Hi Rachel!
Welcome to planDisney! Your visit to Walt Disney World Resort is approaching quickly, and I bet the excitement is building! Have you discovered the adorable countdown in your
My Disney Experience app? Simply click to view your resort reservation, and you’ll be able to check it out!
Rachel, you are correct that Guests staying at a
hotel in the Disney Resorts Collection can purchase
Lightning Lane passes starting 7 days before their check-in date for the length of their stay, and all other Guests can begin making their purchases and selections 3 days before their park visit. I spoke with two Cast Members who shared that these windows can be impacted, though, when you combine an on- and off-property stay, depending on the type of tickets you have purchased. I would suggest
contacting a Cast Member at App and MagicBand Support who can access more details about your reservations and provide the most accurate information for your particular stay.
When we visit the parks, my family likes to use a combination of Lightning Lane Multi Passes and Lightning Lane Single Passes to make the most of our time. If you're planning to
park hop, you can purchase your Lightning Lane Multi Pass for the first park and make your initial 3 attraction selections there. Keep in mind that as you redeem each Lightning Lane entry, you can select an additional attraction, based on availability. After redeeming your first Lightning Lane entry that day, you'll unlock the ability to make additional selections or modify your previous selections from other parks.
Don't forget that you'll also have access to several other
great benefits during your Disney Resort stay, including my personal favorite,
Early Theme Park Entry! My youngest doesn't quite understand the concept of sleeping in on vacation, so we like to take advantage of those extra 30 minutes in the parks before they officially open. It's a great time to visit a favorite attraction or two before lines get too long, and we also appreciate those cooler morning hours - especially in summer!
I hope this information has been helpful, Rachel, and that you enjoy a wonderful visit to Walt Disney World in just a few short weeks! If you have any other questions, please stop by to see us again here at planDisney!
See ya real soon!
Kristi