Loyalty Denied: Disney Blocks Passholders from EPCOT as Fan-Favorite Event Begins
What’s Going on With This Disney World Park?
Imagine planning your Disney EPCOT trip around an event just for you—only to be shut out before the day even begins. That’s the reality facing hundreds of Annual Passholders today as EPCOT slammed the reservation door shut on May 14, 2025.
For many, this felt like more than a tech glitch or scheduling mishap. It felt personal. Why would Disney turn away the very fans it’s meant to celebrate?
EPCOT Hits Capacity for Annual Passholders
This morning, Disney confirmed that EPCOT had reached full reservation capacity for Annual Passholders—effectively locking them out on the launch day of V.I.Passholder Summer Days, a limited-time celebration tailored specifically for them.
It’s a twist few expected. Today’s launch included:
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The reopening of the Passholder-exclusive lounge at Restaurant Marrakesh
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A brand-new Maleficent-themed magnet giveaway
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The release of a colorful Joey Chou-designed Passholder tumbler
But those who didn’t secure a reservation early were left scrambling—or altogether excluded. This type of thing does tend to take place, so it is always a good idea to plan ahead and make backup reservations for different parks in the event that something like this happens.
Frustration Builds Among Disney’s Most Devoted Guests
While ticket holders and resort guests can still access EPCOT today with a standard reservation, Passholders—those with year-long loyalty and recurring investment—are being told “not today.”
This fuels a deeper conversation within the Disney community: has the magic become conditional? In a world of tiered access and limited availability, even the most dedicated fans now risk being shut out of the very events designed for them.
Workarounds Still Available—But Not Guaranteed
Fortunately, Disney hasn’t left fans completely without options. Passholders may still enter EPCOT using two key strategies:
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Park Hop after 2 PM: With a reservation at another park, Passholders can hop over to EPCOT in the afternoon, as long as capacity hasn’t been fully reached.
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Reserve Another Park First: If other parks are still accepting reservations, guests can check in there, then make their way to EPCOT later in the day.
Both methods carry limitations, including blockout dates and limited capacity, but for many, it’s the only way to access the magic.
What This Means for the Future of Disney Events at EPCOT
Today’s closure isn’t just a one-off inconvenience—it’s a potential glimpse into how Disney plans to manage crowd flow and event exclusivity moving forward. With V.I.Passholder Days stretching into the summer, more reservation sellouts could become the norm.
The key takeaway? If you’re a Passholder looking to take advantage of Disney’s special perks this season, plan early, reserve faster, and stay flexible.
