Hey Howdy Hey, Amy!
Welcome to planDisney and thank you so much for stopping by with your question. Magic is always happening at Walt Disney World and there are quite a few new additions in the last few years. Let me help navigate this whole new world with you!
Amy, date-based
theme park tickets do not need a theme park reservation at this time. You will just need to purchase the theme park tickets for the dates in which you are visiting. When you purchase the tickets, you will select a start date and you have a window of time in which to use the ticket, so you do not have to use the tickets on consecutive days. For example, I am visiting in March. If I purchase three-day single park tickets beginning March 19th, I have until March 23rd to use my three entrance tickets.
Once you select the number of days for which you would like tickets and your start date, then you can select ticket type (single park ticket, park hopper ticket, etc.) From here, you select how many adult and child tickets you need and then pay.
Tickets that require theme park reservations at this time are tickets that are undated. This includes, but is not limited to, Annual Passes, Magic Your Way tickets, and Military tickets for example.
In terms of how early to purchase your tickets, you can do that at any time. Once in awhile, specific theme parks will reach capacity, but this is typically on the busiest days of the year like Christmas.
If it has been a few years since your visit, one of big changes is that Disney no longer uses the Fast Pass+. You can now purchase the
Lightning Lane Multipass and the Single Lightning Lane to enjoy expedited access onto popular attractions. It is not required but many of us like to do this to maximize the magic of our vacation.
If you would like to purchase the Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Lightning Lane tickets, you can do that and make your first attraction selections beginning three-days in advance of your theme park visit day for Guests staying off Disney property. Guests who stay at a Disney Resort Hotel can make these purchases and reservations beginning seven days in advance of their Resort check-in date for the entirety of their stay. You will want to have your theme park tickets purchased in order to add on and reserve Lightning Lanes in advance of your trip.
For
dining reservations, you can make those beginning 60 days from the date in which you would like to dine since you are staying off property. If you plan to dine at a restaurant inside one of the theme parks, you do need a valid theme park ticket to be able to dine at that restaurant.
Finally, Amy, there are several new attractions added to Walt Disney World that I highly recommend. In EPCOT,
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a favorite amongst planDisney panelists. I like it so much, I buy a Single Lightning Lane Pass and get a Virtual Queue so that I can ride it twice. Check out TRON Lightcycle / Run and Tiana's Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom Park. And for dining, don't miss Rodeo Roundup BBQ in Disney's Hollywood Studios. It is an immersive restaurant in Andy's room with delicious all you care to eat family style barbecue that will make you yell "Yeehaw!"
I hope you have a magical visit! Stop back and see me if you have more questions because you've got a friend in me.
Magically Yours,
Keri