As Walt Disney World prepares to reopen its theme parks next month, guests will experience a different environment to limit the spread of the coronavirus, which led to the parks’ closures in March. Disney released details about its park reservation system to help limit crowds in the park and has canceled their Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Party Halloween event.
Disney Park Pass System
Walt Disney World’s theme parks are set to reopen in phases beginning next month. Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will open on July 11th. Epcot and Hollywood Studios will open to guests on July 15th.
To control crowd levels in the theme parks, Disney is introducing the Disney Park Pass System for guests to make reservations. Guests will be required to make a park reservation using the new system and have valid theme park admission to enter the parks; annual passholders will also need a reservation. Guests will not be able to park hop due to attendance limitations. Moreover, a park reservation must be made for each day of entry. Guests with a multi-day ticket will be required to make a park reservation for each date of their visit.
The Disney Park Pass System will be available to Disney resort and other select hotel guests with valid park admission beginning June 22nd. Starting June 26th, annual passholders without a resort stay can make reservations. Existing ticket holders will be able to make reservations beginning June 28th.
To make a park reservation, guests will need a Disney account with valid park admission linked to the account. Guests will then be prompted to create their party and select a date and park. Guests with a Disney resort hotel reservation should link the stay to their account. For full information about the Disney Park Pass System, click/tap here.
According to Disney’s website, park reservations will be available through September 26, 2021, “based on your Resort stay and ticket eligibility or ticket eligibility window.”
Walt Disney World will begin the sale of park tickets and Disney resort hotel arrivals, based on the availability of park reservations, later this summer.
It should be noted that as a result of the new changes, annual passholders who have paid their pass in full will receive a one-month extension to their pass, which will be added in October 2020. Alternatively, passholders who paid in full can choose to cancel their pass and receive a partial refund. Annual passholders who are on the monthly payment plan will also receive a one-month extension to their pass, which will be processed and visible in My Disney Experience in October 2020; monthly payments will resume on July 11th. Passholders with the monthly plan also have the option to, instead, cancel their pass and waive their payments due after August 11th; payments between July 11th and August 11th will be refunded for those that choose this option. Annual passholders will have the opportunity to visit Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom from July 9-10; registration details will be available soon.
Walt Disney World Upcoming Events
Due to concerns about the ongoing spread of the coronavirus, Walt Disney World has altered and canceled upcoming events this year.
Disney’s popular Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party was canceled. Disney stated that the event’s stage shows, parades, and fireworks, which largely encompass the event, will not be able to take place in the new environment. Typhoon Lagoon’s H20 Glow Nights was also canceled. Those who purchased tickets will receive a refund in the coming weeks.
Despite the coronavirus, Disney will hold a modified Food & Wine Festival, called “A Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival,” that will follow best practice social distancing guidelines. As a result, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series will not be held; however, guests will be able to enjoy music from local Epcot entertainment. The event, set to debut July 15th and run through the fall, will be a mix of Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival and Food & Wine Festival.
Disney will continue monitoring the environment to determine whether to hold Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and EPCOT International Festival of Holidays.
UPDATE (6/19/20 at 5:30 PM): This article was updated to include information for current annual passholders regarding their pass options.
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