Disneyland has just changed how park hopping works, with this new change going into effect soon. If you’re planning a visit to the Disneyland Resort, you need to know how this change is going to impact your trip.
Disneyland often makes policy changes based on crowd levels or guest feedback. Recently, Disneyland also made a change to how rope drop works based on crowd flow levels for fan favorite attractions. Keep reading for all the details on this newest change. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including a new closure at Disney Springs and full pricing and on-sale dates for Oogie Boogie Bash.
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Disneyland Park Hopping Change
Park hopping restrictions were put in place at Disneyland when the resort reopened in 2021 after the COVID pandemic. Guests were required to make a reservation for one park and could only switch to the other park after 1 PM. This was initially put into place as part of a broader crowd management measure. Then the policy was modified in February 2023, when the restriction was changed to 11 AM, and that has been the current policy in place since.
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Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure are located directly adjacent to each other, which makes park hopping incredibly easy. It’s just a simple walk across the esplanade that separates the two theme parks. Since park hopping is so easy at Disneyland, these restrictions have long frustrated guests who enjoy the easy access between the two parks.
Now, after roughly five years of park hopping restrictions, those limits are finally being lifted. Effective on June 9, Disneyland will be eliminating the 11 AM park hopping restrictions. Guests will be able to park hop between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure at any time.
While park reservations are still required, guests will not need to first tap into the park they selected when purchasing their tickets before they start park hopping. Park reservations are not too popular among guests, but Disney has confirmed they are here to stay. Earlier this year, former Disneyland President and current Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum cited them as an effective means of managing the workforce and balancing crowds among days of the week.
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Park hopping does remain subject to the crowd levels at the other park. If one park is at capacity, incoming park hopping guests will not be allowed. However, this is extremely rare and not a significant worry for guests unless they are visiting on one of the most crowded days of the year, like New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
This is such a positive change that improves flexibility and makes it much easier for guests to plan. It also reduces the pressure of having to plan your park hopping around a specific time and makes reserving Lightning Lanes much more efficient at the adjacent park. We are so happy to see this pandemic-era restriction finally removed.
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