Hi Jeff,
Hello, and thank you for bringing your question to us! Having an early Advance Dining Reservation is such a magical way to start your day, especially if it’s inside a Theme Park! Arriving early allows you to soak in the quiet charm of the park before the bustling crowds arrive. If your dining reservation is for a location like
Cinderella's Royal Table or
Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom, or another Theme Park restaurant, you’ll get to enter before the official park opening, where you may be able to take advantage of some photo opportunities and a chance to feel like the parks are all yours!
Now, when it comes to booking
Lightning Lane return times, there’s no set time a specific return time will be available, as availability continuously changes throughout the day. In theory, the earliest return time you can select will be at the park’s opening time, but it all depends on demand and how quickly other Guests reserve their selections. My advice? Be ready to book early!
For Disney Resort hotel Guests, you can start reserving Lightning Lane return times via Disney’s Lightning Lane service 7 days in advance of your visit, while Guests staying off-site can book starting 3 days in advance. You’ll also want to confirm the Theme Park's official opening time on the day of your reservation, as park hours and reservation times can shift.
Wishing you a truly magical vacation filled with delicious meals and memories to treasure.
~Heather