Hi Angie!
Thanks for bringing this question to planDisney!
If you’re staying off property, your Lightning Lane booking window will open at 7 AM Eastern, 3 days prior to the start date of your ticket if you have a
date-based ticket (in which you chose the start date of your ticket when you purchased it). At that time, you will be able to book and purchase your
Lightning Lane services for all of the park days that you’ll have with that park ticket. So, if the start date of your park ticket is December 29, 2025, your Lightning Lane booking window will open on December 26, 2025.
Because you’ll be able to book Lightning Lanes for your whole trip, I recommend booking your last park day first, then working your way backwards. That way, you’ll have a better chance at snagging some of the Lightning Lane return times you’re hoping for on those later dates.
If you do not have a date-based ticket, your Lightning Lane booking window will open at 7 AM Eastern, 3 days prior to each park day. In that case, you may have multiple booking windows if you plan to visit the parks on multiple days.
Just as a heads up, I answered this question assuming that you’re staying off property. But it’s good to note that if you’re staying at a
Disney World resort or select good neighbor hotel, your Lightning Lane booking window will actually open at 7 AM Eastern, 7 days prior to your check-in date, so it may already be open!
I hope that helps! Enjoy the
holidays at Disney World! And if you have any other questions, feel free to come back and visit us.
Jenn J.