Guests visiting Walt Disney World ever since it reopened back in July 2020 have had to get used to a "new normal" at this park, with changes like the elimination of FastPass+ and physically distanced queues helping to keep all visitors safe at the resort in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, it looks like one of the restrictions implemented due to the pandemic is set to expire at the end of the year as Disney has officially announced that park hopping will be back at Walt Disney World as of January 1, 2021! However, though guests can now visit more than one park per day, the process is a little different than what guests may have been used to in the past. Here are some key changes: 

• Guests must still make a Disney Park Pass reservation for the first park they plan to visit AND enter that first park prior to visiting another. At this time, a park reservation is not required after the first park, however, reservation requirements are subject to change.
• Park Hopping will only be available during specific Park Hopper hours, which will start at 2:00 PM. each day and end at the park’s scheduled close time.

• Guests will continue to have the option to visit multiple parks as long as they have a ticket or pass valid for admission to that park on that same day. Please note that the ability to visit another park will be subject to the park’s capacity limitations.

• Theme park capacity limits will still be enforced and some parks may be unavailable at times due to crowd levels. 

Though the park hopping experience will look a little different in the new year, Disney has said that these modifications are designed to help the resort continue managing attendance in a way that fosters physical distancing. Additionally, it has been confirmed that other enhanced health and safety measures remain in effect into the new year, including face coverings required for all guests ages two and up.

The return of the Park Hopper option at Walt Disney World is definitely one that theme park fans have been waiting on since the reopening, and though there are some restrictions, it is certainly exciting to have this option return after being unavailable for so long. Will you be taking advantage of this newly reintroduced feature in the new year?