Hey there, Casey!
Thanks for stopping by planDisney with your question. I can't think of a better way to spend the upcoming weekend than park hopping at Walt Disney World Resort. I did the same with a friend earlier this month, and we crammed so much magic into our short visit!
I'm glad you are already linked on your
Family & Friends list, which will streamline the process of purchasing and planning your
Lightning Lane selections together. Based on a 1-day visit on Friday, January 30, you should be within your purchase window
if you are staying at a Disney Resort Collection hotel (or other eligible resort).
Guests with eligible reservations can begin purchasing Lightning Lane Passes beginning at 7 am, 7 days ahead of their check-in date. I recommend double-checking your reservation details to be sure both of you are listed. Your friend can
follow the instructions on this page to link the reservation to her My Disney Experience account, or
reach out to a Cast Member by phone for assistance.
If you are not staying at an eligible resort, you'll be able to purchase Lightning Lane Passes 3 days ahead of your ticket start date. That means you have one extra day of prep time to plan out your perfect itinerary!
If you're planning to maximize your time in the parks, I'll share my usual strategy of seeing 4 parks in 1 day. I typically begin at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park as early as possible and head straight to Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. My friend and I rode three times in a row right at park opening a few weeks ago, then hopped on Kilimanjaro Safaris before a stroll through the rest of the park. If you haven't experienced Avatar Flight of Passage yet, this would be a great Lighting Lane Single Pass selection (you can purchase up to 2 per day).
After a snack and a few photos, I make my way to Disney's Hollywood Studios, where Lightning Lane Multi Pass would come in handy for mid-day arrival windows on some of the top attractions. If you go this route, don't forget to book additional Multi Pass selections (one at a time) after redeeming your first experience.
When done at Hollywood Studios, take the Disney Skyliner to EPCOT. I always purchase/plan a Lightning Lane Single Pass for
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind sometime in the afternoon, which is a must-not-miss attraction. Once you've saved the galaxy, take a culinary tour of World Showcase (don't miss the Food Studios available during EPCOT International Festival of the Arts), then hop on the Monorail to Magic Kingdom Park to end your day.
If you skipped a Single Pass for Avatar, I'd recommend using your second selection for TRON Lightcycle / Run later in the evening when all the lights are glowing. It's always an exhilarating ride, but even more exciting when the sun goes down! Finally, end your day with a viewing of Happily Ever After, one of my all-time favorite experiences. Grab another snack (or 2) on your way out of the park, and pat yourself on the back for accomplishing a most magical day!
Casey, if you need additional assistance, please come back to planDisney and let us know. We're always happy to help. Wishing you a fabulous visit!
Magic and memories,
Amy