When purchasing the Lightning Lane, do you get to pick the return time? We will be entering the park around noon due to a late arrival the evening prior, but I would like to make our first Lightning Lane selection at 7:00 am.”

Hi Heather, welcome to planDisney!

Lightning Lanes are a great way to spend less time queueing and more time doing during your Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Depending on the attraction, Lightning Lane entrances can be accessed in one of two ways: with a Genie+ Lightning Lane reservation or an Individual Lightning Lane purchase. You can select a return time for Individual Lightning Lane purchases. With Genie+ Lightning Lane reservations, you are given the next available arrival time with the ability time to modify or cancel. Let's apply that information to a hypothetical park day.

I understand you'll be entering a theme park at noon on your arrival day, Heather. You can purchase Disney Genie+ service any time after midnight that day via the Tip Board of the My Disney Experience mobile app (three small lines at the bottom right of the home page --> Tip Board). I recommend purchasing by 6:45 a.m. so you can book your first Genie+ Lightning Lane attraction at 7:00 a.m. To book a Genie+ Lightning Lane attraction, scroll to the desired attraction on your Tip Board and select the "LL Disney Genie+" button. If the next available arrival window does not work with your plans, you can either book and modify it to a later time when the next available arrival window hits 12:00 p.m. or later, or wait to book until the arrival window suits your itinerary. For popular attractions like Slinky Dog Dash at Disney's Hollywood Studios, arrival windows for the entire day can fill up in minutes. For other attractions like Mickey's Philharmagic at Magic Kingdom Park, arrival windows rarely fill up.

If you book your first Genie+ Lightning Lane attraction at 7:00 a.m. for 12:00 p.m. or later, you can book your next Genie+ Lightning Lane attraction two hours after park opening. This time will also be listed on your Tip Board Banner. This means you can enter a theme park with at least two Genie+ Lightning Lane attractions booked. You can continue booking Genie+ Lightning Lane attractions throughout your park day as soon as you've tapped in at an attraction or at the time listed on your Tip Board banner. 

For select attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT and TRON Lightcycle/Run at Magic Kingdom Park, you can select an arrival window when purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane. Guests staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel can purchase an Individual Lightning Lane at 7:00 a.m.; all other Guests may book at park opening.

You ain't never had a friend like Disney Genie, Heather. I recommend familiarizing yourself with the click patterns in the My Disney Experience mobile app before your arrival. Don't hesitate to reach out to me directly with any follow-up questions.

Choose magic,
Jennifer