Hi Ry and welcome to planDisney!
Walt Disney World is still using
Theme Park Reservations, which means you have to reserve the park you would like to visit in advance. If you see that the park you're wanting is not available, you can make a reservation for another park and, if available, park hop after 2:00 PM. Park hopping is subject to availability, but I have rarely seen park hopping halted except for on really popular days like Christmas Day and July 4th. If you plan on park hopping, please know that there is a chance that your desired park might not be available to hop to that day.
Theme park reservations do fluctuate, so if you find that the park you initially want to visit is full, check back another time. I have been able to switch my park reservations in the days leading up to my trip, so it definitely is worth occasionally checking park availability before your vacation. I do suggest making a reservation for another park, just in case the one you want doesn't become available.
If you plan on park hopping during your upcoming vacation, make sure you have added the Park Hopper Option to your
theme park tickets. This gives you more flexibility and more magic to your visit. I love being able to stroll down Main Street, U.S.A. in
Magic Kingdom Park in the morning and end my day walking around World Showcase in
EPCOT.
Don't forget to also make your
Disney Dining Reservations. These can be made up to 60 days in advance of your vacation. There are so many fantastic restaurants to choose from and quite a few of them book up quickly, so it's nice to have a game plan of where you would like to eat at that 60 day window.
'Ohana in
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort is my favorite restaurant for dinner. The Polynesian flavors melt in my mouth, especially the pork dumplings. I can't get enough!
Please stop back by and visit if you have any additional vacation planning questions.
Have a magical day!
Leslie