Hi there, Jayne! Thanks for bringing your question to planDisney -- you've come to the right place.
How wonderful that you'll be spending time with your grandchildren making memories to last a lifetime at The Most Magical Place on Earth! There have been quite a few exciting changes in the last 13 years at Walt Disney World Resort, but please let me reassure you -- you've got this!
First things first - as long as you already have your admission tickets and
Disney Park Pass reservations, you are good to go and everything else will fall into place. Next, be sure you have downloaded the
My Disney Experience mobile app to your device -- this will put all the information you need right in the palm of your hand. You'll want to be sure everyone in your party is connected in your
Family & Friends List. If any of your grandchildren have their own My Disney Experience account or are managed under a parent's account, you can invite them to connect.
Let's chat about reservations for rides. Almost all rides offer a standby queue -- you simply wait in line; no reservations are necessary. Guests also have the option to
purchase Disney Genie+ service on the date of their visit. With
Disney Genie+, Guests can reserve Lightning Lane access to over 40 rides and attractions, one at a time, beginning at 7:00 am. I explained a little bit about
how Genie+ works in this answer to another Guest. Currently, there is one attraction that does not offer a traditional standby queue. To experience Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Guests must request a spot in the
Virtual Queue. Guests who hold a Disney Park Pass for EPCOT can request to join the Virtual Queue via the home screen in the My Disney Experience mobile app precisely at 7:00 am - spots go quickly! There is another opportunity to join the Virtual Queue at 1:00 pm. Guests may also purchase Individual Lightning Lane access for this attraction.
Now let's talk about dining. There are hundreds of dining locations at Walt Disney World Resort -- everything from popcorn and ice cream carts to fine signature dining experiences. While there are table-service restaurants where
dining reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance, there are also plenty of great
quick-service dining locations, with no reservations necessary! With a crew of 10, my preference would be to stick with the flexibility of quick-service dining for your visit. You can save time with the convenience of
Mobile Food & Beverage Ordering. My family of 6 likes to browse menus and build our orders while waiting in line for an attraction, and then when we are ready to eat, just press "I'm here, prepare my order."
Jayne, I am limited by space, but would be happy to offer additional recommendations and tips for your trip. If you need clarification or have other questions, feel free to
write back and submit as many questions as you like -- we are always happy to help.
Anne Marie