Hiya Jennifer,
Oh, boy! It sounds like you are planning to visit the Most Magical Place on Earth during the holiday break... how exciting! It may be a bit busy during that last week of the year, but with a little planning like you describe it should be practically perfect in every way. So you are on the right track. Ka-chow!
Taking advantage of
Extended Evening Hours and
Lightning Lane Passes with definitely help you maximize your time spent in the Disney Parks. I am happy to confirm that as a guest staying at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel, you are eligible for these same
perks that other Disney Deluxe Resort guests receive. This will include being able to purchase Lightning Lanes 7 days prior to your check-in date, for the duration of your stay (up to 14 days), beginning at 7 AM Eastern Time. You can find the Extended Evening Hour days and parks by checking the
Parks Operating Calendar.
Since you are not booking your hotel through the Disney World site, you will want to link your reservation to your My Disney Experience account. If you need instructions on doing so, my fellow panelist Brent has an excellent
guide to linking your Swan Hotel Reservation to your Disney account and park tickets.
Jennifer, I hope this helps! Have a wonderful time at Disney World, and be sure to visit us again at planDisney with any additional questions.
The magic is calling!
Tami