Bob Chapek Discusses Park Reservations, Virtual Queues, and Park Capacity Numbers

Today, the Chief Executive Officer for The Walt Disney Company, Bob Chapek, spoke during the J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media, and Communications Conference. Chapek was invited to speak at the conference to discuss technology at theme parks and touched on issues such as the Disney Park Pass theme park reservations, virtual queues, and park capacity numbers.

Chapek on Disney Park Pass Theme Park Reservations

During today’s J.P. Morgan Conference, Chapek confirmed that the Disney Park Pass theme park reservation system is here to stay. This system, that is currently in use at Walt Disney World as well as Disneyland, requires all Guests ages 3 and older to make a reservation to visit the Parks in advance.

Us here at MickeyBlog previously reported that Walt Disney World was showing reservations available as far out as 2023 which gave us some idea that the system would not be going anywhere any time soon.

A park reservation system is in place at Disneyland
Image Credit: Credit

Currently, park reservations are pretty filled up for Walt Disney World for all of June and into July. However, as park capacity continues to increase, the availability of park reservations will as well. It is not uncommon for park reservations to be replenished periodically.

While the Disney Park Pass theme park reservation is here to stay, I believe it will just be a formality as we move forward. It might come in handy when you are looking to visit around the always-busy holiday season but if you were looking to go on a Sunday in August and the parks are operating at full capacity, it shouldn’t be hard to make your reservations.

A virtual queue is currently in place for Rise of the Resistance
Image Credit: Disney

Chapek on Virtual Queues

Just today, Disneyland announced that the much-anticipated WEB SLINGERS attraction coming to Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park would operate on a virtual queue. The virtual queue will be similar to the one that is currently used for Rise of the Resistance in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

This announcement backs up with Chapek touched on today during the Conference – that Virtual Queues will also stay in the “post-pandemic world of Disney.”

WEB SLINGERS opens with Avengers Campus on June 4, 2021
Image Credit: Disney

Virtual Queues are a very polarizing topic when it comes to Disney Parks fans – If you are able to get in one, you love them. But, if you aren’t able to get that coveted spot, you hate them.

One good thing is that Disney is continually trying to improve the Virtual Queue process to make it as accessible as possible to all.

Physical distancing measures are gradually being phased out at Walt Disney World

Chapek on Park Capacity

Chapek recently announced during their earnings call that Walt Disney World was actively increasing park capacity numbers at Walt Disney World. While he didn’t give an exact number, we know that before this statement, Walt Disney World Theme Parks were operating at a max capacity of 35%.

During today’s Conference, Chapek said that they are increasing capacity by “low double-digit” numbers. He didn’t elaborate on an exact percentage or what the timeline is for the capacity increases but it sounds like it is more of a gradual increase.

Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom
Credit: Disney

Now that we have updates from Chapek on park reservations, virtual queues, and capacity numbers, we are all patiently waiting for updates on some features we miss the most including FastPasses and dining plans at Walt Disney World as well as the MaxPass system at Disneyland! Make sure to keep it here with MickeyBlog.com as you can count on us to be the first to bring those exciting updates!

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