Welcome to planDisney Rebecca! Thank you for sending in your question as you get ready for your upcoming
Walt Disney World vacation. Planning with a larger group can bring its own set of logistical questions, especially when some guests are staying on property and others are not. Understanding how dining reservations and Lightning Lane bookings work in this situation can help your whole party enjoy a smooth and magical experience together. Let’s take a closer look at how these options work when you’re coordinating for multiple reservations.
You can include your off-property friends in
dining reservations without any issue. Because you are staying on Disney property, you receive the 60 day plus length of stay booking advantage. Anyone linked to you through
Family & Friends can be added to those reservations, even if they are not staying in a Disney resort. Their lodging status does not affect your ability to book for the whole group.
Lightning Lane works differently. You can book Lightning Lanes for people in your Family & Friends list as long as they have valid park tickets, but the booking window is not shared. On property guests may book Lightning Lane Multi-Pass seven days before their visit. Off property guests may only book three days before. Because of this, when your seven day window opens, the off property people in your group will not yet be eligible and you will not be able to add them until their own window opens. Once their three day window arrives, you can include them, and you can adjust times later so the group matches.
Rebecca, I hope this gives you the clarity you need as you prepare for your upcoming Walt Disney World visit. Thank you for stopping by planDisney with your question. Wishing you a wonderfully smooth planning process and a vacation filled with unforgettable moments and Disney magic.
Kay