Hi there, Krista, and welcome to planDisney! I'm so thankful you've reached out about your upcoming vacation! My fellow Panelists and I are here and happy to help Guests like you plan a practically perfect Walt Disney World Resort vacation!
Krista, I think you'll find that purchasing tickets is easier than ever on the Walt Disney World Resort
website. You'll choose the type of ticket you want, the number of days, and then the start date of your tickets. Then, you can choose whether you'd like a Park Hopper option, and finally select the number of tickets for adults (ages ten and up) and kids (ages three to nine). You'll see your grand total at the bottom of the screen! When it comes to fast passes, you'll find that Walt Disney World Resort has introduced an exciting new system called
Disney Genie+ Service. Genie+ is available for purchase per person, per day, and this give you the ability to book
Lightning Lanes, a typically-shorter queue for many attractions throughout the theme parks.
I definitely recommend doing some research on Disney Genie+ Service and Lightning Lanes, so that you can get the most bang for your buck and streamline your day in the Disney Theme Parks. You'll start by purchasing Genie+ on the
My Disney Experience Mobile App the morning of your visit. I recommend doing this around 6:30-6:45am since you can make your first Lightning Lane selection at 7:00am. Once you make your first selection, you'll see a countdown to the time when you can make the next Lightning Lane selection. This will be two hours after the park opens, or after you use your first Lightning Lane. This cycle will repeat throughout the day, so rely on your app to tell you when you're able to book another Lightning Lane! I recommend setting an alarm on your phone so you don't get distracted and miss an opportunity to make a new selection.
I can imagine that this new system can seem confusing when it's your first time using it. I totally understand, and that's why I suggest asking a helpful Cast Member if you ever need any help during your time in the theme parks. If you're into thrills, you might consider also purchasing Individual Lightning Lanes for specific attractions like
TRON Lightcycle / Run. These are for attractions that are not included in the group of attractions that can be booked with Genie+.
Don't forget that you can wait in the standby queue for the majority of attractions, and many Guests prefer to take a slower pace without Genie+. It's totally up to you - there's no wrong way to "do Disney!"
Krista, I hope this is helpful as you continue to make your plans for your visit to Walt Disney World Resort. Please stop back by planDisney with any other questions you have as you prepare for your visit!
See you real soon!
Jennifer