat out of the bag for Disney. This reservation system will never go away and I wouldn't be surprised if the limitations of late park hopping won't be removed anytime soon.

Disney loves the control and ability to predict park capacity on a daily basis, especially in the mornings before hopping becomes available. If you think Disney is willing to give that up at this point, then you're really not being realistic on YOUR expectations.

If you are staying on-site, or at the Grand maybe even specifically, you should get park hopping open at park open. Part of the Grand's allure is the ability to use the DCA entrance for entry/egress to/from the park. Having to trek back through DTD vs. going through DCA is a huge turn-off.

The C33 APs you get with membership technically allow early park hopping even if the system has challenges with it technology-wise. Not sure why Disney wouldn't also extend this to on-site guests as they know how many people are occupying the rooms and could translate that to the parks with a small rate of error.

 

[Bigmace]

I think once the Magic Key APs are available you should be able to make a reservation for both parks with two of your available slots or park hope after one. At least that's how I read fine print.