Welcome to planDisney, Rebecca!
Oh my garland! You must be so excited that your very merry vacation is just around the corner. Let's talk details and make sure everything is jolly for your trip.
First, as long as your
tickets are linked to your profile in your My Disney Experience account, and you are planning to use MagicBands or
Disney MagicMobile Service to enter the theme parks, you won't have any problem, even though your mom purchased the tickets. If you aren't using either of those methods, you'll need to stop by Guest Relations or a theme ticket window to pick up Key to the World cards (these will be your tickets), and you'll need to present photo ID of the purchaser, along with the original payment method.
Genie service is a complimentary new feature within the My Disney Experience Mobile App that helps Guests plan their day by offering on-the-go tips and helpful information. Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane are paid options that allow Guests to bypass the standby line for select attractions. For a set cost per day, Genie+ allows you to make one Lightning Lane selection at a time starting at 7 AM on the day of your visit. Once you have redeemed your first selection, pending availability, you may make subsequent Lightning Lane reservations. Two of the most popular attractions in each theme park are not part of the Genie+ system but are available for Individual Lightning Lane purchase, and these can also be reserved as early as 7 AM on the day of your visit.
Read more details about Genie, Genie+, and Lightning Lane here. It's a whole new world for all of us!
Since you last visited in 2013, technology has become a bigger piece of our Walt Disney World vacations. There's so much you can zip-a-dee-do from your smartphone.
Mobile Food & Beverage Ordering,
Merchandise Mobile Checkout, and Disney MagicMobile Service have made my trips more efficient and enjoyable.
Additionally, you'll notice something there that wasn't there before in the theme parks. Both EPCOT and Magic Kingdom Park have received new nighttime spectaculars just in time for the
50th-anniversary celebration. Don't miss Harmonious and Disney Enchanted; both are fabulous additions to the entertainment lineup. Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park feature new immersive lands like
Toy Story Land,
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, and
Pandora - The World of Avatar. A world of new excitement and adventure awaits, Rebecca, so may the Force be with you!
I hope this is helpful, and I wish you the best as you prepare for your upcoming journey. Thanks for stopping by planDisney with your questions, and we look forward to seeing ya real soon!
Happy holidays,
Betsy