New Reservation Policy Now in Effect for Disney World Annual Passholders at Magic Kingdom

Posted: Monday July 21, 2025 1:10pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Following the official debut of Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away on July 20, Walt Disney World’s updated reservation policy for Annual Passholders is now in effect as of July 21, 2025.

Passholders visiting Magic Kingdom must now hold a theme park reservation regardless of entry time, including after 2:00 pm, during a limited-time period. This policy has been introduced due to anticipated high demand driven by the new nighttime parade.

Magic Kingdom's Disney Starlight Parade in Pictures

Meanwhile, no reservation is needed for EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom for entry after 2:00 pm.

Summary of the Current Policy for Passholders

Magic Kingdom: Reservation required all day, including after 2:00 pm.
EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom: No reservation needed after 2:00 pm.

Disney states that this is a temporary change, and the standard policy will return at a later date. Once the limited-time period ends, Passholders will again be able to enter Magic Kingdom:

Without a reservation on a “Good-to-Go” day
Or after 2:00 pm, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom

Discuss on the Forums

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monorail81Jul 28, 2025

Funny. We normally do at least two off-season caribbean cruises a year. But, with the way prices have been lately, it’s been cheaper for us to do trips with our AP discount to WDW instead. Never thought I’d see the day.

TrainsOfDisneyJul 28, 2025

It was a theory that Len mentioned. And that theory doesn’t account for passholder gift cards, passholder hotel discounts, 40% off passholder restaurants, and atypical low crowds even on weekends. Cruise ships seem to be running extra full this year…. I love cruising Alaska and there are no deals to be had like usual. So maybe it’s a pendulum swing and people aren’t doing the parks this summer.

Chi84Jul 28, 2025

I did hear in another thread that the WDW park operations team was doing a better job with balancing wait times between LLs and standby. It could just be that Disney is handling the wait times better than anything to do with attendance.

HauntedPirateJul 28, 2025

Bonus points for the T2 reference.

monothingieJul 28, 2025

Meanwhile, at Universal Studios, Orlando… and yet the wait times at EU were still higher.

monothingieJul 28, 2025

97 vs 95? For a company full of “Storytellers”, it’s disappointing. They’re using the same excuse again this year. Dammit Bob it’s too dang hot.

Chi84Jul 28, 2025

These extreme heat waves we’ve been experiencing the last few years are likely having an impact on when people are choosing to visit theme parks. Probably not obvious to everyone ;)

HauntedPirateJul 28, 2025

2-3 degrees above normal is "insane"? The average high temperature during the month of July in Orlando over the past 15 years is 92F.

Andrew25Jul 28, 2025

For 3/4 of the year, the weather is fine. But July & August is unbearable with the heat and thunderstorms. Obvious why people have been skipping out on attendance these months.

monothingieJul 28, 2025

Darn those Disneys for building a theme park in Florida.

Chi84Jul 28, 2025

We’re experiencing extreme heat in Illinois also. Summers are becoming unbearable.

MickeyMania26Jul 28, 2025

was just going to say this, the extreme heat wave right now is insane, even for us over on the coast from Orlando.

Andrew25Jul 28, 2025

I think it's a combination of things... Temperatures are at their peak now Traditional afternoon thunderstorms are annoying to deal with for locals APs are heavily restricted General economy