These Are the Hardest Days to Make Disney World Reservations

It’s time to start planning your 2022 Disney vacation and, if you’ve been paying any attention, you’re going to want to plan ahead. Seriously! It can be really hard to make Disney World reservations this year and we’re going to help you out!

After the Disney World parks reopened after the 2020 closures, WDW introduced the Disney Park Pass Reservations. This new system requires all guests to make a reservation for parks on the days they want to visit. One of the biggest complaints about the reservations system so far is how days can sell out quickly. So, as we said before, plan ahead.

Now, before we talk about which days are the hardest to make Disney World reservations, just remember these are suggestions. In other words, your mileage may vary.  The reason you might want to get Disney World reservations early during these days is because of how busy parks can get. If you’re looking to make the most of your visit, follow these steps.

Visiting Disney During the Holidays

If you’ve ever been to Disney during the holiday season you know how busy it can get. We’ve experienced Disneyland during Christmas and it was madness. Madness I tell you! With the Park Reservation System, it is now harder to get into the parks during the holidays.

If you plan to travel to a Disney park during any major holiday season in 2022, we recommend grabbing your Park Pass reservations early and fast. Have a plan for where you want to go and when. Whether you’re visiting during a major holiday like July 4th or a minor holiday like Memorial Day weekend, you’re going to be in for it. Just be ready and prepared.

Visiting Disney During School Breaks

Your kids are on Spring Break and you can’t wait to get down to Disney World. Well, bad news — you’re not the only one to have this plan. Visiting Disney parks during school breaks can be wildly crowded. Last-minute Park Pass availability is going to be pretty tough to come by for mid to late April.

Summer Break is also going to be incredibly busy and lasts longer than Spring Break, of course. This means availability for park reservations can be even harder to get. Did we mention you should make your reservations EARLY?

Visiting Disney During EPCOT Festivals

EPCOT festivals are so much fun and well worth the visit. But it can be hard to get reservations if you’re not careful. The Flower & Garden Festival Runs through July 4th, 2022 and EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival begins shortly thereafter. If you want to visit an EPOT festival it might be wise to make a reservation sometime in the middle of the event as the beginning might be a lot harder to get.

A lot of folks like to be the first the experience events (especially Orlando locals). High demand for festivals likely makes getting a reservation much more difficult than a normal day at EPCOT. Weekends can also be pretty busy, so maybe look into a weekday visit at EPCOT.

Visiting Disney During runDisney Races

runDisney races are so much fun and add a new level of energy to the parks. BUT race weekends literally bring in thousands and thousands of guests onto property. This means higher demand for park visits and less opportunity for reservations.

The 2022 Springtime Surprise Weekend will take place from March 31st through April 3rd, 2022. The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend is set for November 3rd-6th, 2022.

Consider all the runners and their families pouring into the parks during runDisney weekends and the surrounding dates. Think ahead when planning your trip and maybe plan during a non-race weekend.

Visiting Disney During Grand Openings

If there’s one thing we love it’s a new attraction at Disney World! If you’re one of those people who has to experience new attractions the day they open to the public, you GOTTA be on top of the reservation. Perhaps more than any other time.

For instance, the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind coaster is currently scheduled to open on May 27, 2022! That’s going be a high-demand, busy date. Because of an agreement with Marvel and Universal, Marvel themed rides are not permitted in Disney parks East of the Mississippi. Fortunately, Guardians of the Galaxy is not a property included in that agreement.

Another big new ride that is currently being built in Disney World is TRON Lightcycle Run in Magic Kingdom. While Disney hasn’t released an official opening date for this new attraction, it’s going to be a heck of a time getting reservations for the date the TRON Lightcycle Run opens up.

So if you’re planning a trip to Disney World anytime in 2022, be sure to grab your parks reservation ASAP! You do not want to miss out and be disappointed.

For more tips on your next Disney vacation, listen to the Parks Academy podcast.