Disney Resort Reservation DOES NOT Guarantee Theme Park Entry
Disney has updated the reopening guidance for its Walt Disney World resort hotels, and they have noted that staying at a hotel does not guarantee you access.
In an ordinary world, there are plenty of reasons to stay at a Walt Disney World resort hotel. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic and the reopening changes Disney have to make, a few of those reasons have to be put on hold.
Disney announced at the end of May that guests need to make park reservations before their visit (just like you do with dining and Fastpass+ in the past) to enter a park. If you don't have a reservation, you won't be allowed in, even if you have a valid ticket. There was plenty of speculation about what Disney were going to do with hotel guests, but it seems today that Disney has now made clear that even guests staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel are not guaranteed entry into any of the parks. Hotel guests will have to make the a reservation to enter the parks the same as non-hotel guests, and if the parks are at capacity and you're staying at a Disney hotel, you will not automatically be allowed to enter.
Planning to visit a theme park during your stay? Select Walt Disney World theme parks will begin to reopen on July 11. To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date is required (a Disney Resort hotel reservation does not guarantee theme park access)