Hey there, Steve, and welcome to planDisney! My favorite way to do Walt Disney World is with a big, boisterous group. Whether it's friends and neighbors,
my planDisney buds, or the whole extended family, I always see Disney World as a "more the merrier" situation. Of course, traveling with a large group can require a little extra planning, so let's get you all sorted out!
Steve, I recently planned a big, multigenerational visit to The Most Magical Place on Earth. There were
small kids, grandparents, and multiple arrival dates involved (sound familiar?). I don't have to tell you, it was a lot to coordinate! Like you, we used the
Lightning Lane system to shorten our wait times. While it worked out great in the parks, it took a little finagling to get our times lined up just right.
Here's what I did to make it work. First of all, do not (I repeat, DO NOT!) give up on modifying those Lightning Lane times. Guests are
constantly changing their plans, freeing up more availability for the rest of us. This means the availability you saw yesterday won't be the same availability you see today. In fact, the availability you saw 10 seconds ago probably won't be the same as it is right now! You still have a few days before your arrival, so keep refreshing your My Disney Experience app as often as you can. There's still lots of time to snag the spots you want, as long as you stay persistent. "Giving up is for rookies," as Philoctetes would say!
Next, remember that your Lightning Lane windows do not have to line up exactly. Look for overlapping times, and keep in mind that you only need those windows to overlap for a few minutes to enter the Lightning Lane together. For example, if your Lightning Lane window is 10 AM-11 AM, and the grandparents score a 10:55 AM - 11:55 AM window, you can all enter together between 10:55 and 11:00. It may also be helpful to know that there's often a grace period of about 5-10 minutes, in case you're running late.
Now let's talk about
Rider Switch. This handy feature is used in situations where a Guest isn't tall enough for (or doesn't want to ride) an attraction, but
cannot wait alone. This allows one adult to wait with the Guest while the other rides, and vice versa. However, it's important to note that both parties must have a Lightning Lane booked (and be within their Lightning Lane window) to use it alongside Rider Switch.
Fortunately, there's a
great big beautiful benefit to traveling with the grandparents, and that's the ability to leave the kids with them while you enjoy the ride! Just make sure the grandparents book their own Lightning Lane for that attraction, and plan to return during their own window. This way, everyone wins!
I hope this information is helpful, Steve! If you have any other planning questions, you know where to find me right here at planDisney!
Magic awaits,
Allison