Hello, Tracy! I'm so glad you've stopped by planDisney with your question.
The Walt Disney World
theme park availability calendar is broken down into three categories and I want to make sure you are looking at the right one for you. The categories are Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, Guests with tickets only and Annual Passholders. Each category has its own availability calendar to choose from. While there is not a waitlist to join, I do know that the calendar can change quite frequently. I've been able to snag some
park pass reservations for days that have been previously sold out by diligently checking back on the website. When I've done that, I've checked in the early mornings right when I've woken, around lunchtime and then again before going to sleep. I've even had luck getting a park pass reservation the night before. People do change their itinerary or even cancel trips altogether and this does open up availability at the theme parks.
If you don't want to take your chances, I actually suggest upgrading a standard theme park ticket to include the
park hopper option. Park hopping is where you can visit multiple Walt Disney World Theme Parks in one day. Park hopping just recently returned to Walt Disney World, at the start of this year, and I couldn't have been happier. It is actually my favorite way to spend a day at Disney. Right now, park hopping does look a little bit different than it did before.
Here's how it's currently working:
- Guests wishing to park hop must have valid theme park admission with the park hopper option
- Guests wishing to park hop will need to make a park pass reservation for the first theme park they wish to visit each day
- Guests will need to scan in and enter the theme park with the park pass reservation prior to continuing on to other theme parks
- Park hopping hours are currently from 2:00 p.m. until each park closes in the evening
So if you aren't able to make a park pass reservation for a particular park that you have your heart set on visiting, you can always hop over there later in the day and spend the whole afternoon and evening enjoying. To make park hopping a little bit easier for Guests at this time, complimentary park-to-park bus transportation is being provided. Once you are ready to park hop, and after 2:00 p.m., you can head out of the Walt Disney World Theme Park you are currently at and walk toward the bus stop area. You'll need to look for the bus stop marked for your next destination. There will be a Cast Member working this area and he or she will want to verify that you do, indeed, have the park hopper option added onto your ticket before you board the bus. This is a quick MagicBand or ticket card scan and off you'll go.
Tracy, I hope some pixie dust gets sent your way and you are able to secure a park pass reservation for the park you truly want to visit. If not, I do think park hopping is a great option for you. If you have any other questions before you go, please feel free to come back and
ask me.
Have fun!