In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Disney CEO Bob Chapek was asked about what technologies and protocols might stick around in a post-pandemic Disney Parks experience. Here’s what Chapek had to say about the Disney Park Pass reservation system:
[We’ve introduced] a new reservation system that is going to enable our guests to have a great time no matter when they choose to come to Disney.
Of course, nobody ever wants to go through a pandemic, but our teams here have been hard at work making sure that when we reemerge, that we’re going to do so in a way that is actually going to improve the guest experience even versus a pre-pandemic situation.
While the comments from Chapek are not nearly as succinct as the comments made by Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro last summer when he said that the reservation system was “here to stay”, Chapek’s comments certainly do indicate that the reservation system will be around for the long term.
Of course, the next step in determining how restrictive a reservation system will be in the future, we need to have a discussion on Disney World capacity:
It is very likely that when Disney is able to return to 100% capacity, booking a Disney Park Pass will be far less of a hassle than it is today. Going back to a pre-pandemic environment, the Disney World theme parks would only hit capacity on a handful of days, and even then they would often open up after a few hours of closure.
That said, the Disney Park Pass reservation system becomes a far more valuable tool for Disney in a post-pandemic environment. By knowing exactly how many guests intend on visiting a theme park on any given day, they are able to more efficiently staff and optimize their theme park operations. While the Disney Park Pass reservation system will likely be a small inconvenience to guests in 2022 and beyond, it will be invaluable for Disney. It’s for those reasons that we believe it will stick around.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!