Hiya, Julia!
Thanks so much for bringing a question about your upcoming Walt Disney World Resort visit to planDisney –– I'm happy to help! While there are so many exciting tools and ways to plan for a visit that's practically perfect in every way, there are also lots of dates and details to keep straight, so it can definitely get a little confusing. Let me share a few details about Disney Park Pass reservations, as well as the
Disney Genie+ service, to help clear things up and help you prepare for your arrival.
For each day that you plan to visit a Walt Disney World theme park, you'll need to make a
Disney Park Pass reservation that corresponds to your ticket. These reservations are free to book and can be made quickly and easily from the My Disney Experience mobile app, as well as the Walt Disney World website. Technically, you can make reservations at any time after your ticket has been purchased and linked to your My Disney Experience account, even on the same day of your visit. However, it's important to remember that Disney Park Pass availability at each park is limited, and it's not unusual to see reservations for some of the parks become unavailable as the date gets closer (especially during busy times of the year like Thanksgiving week). For this reason, I don't recommend waiting until the last minute to make your theme park reservations –– go ahead and make them as early as possible for the best park selection.
Unlike Disney Park Pass reservations,
Genie+ Lightning Lane and Individual Lightning Lane selections can't be made in advance. Instead, you'll be able to begin choosing your return times for these attractions (sort of like making a ride "reservation") on each morning of your visit, using the
My Disney Experience mobile app. After you've purchased the Disney Genie+ service for the day, you'll be able to make your first Genie+ Lightning Lane selection beginning at 7 AM. After making your first selection, you'll either be able to book an additional selection every two hours after the park opens or after you've tapped into the Lighting Lane.
For Individual Lightning Lanes –– which can be purchased individually and don't require you to purchase the Genie+ service –– you can begin making your selections beginning at 7 AM if you're a registered Guest of a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel. Otherwise, all other Guests can begin making Individual Lightning Lane selections at each park as soon as the park opens for the day. And don't worry about waiting two hours to book your next Individual Lightning Lane –– each Guest has the opportunity to book up to two of these attractions each day, which can be done at the same time.
Thanks so much for visiting planDisney, Julia. I hope this helped to answer your question and I'm wishing you lots of pixie dust during your upcoming Walt Disney World Resort visit!
Have a Magical Day,
Amy