Annual passholders at Walt Disney World snapped up all available spots for the resort's preview days within minutes of them becoming available this morning.
The AP preview days on July 9 and 10 were booked so fast that many annual passholders complained online that they either did not get or did not see the email message from Disney with sign-up instructions before the reservations were gone.
Magic Kingdom and Disney's Animal Kingdom reopen officially on July 11, followed by Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios on July 15. All parks will be operating at reduced capacity, due to the need to support safe social distancing in all attractions. That's led Disney to not reopen certain attractions, including high capacity live shows at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Annual passholders earlier had taken up all reservation spots at all parks available to them through July 27, and all spots at some of parks through August 12, according to the Disney Park Pass availability calendar.
Disney opened its mandatory advance reservation system for park visitors before opening reservations for the AP preview days. If Disney was hoping that would take some pressure off demand for the preview days, well... maybe it did, but it didn't take enough pressure off to keep those reservations open for very long. July 9 and 10 will be for annual passholders exclusively, but once the parks open to all, it's becoming clear that Disney is holding back significantly fewer spots for AP holders in comparison to resort hotel visitors and daily ticket holders.
Hotel visitors have booked all spots available to them at some, but not all parks during the first week of the parks' reopening, with all parks available after that. All park days remain available to regular ticket holders at this time. Annual passholders may reserve up to three days at a time, while resort guests can reserve for their length of stay.
In other Disney World reservation news, the resort is planning to reopen dining reservations for select guests, starting tomorrow. Those who had made dining reservations for dates through September 2, but had them canceled due to the closure of the resort, may make reservations again from 60 days in advance of their arrival, starting June 30. Dining reservations will reopen for all other guests "at a later date," according to Disney. Guests looking to make reservations for in-park restaurants also will need to reserve park admission for that date. A restaurant reservation will not guarantee park admission.
Select restaurants in Disney Springs are accepting reservations from all guests at this time, up to 60 days in advance.
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When you have a premium level pass it is good for every day, but if you can only go 3 days a month (or worse) then the value of your pass is decreased by 90%.
I got my e-mail, but in no way was I interested with the passholder preview days.
I went online last night and booked a day at DAK for Sept 24th. As you can tell I'm in no rush to get back, and will obviously see how everything's going come late September.
The process was easy and straightforward, and my day booked appears as would have a FP+ on the MDE app on my phone. Not sure how many days I could have booked, but for now 1 was going to be sufficient. And yes, I've decided not to cancel my Disney pass :)
I also checked SWO and pretty much every day is open for booking. I looked as far ahead as October, and the calendar still shows the park closed Tuesdays and Thursdays. I didn't book a day as I've been told if you turn up without a reservation, and the park is quiet, they just book you a day there and then and you can enter the park.
WDW has lost its way. The core values that helped guide them for years when making balanced business decisions is no longer important or relevant to their BOD’s or shareholders. They have forgotten what’s most important, the families.
Sad to see because at one time it was probably the happiest place on earth.
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I did NOT get any e-mail from Disney. I have a Platinum Plus pre-paid pass, and they didn't even send me a notification. So, Obviously I didn't get a reservation for either day. This makes me feel as if they don't really care. It wasn't just first come-first served, and it wasn't much of a lottery selection. I am very disappointed!