Hey there, Karen, and welcome to planDisney! Thanks for stopping by the panel with your question! It looks like you’ll be visiting The Walt Disney World Resort during one of my favorite times of the year: the holidays! Disney is the perfect place to spend the holidays. Not only do you get to see Main Street U.S.A. in its Holiday garb, but there are surprises all throughout the resort. This year will be a visit to remember!
Karen, Walt Disney World offers Guests the
Genie+ service to reserve windows of time throughout the day to experience various attractions. Disney’s Genie+ Service is available as a daily add-on service you can purchase each morning of your Theme Park days. So the earliest you can make ride reservations is on the morning of your Theme Park visit. If you decide you will use Genie+ for the day, you can complete your purchase in the
My Disney Experience Mobile app any time after 12:01 a.m. EST. However, I suggest completing your purchase before 6:30 a.m. EST so you can be ready to reserve your first attraction at 7 a.m. EST. With Genie+, you have to reserve your attractions one by one throughout the day. The fantastic news is that the mobile app will tell you when to reserve your next attraction!
One thing to note is that not all attractions are eligible for Disney’s Genie+ Service. At least one attraction in each Theme Park is excluded from the Genie+ option and only available through an
Individual Lightning Lane purchase. Individual Lightning Lanes allow Guests the opportunity to reserve an attraction return window for the most sought-after attraction in each park. Unlike the Genie+ Service, Guests are only allowed two Individual Lightning Lane reservations per Theme Park day. You can purchase both Individual Lightning Lane reservations at 7 a.m. EST on the morning of your Theme Park day, but only for Guests staying in a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel. Guest staying off-property can purchase their first Individual Lightning Lane Entrance at the Theme Park opening time. Further, Individual Lightning Lane purchases are available for all Guests - with or without the Disney Genie+ service.
I hope this helps, Karen! If you have more questions while planning your Disney Vacation,
stop back by and let me know!
You’ve got a friend in me,
PG