Howdy neighbor - welcome back to
planDisney!
Thanks for stopping by with another question for our team of panelists. We all love helping Guests just like you plan your very own, very magical, Walt Disney World Resort vacations!
You bring up a very interesting question, and as tends to happen with "interesting" questions, the answer is ...
it depends! You see, Elizabeth, there are an endless number of strategies one can take when planning out a day at a Walt Disney World Resort Theme Park, including maximizing your
Genie+ Lightning Lane selections throughout your day. In my experience, it all boils down to what park(s) you're visiting, what attractions are on your must-do list, and what other Guests are doing.
First, do keep in mind that Genie+ Lightning Lane selections are offered chronologically, meaning you are able to book only the next available return time, not a time in the future after that. This means that if a particular attraction isn't as popular on a given day for Guests with Genie+, you might not even be able to book return times for your second park until mid-morning or early afternoon.
My advice is to be flexible day by day and to keep an eye on your Tip Board in the My Disney Experience Mobile App. As a Disney Resort Guest you'll have
Early Theme Park Entry to maximize your rope drop - use that to your advantage by using the standard queues at some of the most popular attractions right away when wait times are low. If there is a Lightning Lane selection available for an in-demand attraction at another park later in the day, I'd say grab it. Prioritize any attraction that is on your must-do list and pay attention to when you can book your next selection to maximize your use of Genie+.
Elizabeth, at the end of the day, you're in a great position by having five magical days to hop from park to park. I love longer trips like that because it gives you the flexibility to adapt to what's going on in the parks and what other Guests are doing. For example, if you hop to a park but don't see Lightning Lane selections available and don't like the wait time for an attraction, simply start at that park the next day and head straight for that attraction in the morning - you'll have little to no wait!
I hope this information is helpful. You may have wanted more direct advice, but it does really depend on what's going on each day. My best advice is to approach each day with a magical mindset and
see where the pixie dust takes you!
Ryan J.