Hello, Valerie,
Welcome back to planDisney. Thank you for another opportunity to offer support as you prepare for an adventure in a “world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.”
Although the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks will no longer be requiring theme park reservations and all-day park hopping returns
starting January 9, 2024, in Florida, Guests visiting the Disneyland Resort will continue to need park reservations to visit either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park.
Park hopping at the Disneyland Resort will continue to be permitted after 11:00 AM. While there are many similarities between the two resorts, there are some operational differences. Disney feels like keeping the
theme park reservations system in place at the Disneyland Resort is still best for ensuring the best possible experience for those visiting The Happiest Place on Earth!
I’m glad you asked about using the optional
Disney Genie+ service for booking
Lightning Lane return times in a park different from your starting park. When making a Lightning Lane reservation, you will be able to choose the next available return time for that attraction. Genie is a powerful creature. So he knows whether your theme park ticket will be able to get you into the other park when you are looking over the offered Lightning Lane return times. If the next available time for a given attraction is not yet after Park Hopping time, Genie won’t show you that time yet and you won’t be able to reserve it. That’s a little way that Genie helps to keep things easier for you by not tying up your Genie+ bookings with a reservation that you won’t be able to use. Booking individual Lightning Lane return times for attractions not included with Genie+ will also have similar timing considerations when park hopping is involved.
If it is still before 11:00 AM and a popular attraction in the other theme park is offering Lightning Lane return times that are after 11:00 AM, you may go ahead and book it while you are still in your first park for the day. There are a few things to note about that. First, you must have your ticket or pass scanned to enter a theme park before you can book Lightning Lane returns at the Disneyland Resort. Second, once you book a Genie+ Lightning Lane, you must either first use that return time or wait at least two hours before you will be permitted to book another Genie+ Lightning Lane. So it’s a good idea to observe available return times for attractions in both parks if you want to maximize your access to Genie+ services.
Valerie, I’m impressed. This question is truly next-level. With your forward-looking eye, I’m pretty sure you are going to be so prepared for your visit to the Disneyland Resort, you’ll be able to do it with your eyes closed. But keep those eyes wide open. There’s a whole lot of magic at the Disneyland Resort. And you’ll want all of your senses to take it all in.
Have a magical time, Valerie!
~Tony