Hi Andrea,
Welcome back to planDisney! It’s always a joy to see your name pop up in our queue. You've become quite the seasoned Disney planner, and it means a lot that you continue to turn to us for help making your
Walt Disney World holidays as magical as possible. Once again, we’re thrilled to be part of your planning journey!
Lightning Lane access, whether through the Single Pass, Multi Pass, or Premier Pass, is one of my favorite ways to make the most of a Disney day. By reserving return times for select attractions, you’ll spend less time queuing and more time soaking up the fun, whether that means hopping on another ride, grabbing a snack, or just enjoying the atmosphere. It's a fantastic way to bring even more ease and excitement to your holiday.
If you're checking in on the 6th of June and are staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel, Guests typically have the option to book Lightning Lane selections up to seven days in advance. For all other Guests, it’s three days in advance. However, and this is the key bit for our international friends, Guests must wait until they are physically in the United States to take advantage of those early booking windows.
So, depending on when you arrive in the U.S., that’s when you’ll be able to begin making your Lightning Lane selections. For example, if you’re flying in on the 5th of June, that’s the earliest you’ll be able to book (even though you’re within your booking window as a Disney Resort Guest).
That said, please don’t stress if you feel a bit behind the curve when it comes to snagging return times for the most popular attractions. In my experience, availability often changes throughout the day as Guests modify their plans, so keep checking the app! With a little persistence and flexibility, you’ll still have a fantastic chance at experiencing those must-do attractions.
And hey, if you’d like a hand building a Lightning Lane game plan tailored to each park, based on what’s most important to you,
send another question my way! I love helping Guests “stack” Lightning Lanes to get the most value out of their day, and I’d be thrilled to share a few tips and strategies to help you do just that.
Cheers,
Brent