Amy,
Thanks for sending me your question!
I understand your concern. Visiting Walt Disney World at what is the busiest time of the year can raise concerns about not getting into the parks. While closures due to reaching capacity do not occur all that often, you would hate to get caught outside the gates on such a fantastic vacation.
To your question, getting into a theme park is not reliant upon where you stay. Being a Disney Resort guest does not necessarily guarantee you a spot in the park over a guest staying off property. While selection of Theme Park Reservations with the
Disney Park Pass System are broken out into the three categories of Annual Passholders, Disney Resort Hotel Guests, and Existing Ticket holders, as long as you have a theme park reservation for a specific park, you can get into that park!
Park hopping at a busy time of year is a different matter entirely, but if you have a theme park reservation for a park, you can get in there that day. Even on busy days you are not required to arrive at the park's opening time. It is probably advisable you get there sometime in the morning or early afternoon, of course, but a reservation is a reservation.
By the way, you can make theme park reservations for your visit right now! I just checked the
Disney Park Pass Availability Calendar a few minutes ago, and regardless of which of the three groups you fall into, all four theme parks are available for each of the days of your trip. So go get those reservations now, and you can relax in knowing that you are all set.
Of course, now the important planning work begins.
Where to eat! Those are the questions you should
send me next. That is where the fun really starts!
Have a Magical Vacation!
Doug