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Lightning Lane Booking Window

Find out exactly when you can start booking your Lightning Lanes — with or without a Walt Disney World Resort hotel stay.

Are you staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel?
Resort guests can book 7 days before check‑in for the length of stay (up to 14 days) at 7:00 AM Eastern.
If you’re not staying at a resort hotel, each park day opens 3 days before at 7:00 AM Eastern.
Your Lightning Lane booking opens 7 days before this date at 7:00 AM Eastern.
Resort guests can book for the entire stay (up to 14 days).
Off‑site bookings open 3 days before each park date at 7:00 AM Eastern.
Optional: check multiple park days in a row.
⚠️ Heads-up:

Disney may update Lightning Lane rules and inventory at any time. Always verify details in the My Disney Experience app .

How the Lightning Lane Booking Window Works

For Disney Resort Guests

  • Booking opens 7 days before check-in at 7:00 AM Eastern Time.
  • You can reserve Lightning Lane Multi Passes and Single Passes for your entire stay (up to 14 days).
  • Applies to Disney Resort hotels, Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve, and Shades of Green.

For Off-Site Guests

  • Booking opens 3 days before each park day at 7:00 AM Eastern.
  • Reservations must be made one day at a time for each park visit.
  • Annual Passholders without a Disney hotel stay also follow this 3-day rule.

Tip for Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 visitors:
During Daylight Saving Time, Puerto Rico and Eastern Time are the same. In winter months, add +1 hour to convert.

Which Lightning Lanes Sell Out Fast?

For Disney Resort Guests

Not all rides are equal. When your Lightning Lane booking window opens, prioritize the following attractions first:

  • Magic Kingdom: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, TRON Lightcycle / Run, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • Hollywood Studios: Slinky Dog Dash, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
  • EPCOT: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Frozen Ever After
  • Animal Kingdom: Avatar Flight of Passage, Kilimanjaro Safaris

Book Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios days first since they fill up fastest, then EPCOT and Animal Kingdom.

Pro Tips for Your Booking Morning

  • Update your My Disney Experience app before booking day.
  • Confirm your travel party in Family & Friends so everyone is linked.
  • Be logged in and ready by 6:55 AM Eastern.
  • Have a backup list — if your top choice is gone, grab the next priority.
  • Remember: after you use one Multi Pass, you can immediately add another.
Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom with gardens and topiary in the foreground on a sunny day.

Why Use the Lightning Lane Booking Window Calculator?

  • Save time: No more guessing — see the exact booking dates you need.
  • Plan smarter: Adjust your vacation schedule around Lightning Lane availability.
  • Bilingual guidance: Perfect for families from Puerto Rico and the mainland U.S.
  • Free resource: Use it anytime, then connect with us for personalized trip planning.
Tinker Bell waving and blowing a kiss during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Boo to You Parade.

Lightning Lane Booking Window FAQ

Yes, if you’re a Disney Resort guest. You can book for your full stay (up to 14 days). Off-site guests book 3 days before each park day.

Yes. The Lightning Lane booking window rules apply to both options. Availability and pricing vary by date and attraction.

Policies, tiers, and prices may change. Always confirm final details in the My Disney Experience app before booking.

All booking opens at 7:00 AM Eastern (EST). In Puerto Rico, that’s 7:00 AM during Daylight Saving (Mar–Nov) and 8:00 AM Atlantic Standard Time (AST) during Standard Time (Nov–Mar).

Tiers only limit your initial Multi Pass pre-selections (e.g., one Tier 1). After you use one, you can book any available attraction. Animal Kingdom has no tiers.

You can usually modify time or attraction if availability exists. Passes are nonrefundable; if your new choice costs more, you’ll pay the difference. Always verify changes in the app.

Book hardest days first: Magic Kingdom → Hollywood Studios → EPCOT → Animal Kingdom. Popular picks include Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, TRON/Seven Dwarfs, Slinky Dog Dash, Rise of the Resistance, Guardians, and Flight of Passage.

Yes, with Park Hopper. After you use your first Multi Pass of the day, you can make your next selection in any park (subject to availability). Single Passes are tied to specific attractions/parks.

Up to 20 guests per transaction. Larger groups should split into teams and aim for overlapping return windows to ride together.

Return windows can overlap. The app often holds selections for 5 minutes while you adjust. A brief grace period may apply at the tap point, but expired selections can count as used—modify before they expire.

Some ticket types/dates may require a theme park reservation. Ensure your tickets are linked in My Disney Experience and follow the prompts before your Lightning Lane booking window opens.

Virtual Queues may be used for select experiences and typically open day-of. Always check the My Disney Experience app for current Virtual Queue status and times.

Need Help Booking Lightning Lanes?

Don’t stress about waking up early or managing multiple dates. As bilingual Disney travel advisors based in Puerto Rico, we’ll handle your Lightning Lane booking window, create a custom plan, and keep watch for better options.

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