It has been a year since Disney closed down its theme parks due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was no small thing—as recently as 2016, Disney’s parks made up 40% of its annual income, so the company was understandably anxious to reopen as soon as possible—especially considering the closures came shortly after the 2019 bi-coastal openings of its major new Star Wars attraction, Galaxy’s Edge, which was projected to draw thousands of additional attendees to parks in California and Florida.
In June of 2020 Disney reopened two of its four Florida-based theme parks to tens of thousands of guests, with the last two parks opening not long after. At a time when Florida was seeing record numbers of COVID-19 cases, guests were still willing to risk it all for a piece of that Disney magic. And now, with vaccine distribution ramping up and park capacity restrictions going down, park tickets are once again selling out. Even if you’re not yet ready to brave the crowds, it’s time to start planning ahead if a trip is on your post-COVID wishlist: Now is the time to book your 2022 Disney trip, before the inevitable travel boom.
Plan a visit farther out for better odds of a dream vacation
Before you are able to do anything on Disney World’s site, you are hit with a warning at the top of the page: “Certain parks, hotels, restaurants, and other offerings may be modified or unavailable, limited in capacity and subject to limited availability or closure, and park admission and offerings are not guaranteed.” As of February 2021, Disney World was operating at just 35% of capacity. Some resorts, dining options, and park attractions are still not opening in order to to mitigate crowds and promote a safer park experience—not exactly what you’re looking for after dragging the whole family to Florida and spending hundreds on tickets and hotels.
So, wait a while: Disney’s CEO Bob Chapek believes herd immunity will greatly reduce the need for masks and social distancing at the parks by 2022. Chapek’s sentiment doesn’t mean park operations will be back to pre-pandemic “normal” by then, but some more of perks and comforts you remember from earlier visits may return, from certain dining options to increased resort availability.
Use the site’s reservation calendar to view park availability for the date of your trip. While there are still some slots open this coming summer, you can currently place reservations as far ahead as January 2023—and if things haven’t improved by then, grabbing a preferred room at the Grand Floridian will be the least of our worries.
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Know before you go
Before making any concrete plans, explore Disney’s “Know Before You Go” site, which offers in-depth information on the parks’ COVID-19 policies and offers tools to help you plan a safe trip. The “My Disney Experience” app has built-in features to customize your Disney trip, including up-to-date information on the regulations and procedures you’ll need to follow as a guest. Download this tool as you make your plans so you’re fully informed about what your trip might potentially look like, even months down the road.
Take advantage of all Disney’s planning features. The “planDisney” site has a ton of information about activities, special attractions, events, and more and can connect you with a “planDisney panelist” to answer any questions that arise along the way.
Make ticket reservations
To regulate park numbers and ensure social distancing all ticket buyers are also required to have preexisting reservations. The website indicates, “given the limited availability of park reservations, it is recommended that you make your theme park reservations immediately after purchasing your admission.” Once you’ve purchased a ticket use the Disney Park Pass reservation system to secure your spot. Again, given the uncertainty around the pandemic, it’s unclear when these restrictions may be further loosened—so it’s best to go in with your eyes open.
Disney offers a range of ticket options. You can buy a single day tickets, multiple day tickets, and park hopper tickets, along with a myriad of packages that include dining and special services. But even if you have a park hopper ticket, you will need to make a reservation for the park you are going to visit, which means your trip planning will need a certain level of attention to detail. Disney’s reservation restrictions state, “The ability to visit a park is subject to the park’s capacity limitations. At this time a park reservation is not required after the first park, however, reservation requirements are subject to change.” Make sure you have a back up plan for your second or third park in case your first choice is at capacity.
Choose an available resort
If you are looking forward to staying at one of Disney World’s many resorts, be aware that currently, only select resorts are available for booking. (Looks like my dream of waking up to a luxurious view of giraffes grazing at Animal Kingdom is on hold for now.) You can wait it out and see when your favorite room will be again become available, but you will run the risk of losing out amid the coming travel boom.
Disney has offered booking flexibility through April 30, waiving all cancellation and change fees. If this offer is extended, you may be able to change your reservation to your room of choice as resorts continue to open up.