Welcome to planDisney, Bailey! I'm so glad to be able to answer your question today. I'm excited to see that you're going to be visiting Walt Disney World between
Christmas and New Year. It's a popular week to be at The Most Magical Place On Earth, but the energy is unmatched. Since you're going to be sharing space with lots of other guests,
Lightning Lane is going to be a smart addition to your trip, and I'm happy to walk you through exactly when you're eligible to book. Once you know your window, planning gets so much easier!
Here's the simple breakdown: if you're staying at a
Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, you can make your Lightning Lane reservations 7 days in advance of your check-in day, for the length of your stay. If you're not staying on Disney property, your booking window opens 3 days in advance of the start date you selected for your ticket. In both cases, selections unlock at 7:00 AM Eastern Time on your booking morning, so it pays to be ready a few minutes early with coffee in hand.
I have a few pro tips to help make the selection morning go smoothly for you! Make sure your tickets are linked in the
My Disney Experience app and that everyone in your party is connected in Family & Friends so you can plan together in one go. On your booking morning, open the app, tap "Purchase" in the Lightning Lane tile on the home page, choose the park and day you're visiting, and start picking times. If the exact time you want isn't there, grab something close and modify it anytime up until you use it. Times shuffle around as other guests make and change their plans.
If you're eyeing a very popular headliner at the top of your family's wishlist, book that one first, then circle back for your second and third choices. It also helps to look at your park hours and dining plans ahead of time so you're not double-booking a Lightning Lane during a meal. Remember: once you're in the park and you're using your Lightning Lanes, you can book one as soon as you use one, so you always have three in your pocket at any given time.
I hope this answers your question, Bailey, and please let us know if there's anything else we can do to help you plan your magical vacation!
Jessica