Hi, Sheila! Thank you for coming to planDisney with your question about
theme park reservations. A lot has changed earlier this year regarding who does and doesn’t need a reservation, so let me break down the latest and greatest to see if you need a reservation at all!
If you purchased a date-based 1-day ticket, a date-based multi-day ticket, or a vacation with date-based tickets, you no longer need a park reservation. What is a date-based ticket? A date-based ticket is one that requires you to pick a specific date (date-based 1-day ticket) or a start date coinciding with the beginning of your vacation. *The date-based 1-day ticket without the Hopper Option will require you to select the park you are visiting, in essence creating a reservation.
Tickets that still require theme park reservations would be Annual Passes, Student group tickets, Sport and Convention tickets, Military Salute tickets, and Florida Resident Disney Thrill tickets. If your ticket falls into one of these ticket types, you will want to check out the
reservation availability calendar before purchasing, but please know availability is subject to change.
Each ticket must be linked to an individual, so you can either have your own My Disney Experience account or an account profile managed by another account. It sounds like your account may be managed by a family member through their Friend & Family List. If this is the case, they can make a reservation on your behalf, you will simply need a method of entry (MagicBand/MagicBand+, Disney MagicMobile, or admissions card).
If you have a
MagicBand/MagicBand+, your family member can link your band to your ticket through their My Disney Experience account or App and you will be able to tap in at the entrance to the theme park of your reservation, or the theme park you would like to visit if you don’t require a reservation.
You can also download
Disney MagicMobile to your Apple or Android mobile device. Start by downloading the
My Disney Experience app, then selecting the menu icon (three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner), then Disney MagicMobile. Click the plus icon (+) and follow the prompts to add your MagicMobile pass to your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
If an Admission card is easier, you can visit the
Guest Relations window at any Walt Disney World Theme Park entrance or Disney Springs, and provide the friendly Cast Member with as much information as possible (Photo ID, ticket purchase confirmation email, payment method, etc.). They will provide you with a plastic card that can be used to enter the parks for the duration of your visit, and they are cool keepsakes to remember your amazing vacation!
I hope this helps, Sheila. If you have any additional questions, please feel free
to ask me directly, or submit another question to the amazing planDisney team!
Brent