Plan Ahead with Lightning Lane Entry at Walt Disney World Starting July 24

[Dave006]

Can we book LL at Epcot instead of AK?

Yes as long as you have a park hopper pass.

Can we do a mix, book 1 at AK and the other 2 at Epcot?

No not initially. To book any at AK you would need to purchase your LLMP for that day at AK, and book up to 3 LLMP attractions at AK.

Once you enter AK, and tap in at your first LLMP attraction then you are able to modify / change your 2 remaining LLMP attractions to Epcot.

Dave

 

[SmallWorld71]

Yes as long as you have a park hopper pass.


No not initially. To book any at AK you would need to purchase your LLMP for that day at AK, and book up to 3 LLMP attractions at AK.

Once you enter AK, and tap in at your first LLMP attraction then you are able to modify / change your 2 remaining LLMP attractions to Epcot.

Dave

Thank you!

 

[Tom_E_D]

Having trouble searching for this answer.
We will be using my DDs (CM) Chip and Dale passes. These require a reservation. I would like to start at AK and hop to Epcot. Can we book LL at Epcot instead of AK?
Can we do a mix, book 1 at AK and the other 2 at Epcot?

Dave already answered your questions, but let me point out there is a thread concerning the related issues of when can LLs be purchased when using cast member guest passes and who has to purchase them: https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...d-local-using-cast-main-entrance-tix.3972695/

 

[scrappinginontario]

Having trouble searching for this answer.
We will be using my DDs (CM) Chip and Dale passes. These require a reservation. I would like to start at AK and hop to Epcot. Can we book LL at Epcot instead of AK?
Can we do a mix, book 1 at AK and the other 2 at Epcot?

Yes as long as you have a park hopper pass.


No not initially. To book any at AK you would need to purchase your LLMP for that day at AK, and book up to 3 LLMP attractions at AK.

Once you enter AK, and tap in at your first LLMP attraction then you are able to modify / change your 2 remaining LLMP attractions to Epcot.

Dave

Just double checking as I understood differently.

Since this type of pass requires a park reservation, I thought the first group of LLs had to be booked at the park that holds the park reservation.

Is my understanding correct or not?

 

[Dave006]

Since this type of pass requires a park reservation, I thought the first group of LLs had to be booked at the park that holds the park reservation.

Is my understanding correct or not?

Yes it is confusing but your understanding is not correct.

The only impact a park reservation has on any LL option is that is you don't have a park reservation then the times for the LL return times don't show before 2 PM.

Dave

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Yes it is confusing but your understanding is not correct.

The only impact a park reservation has on any LL option is that is you don't have a park reservation then the times for the LL return times don't show before 2 PM.

Dave

Does WDW still restrict hopping 2pm? I thought they scrapped that.

 

[PolyRob]

Does WDW still restrict hopping 2pm? I thought they scrapped that.

At this time, 2pm is only an AP restriction if you don't book a park pass reservation.

APs are allowed entry into any park M-F after 2pm with no park pass reservation. APs are allowed entry into AK, DHS, and Epcot after 2pm Sat and Sun without a park pass reservation.

If an AP books a park pass reservation and enters that park they can hop at any time.

That's why @Dave006 mentioned it would only display options after 2pm if no park pass was reserved. An AP would be denied entry into a park prior to 2pm without booking a park pass reservation.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

At this time, 2pm is only an AP restriction if you don't book a park pass reservation.

APs are allowed entry into any park M-F after 2pm with no park pass reservation. APs are allowed entry into AK, DHS, and Epcot after 2pm Sat and Sun without a park pass reservation.

If an AP books a park pass reservation and enters that park they can hop at any time.

That's why @Dave006 mentioned it would only display options after 2pm if no park pass was reserved. An AP would be denied entry into a park prior to 2pm without booking a park pass reservation.

Ah, thank you— I thought he was saying if you didn’t have a reservation for the park you wanted to buy LLMP at, but now I see he meant no reservation at all.

 

[Dave006]

Does WDW still restrict hopping 2pm? I thought they scrapped that.

Yes it is alive and still confusing guests. You might be thinking that it ended when the new Date based tickets were launched in January 2024.

Date based tickets don't need a park reservation. Several other types of tickets or passes still required a Park reservation before 2 PM.

We were discussing the requirement for @SmallWorld71 who asked about Cast Member Chip and Dale passes which also require a park reservation to enter any park before 2 PM as @Tom_E_D indicated earlier.

Also there is yet another complication, Disney also has what they call Good to Good days where Annual Pass holders don't need a park reservation.

Dave

 

[Tom_E_D]

Yes it is alive and still confusing guests. You might be thinking that it ended when the new Date based tickets were launched in January 2024.

Date based tickets don't need a park reservation. Several other types of tickets or passes still required a Park reservation before 2 PM.

We were discussing the requirement for @SmallWorld71 who asked about Cast Member Chip and Dale passes which also require a park reservation to enter any park before 2 PM as @Tom_E_D indicated earlier.

Also there is yet another complication, Disney also has what they call Good to Good days where Annual Pass holders don't need a park reservation.

Dave

My post said nothing about 2:00 PM.

As far as I know, Chip and Dale passes always require park reservations, and the after 2:00 PM exception to a park pass requirement only applies to annual passholders. However, I am not an expert on how Chip and Dale passes work. I've never been a cast member or entered a park on a cast member guest pass.

 

[JJ2017]

I'm a bit confused how to strategize as I just don't have enough experience booking LLs. My daughter and I are doing 4 parks in a day and starting at AK. We don't have a huge wish list for each park, but I'm at a loss. We plan to rope drop AK and end in HS with Fantasmic. Here is the park order I'm thinking and rides we want to try to get to:

AK - Navi and Everest (just my daughter, but I'd want to wait on line with her - should we just do the single rider line?)
MK - Pirates, HM, Tiana, Tron (will purchase)
EP - nothing really b/c focus here will be World Showcase
HS - TSMM and Mickey and Minnie's

Advice?

Question - when does the bus to MK start running at AK. I believe last time we tried to hop from AK it was too early and the park buses weren't running until a certain time.

 

[CarolynFH]

when does the bus to MK start running at AK.

Park to park buses start running at 10:00 AM.

As far as the rest of your questions, I’ll defer to others here because of my limited personal experience with the LLMP system. I’ll just say that I’ve read it’s best to prebook 3 rides in AK even if you don’t plan to use them, because it’s easier and faster to Modify the two you don’t want to rides in other parks than it is to book them “new” on the day of your visit after tapping into the first one. Oh, and I will add, yes, you can use the single rider line at Everest, and when you get to the boarding dock just tell the CM you won’t be riding, and they’ll direct you to the exit where you can wait for your DD.

 

[JJ2017]

OK - now I'm even more confused. We are using Comp tickets. I believe I had to make a park reservation, so we did for Animal Kingdom which is where we will start (still deciding). Was it stated above that we actually don't have to choose our LLs for AK and can book at our second park which will be MK? Or, because we HAD to make a park reservation (I think!), our LLs HAVE to be prebooked at AK? I can't tell where my tickets fall on the list Disney states - but I'm assuming it's "all other tickets types not listed above."

 

[glamdring269]

I hate asking what is probably an easy question but have never started a stay this way and don't want to wake up super early 2 mornings in a row because I miscalculated.

Arrival Date: Friday, Oct 3rd (We check in at Boardwalk on this day)
First Park Date: Sat, Oct 4th

Does the LL window open for me 7 days prior to arrival date or first park date? Or, do I need to get my alarm set for a bright and early wake up call tomorrow?

Thanks!

 

[Dave006]

We are using Comp tickets. I believe I had to make a park reservation, so we did for Animal Kingdom which is where we will start (still deciding).

Yes your Comp tickets require you to make a park reservation for the first park you plan to visit on a specific date.

Was it stated above that we actually don't have to choose our LLs for AK and can book at our second park which will be MK?

If you purchase LLMP for AK, then your 3 initial LLMP selections need to be made at AK. You also have the option of not choosing LLMP for AK, and just purchasing your LLMP for MK and making your initial 3 selections there.

Or, because we HAD to make a park reservation (I think!), our LLs HAVE to be prebooked at AK?

No as I covered above you have the choice of purchasing for AK, and being able to continue to use LLMP at MK.

Dave

 

[Dave006]

Arrival Date: Friday, Oct 3rd (We check in at Boardwalk on this day)
First Park Date: Sat, Oct 4th

At 7 AM ET tomorrow, Friday you are able to make your LLMP and/or LLSP selections for your entire on-site stay.

Dave

 

[LisaRay]

If we arrive on a Saturday Oct 25th at pop with a room only reservation but then our package with tix starts on Sunday Oct 26th when am I able to make LL's?

I'm assuming 7 days before the package starts on Sunday the 19th since the night of the 25th is room only.

 

[Dave006]

I'm assuming 7 days before the package starts on Sunday the 19th since the night of the 25th is room only.

Yes that is correct you booking window for LLMP and/or LLSP starts on Sunday October 19 at 7 AM ET. It is because that is when your package tickets start, October 26.

Dave

 

[Tom_E_D]

Yes that is correct you booking window for LLMP and/or LLSP starts on Sunday October 19 at 7 AM ET. It is because that is when your package tickets start, October 26.

Dave

If we arrive on a Saturday Oct 25th at pop with a room only reservation but then our package with tix starts on Sunday Oct 26th when am I able to make LL's?

I'm assuming 7 days before the package starts on Sunday the 19th since the night of the 25th is room only.

@LisaRay, I disagree with @Dave006. I think you can book seven days before your check-in date. That would be October 18 at 7:00 AM. The Disneyworld website says "When staying at a Disney Resort hotel or other select hotel, Lightning Lane passes may be purchased 7 days in advance of your stay." It doesn't say anything about ticket start date. I think it would if it was relevant. I have also seen many posts on this thread and elsewhere say you can buy seven days before check-in even if your first park day is later. Moreover, I don't think it should make any difference whether your tickets are part of a room-and-tickets package or purchased separately from your hotel room-only room. I've not seen anyone report that as a difference-maker. (And I do follow these lightning lane issues on disboards and elsewhere.)

Anyway, here's the way to test out whether I'm right or Dave is without getting up at 7:00 AM on October 18. Sometime between October 5 and October 18, try to buy a lightning lane for October 26, your first park day. You don't have to do it at 7:00 AM; anytime during the day is fine. MDE will tell you that you are too early, but it will also tell you when you can buy a lightning lane for that day (presumably the 18th if I am right or the 19th if Dave is right). That will be your answer. Don't try before October 5 at 7:00 AM. If you try before then, MDE will tell you that you can't buy it then, but won't tell you when you can buy it. Please report back to us which it is.

 

[JJ2017]

Yes your Comp tickets require you to make a park reservation for the first park you plan to visit on a specific date.


If you purchase LLMP for AK, then your 3 initial LLMP selections need to be made at AK. You also have the option of not choosing LLMP for AK, and just purchasing your LLMP for MK and making your initial 3 selections there.


No as I covered above you have the choice of purchasing for AK, and being able to continue to use LLMP at MK.

Dave

oh! this is great - i didn't realize that you could buy your LLMP for a park regardless where your first park of the day is. for some reason i had it in my head that you had to use LLMP at the first scanned in park. thank you!