Hi Amy, welcome to planDisney!
A lot has changed since my first Walt Disney World Resort vacation in the 1980s, and I'm not just talking about my age and hairstyle. Cinderella Castle has had
several makeovers, most recently as part of the
50th Anniversary Celebration. The carousel of progress has also changed the way Guests access the magic of the four theme parks, so let's go over some important information that will help you prepare for your upcoming trip.
All Guests over the age of three require three things to enter a Walt Disney World theme park: valid admission, a theme park reservation, and a method of entry. When you purchase theme park tickets
online these days, you're not usually purchasing a physical ticket, but an entitlement that gets linked to your My Disney Experience account. Part of the purchase process requires you to declare how many days you will be visiting a theme park, the start date of your ticket, and whether or not you want to include add-ons like the Park Hopper Option or Water Park and Sports Option.
Once your tickets are
linked to your My Disney Experience account, you need to reserve your spot at a theme park by making a
theme park reservation for each person for each park day. If you have tickets with the Park Hopper Option, you only need to make a theme park reservation for the park you will be entering first each day. You should complete this step as soon as possible, even without a physical ticket in hand.
When it comes time to enter a theme park, Amy, you'll need one of the following methods of entry to hold up to a touchpoint: MagicBand, MagicBand+, Disney MagicMobile pass, or admission card. I like
MagicBands because they're hands-free and don't require me to sift through my park bag or wallet. New MagicBand+ designs should be purchased in advance because they require
charging, linking, and pairing with a mobile device. I like Disney MagicMobile passes because they can be downloaded for free in the
My Disney Experience mobile app (three small lines at the bottom right of the home page -->
Disney MagicMobile). I like admission cards because they don't require a charge and make great souvenirs. Admission cards can be obtained at any Walt Disney World park ticket window or at the
Disney Ticket Center at Disney Springs. Be prepared to show your ticket confirmation email, the credit card used to make the purchase, and a valid photo ID. You can also click "See more delivery options" and select one of the shipping options during checkout if you'd like to receive admission cards in the mail.
In addition to park entry, your method of entry can be used to tap in at
Lightning Lane entrances and with Disney PhotoPass photographers. Please reach out to me
directly if more information about either of those topics would be helpful.
Plan magic; planDisney.
Jennifer