Disney Park Pass Theme Park Reservation System Here To Stay. . . .Until 2023

Back in July of 2020, when the Walt Disney World theme parks reopened after an extended closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, processes were put in place to keep guests and cast members safe. One such process was called the Theme Park Reservation System. SImply put, the system required ticketed guests to make a reservation at the theme park they would like to visit for each day of their trip. These reservations were based on availability that varied depending on your ticket type.

The goal of the Theme Park Reservation System seems to be a simple one; facilitate the mitigation and control of crowd levels. With the parks continuing to operate at limited capacity, it only makes sense to have a tool that can assist with this. The Theme Park Reservation System is that tool.

Now, as is the case with lots of Covid-19 related changes to the Walt Disney World Resort, it’s probably safe to say that many people were anticipating the speedy pullback on the Theme Park Reservation System. This is not only because people are so very done with the long list of changes and cutbacks that have come as a result of the pandemic, but also because calendars showing which parks were available had only been extended out through September of 2021. However, the date was soon extended until January 2022 and then, this week, all the way through January of 2023.

Of course, with tensions being high and the internet being what it is, the news of this Theme Park Reservation System extension into 2023 came with a mixed bag of opinions. There are some who feel like the extension into 2023 is unnecessary and nothing but a hassle for guests trying to plan their vacations. Others aren’t surprised by the extension in the least, noting that many of the changes at Walt Disney World [to include the Theme Park Reservation System] were put in place “until further notice”.

As for me, I’m in no way surprised that the use of the Theme Park Reservation System has been extended into January of 2023. With no definitive end to the Covid-19 pandemic on the horizon and many challenges still being faced with vaccine distribution, it makes sense that Walt Disney World theme parks would continue to limit crowds for the duration of 2021 and the length of 2022. It also makes sense to me that the Theme Park Reservation System would be extended out until January 2023 as a precaution and then pulled back if it was no longer necessary. After all, it’s easier to put something like this in place and then remove it than it is to remove it and put it back in place. I’d love to hear what you have to say though! Do you think that extending the Theme Park Reservation System is a good thing? What is your opinion of the system? Let us know in a comment below!