Hi Amy, thanks for bringing another question to planDisney!
You can
purchase your Lightning Lane passes upon arrival to the United States. Since you are not planning to stay at a Disney Resort and it sounds like you have a date-based ticket, you can purchase three days before the start of your ticket as long as you are in the US.
Have you heard that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure no longer use the virtual queue system? You can now ride
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind using Lightning Lane Single Pass, Lightning Lane Premier Pass, or standby queue, and
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is available through Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Lightning Lane Premier Pass, and standby queue. If you’re purchasing Lightning Lanes it is helpful to have a list of attractions you want to prioritize so you have an idea of what to look for when you’re booking return times.
Since you’re visiting during the summer, take a look at this Disney Parks Blog article about all the
changes coming to Walt Disney World Resort in 2025. Official dates have not been announced yet, but a few exciting updates are expected to arrive in Summer 2025. A new nighttime parade,
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, is sure to fill Magic Kingdom with shimmering magic. And two new shows,
Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, and
The Little Mermaid- A Musical Adventure will also provide great entertainment options in Hollywood Studios. Watch the
Disney Parks Blog for announcements as you count down to your vacation!
I hope this was helpful, Amy. If you have any more questions as you continue to plan your Walt Disney World vacation, please
come back and see us again at planDisney! We’re here to help throughout the entire planning process!
Kaitlin