NOTE: On May 8, 2023, Disney announced its biggest relaxation of park reservation rules to date: effective January 9, 2024, all date-based theme park tickets will not require reservations (but other ticket types may still require a reservation).

Disney had already announced that as of December 2022, all one-day one-park tickets would include a reservation automatically. And some annual pass reservation restrictions were lifted in early 2023.

The article below was originally published August 2020 and may now contain outdated information.

Disney’s Josh D’Amaro was recently interviewed by Roger Dow for The Dow Report.  D’Amaro, who is the Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, talks about the reopening of Disney’s theme parks around the world. He also speaks about the Disney Park Pass reservation system and how it may be here to stay

D’Amaro gives us some incite

The interview covers many topics, from how safety measures are being implanted at Disney parks to lessen the risks of COVID-19 to how Disney’s theme parks are so vital to local small businesses.

The entire interview is interesting, but one comment was particularly noteworthy. At one point in the interview, Roger Dow asks about the technologies that have helped Disney navigate through the pandemic.

D’Amaro discussed technologies such as contactless menus and Mobile Order, but he also reveals some interesting incites about the Disney Park Pass System for reservations.

What is the Disney Park Pass reservation system?

The new Disney Park Pass system requires Disney guests to make theme park reservations ahead of their arrival. For Annual Passholders, reservations must sometimes be made weeks or months ahead of time.

This new reservation system is meant to help Disney limit the number of people who enter the parks. By doing so, the idea is to encourage physical (social) distancing.

D’Amaro thinks Disney Park Pass Reservation System “Here to Stay” Beyond 2021

D’Amaro indicated that he thinks these new technologies will be around after the threat of COVID-19 subsides.

Disney has already changed its system so that Park Pass reservations are already the norm through September 26, 2021.

Josh D’Amaro stated “The technology doesn’t only help us during a time of a pandemic, but I also think it actually leads to a better cast and guest experience. So these are things that are helping us now, but I think they’re here to stay.”

Here’s the interview:

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Not everyone thinks the Disney Park Pass reservation system is better than the old one.  Some Annual Passholders find it limiting because they aren’t able to tour the theme parks like before the COVID-19 restriction.

Over the past week, Disney has been reallocating non-Passholder reservation spots to Annual Passholders, so things are improving!

We hope that life returns to normal soon. In the meantime, we thank you for reading our Disney Park Pass is Here to Stay post, and we hope that you and your loved ones remain safe!

Need help planning and booking your Disney World or Universal Orlando vacation? Look no further than The Vacationeer. This Disney travel agency will get you the best rates and make sure every aspect of your trip is as magical as possible.

For more information on Disney, see our Compare Disney World Resorts, Best Disney World Stroller RentalsDisney World Map, Magic Kingdom RidesEpcot Rides, and How Much Does a Disney World Vacation Cost pages.

Enjoy your Trip!