As we get settled into the new normal for Walt Disney World Annual Passholders, we’re still seeing some confusion around why 2pm is still an important time for Passholders to remember. In this article, we’ll talk about why 2pm was so important in the past, and why you should keep it in mind in the future – even though Park Hopping is available all day long now.
Park Hopping (January 2021 – January 2024)
Passholders and Disney World guests have typically associated 2pm with Park Hopping. When Disney World brought back Park Hopping in January 2021, they only allowed guests to park hop starting at 2pm. This was originally announced as a limitation due to physical distancing concerns as Disney World advanced through a phased reopening, but it was eventually kept longer than needed to allow executives to employ yield management strategies.
Finally, Disney World removed the 2pm restriction on Park Hopping on January 9, 2024. This meant that Annual Passholders and anyone with a Park Hopping entitlement on their ticket could hop between Disney World theme parks anytime they’d like during the day. For Annual Passholders and guests with a Disney Park Pass requirement, you still have to tap into your reserved theme park first before you can park hop.
Park Reservations & the “2pm Rule” for Park Access
Back in April 2023, before Park Hopping changes were announced, Disney World introduced a 2pm rule for Annual Passholders. It’s this 2pm rule that is still in effect today and why Passholders should still keep that time in mind when planning a visit to the theme parks. Here’s the “2pm Rule” as announced back in February 2023 (to take effect April 2023):
Beginning April 18 [2023], Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will be able to visit the theme parks after 2 p.m. without needing a park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom Park. Pass blockout dates will continue to apply like they do today. While the theme park reservation system remains important to manage attendance in our parks, especially on busier days, we realize our Passholders enjoy more spontaneous visits – and this change will make that possible.
While the 2pm rule was birthed from the previous 2pm Park Hopping restriction, it is still in effect today, and still at 2pm – even with the return of all-day Park Hopping. So, how does that apply to theme park access for Annual Passholders in 2024?
Disney Park Pass, “Good-to-Go” Days, and the 2pm Rule
The 2pm rule is still important to remember for Passholders who plan on visiting the parks later in the day. Here’s how the 2pm rule interacts with the Disney Park Pass system and “Good-to-Go” days for Annual Passholders in 2024:
- If it’s a “Good-to-Go” day, simply stroll into whatever theme park you’d like at any time on a day when your Annual Pass grants you access to the parks (not a blockout day)
- If it’s after 2pm and you aren’t visiting Magic Kingdom on the weekend, simply stroll into whatever theme park you’d like on a day when your Annual Pass grants you access to the parks (not a blockout day)
- If it’s not a “Good-to-Go” day, and you want to visit the theme parks before 2pm or Magic Kingdom on the weekends, you must make a Disney Park Pass theme park reservation
As you can see, even though Annual Passholders no longer have to consider 2pm when it comes to Park Hopping, it’s still an important time to remember when planning your visit and making Disney Park Pass theme park reservations.
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!