New theme park reservation policy goes into effect today at Walt Disney World

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Posted: Tuesday April 18, 2023 7:00am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney World Annual Passholders can now visit the theme parks after 2pm without needing a park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom.

Walt Disney World Annual Passholders now have more flexibility on entering the parks after 2pm

The new policy, announced by Disney in January 2023, is a response to guests' criticism, particularly from frequent annual pass visitors, that previous reservation requirements were too restrictive and inflexible.

Disney said in a statement during the initial announcement, "While the theme park reservation system remains important to manage attendance in our parks, especially on busier days, we realize our Passholders enjoy more spontaneous visits – and this change will make that possible."

Passholders can now visit parks at certain times without needing a Park Pass Reservation

The changes to Park Pass reservations effective April 18 2023 come just ahead of Disney resuming Annual Pass sales on March 20 for Walt Disney World.

Also new this week, starting March 20, Passholders will receive access to Disney PhotoPass lenses and one complimentary Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories experience.

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Sirwalterraleigh9 days ago

Right…prior to the last couple of years that week grew in magnitude by leaps and bounds. Literal foul on my part

Brian10 days ago

Should be very quiet with the initial battles of the second civil war and whatnot. ;)

threvester10 days ago

Didnt you just say the parks havent been busy for 2 years? According to you, you are 100% wrong about the parks being busy for Jersey week...respectfully

Sirwalterraleigh10 days ago

Jersey week. Been a thing for about 20 years… It falls on an election week often…it’s not slow People stay home for elections now?

SoFloMagic10 days ago

Election day and the day after. Should be slow

Sirwalterraleigh10 days ago

lol…jersey week? 🤪

SingleRider10 days ago

“Oh, welcome back, unfavorables! We have a few less busy days, so please come to our parks!”

DCBaker10 days ago

November 5 and 6 have been added to the calendar as Annual Passholder good-to-go days. The last good-to-go days were September 29 and October 1.

Sirwalterraleigh15 days ago

The hubris is what is shocking. I get that people were caged and Americans aren’t geared for that…so there was an artificial demand created…but that will subside and the cost will look insane. Disneyland has a totally different landscape. There is ZERO reason to have reservations for APs at wdw. They’re just trying to hold on to their desire to make you go where they want. I know of what I speak: those parks are NOT crowded and haven’t been for 2 years. Every “the parks are mobbed” is 100% wrong. You don’t know what you’re looking at and what to gauge. Respectfully 😎

SoFloMagic15 days ago

That sucks. For sure. But they clearly advertise that it's subject to bookings. Now they don't make it known that 100k locals want to get in each weekend, but.... I don't think I'll even understand disneyland culture.

Sirwalterraleigh15 days ago

Double layer of restrictions Blackout windows up front and a first come, first serve (so they say) on top of that stretches the bonds of logic

IanDLBZF15 days ago

DLR does not do that at this time.

SoFloMagic15 days ago

They're sold as requiring reservations. We just don't like it. Although it's not bad at WDW as we can enter after 2 with no reservations. Not sure if DL does that.