Covid changed how Disney World operated.
After a period during which the theme parks were closed, Walt Disney reopened them with many health precautions in place.
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There were mandatory health checks at the gates, and masks were required except when customers were eating or drinking in a stationary location. Lines were socially distanced and attendance was capped at well below normal levels.
Even the experience on some rides was different, to prevent people from infecting each other. "Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance," for example, required people to stay in one place during the shuttle portion of the ride. That affected their experiences since the views from each window are different.
In many cases the changes were small, but taken together they had a heavy impact on the experience of visiting each of Disney World's four theme parks.
In the time since vaccines were introduced, Walt Disney (DIS) -) has slowly returned to normal operations. Masks and social distancing are now unpleasant memories and near-full crowds have returned. (Disney has capped attendance at numbers slightly below prepandemic levels to improve the guest experience.)
For months, however, one pandemic-related restriction had lingered. Disney World ticketholders who paid the Park Hopper option used to be able to bounce among parks as they wanted.
You could, for example, have breakfast at Magic Kingdom, head to Epcot for lunch, then take the boat to Hollywood Studios to visit "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge" for some Blue Milk to wash it all down.
Park hopping disappeared for months during the covid comeback and then came back on a limited, afternoon-only basis. Now, Disney World has fully reinstated Park Hopping, dropping one of the last vestiges of the covid-related restrictions.
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Disney World brings back park hopping
Park hopping has always been a popular part of the Disney World experience. Disney offers four parks in Florida — Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom — and being able to travel among them as you want has always been a major perk (for people who pay the upcharge for Park Hopper tickets).
Park Hopping is a major benefit for mixed-age groups where maybe the youngest kids want a Magic-Kingdom-heavy experience while teens and adults might want to spend more time at the other three parks. With full Park Hopping, families can split up, visit the parks they want, and come back together for meals at an entirely different park.
"Beginning Jan. 9, 2024, guests with a ticket with Park Hopper benefits or an Annual Pass will be able to once again visit another theme park at any time of day during park hours (subject to capacity limitations)," Disney said in a news release.
"As a reminder, since returning in 2021, Park Hopper access has only been available after 2 p.m. each day. Now, there will be no more waiting – you can decide when it’s time to visit another park."
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On days when annual-pass holders need to make a theme-park reservation, they can park hop after entering at the park where they hold a reservation.
Disney World raising parking fees
In addition to bringing back Park Hopping, Disney World has also increased by 20% the cost of daily parking at its theme parks, to $30 a day from $25. That brings the company in line with what rivals Universal Studios and SeaWorld (SEAS) -) charge.
Disney World hotel guests still get free parking, as do annual-pass holders.
DISNEY WORLD DEALS: Make your Disney World, Disneyland, or Universal Studios dream a reality
"Walt Disney World is not increasing the price of its date-based theme-park tickets – the option the majority of guests purchase – this week," the company told TheStreet via email. "Walt Disney World has now offered its lowest ticket price for one-day, one-park tickets (at $109) for five years."
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