Hey Jan,
Welcome back to planDisney! It sounds like your plans for your upcoming Walt Disney World visit are really shaping up. You’re on the right track (no pun intended) by asking this question; it’s super smart to consider the effects of overlapping plans in advance. Let’s weigh all your options.
Advance Dining Reservations at most dining locations allow guests a 15-minute grace period for check-in. Once 15 minutes have passed, cast members may release your reservation to another guest. As for your Lightning Lane reservation, did you know that guests can scan in up to 5 minutes before their arrival window starts? This is pretty cool when you have
Lightning Lane passes for an amazing attraction like Test Track and you just can’t wait to experience it.
Let’s get technical for a moment - if you arrive at Test Track a few minutes early and scan in at exactly 9:30, it’s possible that you could do both the Lightning Lane and your dining reservation. The attraction ride time is approximately 5 minutes long, and it takes roughly 7-10 minutes to walk to Garden Grill from the exit. As long as you’ve boarded the attraction by around 9:50 or so, I think you’re safe. However, you really won’t know how long it will take to get through the Lightning Lane until you’re in it. It’s risky to attempt to do both, and if your crew is risk-averse you may want to consider modifying your dining reservation or your Lightning Lane.
Jan, I do hope that you’ll get to experience both Garden Grill and Test Track.
Garden Grill breakfast is a delicious all you care to enjoy family style character dining experience. You’ll meet friends like Chip, Dale, Mickey Mouse and Pluto while you enjoy cinnamon breakfast bread, scrambled eggs, Mickey waffles and more. Chip and Dale will be your hosts at this garden feast, and you’ll see Mickey Mouse in his adorable farmer outfit! Did you know that many of the vegetables served at this restaurant are farmed right in the Living with the Land greenhouses? I always think about how cool that is.
Speaking of cool, don’t forget that
Test Track has recently undergone some super updates. If you loved it before, you’ll love it even more now. You’ll be transported through scenic roads and vistas where you’ll learn how technology is shaping the present and the future by changing how we connect with each other and the world around us. My kids and I recently had the chance to experience this attraction after the updates and my teenager was blown away. He looked at me and said “Wow mom, this is a whole new ride! I love it!”
I hope this information is helpful, Jan. If you have additional planning questions, please don’t hesitate to come back and see us here at planDisney. TTFN… ta-ta for now!