So, you’ve now decided when to go to Disney, but, before you book your flights, hotel/house, rental car, and park tickets, you just need to check the availability of the Disney parks for the dates you want to go.
Since Walt Disney World reopened in July 2020, after shutting in March 2020 because of covid, Disney has introduced a park reservation booking process. So, to get in to one of its four parks you have to have both a ticket AND a park reservation.
So, before you book anything, make sure that the dates you’re planning on going into the Disney parks are actually available to you.
This process is not necessary for the Universal Orlando parks or Sea World.
Without making it any more complicated, you can “hop” to (visit) any park after 2pm without the need for a reservation. But your morning park does require a park reservation.
In our view it’s worth making a park reservation for each day that you’re in Walt Disney World, even if you know you’re going to visit a park in an afternoon. Plans can change, and, if they do, having a park reservation gives you a little more morning flexibility.
You can check Disney theme park availability on Disney’s Park Availability Calendar. If your days are all showing as green, then all four parks are available to you across each of the days.
However, at this point, you can’t actually book a space in a park until you have bought (and received) your tickets (most likely just a unique electronic confirmation code).
The availability calendar merely lets you know what availability there is across the four parks at that point in time.
If you’re booking a few months ahead and the availability calendar is all green, then it’s time to push the button and start booking your Disney vacation.
As an aside, Universal Orlando and Sea World do not have park booking processes; you just turn up with your ticket or buy your ticket on the day.
