Hey there, Brooke!
We're so glad you decided to bring your question to planDisney. I'm happy to help!
I don't have personal experience with park planning passes, but I reached out to a helpful Cast Member via the online chat to gather more information. I spoke with Norma, who explained that park planning passes act like a placeholder for your tickets, and allow you to book
Lightning Lane Passes within your eligible booking window, before your actual tickets are available to download. This might be for package reservations at select resorts like Walt Disney World Swan or Dolphin Hotels, where tickets aren't downloaded for 3-5 days prior to check-in. Norma indicated that you do not need to make
theme park reservations for park planning passes associated with these types of room and ticket packages, as they are date-based tickets.
If you have a different ticket type or just want to double-check that all your Donald Ducks are in a row, so to speak, I recommend reaching out to a
Cast Member by phone to discuss your ticket specifics. I see that you are a Florida resident, so it's possible you may be a new Annual Passholder and need to follow some additional guidelines before your visit later this month.
Once you're on-site and through the turnstiles, be sure to set aside some time to experience
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, which kicks off on January 16. I can't wait to enjoy the color, interactive art, and the beautiful cuisine on my own upcoming visit!
Brooke, I hope this helped. Please come back and see us again soon.
Magic and memories,
Amy