Hi there, Shekinah!
Welcome to
planDisney - we're so glad that you stopped by with your very first question for our team of planDisney panelists! We're always here to help Guests just like you plan your very own magical Walt Disney World Resort vacations.
Let me just tell you that you've picked a great time to visit! Things are extra magical right now as the
Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration continues, including new and exciting attractions, entertainment, food, and so much more - get ready to make great memories.
I think the simplest way to answer your question is to describe the difference between standard
Lightning Lanes which are part of the Disney Genie+ Service, and
Individual Lightning Lanes, which are separate. When you purchase or add the Disney Genie+ Service to your Theme Park Ticket, you will be able to make Lightning Lane reservations for many of your favorite attractions and experiences. These reservations allow you to return to the attraction at your reservation time and enter through the Lightning Lane queue. You'll bypass the regular standby queue and save time with a significantly shorter wait. Once you've used one reservation (or if two hours have passed since the park opened or since you made the initial reservation, whichever is later) you'll be able to make another, and this process continues throughout the day!
Several of the newest and most popular attractions are
not currently included in Genie+, but are available for
Individual Lightning Lane reservations. Currently, you can make up to two Individual Lightning Lane reservation purchases per day, and prices vary. All Guests are able to make their first Genie+ Lightning Lane reservation starting at 7 a.m. each day. Guests of
Disney Resorts Collection and other select hotels can also make any Individual Lightning Lane purchases at that time. All other Guests can make Individual Lightning Lane purchases starting at a Theme Park's official opening time.
So, the shorter answer is that many attractions have Lightning Lane queues available which help Guests save time. Access is available through Genie+ for most attractions, and through Individual Lightning Lane purchases for a select number of attractions. If you did not already add Genie+ to your tickets when you purchased them, you can easily add it on the day you intend to use it, starting at Midnight! I usually wake up around 6:30 a.m., use the
My Disney Experience Mobile App to add Genie+ for everyone in my crew for the day, and then make our first Lightning Lane selections at 7 a.m.
I hope this information helps you better understand these new options -
please let me know if any additional questions pop up as you continue planning for your upcoming vacation!
Ryan J.