Hi Paul,
Welcome to planDisney! I'm so glad you stopped by with your question about
Park Hopping for Annual Passholders. As a fellow Passholder, I'm so happy to be able to experience the magic in more than one theme park per day! Let's take a look.
A few years ago, there were quite a few restrictions around Park Hopping - but I have great news! If you’re an Annual Passholder, you can now Park Hop anytime during the day. Just keep in mind that you’ll still need a theme park reservation to start your day - unless it’s a “Good-to-Go” day or it’s after 2:00 PM. One little exception: if you're heading to Magic Kingdom on a Saturday or Sunday, you’ll still need a reservation even after 2:00 PM.
Now, looking at your plan (and how fun that you're surprising your family!), you’ll want to make a reservation for
EPCOT if it’s not a Good-to-Go day. That way, you can swing by, grab your Passholder magnet, and then head over to
Disney’s Hollywood Studios to meet up with your crew!
If you're planning any summer days at
Walt Disney World Resort, for a limited time, beginning July 20, 2025, Passholders heading to Magic Kingdom must have a theme park reservation no matter what time of day. There are no additional changes to entry at EPCOT, Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom.
I hope this answers your question. Have a great time surprising your family!
See ya real soon,
Candace