RUMOR:
Disney Considering Afternoon Entry Windows for Annual Passholder Park Pass Reservations, No Impact Expected for Park Hopping
According to BlogMickey.com sources, Disney is considering adding “afternoon entry windows” to the Disney Park Pass reservation system for Annual Passholders. While plans are being thrown around, nothing here is considered final, so take it with a grain of salt.
Recent updates to the Disney World website could indicate that Disney will implement entry windows for the Disney Park Pass system that would apply to Annual Passholders. Some of the ideas being tested are a 12pm entry window and a 5pm entry window in addition to an “all-day” entry window that begins at park open.
One way that Disney could use the new system is to devote a small ratio of “all-day” entry windows for Annual Passholders per day and a larger ratio of 12pm or 5pm (or any other time of their choosing) to spread out demand at their theme parks. Reportedly, the new entry window Park Passes would not count against your Annual Pass type allocation. That is, unless you get an “all-day” Disney Park Pass, a half-day Park Pass would not count against the number of Disney Park Pass reservations that you’re allowed to hold at one time.
It’s important to note that the current rumor that we’re reporting on does not include a Park Hopping Disney Park Pass requirement. That means that if you get an “all-day” Park Pass, you will still be able to hop to any park of your choosing at 2pm without the need to make additional Park Passes for the parks you’d like to visit. It’s assumed that a half-day Park Pass would also allow Park Hopping after 2pm, but that is less clear.
Recent
updates to the Disney Park Pass portal on the Disney World website include updated language that is meant to be dynamic based on what Park Pass type you will select. In the screenshot below, you can see that a “Day Visit” label has been added to indicate that you are selecting an “all-day” Park Pass. Disney is reportedly considering the verbiage of “Afternoon Entries” to indicate that you would be selecting a Park Pass that doesn’t include entry before a specific time.
It’s also important to note that these are
entry reservations, not time frames that you are allowed to visit before being kicked out of the park. If you get a “Day Visit” (“all-day” Park Pass), you won’t be asked to leave when the 12pm or 5pm entry windows open. Instead, think of the Afternoon Entries as the earliest possible time you can enter. You’d be able to enter a theme park anytime after your entry window opens.
Ultimately, this sounds like a system that would allow Disney to further control when a Passholder might be able to visit a theme park.
*click for more details
