Hi there Brent, and welcome to planDisney!
When I think of family vacations to Walt Disney World Resort, the idea of 'Ohana comes to mind; if you're familiar with the story of Lilo and Stitch, you'll know that
'Ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. When it comes to
purchasing Lightning Lane passes, keeping with this sentiment can be a little tricky when your family isn't necessarily staying together to begin with.
You've already identified the biggest obstacle facing you at this point, which is the fact that these
Lightning Lane passes will only be available to purchase by the two family members staying at a Disney Resort Hotel 7 days ahead of the first day their stay. Currently, the other three will have to wait until 3 days ahead for their opportunity, and by then there is no guarantee that you'll be able to have the same arrival windows even when
linked through your Family & Friends lists. That said, here are a few strategies that your family might be interested in, depending on what you think would work best for all of you:
- Book your Lightning Lane passes on your separate eligibility dates with the hope that your attraction arrival times line up; you may also be able to modify your selections if you find availability that matches throughout the day.
- Wait until everyone is eligible to purchase Lightning Lanes 3 days ahead of your visit so that your entire party can be selected to book your arrival times together. (This option sacrifices the head start that two of you would have had by staying at a Disney Resort Hotel if your priority is remaining together as much as possible.)
Hopefully this helps, Brent - bear in mind that offerings and policies may always be subject to change without prior notice, and there already have been certain aspects and information regarding Lightning Lane passes that have already evolved since they were first announced. Don't hesitate to come back to us here at planDisney for any other answers or advice before your family trip!
Here's hoping you'll all be able to enjoy the rides and attraction you want with your 'Ohana on your upcoming trip!
Prince