daughter and mother; Expedition Everest; mickey and Minnie tee-shirt; Animal Kingdom
  • On Jan 28, 2025
    Shannon from IN Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    We have plans to go to Animal Kingdom and Epcot in the same day. I am wondering since Animal Kingdom opens earlier, after I scan in for my first lightning lane at AK, can I start booking at Epcot even before they open? Since they open an hour later.

    Welcome to planDisney, Shannon! It sounds like you've got some plans for park hopping on your upcoming visit to the Walt Disney World Resort; this is a great way to see more and experience more in a single day! I've recently had experience using the new Lightning Lane Multi Pass system while park hopping, so I'm happy to chat with you today about how to make the most of the system (and your time!).

    Shannon, if you're staying as a guest at a Disney Resort hotel, your eligibility window for purchasing Lightning Lane passes will open 7 days in advance of your check-in date; if you are staying at an offsite hotel, your window begins 3 days ahead of your park visit or the start date of your date-based ticket. When you make your purchase, you will be prompted to select a theme park and make your initial selections at that theme park; in your case, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Once you've tapped in to redeem your earliest Lightning Lane, you will be eligible to select a new attraction at any of the four theme parks since you will have a ticket that includes the Park Hopper Option (subject to availability). So yes, even if EPCOT is not open yet, you can start stacking return times for when you arrive later in the day!

    I did this exact scenario on my most recent visit; we arrived for Early Theme Park Entry and once redeemed our first Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane, made a new selection for an available EPCOT attraction. We continued this process after the other two redemptions, so when we arrived to EPCOT, we had three new Lightning Lane passes ready for use! In addition, don't forget you can also purchase up to two Lightning Lane Single Pass attractions in any of the four theme parks on the same day with your park hopper ticket. I opted to purchase both Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT and TRON Lightcycle/Run in Magic Kingdom since I knew I would be hopping to both parks that same day! This is a great way to ensure you experience all of the best thrills in multiple destinations!

    Shannon, I hope this helps you to race from park to park and minimize your wait times for your favorite attractions! If you have any other planning questions before your visit, come on back to planDisney and let us know! We're always here to help!

    See you real soon,
    Alison
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Meet the Panelist: Alison, Louisiana

I'm Alison - a wife, mom, and teacher from New Orleans, LA. My first childhood visit to the Walt Disney World Resort sparked a lifelong love of this magical place, and I still find magic in both the new and nostalgic on each visit! I understand the changing dynamics of planning a practically perfect vacation; no matter how large your group is or what your interests are, I look forward to helping you create magical memories and discover unique experiences to make them even more enchanting! Learn More About Alison

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