The Park Pass theme park reservation system has been in place in Disney World and Disneyland since the parks reopened following the COVID-19 closures.
Easter Crowds
The system helps Disney control capacity in the parks and know how many guests will be there each day. We’ve seen Disney executives comment on the park pass system in the past, how it’s being used, and how it could be here to stay, but today we got even more updates on the system and how long it could be sticking around.
On May 11th, 2022, Disney shared its quarterly earnings report for the second quarter of fiscal year 2022. In that report and during the earnings call on the same topic, Disney shared updates on their fiscal standing, Disney+ subscribers, and more.
During the call, Disney executives were also asked a number of questions, including some that prompted responses related to Park Passes.
©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters
Disney CEO Bob Chapek commented on the Park Pass system by noting that the Company is still encouraged by the way that attendance is trending in relation to the reservation system. According to Disney CEO Bob Chapek, Disney continues “to see really strong demand” and they’re “encouraged by the trends” that they’re seeing, particularly as they expect improvements to international visitation.
Chapek said, “We’re controlling our attendance…using our reservation system to optimize the guest experience. But that domestic yield strategy…is really exceeding our expectations.” Chapek shared that they’re encouraged by the continuation of the trends they’re seeing when it comes to things like the number of people signing up for Genie+, plus the willingness to come to the parks with the reservation system, which helps them manage their price per day.
Bob Chapek
According to Chapek, “That domestic yield strategy has really structurally allowed [Disney] to increase that per capita spending meaningfully without having to rely solely on raising ticket prices.” And, he added, “we don’t see any end in sight for that.”
©Disney
Christine McCarthy, the Chief Financial Officer of the Walt Disney Company also discussed Park Passes. According to McCarthy, Disney is “choosing to limit attendance using [the] reservation system.” McCarthy said that this goes back to Disney trying to “balance demand and attendance throughout the year, not have days when consumers in the parks aren’t enjoying the experience.”
McCarthy said attendance is something they’re controlling but they’re doing it to “have a better consumer experience.”
Christine McCarthy ©The Walt Disney Company
According to McCarthy, they will continue to increase attendance in the parks with capacity as things change. She noted how things have changed recently, like the return of “normal” character meet-and-greets and the return of nighttime spectaculars at Disneyland.
McCarthy also said that things like the opening of the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction in Disney World can potentially change capacity. McCarthy said that this is “all new capacity” and they’re looking forward to having guests experience that.
Even Journey Into Imagination has had a long line recently!
Neither Chapek nor McCarthy gave any indication of an end to Disney’s Park Pass system. And in fact, as we noted above, the Disneyland Resort President previously shared his thoughts on why Park Passes could be here to stay.
McCarthy had also previously noted how they are managing the parks differently now when it comes to attendance levels and talked about how they know how many people are going to the parks on a given day, which allows them to better balance load throughout the year, week, and month.
Crowds
So it seems Park Pass reservations could be sticking around for quite some time. Right now the Park Pass availability calendar shows available dates through January of 2024.
We’ll be sure to share any further updates with you.
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Whatever lies they’re telling….the parks are packed. The resorts are PACKED. In almost 25 years of trips (~80) I have never in my life seen every resort pool packed on a weekday, all day, during a non-vacation week. Disney Springs is PACKED. The reservation system is to keep track of guests. That’s it. If this were the case, why are they letting “good neighbor” hotel guests in? That should’ve ended, entirely. Ticket prices have gone up. Over $900 for my annual pass with blockout dates, and because I had to purchase photo pass. And no Tables in Wonderland. There goes my restaurant discount. So tell me again, how ticker prices have not gone up?
What’s off putting is that the person asking the questions, allowed Chapek or McCarthy to basically pass off a falsity as though it were true.
Has no one told these people that the guest experience and crowd levels are horrible?! They talk as if adding MORE people to the parks is somehow going to “increase consumer happiness” ????? How is that even possible? If a ride wait increases by 5 minutes, it makes the day far less enjoyable. More people = Less satisfaction and happiness.
As a longtime Annual Passholder, I absolutely LOATHE the park reservation system. Having to tap into one specific park and then not being able to park hop until 2pm has caused problems on every trip I’ve taken since it’s implementation. In no way has it enhanced the guest experience. If it really is a tool for minimizing staffing, could they at least determine a finite number of guests for all parks for the day and have people get a “general” reservation? Then guests could go to the park of their choice and park hop at will.
Yes the up take of the Genie + is up but that’s because you have to buy it to stand any chance of booking a rides, not once did he mention anything about the long queues on rides,the mayhem people have trying to book rides useing the app, the amount of times it kept on crashing , are none of the 10’s of thousands of complaints about the new booking system being read by him or is he just to afraid to realise what a massive mistake he’s made…wake up Bob.
Just came back from Walt Disney and the parks were crowded. One cannot physically see a reduction in capacity. The reservation system is simply a cost control tool to match the number of cast members to number of guests.
The real culprit is the fact that disney has not built any domestic theme parks to keep up with capacity in years. Increased population and international travelers has significantly increased demand over supply. Its much easier for Disney to increase pricing and use technology such as park reservation systems. In essence it’s profit at the cost of guest expeience.
This is a financial strategy that maximizes profits and will eventually stymie growth.
That’s fine Disney. That’s why we now spend much more at Universal and SeaWorld. We are gradually losing interest in Disney anyway.
I haven’t been back since the park pass system was added. I’m actually curious what the wait times are like for lines now versus before. If it seems to be curbing the times or crowd levels a bit then I’m all for it.
I am not a fan of the park reservation system. I don’t like a schedule to dictate my vacation. I am a last minute type person when it comes to selecting what park I want to do on any given day. Same thing goes for dining reservations…I usually just “wing it” with meals. Again, I don’t like to go by a schedule when I’m on vacation. I’m sure this works for other people…it just doesn’t work for me.
My hopes that people will stop going to the parks as time goes on. I am a DVC member who is finally going back to Disney after 2 years because of pandemic and honestly if I was not loosing my points I wouldn’t go. Reasons who ever heard of needing a reservation to get into a amusement park for each day you are on vacation. That to me is not a vacation and I would like to know if the Disney executives who think this is great would like it if they needed to make a reservation for every day that they take a vacation to see what they wanted to see. I use to be able to buy a annual pass no more not that I would want to since I am sure if they bring them back the cost will be astronomical. Then of course we now need to buy Genie + for everyone at $15. each per person per day and get up at 7am in morning each day to book my ride reservations. This is not a vacation. All Chapek and his cohorts care about is the money and the heck with the loyal people who visit more than once a year. Don’t get me wrong I understand they have stockholders they need to please but to say that this is the best thing for Disney will hopefully not last. This will be a every 2 to 3 year visit from now on instead of 2 times a year.
It’s almost like he doesn’t realize that the demand is seriously going to tank in 2024 when there’s no more major celebrations. This year they have the 50th and next year the disney centennial… and then… nothing major for a while.
Parks are doing very well NOW, mainly due to everyone having to put off traveling due to the pandemic. Now that vaccInes are more prevalent, people are visiting the parks more. That’s why it’s been so crowded lately. Once the fervor of the 50th, and the 100th next year, it should start to quie down a bit.
As an annual passholder, I hate the park pass system. The basic benefit of the annual pass is admittance to any park, at any time, without restriction. (Yes, I know, some passes have block out dates, I have the Platinum Pass.) They have taken that away, as well as other benefits, like Photo Pass and Tables in Wonderland, and little perks like magnets, special shopping events, VIP nights, etc. The excuse is that passholders don’t spend as much as day guests, but have they looked at what *out of state* passholders spend on a yearly basis? My husband and I have been coming to Disney 3 – 5 times a year, mostly staying in Disney resorts, eating in Disney restaurants, and spending stupid amounts of money on souvenirs, tours, special events and whatnot. But that is coming to an end. We are on our last trip for quite some time now, and won’t be renewing our passes when they expire. Disney has sent a message to us, loud and clear, that they don’t care if we go to Disney World any more, so we will happily oblige.
As ever, Disney’s sole concern and focus is what’s best for Disney despite how The Little People feel about it. Keep alienating your customers, however, and soon enough you won’t have them at all.
Peg said it best! We have been back several times since Park Passes were a thing, and I swear the parks have been MORE crowded. Make it make sense! My biggest qualm is Park Hopping—please please please at least start it earlier than 2PM!! You are limiting our vacations and it’s not fun to be controlled.
they’re doing it to “have a better consumer experience.” I’m thinking that these wildly over paid executives are really politicians placed in management positions. We should not expect to hear any truth from Disney for quite some time.
The only thing here is Disney making more money. Parks are packed to the hilt and people buy geni+ in a vain attempt to avoid the absolutely record breaking long lines on almost every ride and I went during February, the slow period. The gen+ was a total waste of money, especially if you can’t afford to stay in a Disney owned hotel. You spend your time with your face in your phone in the vain hope of snagging a spare geni+ pass hoping some will pop up so you won’t have to wait over 2 hours for something like the jungle cruise which we used to just walk on. The passes are snapped up by those staying in the Disney Hotels, literally within minutes since they get their chance at 7am and us peons have to wait til the park opens when they’re all gone. It wasn’t a vacation, it was 6 days of extended boredom waiting in lines and frustration that I couldn’t even enjoy the park ambiance because I had my face in my phone….and by the way, did I mention Disney Wi-fi reception is absolutely lousy? So you’re fighting that as well. Also, I agree with others. We used to go to whichever park we felt like going to that day. Who wants to regiment their time in the way the park pass system forces you too? I wish all would boycott the parks in protest of the park pass system, the fact they now make you pay for shuttles from the airport to the hotels, pay for parking at their hotels even for guests and pay for geni+ which used to be the free fast pass system.
I was at WDW at the end of April and found the Magic Kingdom to be very crowded with long lines for just about everything (I’m looking at you Dole Whip!). The employees were great, but struggling to stay caught up. If Disney is ever able to hire back more employees, it should improve. I was also at EPCOT, skipped the Genie + and just bought a Lightning Lane ticket for “Remy.” I was able to get on several of the attractions without too much of a wait, but it still seemed pretty crowded. When the representatives from the various countries are able to return to the World Showcase and work in the various pavilions, it will be a huge improvement. The current employees are fine, but it just ain’t the same. I wouldn’t want EPCOT to become a shopping mall with an admission fee.
Wow, people on here love to complain! As the world changes, everything can’t stay the same, and change is hard for people, I get it. I hope that the venting makes you all feel better, but if you can step away from your feelings and look objectively at the situation, things aren’t as bad you’re making them out to be, or at least the reasons for it aren’t. Who wouldn’t love to wake up at any hour, waltz into any park, and hop on their favorite ride with minimal wait? I sure would, but the realities of the popularity of Disney makes this impossible. And if that was the reality, the parks wouldn’t be as good as they are now. Do you think Rise of the Resistance gets built without crowds?
Scripture says you “Reap what you sow”…. I surely believe Mr Chapek and all those making Disney decisions are going to find out that scripture is inerrant and Disney is not exempt from this principle. People are attending now because we’ve been kept away from any “normal (or semi-normal) Disney experience” for two years. When this “make good” travel period is over, Disney will start paying the price for not only the park reservation decision, but for many other decisions that have been make over the past couple of years.
Chapek needs to go and take ALL HIS CHANGES WITH HIM! The Disney dream is gone. There is no happy ever after.
We need Magic Express, the Food Plans back now. And get rid of Genie.
Bring back Bob Iger now!!!!!!!!!!
Chapek likes to hear himself talk. He talks but says nothing. Our family and friends are so disappointed with Disney as it stands now.
“optimize the guest experience”
Does it, though? From everything I’m hearing, that’s not the case. It seems this more projection than reality. It’s optimizing profits–just admit it. We all know it’s the truth.
We were there in April and it was insane. Making park reservations is nonsense and that’s all people on all different sites are complaining about. Why were people buying ticket to get in the day of when online those days have been sold out?! We own a DVC but for the next 3/4 years I will be renting out my points and if these drastically overpaid buffoons at the top don’t fix things then I’ll be selling my DVC. If they think I’m paying thousands to be irritated they are sadly mistaken.
This was an earnings call, so of course Disney exec are going to to make it sound good. The fact is they are making money because they are charging for things that were free ( FP+), charging more for food & souvenirs and keeping a bare bones staff. I bet they could hire a 1,000 people tomorrow if they wanted but why do that when you can see how many people you can pack in a park in one day then over work your staff to try to accommodate them. Park reservations & Genie+ are in NO WAY about improving the guest experience. It’s about managing employee costs and squeezing more $$ per customer.
While I admit, I have no love for Mr. Chapek…but keep in mind. He walks a very fine line between investor equity and guest services. It is clear from the many cost cutting and perk revolving moves made by Mr. C., he is clearly trying to protect the shareholder, and failing miserably. Stock price from near 200 per share to under 115 last week. The stock is falling like a rock with no bottom in site. Many of the cost cutting perk revolking decisions were purely a move to help hold up the stock price. In the reality of the business world, the CEO serves the shareholder and is rewarded for it. Eisner knew how to balance the 2 for the first 15 years, Eiger was all about stock value, and Chapek is lost…
It seems to me that if the park pass system is here to stay, then since you can only park hop half the day (after 2:00), then the price of parkhopping should be cut in half.
We were at WDW in early April for a convention. A flight cancellation gave us an extra 2 days. We figured we’d make lemonade out of such lemons, but there were no park passes available for any park for either day, which was very disappointing.
Journey Into Imagination had a long line?! Get your affairs in order — the end is near!
I here in the Magic Kingdom as I write this and the Parks are more crowded than I’ve ever seen them. Disney needs to get back shows and entertainment that distract people from the lines and keep large numbers of people busy in one place for a period of time. Right now the rides are mostly all that’s available. I have a Das pass or I think we might pack it in.
Dear Disney,
I don’t think most working folks wants to be ‘managed’ while on vacation.
Best Regards,
Genie –
Me and my family were at Disney World for a week at the end of April. The parks were always jam-packed… every one of them. Wait times at many rides were extremely long (1-2hrs) on weekends and weekdays. Even the Skyliner had a greater than one hour wait at the end of the day on the two nights that we tried to take it. Restaurants were packed, with no available reservations other than the few we were able to get 60 days in advance, at times that really didn’t work for us!!!! The park pass system definitely does not work for us. Who knows what the weather is going to be 60 days in advance? Who knows how a two year-old is going to be on any day, 60 days in advance? The park pass system definitely does not work for us. Who knows which day our two year old is going to have an issue in the morning, as happened on one day during this most recent trip, Preventing us from getting to our first part of the day before 2 PM, So we could parkhop to our second park for one of our rare dinner reservations. So we had to go to the park that we no longer wanted to go to, back to the hotel, and then off to the park where we had the reservation. THAT IS BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It makes no sense. Customer service… NOT. Also… It sucks to pay for a park hopper pass where it actually makes your day harder. Especially if you don’t actually use it on a particular day. It’s all for Disney’s convenience and profit. So please stop shoveling us the BS. We used to travel to Disney 4-6 times a year from Pennsylvania, and I am sure spent more money in Disney than 95% of their park goers, on each of our trips. We now go once a year, and now we probably won’t even do that. Each of us (4) had an annual pass for the past 15-20 or so years. Now… Park tickets for one stay cost more than what we used to pay for an annual pass, right before the pandemic. Previously… Great for us and for Disney. We always stayed in deluxe hotels and always ate in the finest restaurants, and in the parks, and always bought every piece of crap you could buy in the parks, and on ShopDisney. I estimate we used to spend $40,000–$50,000 dollars a year at Disney, That is not including two Disney cruises a year, in concierge suites, totaling probably another $20,000/year x 7 cruises. NO MORE. I contacted DVC yesterday to inquire about selling my DVC membership. I’m sure I’m not the only one. Although we haven’t gone on a vacation to anywhere other than Disney for the past 15-20 years, that has now ended. We will now be visiting other parks, and the Caribbean instead of Castaway Cay. We feel ripped off by Disney. Smart move Disney.
International visitor (UK) here and previously a multi year annual pass holder. Typically we have two vacations a year at WDW, two weeks each. This crazy escalation of prices, excuses for park constraints and reduction in the value offered has made us think VERY hard about any future WDW visits. This year we are staying at Universal…
I LOVE the park reservation system and have noticed how the parks are less crowded than they once were, especially around Christmas. If you want to see the difference between the ‘old way’ of allowing as many people as can fit as possible and the new way of the reservation system, just look at the parking lots, especially Magic Kingdom. We’ve been there twice on a ‘sold out day’ and both times there were two entirely empty parking lots. Magic Kingdom was truly full of people, but we could move around and distinctly remember coming in the early 2010’s when the park was ‘sold out’ and you literally could not move in some places. So when you’re complaining that the parks are ‘packed’ just look at the parking lots and see how many spaces and entire lots are empty. That’s how many people USED to be in the parks on sold out days.
I hope the reservation system is here to stay, it helps us to plan out our days. If a park is sold out, get there early, do what you need to do, and get on to the next park or back to the resort.
He’s either completely out of touch with reality and real guests experiences or a bald face liar. Neither are good.
Not only is the system awful, the parks are still crowded, the lines are still too long; and because they haven’t rehired enough staff, it’s almost impossible to get help anywhere for anything. Oh, and their stocks have plummeted. We lost nearly a third of our stocks value since the parks reopened and that’s thanks to the idiocy Of Chapek and that woman who looks like a stereotypical Disney villain, Christine McCarthy. They’ve ruined the Disney Experience between them. We didn’t buy an annual pass this year as the visit we made before the last one ran out was so disappointing. The need to be on your phone all day to do ANYTHING is so off-putting. No wonder the stock prices are dropping. Horrible people who don’t understand the Disney spirit and apparently aren’t very good with money, either.
We visited in January. First visit back since 2019. Parks crowded. Very hard to get around because of the lines. We thought genie+ and lightening lanes were a rip off. Felt like we were cooling out jets more than in fast pass days. We will try one more time, before throwing in the towel. Very sad since we have visited WDW 25 times. Happiest place on earth? Not so much these days.
Seriously? That guests have “the willingness to come to the parks with the reservation system”? The reservation system is forced on us – there is no other way to get into a park now! It’s horrible and most people hate it.
Chapek has sucked every bit of happiness and magic out of the parks in his two plus years as CEO. ?
I love Bob’s comment, “…willingness to come to the parks with the reservation system, …” as if there was a choice!
I am DVC and AP, live out of state, and plan every aspect of our vacation months in advance (not so much for meals now…how about those 6 month advanced reservations!?!?!?!!) and I absolutely LOATHE the park pass system. And don’t get me started on Genie+, pay-per-ride and the insane forcing of using the APP for everything… are bathroom reservations next?!?!? We just returned from WDW yesterday from a 10-day trip. While we certainly enjoyed ourselves, the only way to experience the most popular attractions was to be out the door at 6:00 am to get to the park for early admission…unless we fork over more money for the extras, which don’t give you nearly the flexibility as Fast-Pass+ (which itself had some major flaws). Time for some PERKS, BOB!!!!!! Since joining DVC in 2007, and adding all the trips prior to that, the investment in Disney has been significant to say the least, and I have recommended Disney vacations to so many people….but not since these recent “changes”. Just because people are “willing” to spend the money and time at the resorts & parks doesn’t make it OK to continually grab more money, remove perks and spout fiscal return gibberish as justification.
Eric Johns: Comment sections are designed to let the feelings of the readers express their opinion. If its complain, let them complain. If its praise let them praise…if its to degrade and belittle people that disagree with you, just don’t waste the data in the comment section switch to Twitter. Just say you love the trajectory of Disney tell us why you think things are so great.
Hello! Money speaks the loudest! If you keep going to the parks, using Genie+, they will not listen to what you are saying. If you want things to change you have to stop giving them money through park attendance etc. Why would they go back to the old ways when they are making more money than ever in history? I agree that the parks are now overcrowded and the experience is diminished (that’s probably an understatement). That is why my family and I are no longer pass holders and no longer vacationing at Disney.
Classic Disney gaslighting. Park pass reservations have nothing to do with enhancing the guest experience. It’s all about Disney knowing where you’re going to be in order to reduce staff whenever possible and manage food and other supplies. These people are shameless trying to pass off these lies. I’d have more respect for them if they were like “Look, it’s not a charity. We’re here to make money, and if you don’t like it then don’t come.”
Happy to say that we’re voting with our wallets and going to Europe this summer. Disney’s pig-like money grabs made my decision very easy. They won’t see us until these issues are resolved and a Disney vacation becomes fun again.
I’ve been to Disney 50 plus times. Annual pass holder over 10 years. This is the worst I’ve even see Disney. Nothing that has changed in the last 2 years has been good. My family will not be renewing our annual pass or visiting Disney or Disney cruise again.
Honestly this one I do not fault Disney. All entertainment venues and I have worked a lot of sports and concerts base everything off of ticket sales. To expect them to never have any idea how many people might show up at a park is pretty unreasonable. Maybe they don’t spin it well for those that don’t understand the business. Of all the things people harp about this one I don’t get.
Chapel’s management of Disney has killed the magic of Disney in every way – no dining plan; no fast passes and making people stay in one particular park till after 2 pm etc etc. He is in denial as Disney stocks continue to plunge. Chapek needs to be fired. He is not good for Disney.
Agree with the comments regarding that Disney management are only interested in filling their own pockets
Customers are assumed to be thick and stupid
Perhaps we are
Bon Chapek needs to go! He has single handily destroyed the Disney experience since re-opening from the pandemic. The new annual passes are a joke. Only one is for out of state residents and the 3 in state have ridiculous black out dates. Now the only one available to purchase is the pixie dust pass which doesn’t work very well for a family of 4 where both parents have jobs and kids have school. We used to go to the parks 4-5 times a year when the kids were out of school but now even spring break in March is blacked out. The reservation system is totally unnecessary. It hasn’t helped with crowd control and it only makes the guest experience worse. It limits my freedom to visit multiple parks in a single day, it limits my dining and entertainment experience, it adds another thing I have to plan out before my trip, it takes away any opportunity to do a Disney trip on a whim, and the reservation system was sold as being a mechanism to limit crowds due to pandemic guidance which is no longer needed.
What a joke. We go to parks a lot being locals. Everything is packed. Long lines even if you can get ILL and genie+. Dining reservations impossible. Park hopping at 2:00? Ridiculous
More lies from these people
“We’re controlling our attendance…using our reservation system to optimize the guest experience”
Total BS! It’s not about crowd control, it’s about staffing, or should say the lack of staffing and Penny pinching. Instead of having a full staff every day at all times, they only schedule workers in accordance of the reservations. But as we can see, Bob and his minions don’t care about crowd control as the parks are crowded all the time. They only care about cutting corners in staffing just to save a few bucks.
As long as people are willing to buy tickets way in advance, make advanced reservations for parks, spend their day on their phone trying to get on rides or stand in line 2+ hours. I already have park tickets, so this year is kind of carved in stone. Next year I’ll hold off. See if it works better for me.
As long as people are willing to buy tickets way in advance, make advanced reservations for parks, spend their day on their phone trying to get on rides or stand in line 2+ hours, things will not change.I already have park tickets, so this year is kind of carved in stone. Next year I’ll hold off. See if it works better for me.
Love the comment that the world changes and people have a hard time with that. So I’m guessing you’re ok and going right along with gas prices these days? People can accept change…but people, that can see what’s going on, are certainly not approving of bad change or change for the worst.