Hi, Catharine! Thanks for stopping by the Moms Panel for help in planning your magical vacation! You will adore staying at the
Grand Floridian Resort! I stayed there last December and the main atrium is so beautiful! My favorite feature was the elegant bird-cage like elevator to the second floor.
You’ll be happy to know that Walt Disney World Resort Theme Parks often have what are called
Extra Magic Hours. For one to three extra hours, either in the morning or evening, the parks are open only to Walt Disney World Resort Hotel guests. You can find these listed on the
Park Hours calendar, or on a schedule as you check into your Hotel. They may change at any time, so be sure to check with your concierge when you arrive. I adore morning-time Extra Magic Hours, because crowds are lighter and my family can speed through rides faster than Lightning McQueen!
As far as FastPass+ reservations go, you are correct. Until you use up your initial three passes, you will not be able to make another one. While I’ve had friends use up to 15 passes in a day, they book their initial passes early in morning and went from there. I make sure to bring a backup battery for my phone in my bag in order to work with the My Disney Experience App all day long. This is where I book my additional passes, as some of the kiosks have been closed due to the prevalence of smart devices, though you can find a
list of available FastPass+ Kiosks here.
Have a FastPass+ filled, fabulous vacation! ~Lindsey P.