Lightning Lane Strategy - Best order of purchase

[Elliemay2]

We are only doing one park at day this time and want LLMP and a couple of SP's.
When I purchase them, should I...

purchase SP for all parks first and then move on to the MP's?
purchase SP for one park and then the MP's for the same park before moving on to the next day?
take what the app gives me and modify later?
what park and passes do I try for first based on demand?

This is what I want:

Day 1 (MK) - Tiana, HM, POC
Day 2 (AK)- NONE EE , RD only
Day 3 (NA)- NONE (Free Day)
Day 4 (EP)- TT, Soarin, Turtle Talk & SP: Guardians
Day 5 (HS)- SD, TOT, TS & SP: Rise

Thanks!

 

[VGCgroupie]

I book all my MP first then my SP.

I do this order of booking no matter what day my park is. The only thing is right now Frozen might be very hard to get (I have not tried since the reopening) so it's a toss up between Epcot and HS depending on if you like Slinky or Frozen more.

HS
EP
MK
AK

 

[saraheliz]

I book all my MP first then my SP.

I do this order of booking no matter what day my park is. The only thing is right now Frozen might be very hard to get (I have not tried since the reopening) so it's a toss up between Epcot and HS depending on if you like Slinky or Frozen more.

HS
EP
MK
AK

I agree with this strategy. Either EP or HS first (it’s really a toss up, we tend to go to SDaD early entry which eases up HS a bit), then MK, then AK. I might actually do my single passes before AK though, but after the MP.

 

[elvispursley]

I’d do the LLMP for HS or Epcot first depending on whether you prefer SDD or FEA and then do your LLSP, then you MK MPLL. I’d try and adjust your times before you check out since it seems a bit harder (not impossible) to modify them after you purchase and you should have time to do that since you know your attractions. If you can’t get a good time, then I’d try and modify later.

 

[Dave006]

We are only doing one park at day this time and want LLMP and a couple of SP's.
When I purchase them, should I...

It really depends on why you plan to visit WDW. During busy periods the LLSP will sell out very early as in up to 8 days in advance. A good example is next week in the peak of Spring Break.

Day 1 (MK) - Tiana, HM, POC
Day 2 (AK)- NONE EE , RD only
Day 3 (NA)- NONE (Free Day)
Day 4 (EP)- TT, Soarin, Turtle Talk & SP: Guardians
Day 5 (HS)- SD, TOT, TS & SP: Rise

Examples:

For Epcot Guardians is sold out through 3/17 with limited availability on 3/18 or 3/19.
For HS SD is sold out through 3/20, and Rise is mostly already sold out through 3/20 with a few LLSP on 3/18 / 3/20.

I would always suggest you book your LLSP first since they are very fast to book. Next up would be to book MK, HS, and then EP in that order.

Dave

 

[gottalovepluto]

The night before check Thrill Data for LL availability on your dates. For my trip a couple weeks ago it was fairly accurate in giving me an idea of what would be available approximately when. From there pick your parks in order of worst availability to best. I’ve found modifying while booking works better than after, suspect that’s just Disney IT.

 

[Dave006]

I’ve found modifying while booking works better than after, suspect that’s just Disney IT.

Yes that is the way. During the purchase step the selections are held for 5 minutes while you are able to make changes to the return times. After purchase your up to 3 LLMP selections it is very hard to make changes unless you just delete all 3, and start over. By default MDE always wants to add modifications after your latest book return time.

However beginning at a 12 AM on the day of your park visit the restrictions are removed, and you are able to adjust the times / overlaps based on return time availability for that day.

Dave

 

[Elliemay2]

Thank yoi everyone! This is what I got. Opinions?

HS
915 Slinky
1015 TOT
1115 Toy Story
245 Rise

EP
920 Soarin
1020 Turtle Talk
140 Test Track
240 Guardians

MK
1045 Pirates
1150 H Mansion
145 Tiana

 

[nyy]

It really depends on why you plan to visit WDW. During busy periods the LLSP will sell out very early as in up to 8 days in advance. A good example is next week in the peak of Spring Break.



Examples:

For Epcot Guardians is sold out through 3/17 with limited availability on 3/18 or 3/19.
For HS SD is sold out through 3/20, and Rise is mostly already sold out through 3/20 with a few LLSP on 3/18 / 3/20.

I would always suggest you book your LLSP first since they are very fast to book. Next up would be to book MK, HS, and then EP in that order.

Dave

I thought you could only purchase 7 days in advance? Or is it that I can purchase 7 days in advance of my first day and book the length of my stay?

 

[gottalovepluto]

Thank yoi everyone! This is what I got. Opinions?

HS
915 Slinky
1015 TOT
1115 Toy Story
245 Rise

EP
920 Soarin
1020 Turtle Talk
140 Test Track
240 Guardians

MK
1045 Pirates
1150 H Mansion
145 Tiana

Personally I’d dump pirates for something with availability earlier IF you will be in the park earlier and later. As soon as you scan into your first MPLL you can start searching for other Tier1 LLs like Peter Pan or Space Mtn late in the day.

 

[saraheliz]

I thought you could only purchase 7 days in advance? Or is it that I can purchase 7 days in advance of my first day and book the length of my stay?

If you’re onsite, it’s length of stay and it’s based on the first day you are both onsite and have a park ticket eligible for.
So if you’re not going to a park the first day, but you booked a package so your ticket starts that day, you can book LL 7 days prior to that date for your whole stay.

 

[nyy]

If you’re onsite, it’s length of stay and it’s based on the first day you are both onsite and have a park ticket eligible for.
So if you’re not going to a park the first day, but you booked a package so your ticket starts that day, you can book LL 7 days prior to that date for your whole stay.

Thank you! We are doing a split stay, first night at RIV, then moving to BLT. So do I need to do
things twice? It will open up for my first night, then the next day do the rest of my stay?

 

[elvispursley]

Thank you! We are doing a split stay, first night at RIV, then moving to BLT. So do I need to do
things twice? It will open up for my first night, then the next day do the rest of my stay?

No, unlike ADRs for dining, a split stay for LL’s does not require you do book twice—it’s as if it were one reservation and you can book the length of both stays combined. Wish dining would function the same way!!