Hi John, and thanks for visiting us at planDisney! My family goes to Disney World with lots of extended family members and friends, and we often come and go at different times. So, I’d be happy to help with your
Lightning Lane strategy!
When you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can pick from available return times. So, what you can do is book your first three Lightning Lane sections for the morning, and your two friends can book their first three starting midday (depending on when they plan to arrive, you may want to book one selection for the same ride and time). For instance, you’ll book Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster for 9:00 a.m., Slinky Dog Dash for 10:00 a.m., and Toy Story Mania! for 11:00 a.m., and your two friends will book Toy Story Mania! for 11:00 a.m., Tower of Terror for 12:00 p.m., and Alien Swirling Saucers for 1:00 p.m.
When you scan into your first Lightning Lane entrance (in this example, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster), you can book your next Lightning Lane selection. At this time, you can try to book Tower of Terror for 12:00 p.m. to start matching the selections your friends have. The return time doesn’t have to match exactly, and just needs to overlap a little (for example, some of you have a return time of 12:00-1:00 p.m., and others have 12:35-1:35 p.m.). If you’re not able to get overlapping return times, you can stop by one of the Guest Experience Team kiosks around the park (they’re usually under a blue umbrella). A Cast Member may be able to adjust your return times, depending on availability.
With the different Lightning Lane Passes (Premiere Pass, Multi Pass, and Single Pass), you can only use the Lightning Lane entrance once per ride per day (unless you purchase both Premiere Pass and Multi Pass, in which case you could go in twice). This means, on your Hollywood Studios day, you should ideally book your first Lightning Lane selections for attractions your friends aren’t interested in experiencing, or attractions you don’t need to prioritize riding together.
For some of the more popular attractions, like Slinky Dog Dash, you may have difficulty getting the same return time. In this case, you’ll have to book whatever return time you can get, regardless of whether they match up. Be sure to buy Lightning Lane Multi Pass
as soon as your booking window opens for the best selection of return times!
Another option would be for you and your friends to book the same Lightning Lane selections starting midday, so it’s easier to stay on the same schedule. With this plan, your family would use the standby lines for attractions in the morning, before your friends get to the park. Wait times are often lower in the morning, so this could be another way to ride an attraction twice, once in the morning through the standby line and a second time with Lightning Lane later in the day!
I know we’ve talked a lot about rides, but you can also use your Lightning Lane selections for shows. And Hollywood Studios has some of my favorites, like
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration,
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, and Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage!
I hope you and your family have the best day ever at Hollywood Studios next week! And if you have any other questions, you’re always welcome back at planDisney.
JoAnna