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Calling all Walt Disney World ticketholders: Reservations are disappearing quickly, so make yours now

April 04, 2021
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3 min read
Disney World Reopening
Calling all Walt Disney World ticketholders: Reservations are disappearing quickly, so make yours now
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Editor's Note

As of Jan. 9, 2024, most guests no longer need theme park reservations. <a href="https://thepointsguy.com/news/visiting-disney-world-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Learn more here</a>.

Unfortunate news for anyone hoping to book a last-minute trip to Walt Disney World. Reservations are booking up quickly.

The park reservation portal shows no reservation openings for theme park ticket holders from Easter weekend through April 9, 2021. And on April 10, only Epcot has availability.

Screenshot courtesy of Disney

Annual pass holders have a little more availability, but there isn't a day that all parks are available until April 15 as of the time of writing. This is a trend that's likely to continue as more Americans get the COVID-19 vaccine and hit the road.

As mentioned in our guide to Disney World's new reservation system, ticket holders must also now make a reservation in order to get into the parks.

When Disney World reopened back in July 2020, it did so with new procedures that included the switch to a reservation system for ticket holders, resort guests and annual pass holders to help Disney maintain its 35% capacity limit. Previously, there was no such thing as making a reservation to enter the Disney theme parks.

Related: New Disney mask requirements and more: 11 changes to expect at Disney World in 2021

Ticketholders can make a Disney World Park Pass reservation as soon as you have a theme park ticket or an annual pass for visits that start by Jan. 14, 2023.

Disney does make it easy to check out reservation availability with its calendar tool.

Related: Reservations required into 2023: How to use Disney World’s park pass reservation system

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Bottom line

As more people get vaccinated and warmer weather marks the beginning of springtime, travel is on the rise — especially to popular domestic destinations.

A trip to Disney this spring is still possible, but you'll want to do your best to plan early if you plan to hit up the more popular parks such as the Magic Kingdom. But if you're willing to wait, you could potentially have the chance to check out new attractions slated to open later this year — such as a Ratatouille ride that will open on Oct. 1, 2021, for Disney World's 50th-anniversary celebration.

Want to stay updated on all things Disney World? Make sure to sign up for our daily newsletter.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Why We Chose It

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.