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The School Vacation Crowds Are Coming as Multiple Disney Parks Are Sold Out

The past couple of weeks have been quiet at the Walt Disney World Resort, but the crowds are already back at the theme parks thanks to school vacation weeks, the holiday weekend, and national cheerleading competitions.

With the theme park reservation system still in place at all four Disney Parks, planning a last-minute trip to “The Most Magical Place on Earth” can be challenging as heavier crowds can quickly cause the Parks to sell out.

Cinderella Castle 50th Anniversary

Credit: Disney

RELATED: Instead of Increasing Capacity, Disney World Is Extending Park Hours

While most Disney Guests would agree that the reservation system only serves to complicate planning, executives have confirmed that the system is not going anywhere. Disney has been opting to extend Park hours on days when increased crowds are expected, but if you wait too long to book your trip, you could still be on the wrong side of sold out theme parks.

This week, the week of February 20, 2023, is bringing with it heavier than usual crowds at Walt Disney World as school breaks are underway in several parts of the country. As such, multiple theme parks are already sold out with no reservations remaining for the Magic Kingdom February 20-23, and no availability at Disney’s Hollywood Studios February 20 and 22-23.

crowd-disney-world-guests

Credit: ITM

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After February 23, reservations are open through the rest of the spring, but this week’s sellouts serve as a reminder to make your reservations early. April school vacation week, Memorial Day weekend, and Fourth of July will all bring larger crowds to the Walt Disney World Resort, so early planning can be essential for spring and summer trips.

As for other ways to visit the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios this week, you’ll need to purchase a Park Hopper ticket (and assume there will still be availability to hop to those Parks.)

hollywood studios

Credit: Disney

RELATED: Ways to Beat the Crowds at Walt Disney World

Park Hopping is still available after 2:00 p.m. with no reservations needed to hop to your second Disney Park. The ability to Park Hop is still based on whether or not the other Parks have availability, but this has not a problem since the restrictions on Park Hopping were first introduced in 2020.

If you are still planning a trip to Walt Disney World this week, be sure to make your Park reservations asap. And as always, before you purchase theme park tickets, you can always find current availability on Disney’s official website.

About Brittany DiCologero

Brittany is a New England-based writer focused on the history of the Walt Disney World Resort. She is the author of "Red, White, and Disney: The Myths and Reality of American History at the Walt Disney World Resort," and "Brittany Earns Her Ears."