Hi Rob,
You are correct that
date-based tickets no longer require a theme park reservation. There is a slim chance that the park you wish to visit will reach capacity and you will not be allowed entrance. I always check the
theme park reservations calendar to see if the park I wish to visit is starting to run out of park reservations for those who are required to make them. If they are sold out, then Disney is expecting large crowds since they have already factored in the number of date-based tickets sold. You have already purchased a date-based ticket so you are guaranteed admission to one of the theme parks but if there is a specific one you want to visit that day then you will need to have a plan.
Don't worry, just because reservations are sold out does not mean you will not be able to get into the theme park of your choice. It just means that you should probably plan to get there earlier in the day to ensure that you arrive before they reach capacity limits.
Magic Kingdom is typically the first theme park to run out of capacity during holidays and weekends. It looks like they are selling out of 1-day park tickets for the first week of April but that is likely due to Easter weekend crowds. If you want to visit Magic Kingdom on April 3rd or 4th, I would plan to arrive early so you beat the crowds and enjoy the theme park before it gets super busy in the afternoon.
For days that I know are going to be busier, I like to make sure I have advanced dining reservations to ensure we have a chill place to relax and have a bite to eat for dinner. At Magic Kingdom, my favorite spot to relax is
Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen. The drinks are killer, the skippers are hilarious, and the food is both adventurous and decadent.
Happy Planning
Jenna