Walt Disney World drops most park reservations and welcomes back all-day park hopping

Jan 09, 2024 in "MyMagic+"

Posted: Tuesday January 9, 2024 7:20am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

January 9, 2024, is a big day for Walt Disney World guests, with two significant changes coming into effect - removing reservations for date-based tickets and returning all-day park hopping.


Park Reservations No Longer Required for Most Tickets

Park reservations are no longer needed for any Walt Disney World date-based ticket, which includes single-day tickets, multi-day tickets, and vacation packages that include date-based tickets.

Park reservations are, however, still required for Walt Disney World Annual Pass holders, student group tickets, sport/convention tickets, and any other type of non-dated ticket.

Although Passholders still require reservations, beginning January 11, 2024, Disney will introduce good-to-go days, which are select dates when Passholders may visit a Walt Disney World theme park without needing a theme park reservation. Passholders will begin seeing good-to-go days displayed on the Theme park reservation calendar, Annual Passholder admissions calendar, and the Home screen of the My Disney Experience app. Good-to-go days will be added periodically and may be released days or weeks in advance.

Note that Annual Passholders may visit the theme parks after 2:00 pm without a theme park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom.

All-Day Park Hopping Returns for Annual Pass and Park Hopper Ticket Holders

All-day park hopping has been missing from Walt Disney World since the parks reopened from the pandemic, with guests only able to park hop after 2 pm.

Beginning January 9, 2024, guests using a ticket with Park Hopper benefits or an Annual Pass can visit another theme park at any time of day during park hours (subject to capacity limitations).

On days when theme park reservations are required for Annual Passholders and certain non-dated tickets, Passholders and guests will be able to take advantage of updates to Park Hopper access after visiting their first park.

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Disgruntled WaltJan 10, 2024

Kind of seems like Bob Iger hates everyone these days.

Fido ChuckwagonJan 10, 2024

You are guessing wrong because Bob Iger hates AP holders.

MisterPenguinJan 09, 2024

At least their bucket is bigger, they can reserve unlimitedly for the length of their stay, and they get the resort headstart on some things.

SingleRiderJan 09, 2024

Negative. Reservations are still required for onsite APs.

NelleBelleJan 09, 2024

I’m guessing AP holders who are staying at a WDW resort are also exempt from making reservations?

Colonel AngusJan 09, 2024

They’ll just have to build a bridge and get over it.

MisterPenguinJan 09, 2024

But what about all the people afraid of heights?!?!

DCBakerJan 09, 2024

With all-day Park Hopping starting tomorrow (January 9), Disney has updated timing on park-to-park bus transportation. Here's the full update: "Bus transportation is now available between the theme parks beginning at 10:00 AM each day. Guests may also take the monorail when traveling between Magic Kingdom park and EPCOT. Bus services are not available from Magic Kingdom park to EPCOT at this time. "

DisneyCaneOct 13, 2023

Or the food and drinks either!

pdude81Oct 13, 2023

This is a good point. It makes sense if they are working on software changes related to reservations and Genie+ time restrictions that everything would launch on the same date. Any January just after marathon weekend is a lower crowd time for the inevitable bugs they have to work out.

PatchesleeOct 13, 2023

Wonder how much multi-park Genie+ sales influenced the decision to drop the 2pm slot. It seemed less attractive to spend more but have to wait until at least 2pm slots to book. Also wonder how hopping would effect that rule now.

Indy_UKOct 13, 2023

I sure can't wait until January when all the Vloggers will be uploading all their new 4 parks in a day videos :rolleyes:

pdude81Oct 13, 2023

That merch isn't going to buy itself though

Fido ChuckwagonOct 13, 2023

AP holders are still unfavorable. They have our money, they don’t need us in the parks.