Hi Victoria,
Welcome back to planDisney! It’s always great to see Guests return with more thoughtful questions as they prepare for a magical Walt Disney World vacation. You’re going to love staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, it’s a perfect home base with quick access to the parks and classic Disney style. I’m glad to hear you’re planning a special day at EPCOT with your extended family. That kind of together time is what Disney memories are made of!
You’ll be glad to know that yes, you can coordinate plans and book Lightning Lane entries for your family members staying off-site, as long as they’re added to your Family & Friends list in the My Disney Experience app. Once you’re all connected, you’ll be able to make plans, view each other’s reservations, and select Lightning Lanes together.
Here’s how to add them to your Family & Friends list using the app:
- Open the My Disney Experience app and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner.
- Scroll down and select "Profile."
- Tap the "Family & Friends List" tab.
- Choose “Add a Guest.”
- You’ll then have a few options: If your family members already have a Disney account, you can find them by entering their name and email address. You can also scan their linking code if you’re together in person (found in their app under "My Profile" > "Show My Linking Code").
- Once they accept the invitation, you’re good to go!
Since you're headed to EPCOT, I'd love to share a few of my favorite stops throughout the day. For breakfast, after your adventure on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, treat yourself to a Croissant Salé or a Pain au Chocolat from Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie, paired with a cappuccino; it’s a morning win. If you need a little extra pick-me-up, stop by the Norway pavilion and try a Viking Coffee. It’s a delightful combo of coffee, Baileys Irish Cream, and Kamora coffee liqueur, perfect for sipping as you stroll World Showcase.
For lunch, I usually make a beeline for the Mexico pavilion where the margaritas are refreshing and the tacos or chips with queso hit the spot. But if I’m just looking for a snack, a classic Mickey pretzel and a grapefruit beer in Germany always hit the mark. When dinnertime rolls around, you have two winning options in my book: enjoy a casual pint and some tasty fish and chips from the quick-service window in the UK pavilion, or take things up a notch with a hearty steak dinner at Le Cellier Steakhouse in the Canada pavilion. Either way, you can’t go wrong!
I hope this helps you coordinate your park day and get the most out of your EPCOT experience. If you have any other questions as your trip approaches, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to help you make your Disney day unforgettable.
See you real soon,
Brent