Hi there, Erin!
Welcome back to planDisney. We're delighted you've dropped by with another excellent
Walt Disney World Resort vacation planning question! Your next trip to The Most Magical Place on Earth is nearly here... are you counting down the seconds!? As you gear up for a thrill-packed day in the theme parks, I'm happy to help you strategize to maximize the magic.
Erin, it sounds like you're hoping to experience as many attractions as possible during your day at Magic Kingdom Park and Disney's Hollywood Studios. After glancing at the
Hours & Events Calendar for the date of your visit, I'm going to recommend you start your day at Disney's Hollywood Studios because it opens 30 minutes before Magic Kingdom Park. (Also, be sure to take advantage of early theme park entry if you'll be staying at an eligible Disney Resort hotel!) As long as you have valid theme park admission, you'll be able to purchase Disney Genie+ service anytime after midnight on the day of your visit. Usually, I'll set an alarm for myself for 6:55 a.m. to purchase
Disney Genie+ service just before I can make my first Lightning Lane entry selection at 7:00 a.m. Make sure you're linked to the rest of your travel party via your
Family & Friends Lists so that you can purchase the service and make selections on behalf of your entire group. Then, at 7:00 a.m. on the dot, secure your first Lightning Lane selection for one of the most popular attractions at Disney's Hollywood Studios for mid-morning - anytime after early theme park entry.
If at all possible, I encourage you to have another member of your travel party in charge of virtual queue booking. That's because virtual queues open at 7:00 a.m. - at the very same time that Guests can start making Lightning Lane entry selections! For that reason, I like to have one member of my group focus on securing
virtual queues, and another (usually myself) booking Lightning Lanes simultaneously. This will give you the best chance at snagging both the virtual queue and a great first Lightning Lane return time. If you'll be doing everything on your own, then I recommend prioritizing the virtual queue over the first Lightning Lane. Make your attempt to join the virtual queue right at 7:00 a.m., then reserve your first Lightning Lane selection immediately afterward. Erin, if you aren't able to secure a virtual queue during the 7:00 a.m. release, try again from inside the theme park (Magic Kingdom Park, if you're hoping to experience
TRON Lightcycle / Run) at 1:00 p.m.
Once you've reserved your first Lightning Lane entry selection, you'll be able to make another either after you've redeemed your first selection or two hours after the first selection was made - whichever comes first. However, the two-hour window to make another selection begins when the theme park opens, even if you booked your first return time right at 7:00 a.m. To optimize your use of Disney Genie+ service, be sure to check return times for both theme parks throughout the day, as the most popular attractions tend to "sell out" sooner than others. I hope this information helps you prepare for a day jam-packed with fun, Erin! If you have any additional questions, pop back over to us at
planDisney anytime. We're all ears!
See ya real soon,
Lauren