How to Make Park Reservations for Disney World
Park Pass is Walt Disney World’s advance theme park reservations system for booking entry to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios. This is required in addition to buying tickets between now and January 18, 2024 in order to enter the parks. This how-to guide covers the steps for making Disney Park Pass reservations, offers troubleshooting advice, and more. (Updated March 20, 2022.)
For starters, the Disney Park Pass system is available on DisneyWorld.com–not the My Disney Experience app (although there is a link within the app to take you to the reservation website). To use this system, start by making sure your tickets and resort reservation are linked in My Disney Experience, and your family and friends list is properly populated.
Now in use for nearly two years, the Disney Park Pass system has been controversial and frustrating for many fans. So much so that one of the most common reader questions during that time is When Will Walt Disney World Stop Requiring Park Reservations? We speculate and attempt to answer that question in that post. Here, let’s continue on with the details of Disney Park Pass, and making advance online reservations for the theme parks at Walt Disney World!
Step 1: Link Your Admission to Your Disney Account
To get started, you’ll need valid park admission that’s linked to your Disney account.
- First, you’ll need a Disney account, which is where your Walt Disney World plans are stored and managed. Create an account or sign in to your existing account.
- Then, link your valid admission to your Disney account. All Guests in your party must also have valid park admission linked to their profile. Note: At this time, new ticket sales are temporarily paused, and sales will resume at a later date.
- If you have a Disney Resort hotel reservation, be sure to link it to your Disney account as well.
Once your admission is linked to your account, you can begin to make a park reservation…
Step 2: Create Your Party
When you begin to make a reservation, you’ll be prompted to create your party from your Family & Friends list.
Simply select the family and friends you’d like to include, then hit the Continue button.
Don’t see someone in your travel party? Select “Add a Guest” to include them.
You may need to make more than one Disney Park Pass reservation for your party depending on your admission type. Please make sure your party consists of Annual Passholders or theme park ticket holders.
Staying in a Disney Resort or other select hotel with a package that includes tickets? Everyone in your party must also have a hotel reservation. If this varies, you will need to make separate Disney Park Pass reservations.
Step 3: Select a Date and Park
Choose the date and the theme park that you’d like to visit from the available reservations. Please note that dates and theme park selections are limited and subject to availability.
After creating your party in the Disney Park Pass system, you’ll be prompted to:
- Select a Date: View a calendar and choose one of the available dates for your visit.
- Select a Theme Park: Park hours will be displayed for your convenience.
- Select a Time: This is the time that you can visit the park.
NOTE: Selecting a time is simply “confirming” the park hours, not an actual arrival window.
After selecting your date and park, you can confirm your reservation.
Step 4: Review and Confirm Your Plans
Carefully review and confirm your selected park and date.
If you need to make any changes, select “Back” to revise your selections.
Before confirming, you’ll need to agree to the Terms & Conditions, including the health certification and liability disclaimer waiver. (For this reason, it’s unlikely that travel agents will book Disney Park Pass reservations like they do/did for FastPass+ or ADRs.)
Then, select “Confirm” to complete your park reservation. Once confirmed, your reservation will appear in My Plans on My Disney Experience or DisneyWorld.com.
Want to make another park reservation? Select “Make Another Reservation” to continue planning. As a reminder, if you have a multi-day ticket, you will be required to make a park reservation for each date of your visit.
If you need to cancel a reservation, view your daily itinerary in My Plans, then select “Reservation Details”.
We’ve now used the Disney Park Pass system numerous times, and the process usually works pretty smoothly. Nevertheless, you might have issues getting DisneyWorld.com to work. In terms of troubleshooting, our #1 solution is always to use private browsing or incognito mode on your desktop browser to access DisneyWorld.com.
This won’t always resolve your problem, but usually it will. It’s at least worth a shot. In any case, hopefully that preemptively answers some reader questions we’d otherwise receive and saves some of you some headaches.
We’d recommend making reservations weeks or months in advance, rather than days ahead of time. While you’ll be fine most of the time booking Park Passes at the last minute, that’s not always the case.
Availability varies wildly depending upon demand. In the off-season, reservations are mostly a formality. By contrast, park reservations are already booking up (see above) about a month before peak dates in April 2022. Plan accordingly and err on the side of making reservations early just in case.
With that said, it’s never necessary to book reservations 2+ months in advance. Many Walt Disney World fans stress out over planning every little detail of their trips 6+ months in advance. While that’s understandable when it comes to Advance Dining Reservations and even resort bookings, the same diligence is not necessary with Disney Park Pass reservations.
The vast majority of guests simply do not plan that far in advance. Since Walt Disney World began requiring Park Pass reservations, there is only one date that filled up months in advance–October 1, 2021. That was the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World, and is quite obviously a “special case.” If you’re just visiting for some random week in July 2022, you need to start thinking about reservations in June…not April.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about the Disney Park Pass reservation system? Think these policies seem fair in light of the ongoing global pandemic and reduced capacity of the parks? Think that many days will sell out, or that most will be available on short notice? Will you be attempting to visit Walt Disney World this summer or fall, or are you waiting until when this (hopefully) goes away? Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Been trying for 15 min now. Keep getting gateway error once I get past the just a moment page and sign in
I finally got past the gateway error and the password not found. Now I can see my plans but the top of the page links are totally missing. It looks like they haven’t finished updating the site yet.
Just got off phone with CM. Park reservations can ONLY be made online. Per CM, the Park Reservation System has NOT yet gone online (as of 7:25am ET). When it does, log in and go to My Disney Experience tab, and the drop down menu will include a Park Reservation option. Click that and follow instructions.
I’m logged in, but I don’t even see a reservation tab / link. Can you provide an actual website address to make a reservation? I have a hotel reservation and tickets and a party (at least I think I do).
Same. Logged in but see no where in the drop down that has the park reservation system.
I see the same thing. Occasionally I can get the MyDisneyExperience page up, but the site still displays the info about the system vs. an actual mechanism to make a reservation.
BTW, my reservation is in December 2020. All I see under the My Disney Experience section of the website is to “learn about theme park reservations.”
I was told that reservations can only be made for bookings up to 26 September 2020 not 2021?
I can’t even get to the sign in page
Me neither. I’m stuck on “just a moment”.
And…refreshed the park reservation page and it crashesd!! Par for the course I guess! Ok joe it’s saying temporarily unavailable. Oh Disney!
Mine keeps saying my password is wrong even though I log onto the website like once a day lol. Anyone else having this problem?
Where the heck is the calendar?
The Seven Dwarfs are working on it! Hi ho!
mine keeps saying password wrong too! WTF
@Donald go to My Disney Experience when logged in on desktop and you will see “park pass” in drop down menu I had trouble also!
Same – dwarfs, Stitch and “something went wrong”
@ Kimberly.
That started happening to me as well. When it was not working I tried logging in via another window and started getting the username/password error. The login I had from 6:30ish worked using the same info.
Also having every other problem listed here.
Where did the sign in area go…blank space no my Disney experience
Saaaammmeee
Further to my earlier comment I phoned Walt Disney to ask why I could not see a link to book a park reservation and they said that they are not offering this to bookings past September 2020 although it states 2021 on all the articles I have read. Some articles say that from 28th you can book 2021 so I am totally confused. They said it was a mis print but I would have thought you would know this Tom?
On the landing page for the park passes in the US it says 2021, definitely. Of course the real page is not up yet. Disney IT strikes again! I just wonder if it’s different for UK visitors?
I dont think so BklynSteph as the consultant would have said this. I cannot even sign in.
I have been able to log in but not access the castle people are posting about. We have a March 2021 trip. So I assume what the CM told you is correct–they are only booking the next few months today.
Well, that makes no sense. Below is from Disney’s actual website:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/park-reservations/?CMP=EMC-1195041596%7C275980239&cid=PDM205215&bid=1110146680
Booking Dates for Park Reservations
The Disney Park Pass system will be available soon to select Guests. Booking dates vary based on your plans.
Beginning June 22, 2020, Disney Resort and other select hotel Guests with valid theme park admission can make reservations.
Beginning June 26, 2020, Annual Passholders without a Resort stay can make reservations.
Beginning June 28, 2020, existing ticket holders can make reservations.
Park reservations will be available through September 26, 2021, based on your Resort stay and ticket eligibility or ticket eligibility window.
Hi. I have a trip booked for November from the UK assuming we will be allowed in.
As I have tickets and in a Disney resort I can book from today and assume it will be from 12.00 pm our time? Also I can can only access from Disney.co.uk but cannot see any tab that i need to go into for the new pass reservation. Please help?
Hi Helen. Likewise. However I think as long as you have hotel reservations and park tickets you should be able to get on in next couple of days and there should be plenty of room. I can’t even get beyond just a moment screen. John.
I just noticed the waterparks are (supposedly) opening again too. I thought they were gonna stay closed for now? Just look at the opening times.
https://www.disneyworld.eu/calendars/five-day/2020-07-22/
They never took the water parks off the hours calendar, so that is not a new addition. Unless you hear otherwise, assume they are closed (they similarly left the Halloween Party on the calendar before “officially” cancelling the other day).
I have a DVC reservation Aug. 1-8th but no park tickets. Do you think we’ll have a good shot at purchasing tickets and securing park reservations during our stay?
A post I read said for those people that have a hotel, but not tickets, you can call and book your tickets on June 24th to schedule your park reservations.
I’m a little confused on the linked accounts….it says to have everyone have their own accounts with their tickets and hotel linked, however how do children have their own accounts? What if all of my family members with tickets are on my list…can I not just make a reservation under my account if their tickets are linked there? Sorry, I’m just confused.
Hello! I have tickets for my family with a start date of December 28. Our vacation will go until January 6. We’re staying in an area timeshare, not a Disney resort. My date for making a park reservation is June 28. However, I also saw that tickets for 2021 will go on sale BY June 28, which to me sounds like possibly before the 28th. Will I be “competing” with new ticket purchasers for my early January reservations dates and times? That doesn’t make it seem like I have much of an advantage for having tickets in hand if I’m reading this correctly. I just want to make sure I’m not missing something!
Hi!.. does any know if the number I need to use to make park pass reservations is the confirmation number I was given when I made our resort and ticket reservations way back in February?!?!
Does anyone know how an annual pass voucher is viewed? Its paid for but not yet “active” I suppose? My last trip was cancelled due to park closure and my youngest turned 3 during the downtime so now needs a ticket and park reservation but I have the annual pass voucher for him versus live annual passes for the rest of the family.
Just to verify – we’re traveling with my 2-year-old grandson, so he doesn’t have a park ticket, while the rest of us have ours. Will I need to include him on the park reservations even though he doesn’t have his own ticket because of his age?
What happens if you buy tickets then are unable to get a park reservation?
So I see that the resort we have booked for July 24-28, 2020 will not be open. I would hope I still get first dibs on park passes. But will those be lost if I can’t get into another Disney resort (at a reasonable price) for that same time frame?
I was really goi g with the flow until this. Now I’m stressing.
You already have a resort booked even if it isn’t opening. If you let them move you to another resort (meaning you do not initiate the move and they tell you where you will go), I do not believe it will cost you anything at all. So, you should be totally fine.
I’m a little confused about this whole process. I have a trip planned for July 18th and we’re staying off property. Will we or won’t we have an opportunity to purchase tickets and make park reservations before then? Any help clearing this up for me is greatly appreciated.
If you don’t have tickets you will not be able to make a park reservation. In order to make park reservations you must have tickets linked to your My Disney Experience account.
Yes, I understand that you need to have a ticket before you can make a park reservation. What I need to know is will we /when will we have an opportunity to buy tickets as we don’t have them yet.
Unfortunately, if you did not already buy tickets before they shut down sales end of May, at this point they are saying it is a no and there are no exceptions being made. I hope things change for you. 🙁
Hello! Is this system only in place for reservations up to September 26th? I have a vacation package in December and wasn’t sure if I need to or will be able to make park reservations on June 22nd. Thanks!
September 26th, 2021 so for at least the next 15 months.
I spoke to a CM about a hour ago and she confirmed it will be live at 7 am eastern time tomorrow morning the 22nd of June.
I wonder how this kind of system will work with the Flex Pass at DLR. We have the Flex Pass and, as you mentioned, it’s been relatively easy to book reservations on the days we needed, especially during the off-season. I’m fearful that thIs new reservation system will wind up boxing Flex Pass holders out, despite the fact we have onsite hotel reservations in September, October, and November. I guess we’ll see. Crossing fingers that we’ll get to go at least once this fall.
Tom–can ask how you know it will open at 7am? The CM I spoke to on the phone said it would be “sometime between midnight and 7am.” I know CMs can be unreliable, but I really don’t want to stay up all night if you know it will for sure be 7am. Ugh.
I’ve been told repeatedly it’ll be 7 am. However, that doesn’t mean it won’t quietly go live earlier. I’ll be checking periodically before that.
Thanks for the reply. For good measure, I just asked this question again to another CM via the chat feature and got the below waffling response, which I guess means I ought to set a few middle-of-the night alarms. I hate not knowing! This is what the CM said: “Hi there! While we do not have a set time that the park reservation system will be available, we are hopeful that it is similar to the FastPass+ system, which was typically available at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Since the time frame is not guaranteed, I do recommend checking earlier if you can to be on the safe side!”
Can anyone help me, I have a trip planned for mid September and I haven’t been able to acquire park tickets, will I not have the opportunity to? Should I cancel?
In the very near future, you should have the opportunity to modify your package and add tickets. I wouldn’t cancel just yet.
Regarding the wording : “You may need to make more than one Disney Park Pass reservation for your party depending on your admission type. Please make sure your party consists of Annual Passholders or theme park ticket holders.”
Do you think this means I’ll need to make one reservation per day for myself, an annual pass holder, and a separate reservation per day for my granddaughter traveling with me, a park pass holder? I’m hoping this won’t be an issue.
That’s what it sounds like, but no one I’ve asked about this has been able to give a definitive answer.
I spoke with a cast member today. You will have to make a separate reservation for passholders and regular ticket holders.