Planning to go to Walt Disney World soon? Watch out as Mickey and friends are reversing a significant pandemic-era change.
Starting January 9, guests will be able to park hop at any time during park hours, subject to capacity, the Florida resort announced Wednesday.
Currently, guests must wait until 2 p.m to switch parks, a pain point for visitors missing the flexibility they had before the pandemic.
According to Walt Disney World, this will go into effect on the same day that two other much anticipated changes, the lifting of reservation requirements for most Disney World guests and the reinstatement of the prepaid Disney Dining Plan, go into force.
Beyond that, there will be more adjustments, including two that will take effect immediately – parking price increase and annual pass price increase.
Disney World’s Parking Fee Increase
Standard parking at Disney World’s theme parks will increase from $25 to $30 beginning Wednesday. That is the same as the starting parking fee at SeaWorld Orlando, and the regular parking fee at Universal Orlando Resort.
Guests staying at Disney’s resort hotels are entitled to complimentary parking. It’s also free for Disney Springs visitors who visit the shopping, dining, and entertainment complex rather than the theme parks.
Disney World’s Annual Pass Increase
The prices of all four annual passes increased overnight as well. The top-tier Disney Incredi-Pass is now $1,449 USD. This is a $50 increase from $1,399.
The Disney Sorcerer Pass is now $999, a $30 increase from $969. It is exclusively available to residents of Florida and Disney Vacation Club members.
The Disney Pirate Pass is now $799, a $50 increase from $749. This is exclusively available to Floridians.
Moreover, the Disney Pixie Pass, which is likewise only available to Floridians, has increased by $40 from $399 to $439.
Existing yearly pass holders can renew at a discounted rate.
“We are constantly adding new, innovative attractions and entertainment to our parks and, with our broad array of pricing options, the value of a theme park visit is reflected in the unique experiences that only Disney can offer,” a Disney spokesperson said in a statement.
Prices for standard, dated tickets, which are what most guests have, remain unchanged.