Plan Your 2022 Disney Vacation Now
It’s been a year since Disney closed their theme parks due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was significant – as recently as 2016, Disney parks accounted for 40% of its annual revenue, so the company was understandably keen to reopen as soon as possible, especially since the closure happened shortly after the two waterfront parks opened in 2019. a major new Star Wars attraction, Galaxy’s Edge , which was to attract thousands of additional visitors to parks in California and Florida.
In June 2020, Disney reopened two of Florida’s four theme parks to tens of thousands of guests, with the last two reopening shortly thereafter. At a time when Florida had a record number of COVID-19 cases, guests were still willing to risk it all for a piece of Disney magic. And now, with vaccine distribution increasing and parking restrictions decreasing, park tickets are on sale again. Even if you’re not ready to challenge the crowd just yet, it’s time to start planning ahead if the trip is on your post-COVID wishlist: now is the time to book your trip to Disneyland 2022, before the imminent travel boom.
Plan your trip further away so you have a better chance of your dream vacation
Before you can do anything on the Disney World site, you will see a warning at the top of the page: “Certain parks, hotels, restaurants, and other offerings may be subject to change or unavailability and are limited in capacity and availability. or closure and entry to the park and offers are not guaranteed. ” As of February 2021, Disney World was only 35% busy . Some resorts, restaurants, and park attractions are still not reopening to reduce crowds and ensure a safer park experience – not exactly what you’re looking for after bringing your whole family to Florida and spending hundreds on tickets and hotels.
So, wait a bit: Disney CEO Bob Capek considers that the collective immunity will significantly reduce the need for masks and social distancing in the parks by 2022. Czapek’s mood does not mean parks will be back to pre-pandemic “normal” by then, but some other perks and amenities you may remember from earlier visits may return, from certain dining options to increased availability at the resort.
Use the booking calendar on the website to find out about the availability of the fleet for the date of your trip. While there are still open spaces this summer, you can currently make a reservation until January 2023 – and if things haven’t improved by then, getting your preferred room at the Grand Floridian will be the least of our worries.
Know before you leave
Before making any specific plans, check out Disney’s Know Before You Go site, which provides detailed information on 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 trip to Disneyland, including up-to-date information on the policies and procedures you need to follow as a guest. Download this tool as you make your plans so that you are fully aware of what your trip could potentially look like, even after a few months.
Take advantage of all Disney scheduling features. The planDisney website contains a wealth of information on activities, special attractions, events and more and can put you in touch with a planDisney panelist to answer any questions that arise along the way.
Make your ticket reservation
To regulate the number of parks and ensure social distancing, all ticket buyers must also have advance reservations. The website states: “Given the limited space in the park, it is recommended that you book the theme park immediately after purchasing your ticket.” After purchasing your ticket, use the Disney Park Pass booking system to secure your seat. Again, given the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, it is unclear when these restrictions could be further relaxed, so it is best to enter with your eyes open.
Disney offers a wide variety of tickets . You can buy tickets for one day, tickets for several days and parking tickets, as well as many packages that include meals and special services. But even if you have a hopper park ticket, you will need to reserve the park you intend to visit, which means that some attention to detail will be required when planning your trip. Disney’s booking restrictions state: “Access to the park is subject to park restrictions. Currently, fleet reservations are not required after the first fleet, however reservation requirements are subject to change. ” Make sure you have a backup plan for your second or third fleet in case your first choice is full.
Choose an affordable resort
If you’re looking forward to staying at one of Disney World’s many resorts, please be aware that only select resorts are currently available for booking. (It looks like my dream is to wake up and admire the gorgeous view of the giraffes grazing in the Animal Kingdom for now.) You can wait and see when your favorite room becomes available again, but you risk losing out with the impending tourism boom .
Disney has offered booking flexibility through April 30 , waiving all cancellation and change fees. If this offer is renewed, you will be able to change your booking to a room of your choice as resorts continue to open.