The new Lightning Lane system has definitely simplified your mornings when on vacation – but the speed and timeliness of when you pre-select your Lightning Lanes will make a huge difference in what rides and attractions you’re able to book and the times that you’ll have to choose from.
And, let’s not forget that Virtual Queues are still a thing and those remain a 7 a.m. day-of-drop that you’ll need to be ready for, too.
But don’t worry! We’ve put together a Lightning Lane and Virtual Queue booking strategy and timeline to help you maximize your chances of getting exactly what you want for your next trip.
Let’s get into it:
More than 60 Days Before Your Trip
In the days and weeks before your trip, you’re going to want to do a few things to get ready:
- Create a Daily Plan and Decide Where You’ll Dine. Figure out which park you’ll visit for each day of your trip. After you know where you’ll be on each day, you’ll need to figure out where you’ll be dining. Ideally, you’ll have this step figured out no later than 61 days out from when your trip begins so that you’ll be able to book your dining reservations right when that booking window opens up at the 60-day mark.
- Work on a Touring Plan. Once you know your daily plan and you have any dining reservations secured, you can work on a touring plan. Touring plans don’t have to be rigid minute-by-minute lists, but touring plans are something you’ll definitely want to spend some time thinking about so you’ll know what attractions to prioritize when booking your Lightning Lanes.
At Least 8 Days Before Your Trip (Onsite Guests ONLY)
No later than the day before your pre-selection booking window opens (which for onsite guests is 7 days before your trip begins), do this:
- Download the Latest App: First, download the latest version of the My Disney Experience app.
- Confirm Hotels and Tickets are Linked in the My Disney Experience App. If these aren’t linked, you won’t be able to make your pre-selections.
- Connect Your Group: Connect everyone in your travel group on your Family & Friends list in the My Disney Experience app—so you’ll be able to purchase Lightning Lane passes and make plans for everyone that is eligible.
- Create a Wish List: Gather your group’s wish list for attractions and experiences. You can save your group’s top picks in the My Disney Experience app using the “My Day” feature, if you’d like.
At Least 4 Days Before Your Trip (Offsite Guests)
Offsite guests follow the same steps, but instead of their booking window opening at 7 days, offsite guests (and Annual Passholders) will have their window open up at 3 days.
No later than the day before your pre-selection booking window opens, do this:
- Download the Latest App: First, download the latest version of the My Disney Experience app.
- Confirm Tickets are Linked in the My Disney Experience App. If these aren’t linked, you won’t be able to make your pre-selections.
- Connect Your Group: Connect everyone in your travel group on your Family & Friends list in the My Disney Experience app—so you’ll be able to purchase Lightning Lane passes and make plans for everyone that is eligible.
- Create a Wish List: Gather your group’s wish list for attractions and experiences. You can save your group’s top picks in the My Disney Experience app using the “My Day” feature, if you’d like.
7 Days In Advance of Trip (Onsite Guests ONLY)
Onsite guests get a head start on booking their Lightning Lane Passes.
Booking for Lightning Lane Passes opens up at exactly 7:00 A.M. ET, and you can ONLY make your selections inside the My Disney Experience App.
Purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Guests of eligible resorts can purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass and start pre-planning up to seven days before their check-in date, covering the length of their stay (up to 14 days).
Eligible resorts include:
- Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
- Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
- Shades of Green Resort
3 Days in Advance of Trip (Offsite Guests)
Guests staying offsite at a non Disney Resort hotel with date-based Disney Theme Park tickets can purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass and start pre-planning up to three days before their ticket’s start date, for the duration of their ticket.
Annual Passholders
Now there’s just one early wake-up for the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass. You can do that for your whole trip 7 days in advance of your trip if you are staying at a Disney World resort, or 3 days in advance if you are off site with a date-based ticket.
Guests with other forms of admission (such as non-dated tickets, Annual Passes, and Main Entrance Passes) can purchase and begin pre-planning up to three days in advance of each day of their visit. Theme Park reservations are required.
If Annual Passholders have an onsite Disney Resort stay, that booking takes priority and falls under the same rules as all onsite guests.
Day of (Virtual Queues)
Virtual Queues can ONLY be joined on the day of. All Virtual Queues for attractions at Walt Disney World open up at 7:00 A.M. ET.
You’ll find the spot to join the Virtual Queues inside the My Disney Experience App, but we have a complete guide on Virtual Queues that can walk you through the steps.
Current List of Attractions with Virtual Queues:
- Magic Kingdom
- TRON Lightcycle / Run
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- Epcot
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Note: You can ONLY have a spot in 1 Virtual Queue at a time.
Lightning Pass Booking Order (Strategy)
Now that you know what you’ll need to book when, let’s talk a little bit about your booking strategy.
You can purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass any time after 7 a.m. 7 days before your trip if you are staying on site, and 7 a.m. 3 days before your trip if you will be off site.
BUT – this is important:
You don’t have to book in order of your trip. In fact, we don’t recommend you do that at all.
Instead, you’ll want to book in order of difficulty. Simply put, book the parks that run out of Lightning Lane Passes for popular rides first, and the least popular park and attractions last.
Here’s what we recommend:
1. Book all your Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane days first. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure spots are going very fast, so book your Magic Kingdom days first – especially if you want to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure with Lightning Lane Multi Pass (a Virtual Queue is also available here).
2. Book all your Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane days second. Slinky Dog Dash is another extremely popular Lightning Lane pass, so if you’re going to try to get one of those, make booking Hollywood Studios a top priority, too.
3. Book Epcot Lightning Lanes. After you finish up Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, book your Epcot days.
4. Book Animal Kingdom Lightning Lanes. Finally, book your Animal Kingdom Lightning Lanes. Animal Kingdom is the least popular out of all 4 of the parks, and spots here are typically the easiest to snag so saving these days for last makes sense.
Park-by-Park Strategies
Here’s what order we recommend you book everything, park-by-park. Remember, all of this takes place inside the My Disney Experience app, so make sure you either have good Wi-Fi OR a good cell signal.
Also keep in mind you do NOT have to do all the things listed. Skip over things that aren’t in your plans, but if you want to maximize your chances, keep the order of the remaining things how we have them listed.
Magic Kingdom
- At least 8 days prior to your trip: Confirm that everyone in your party has valid theme park admission AND a Park Pass Reservation (if required) for Magic Kingdom.
- 7 a.m. on booking day (7 days prior to your trip if staying on site, 3 days prior if staying off site):
- First: Choose Magic Kingdom Park on the Lightning Lane menu in the My Disney Experience App.
- Second: Secure a LL Multi Pass selection for your preferred Tier 1 ride; we recommend Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Peter Pan, or Jungle Cruise. On the same screen choose two Tier 2 rides; we recommend Haunted Mansion and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
- Third: Secure a LL Single Pass for TRON Lightcycle / Run and/or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
- Fourth: Complete your purchase.
- 7 a.m. on the day you go to the park: Join the Virtual Queue for TRON Lightcycle / Run OR for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- After you use ONE of your pre-selected LL Multi Pass selections: Make another LL Multi Pass selection (try for another Tier 1 ride, as those will likely go fastest.)
Epcot
- At least 8 days prior to your trip: Confirm that everyone in your party has valid theme park admission AND a Park Pass Reservation (if required) for Epcot.
- 7 a.m. on booking day (7 days prior to your trip if staying on site, 3 days prior if staying off site):
- First: Choose Epcot on the Lightning Lane menu in the My Disney Experience App.
- Second: Secure a LL Multi Pass selection for your preferred Tier 1 ride; we recommend Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure or Frozen Ever After. On the same screen, choose two Tier 2 rides; we recommend Spaceship Earth and Living with the Land.
- Third: Secure a LL Single Pass for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
- Fourth: Complete your purchase.
- 7 a.m. on the day you go to the park: Join the Virtual Queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- After you use ONE of your pre-selected LL Multi Pass selections: Make another LL Multi Pass selection (try for another Tier 1 ride, as those will likely go fastest.)
Hollywood Studios
- At least 8 days prior to your trip: Confirm that everyone in your party has valid theme park admission AND a Park Pass Reservation (if required) for Hollywood Studios.
- 7 a.m. on booking day (7 days prior to your trip if staying on site, 3 days prior if staying off site):
- First: Choose Disney’s Hollywood Studios on the Lightning Lane menu in the My Disney Experience App.
- Second: Secure a LL Multi Pass selection for your preferred Tier 1 ride; we recommend Slinky Dog Dash or Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. On the same screen, choose two Tier 2 rides; we recommend The Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror and Toy Story Mania.
- Third: Secure a LL Single Pass for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
- Fourth: Complete your purchase.
- On the day you go to the park, after you use ONE of your pre-selected LL Multi Pass selections: Make another LL Multi Pass selection (try for another Tier 1 ride, as those will likely go fastest.)
Animal Kingdom
- At least 8 days prior to your trip: Confirm that everyone in your party has valid theme park admission AND a Park Pass Reservation (if required) for Animal Kingdom
- 7 a.m. on booking day (7 days prior to your trip if staying on site, 3 days prior if staying off site):
- First: Choose Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park on the Lightning Lane menu in the My Disney Experience App.
- Second: Secure your three LL Multi Pass selections (there aren’t any ride tiers at Animal Kingdom); we recommend Kilimanjaro Safari, Na’vi River Journey, and Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain.
- Third: Secure a LL Single Pass for Avatar Flight of Passage.
- Fourth: Complete your purchase.
- On the day you go to the park, after you use ONE of your pre-selected LL Multi Pass selections: Make another LL Multi Pass selection.
Attractions that use Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World
The following are the eligible attractions you can book with Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Keep in mind that all parks EXCEPT Animal Kingdom group their attractions into 2 tiers.
When Pre-selecting, you’ll be able to choose 1 attraction from tier 1 and then 2 from tier 2:
Magic Kingdom Attraction Tiers for Lightning Lane Multi Pass
When using Multi Pass, you’ll be able to select one attraction from Tier 1, and then 2 additional ones from Tier 2, or all three pre-selections from Tier 2:
Tier 1
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Jungle Cruise
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Space Mountain
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Tier 2
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Enchanted Tales with Belle*
- Haunted Mansion
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- “it’s a small world”
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Mad Tea Party
- Meet Ariel in her Grotto*
- Meet Cinderella & a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall*
- Meet Mickey at Town Sq. Theater*
- Meet Tiana & a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall*
- Mickey’s Philharmagic
- Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club
- The Barnstormer
- Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Journey of the Little Mermaid
*Note: Characters may not be available OR may only be available same day
Magic Kingdom Single Pass Attractions (not eligible for Multi Pass)
In addition to all the attractions available with Multi Pass, you can also purchase a separate Single Pass for the following attractions:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- TRON Lightcycle / Run
Epcot Attraction Tiers for Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Guests using the Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Epcot can pre-select one from Tier 1, and two from Tier 2, or all three pre-selections from Tier 2:
Tier 1
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Frozen Ever After
- Soarin’ Around the World
Tier 2
- Journey Into Imagination with Figment
- Living with the Land
- Meet Mickey and Friends*
- Mission: SPACE
- Spaceship Earth
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Turtle Talk with Crush
- Disney-Pixar Short Film Festival
*Note: Characters may not be available OR may only be available same day
Epcot Single Pass Attractions (not eligible for Multi Pass)
In addition to all the attractions at Epcot available with Multi Pass, you can also purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass for the following attractions:
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Hollywood Studios Attraction Tiers for Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Remember, if you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass you’ll be able to select one attraction from Tier 1, and then 2 additional ones from Tier 2, or all three pre-selections from Tier 2:
Tier 1
- Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
- Slinky Dog Dash
Tier 2
- The Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror
- Toy Story Mania!
- Alien Swirling Saucers
- Star Tours: The Adventure Continues
- Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
- Disney Junior Play and Dance!
- Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
- Meet Olaf*
- Muppet*Vision 3D
*Note: Characters may not be available OR may only be available same day
Hollywood Studios Single Pass Attractions (not eligible for Multi Pass)
In addition to all the attractions at Hollywood Studios available with Multi Pass, you can also purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass for the following attractions:
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Multi Pass Attractions
Animal Kingdom doesn’t have a tier system, so all the following are available to book with a Lightning Lane Multi Pass:
- DINOSAUR
- Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
- Feathered Friends in Flight!
- Festival of the Lion King
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
- It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
- Kali River Rapids
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost*
- Naʻvi River Journey
*Note: Characters may not be available OR may only be available same day
Animal Kingdom Single Pass Attractions (not eligible for Multi Pass)
A Lightning Lane Single Pass can be purchased for the following attraction:
- Avatar Flight of Passage
Lightning Lane Booking Timeline and Strategy FAQs
When can I book my next Lightning Lane Multi Pass selection?
In an improvement over the previous service, when you can make your Lightning Lane Multi Pass selection is straightforward.
You can make your next LL Multi Pass after you use one. So, you can always be holding a maximum of three LL Multi Pass selections.
And while the ride tiers factor in pre-booking, on the day of use you can book any available LL Multi Pass selection.
That’s it.
What time should I pick for my return times?
Now, let’s talk Lightning Lane Multi Pass return times.
You do get to pick your return times with Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
In our opinion, this is a major improvement over Genie+, and is one of the features we enjoyed in the FastPass+ version.
Plus, the ride return times can overlap. The system will default to times that do not overlap, but you can choose to modify the time.
Do Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservations ever run out?
Yes, they do. And, for the most popular attractions like Slinky Dog Dash, they can run on the early days of pre-booking.
While you may see additional spots open up throughout the day, they are limited in number and can be difficult to snag unless you are dedicating a lot of time to refreshing the app.
But, to help with planning, there are definitely trends to which attractions run out of LL Multi Pass spots first. Check out our park-specific touring guides.
- Guide to Using Lightning Lanes at Magic Kingdom
- Guide to Using Lightning Lanes at Epcot
- Guide to Using Lightning Lanes at Hollywood Studios
- Guide to Using Lightning Lanes at Animal Kingdom
What about stacking and churning?
In the old Genie+ system, you were able to both churn Genie+ reservations (which simply means snagging return times close to the current time, so you can quickly make another as soon as you tap into it) AND stack them (which is the technique where you intentionally group multiple Genie+ reservations, back to back, typically for later in the day).
Now, with the new system not allowing any more than three Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections at a time, your ability to stack will be limited to a total of three. But, that may be enough if you are looking for a late start day or evening in the parks – especially if you pair it with a Lightning Lane Single Pass.
BUT, the good news is that you’ll still be able to churn – even easier than you could with Genie+ and the old FastPass+ system.
Churning works best for guests who plan to arrive for Rope Drop because the longer you are in the parks, the more opportunity you’ll have to add additional Lightning Lane Multi Pass spots.
How does park hopping work with Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass?
As long as you have a Park Hopper benefit, you can make Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass selections at different parks.
There’s one important caveat: for pre-booking, all three of your advance LL Multi Pass selections must be in the same park. Your LL Single Pass selection(s) are separate from that and can be at different parks.
However, once you use your first LL Multi Pass selection on the day you visit a park, you can make the next selection in any park.