Hey there, Melissa! Thanks so much for making a return trip to planDisney - it's great to see you again! I see that you're headed to the East Coast (the best coast!) and
Walt Disney World Resort in just a few days, and I'll be happy to share some tips to make the most of your magical time. Let's get down to business!
Lightning Lane passes are definitely an important part of a practically perfect Disney vacation. Just like at Disneyland, these let you bypass the standby line and have a shorter wait for certain experiences and attractions. If you are staying on Disney property, you can already purchase Lightning Lanes as the window opens 7 days before your check-in date.
I just returned from a quick trip to The Most Magical Place on Earth with some of my planDisney pals, and I have plenty of thoughts on Lightning Lane strategy! Here's some suggestions for each park:
- At Magic Kingdom Park, Lightning Lane Premier Pass is a great choice if it's in your budget. This all-access pass guarantees that you can experience all 20 of the eligible attractions in the park once on your selected day. This includes the two attractions (TRON / Lightcycle Run and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train) that are only available as standby or Lightning Lane Single Pass. We used Premier Pass last year on a family vacation, and even without rope-dropping we were able to enjoy everything without feeling rushed!
- EPCOT operates on a tier system, and it's totally doable to get to all of the attractions in a pretty leisurely day using Lightning Lane Multi Pass, plus a must-have Single Pass for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. I recommend using your Tier 1 selection for Frozen Ever After, and taking advantage of Early Theme Park Entry to head to Remy's Ratatouille Adventure before the crowds build up. Your Tier 2 selections will come in handy at Soarin' Across America and The Seas with Nemo & Friends - and you'll have plenty of time to visit the amazing dolphins at SeaBase Aquarium afterwards!
- Multi Pass is your friend at Disney's Hollywood Studios, too. Don't miss the newly-reopened Rock 'n' Roller Coaster - now starring the Muppets! If you're Star Wars fans, you'll also want to snag a Single Pass for Rise of the Resistance, and prioritize Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Tours - the Adventures Continue with a Multi Pass.
- Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park offers Single Pass for Avatar Flight of Passage, and I recommend booking that and rope-dropping Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain with the early park entry. You can use Multi Pass for a second spin on Everest and a ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris, plus a front-row seat at Festival of the Lion King!
Melissa, I hope your family has the most magical vacation, complete with core memories, maple popcorn, and warm hugs. Please come see us again at planDisney anytime if we can add a little pixie dust to your travels!
See Ya Real Soon,
Susan