News Disney Park Pass System announced for Walt Disney World theme park reservations

[Splash4eva]

Crazy to think with all these soft attendance numbers this company wouldnt just eliminate the system asap and hope that may drum up some “good will” and good pr to make it easier for anyone to come.

 

[Touchdown]

This is the same company keeping an over year old high capacity, reliable coaster locked behind a virtual queue indefinitely.

 

[CLEtoWDW]

It’s really quite incredible when you think about all the horrible decisions that were made post 2019. I know Chapek gets a lot of the blame (and rightfully so) but part of me wonders how this system that was universally unliked stayed in place even after Chapeks departure.

 

[MisterPenguin]

If Disney uses the reservation system to only box out AP’s on high crowd days starting in ‘24, they are going to get sued again. They never learn.

The AP terms of service have been updated in the past year for renewals and new AP purchases to warn the buyer that APs can be restricted via reservations.

Removing the reservations from the date-tickets happens because date-ticket sales will be restricted for super busy days.

Thus, both date-tickets and APs still have restrictions.

 

[aladdin2007]

It’s really quite incredible when you think about all the horrible decisions that were made post 2019. I know Chapek gets a lot of the blame (and rightfully so) but part of me wonders how this system that was universally unliked stayed in place even after Chapeks departure.

because of rotten parks leadership chapek or no chapek. Its stupid how they withhold everyone at international gateway for example, in the hot sun till exactly 2pm, when they could be in the park moving and spending. Doing everything they can to squelch freedom from your day. They want you in their control dictated by them.

 

[Splash4eva]

It’s really quite incredible when you think about all the horrible decisions that were made post 2019. I know Chapek gets a lot of the blame (and rightfully so) but part of me wonders how this system that was universally unliked stayed in place even after Chapeks departure.

Chapek is FAR from the reason this company is where it is today ... he did NOT help buy lets face it Iger is and always will be the MAIN reason DIS is currently where its at now as an overall company

 

[JusticeDisney]

Question re hopper option. Starting January 9, 2024, how will hopper passes work? Will you still have to wait until 2pm to hit your second park? Or will it be like it used to be where you can hop from park to park at any time during the day?

Thanks in advance for any info!

 

[JD80]

Crazy to think with all these soft attendance numbers this company wouldnt just eliminate the system asap and hope that may drum up some “good will” and good pr to make it easier for anyone to come.

Removing the reservation system isn't going to get people to book for the next 5 months. Park reservations, at large, never caused people not to book, it's always about the dollar. Value prop is still to low for a lot of people.

People grumbled about it but that part alone won't get people to come back. It's increase tickets prices, Genie+, ILLs etc. Reservations were just one other thing on top of all of it.

You want some good will and add value to tickets again, you remove the hopper restriction.

Heck - I'm surprised they didn't keep reservations but said if you buy hoppers you don't need them.

 

[Splash4eva]

Removing the reservation system isn't going to get people to book for the next 5 months. Park reservations, at large, never caused people not to book, it's always about the dollar. Value prop is still to low for a lot of people.

People grumbled about it but that part alone won't get people to come back. It's increase tickets prices, Genie+, ILLs etc. Reservations were just one other thing on top of all of it.

You want some good will and add value to tickets again, you remove the hopper restriction.

Heck - I'm surprised they didn't keep reservations but said if you buy hoppers you don't need them.

Im not foolish to think people are gonna book in droves all im saying is they are pointless now and this company can use any positive pr they can and this is literally a simple fix that cost them No money to do

 

[DCBaker]

Question re hopper option. Starting January 9, 2024, how will hopper passes work? Will you still have to wait until 2pm to hit your second park? Or will it be like it used to be where you can hop from park to park at any time during the day?

Thanks in advance for any info!

Unless things change between now and then, the same restrictions today will apply then. After you enter your first park, you’ll need to wait until park hopping hours begin. Hopefully that will change beforehand.

 

[JD80]

Im not foolish to think people are gonna book in droves all im saying is they are pointless now and this company can use any positive pr they can and this is literally a simple fix that cost them No money to do

It's not just a simple thing to remove park reservations with a snap of your fingers. There is massive infrastructure you have to unwind:

• All the language on all the websites about park reservations
• All the training modules for Travel Agents
• All the language on all the printed materials everywhere
• All the CM training at all the parks everywhere
• All the CM training in all the call centers everywhere
• All the back end website stuff needs to be reverted/changed. Since reservations are still a thing for some categories of tickets you just can't rip it out. So yay Disney IT.
• Budgets for all of this need to be created
• Budgets for all of this need to be approved
• Project Management needs to be assigned and timelines need to be created
• Then everything needs to be executed on
• Everything needs to be checked and tested
• Everything needs to launch
• Plan a marketing campaign, training campaign or whatever to make sure people realize that park reservations are gone. Whether this is minimal or at least a string of emails going out that you no longer have to make reservations for your upcoming trip.
• At every step copy needs to be written and approved up.
• ALL OF THIS IS ACROSS MULTIPLE BUSINESS UNITS

Probably missing something.

So yeah, you probably need a 6-8 month horizon to get ready for the change at least.

 

[JusticeDisney]

Unless things change between now and then, the same restrictions today will apply then. After you enter your first park, you’ll need to wait until park hopping hours begin. Hopefully that will change beforehand.

Thank you for that info. That’s what I was afraid of. They really need to go back to the unlimited hopping, IMO. Then again, the more I think about it, most people probably don’t hit multiple parks before 2pm anyway.

 

[Splash4eva]

It's not just a simple thing to remove park reservations with a snap of your fingers. There is massive infrastructure you have to unwind:

• All the language on all the websites about park reservations
• All the training modules for Travel Agents
• All the language on all the printed materials everywhere
• All the CM training at all the parks everywhere
• All the CM training in all the call centers everywhere
• All the back end website stuff needs to be reverted/changed. Since reservations are still a thing for some categories of tickets you just can't rip it out. So yay Disney IT.
• Budgets for all of this need to be created
• Budgets for all of this need to be approved
• Project Management needs to be assigned and timelines need to be created
• Then everything needs to be executed on
• Everything needs to be checked and tested
• Everything needs to launch
• Plan a marketing campaign, training campaign or whatever to make sure people realize that park reservations are gone. Whether this is minimal or at least a string of emails going out that you no longer have to make reservations for your upcoming trip.
• At every step copy needs to be written and approved up.
• ALL OF THIS IS ACROSS MULTIPLE BUSINESS UNITS

Probably missing something.

So yeah, you probably need a 6-8 month horizon to get ready for the change at least.

if this company truly needs that long to allow guest to enter with NO reservations this company is in worse shape than we think lol.....

 

[DisneyFanatic12]

It's not just a simple thing to remove park reservations with a snap of your fingers. There is massive infrastructure you have to unwind:

• All the language on all the websites about park reservations
• All the training modules for Travel Agents
• All the language on all the printed materials everywhere
• All the CM training at all the parks everywhere
• All the CM training in all the call centers everywhere
• All the back end website stuff needs to be reverted/changed. Since reservations are still a thing for some categories of tickets you just can't rip it out. So yay Disney IT.
• Budgets for all of this need to be created
• Budgets for all of this need to be approved
• Project Management needs to be assigned and timelines need to be created
• Then everything needs to be executed on
• Everything needs to be checked and tested
• Everything needs to launch
• Plan a marketing campaign, training campaign or whatever to make sure people realize that park reservations are gone. Whether this is minimal or at least a string of emails going out that you no longer have to make reservations for your upcoming trip.
• At every step copy needs to be written and approved up.
• ALL OF THIS IS ACROSS MULTIPLE BUSINESS UNITS

Probably missing something.

So yeah, you probably need a 6-8 month horizon to get ready for the change at least.

And you have the whole issue of some guests genuinely like the park pass reservation system. If visiting during an extremely busy time like the holidays, it feels to them as though you’re guaranteed entry. Sure, it’s clearly stated that it DOES NOT guarantee entry, but it certainly feels more permanent and gives guests peace of mind that the parks won’t close to capacity.

And we also have the issue of boarding groups. As of now, the number of guests who can book at 7:00am or 1:00pm is limited to the number of park passes. They’d have to make a geofence system or something like before to keep the VQs “working” (they could work without it, but Disney would want some restriction on who can join).

 

[el_super]

And you have the whole issue of some guests genuinely like the park pass reservation system.

They may hate the reservations, but they love being able to get into the parks.
They love how uncrowded the parks feel now. How easy it is to move around.
They love the early availability of E-Tickets created by restricting park hopping.

if this company truly needs that long to allow guest to enter with NO reservations this company is in worse shape than we think lol.....

Technically the reservations are staying no? They're just tying it to the purchase of the dated ticket right?

I always assumed that some portion of the "Park Reservation" system was waiting to get thru whatever stock of undated tickets still remained in circulation.

 

[nickys]

Technically the reservations are staying no? They're just tying it to the purchase of the dated ticket right?

Not sure what you mean. You buy a 3, 4, 7, 14 day ticket starting on a certain date. No park reservations will be required. You’re free to go to any park you want each day.

 

[nickys]

If visiting during an extremely busy time like the holidays, it feels to them as though you’re guaranteed entry. Sure, it’s clearly stated that it DOES NOT guarantee entry, but it certainly feels more permanent and gives guests peace of mind that the parks won’t close to capacity.

Pretty sure a park reservation DOES guarantee entry, and re-entry.

Capacity closures aren’t a thing any more.

 

[nickys]

Disney also grossly underestimated how many pass holders have no desire to go before 2pm… that put the last nail in the coffin IMO (at least some dates would still sell out if it wasn’t for the 2pm rule). Not complaining though!

BTW, though I wouldn’t go if MK was sold out, could an AP go to Epcot on a Saturday after 2pm just to tap in and then monorail over to MK if they weren’t able to make a reservation to MK? Seems like you might be able to given you’re able to park hop after 2pm, but I wanted to see if anyone knew for sure. I’ve been interested to know for quite some time!

Yes, as can anyone with a hopper ticket.

 

[Splash4eva]

They may hate the reservations, but they love being able to get into the parks.
They love how uncrowded the parks feel now. How easy it is to move around.
They love the early availability of E-Tickets created by restricting park hopping.



Technically the reservations are staying no? They're just tying it to the purchase of the dated ticket right?

I always assumed that some portion of the "Park Reservation" system was waiting to get thru whatever stock of undated tickets still remained in circulation.

Personally the park reservations never bothered me because in theory FP was my “reservation” anyways as all my pre booked rides were in the morning so…. All the things people complained about to me this was one that wasnt worth the fight. But it seems a good way to appease guest that cost them no money at all.

 

[el_super]

Not sure what you mean. You buy a 3, 4, 7, 14 day ticket starting on a certain date. No park reservations will be required. You’re free to go to any park you want each day.

Yeah, but the tickets have a set experation date, which means Disney can control the number of entries by limiting the amount of tickets sold for a specific time period/week.