Hi Amy, welcome to planDisney!
You can tell a lot about a person by their Disney Resorts Collection hotel. By choosing a stay at
Disney's Riviera Resort, I'm guessing your family likes to travel and feel at home on their vacations. By choosing a stay at
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, I think your extended family is laid back and enjoys pool time on their vacations. It's clear everyone in your family enjoys dreaming big and spending time together.
I can tell you've been doing your research, Amy. For seamless planning on your park days, it's important to connect with all members of your party as Family & Friends. Once a person appears on your
Family & Friends list, you can view and make plans for them. These plans include purchasing
Disney Genie+ service, making Lightning Lane reservations, joining
virtual queues, and more.
Anytime after midnight each park day, one person can purchase Disney Genie+ service for your entire party via the Tip Board of the
My Disney Experience mobile app (three small lines at the bottom right of the app's homepage > Tip Board). Once you click "Purchase for Today," you then declare the park(s) for which you are purchasing Genie+. The next step is where you confirm your party; all eligible members of your Family & Friends list appear for selection, even if you're staying at different resorts. The "Confirm Party" step is also an important part of the process of joining a virtual queue and making a Lighting Lane reservation.
If two people in your party are familiar with using the My Disney Experience mobile app, I recommend one person attempting to join a virtual queue at 7:00 a.m. and another person purchasing Disney Genie+ service by 6:45 a.m. and booking your first Genie+ Lighting Lane reservation at 7:00 a.m. If both responsibilities fall to one person, that person should try to join the virtual queue first because boarding groups can run out within seconds. In fact, I recommend confirming your virtual queue party by 6:55 a.m. so you only have to click the "Refresh" button at 7:00 a.m. on the dot. The third priority that can also be done anytime after 7:00 a.m. as a Disney Resort hotel Guest is purchasing any Individual Lighting Lanes for your party.
At 6:00 a.m. 60 days before check-in, Amy, you can book advance reservations for dining
online for your entire length of stay. Considering your resort locations, I encourage you to think about a character breakfast at
Topolino's Terrace and/or dinner at
Sebastian's Bistro. Both options are super delicious and within walking distance for your entire party.
Hope to see you planning Disney at planDisney again soon!
Choose magic,
Jennifer