Hi Shalini! Welcome to planDisney! I can see that you are likely already en route to the most Magical Place on Earth, so hop on my magic carpet and let's get you an answer to your question!
Returning to the magic now requires both a
theme park ticket and a
theme park reservation to enter any of the
Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. While the ticket gets you through the gates, the reservation help Mickey and Minnie know how many people to expect each day. I know many Guests are using this system for the first time, so you came to the right place with your question. If you are able to plan, securing your ticket and reservation ahead of time will make for smooth sailing through those Main Entrance Gates. If you are planning more of last minute trip, you will want to keep your eye on that theme park reservation availability by checking the
calendar. You will be able to see availability for each park, as it can vary. While you can purchase tickets at the Main Entrance Gate, you would be subject to the same availability as shown on these calendars, so there is a chance you may not be able to enter the parks on the same day. I always encourage friends and family to keep their eyes on the calendar. Guests are always changing their plans, so reservations can (and often do!) open up!
One option you may want to consider is purchasing a Park Hopper ticket, which allows for hopping between parks after 2 p.m. If you had your heart set on visiting
Magic Kingdom Park but there is no availability, you could make a reservation for any of the other parks that have open reservations. Once you scan into the park you have a reservation for, the Park Hopper privileges will open up to you as soon as that clock strikes two!
I'll send a little pixie dust your way, Shalini! If you make it into the parks, be on the lookout for some special golden statues in celebration of Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary! You can even make it a fun game trying to find all 50 of the
Disney Fab 50 Character Collection. If you have a
MagicBand+, give them a little wave for an extra magical encounter!
If you have any more questions, you know where to find us! We are always here for you at
planDisney!
Magic awaits!
Tara