Category — i. Itineraries for Walt Disney World

In late July 2024, Walt Disney World replaced its Genie+/Individual Lightning Lane approach to saving time otherwise spent waiting in lines with Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

This was the fourth change to Disney World’s skip-the-line approach in a decade:

• FASTPASS were free with your ticket, were only available the day of a visit, had no advantages for those staying in a Disney World hotel, and could not have specific times targeted. These were fully replaced in 2014 by…
• FastPass+, which were free with your ticket. Up to three per day could be booked beginning 60 days ahead for Disney resort hotel guests (and guests at a few other hotels*) and 30 days ahead for -everyone else. Tiering was common—only one ride could be pre-booked from among the most popular rides. Specific times could be targeted. These were replaced in 2021 by…
• Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane, each of which had a charge in addition to your ticket. Like the original FASTPASS, rides could only be booked on the day of a visit. Genie+ times could not be targeted, but Individual Lightning Lane times could be targeted. Disney resort hotel guests had a slight advantage in booking Individual Lightning Lane rides. Genie+ had no tiers, but some rides being only available for their own charge as Individual Lightning Lane rides created de-facto tiers. These were replaced in July 2024 by…
• Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

LIGHTNING LANE SINGLE AND MULTI PASS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Disney World’s new Lightning Lane Single Pass (LLSP) and Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP) These continue to have additional charges on top of your ticket.

Disney resort hotel guests (and guests at a few other hotels*) can purchase these and book up to two LLSP and three LLMP per day beginning seven days before their arrival date, for the entire length of their stay (up to 14 days). That is, you can book all your days at once, as soon as 7a seven days before arrival has rolled around. (Note: at launch, guests must appear to Disney’s IT systems to be physically present in the US or Canada to purchase LLSP or LLMP.)

Everyone else can begin pre-booking three days before their first ticket day.

Tiers are implicit in all parks because some rides can only be pre-booked via a special purchase as LLSP; in addition, Multi Pass tiers are present in all the parks except Disney’s Animal Kingdom. One can only pre-book one Tier One ride. If you do so, you can book two more Tier 2 rides. If you don’t book any Tier 1 rides—as will be the case at Animal Kingdom, and as you may choose to do at the other parks—you can book three Tier 2 rides.

Specific times can be targeted for all LLSP and LLMP rides—subject to availability, of course.

Every single ride remains available for no additional charge. For almost all, this means waiting in the “standby” line, but for three rides—Rise of the Resistance in Hollywood Studios, and TRON Lightcycle Run and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom—you access them for free by winning what is in effect a virtual lottery by successfully joining a “Virtual Queue” on the day of your visit. For more on virtual queues, see this.

For a draft Disney World itinerary using LLMP and LLSP, see this.

(Note that many LLSP and Tier 1 LLMP rides are also available during Early Entry, which happens every day at every park.  Early entry is a great way to see especially a Tier 1 ride.)

MAGIC KINGDOM LIGHTNING LANE

Lightning Lane Single Pass: Both Seven Dwarfs Mine Train AND TRON Lightcycle Run

Lightning Lane Multi Pass Tier 1 (pre-pick at most one per day):  Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Lightning Lane Multi Pass Tier 2 (pre-pick two or three per day): The Barnstormer, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Haunted Mansion, it’s a small world, Journey of the Little Mermaid, Mad Tea Party, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Party, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tomorrowland Speedway,

EPCOT LIGHTNING LANE

Lightning Lane Single Pass: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Lightning Lane Multi Pass Tier 1 (pre-pick at most one per day): Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Soarin’ Around the World

Lightning Lane Multi Pass Tier 2 (pre-pick two or three per day): Disney-Pixar Short Film Festival, Journey Into Imagination with Figment, Living with the Land, Mission: SPACE, Spaceship Earth, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Turtle Talk with Crush

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS LIGHTNING LANE

Lightning Lane Single Pass: Rise of the Resistance

Lightning Lane Multi Pass Tier 1 (pre-pick at most one per day): Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rock’ n’ Roller Coaster, Slinky Dog Dash

Lightning Lane Multi Pass Tier 2 (pre-pick two or three per day): Alien Swirling Saucers, Beauty and the Beast, Disney Junior Play and Dance, Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Muppet*Vision 3D, Star Tours, Toy Story Mania, The Tower of Terror,

DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM LIGHTNING LANE

Lightning Lane Single Pass: Flight of Passage

Lightning Lane Multi Pass Tier 1 (pre-pick at most one per day): none

Lightning Lane Multi Pass Tier 2 (pre-pick two or three per day): DINOSAUR, Expedition Everest, 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, Na’vi River Journey

*Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve, Shades of Green

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DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: JULY 27 TO AUGUST 4 2024

The material below details next week’s Disney World operating hours, parades, early entry, extended evening hours, and fireworks.

OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 7/27/24 – 8/4/24

Magic Kingdom will be open from 9a-10p 7/27 through 7/31, 9a-11p 8/1 and 8/2, and 9a-10p 8/3 and 8/4

Epcot will be open from 9a-9p every day

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open from 9a-9p every day

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open from 8a-7p 7/27, and 8a-6p 7/28 through 8/4

EARLY ENTRY AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 7/27/24 – 8/4/24

• Magic Kingdom: every morning
• Epcot: every morning
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: every morning
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom: every morning

EXTENDED EVENING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD  7/27/24 – 8/4/24

• Epcot: 7/29
• Magic Kingdom: 7/31

PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 7/27/24 – 8/4/24

Magic Kingdom’s afternoon parade will show at 3p 7/27 through 8/3, and 2p 8/4

FIREWORKS AND EVENING SHOWS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 7/27/24 – 8/4/24

• At Magic Kingdom, the evening fireworks show is scheduled at 9.20p every night
• At Epcot, the evening show Luminous shows at 9p every night.
• At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the evening spectacular Fantasmic is scheduled at 9p every night

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(Note: this is from the Disney World Multi Pass Itinerary with Tiana.)

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS DAY 1: FIRST SUNDAY AGENDA

Today you will begin your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

You will take advantage of Early Entry, and also need to have prebooked

• A Lightning Lane Single Pass (LLSP) visit to Rise of the Resistance for 1p, and also
• Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP) Tier 1 for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at 9a, and Tier 2 LLMP for Tower of Terror at 10a and For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration 12.30p show

You have an afternoon break, then return for your pre-booked dinner at 6p at 50’s Prime Time Café as a Fantasmic Dining Package. After dinner, you’ll see Fantasmic, and depending on the park schedule, may also have time to explore the park more.

AT THE PARK

Arrive at the tapstiles at Disney’s Hollywood Studios no later than 45 minutes before Early Entry begins (for example, if the general public opening is 8.30a, this will mean a 7.15a arrival for an 8a Early Entry).

When you are let in for Early Entry, immediately head to Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and ride it.

Make your way across the park and use your 9a Tier 1 LLMP to ride Rick ‘n’ Roller Coaster.

See Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy.

Use you 10a LLMP for Tower of Terror.

Check on the timing of the next Disney Junior Play and Dance, and see it and Star Wars Launch Bay in the order that makes sense.

Your plan today is to see all the attractions in the Sunset Boulevard area, including Fantasmic, and in addition Rise of the Resistance via Individual Lightning Lane. You will complete your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on another day.

Have an early lunch.

See the 12.30 show of First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration

Use your 1p LLSP to see Rise of the Resistance.

You are now off for the rest of the afternoon, needing to return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in time for your 6p 50’s Prime Time Café

Depending on the timing of the first Fantasmic show (which can be anytime from 7p until 9.30p, depending on the time of year) you may have some time to explore before Fantasmic.  Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge are good places to wander and linger.

For Fantasmic, arrive at least 30 minutes before showtime, and ask the cast members where to go for Fantasmic Dining Package seating.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

You will have an early start for your final visit to Epcot.

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(Note: this is from the Disney World Multi Pass Itinerary with Tiana.)

EPCOT DAY 2: MONDAY AGENDA

Today you will complete visiting Epcot.

You will take advantage of Early Entry, and also need to have prebooked

• A Lightning Lane Single Pass (LLSP) visit to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind for 1.30p, and also
• Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP) Tier 1 for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at 4p, and Tier 2 LLMP for The Seas with Nemo and Friends at 10.30a and Spaceship Earth at 12:45p
• If you saw Spaceship Earth on Day 1, and have no need to re-ride, then shift the LLMP for it to Turtle Talk with Crush at 11.30a

In addition, you should have dinner booked with the princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway around 6p.

AT THE PARK

Be at the park’s tapstiles by 30 minutes before the beginning of Early Entry.

When Early Entry begins, see Soarin’ Around the World.

Then see the other attractions in the Land Pavilion–Living with the Land, then Awesome Planet.

Then make your way to The Seas Pavilion, on your way seeing Journey of Water Inspired by Moana.

Ride using your LLMP The Seas with Nemo and Friends, then see the aquarium itself and Turtle Talk with Crush.

Have lunch–given where you are, Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion is a good choice, as is the Connections Eatery.

Spaceship Earth, then Mission SPACE, are nest on your agenda.  If you saw them on Day 1 you may or may not want a re-ride.

Use your LLSP at Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind at 1.30p.

Cross the park and see the attractions in the Imagination Pavilion–Disney-Pixar Shorts, and Journey Into Imagination with Figment and Journey Into Imagination with Figment.

Then see the rest of World Showcase, start in Canada and progress counter-clockwise. Tour as you did on Day 1checking out the shows and experiences as you wander.

Be at France in time to use your tier 1 LLMP at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at 4p.

Continue visiting World Showcase, and be at Norway by a little before 6p to check in for your 6p princess dinner at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.

After dinner, continue touring World Showcase if you wish, especially if you are eligible for Extended Evening Hours and they are offered tonight.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you get to sleep in, and then begin your visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

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(Note: this is from the Disney World Multi Pass Itinerary with Tiana.)

EPCOT DAY 1: FIRST SATURDAY AGENDA

Your plan today is to see Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Frozen Ever After, and also two or three other Epcot attractions, and to fit in among these what you can of other parts of Epcot’s World Showcase. You will complete your Epcot visit on another day.

You need to have pre-booked

• A Lightning Lane Single Pass (LLSP) visit to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind for 6p, and also
• Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP) Tier 1 for Frozen Ever After at 6.30p, and also for Spaceship Earth at 4.30p and Mission: SPACE at 5.30p.

(Note that later arrivals that miss Spaceship Earth and/or Mission: SPACE are OK–you will have time to see these on Epcot Day 2.)

Your other priority today is seeing Epcot’s evening show, Luminous.

AT THE PARK

Arrive at Epcot as soon as you can, ideally at 4.30p, and no later than 6p.

Go through the turnstiles and use your 4.30p LLMP to ride Spaceship Earth.

Head to Mission: SPACE and ride it–explore this side of Epcot if you are early for your LLMP.

Then use you LLSP to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Head to Norway in World Showcase, and use your 6.30p LLMP to ride Frozen Ever After.

Then backtrack a bit to Mexico, and see the pavilions starting with Mexico and going clockwise.

• Each pavilion will have some or all of shopping, special exhibits, a ride (e.g The Three Caballeros boat ride in Mexico) , a movie, and other special features.
• Check My Disney Experience and the pavilion itself, to see what each pavilion has.
• For scheduled events, sequence what you do when among items that are not scheduled (shops, exhibits, and rides), and bounce back and forth between nearby pavilions, so that you don’t have to wait long for the scheduled item

Have dinner from a convenient counter service. (World Showcase is loaded with them.)

Continue touring World Showcase clockwise until no later than 8:30p.

Pick a spot for the evening show Luminous. From where you are likely to be, the stretch along the lagoon between the American Adventure Pavilion and the Japan Pavilion is likely best.

Watch Luminous, and on your way out of the park, be sure to watch the lights on Spaceship Earth.

Return to your hotel.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

You will spending the first of two days at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Your day will start early.

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(Note: this is from the Disney World Multi Pass Itinerary with Tiana.)

DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM DAY 1: TUESDAY AGENDA

Your visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom begins today. You will complete your visit another day.

Your will see the park’s Oasis, Discovery Island, Dinoland USA, and Asia sections, interrupted by a trek to Pandora to see Flight of Passage.

After a relaxed morning, be at the tapstiles by 11.30a.

You should have prebooked

• A Lightning Lane Single Pass (LLSP) visit to Flight of Passage for 5p, and also
• Lightning Lane Multi Passes (LLMP) for DINOSAUR at 1p, Kali River Rapids at 3p, and Expedition Everest at 4p. (Note: there are no LLMP tiers at Animal Kingdom.)

You have no scheduled dining today.

AT THE PARK

Arrive at the tapstiles at Disney’s Animal Kingdom by 11.30a.

Enjoy the displays in the Oasis as you walk to Discovery Island.

At Discovery Island see It’s Tough to Be a Bug.

Explore the trails around the Tree of Life.

Have lunch. Flame Tree Barbecue is convenient.

Head to Dinoland USA and see DINOSAUR.

Check the schedules for Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond and Feathered Friends in Flight, and your LLMP for Kali River Rapids. Most days the following will work for you:

Ride Triceratops Spin.

See the Finding Nemo Show.

Ride Kali River Rapids.

See the Feathered Friends show.

See the Maharajah Express Jungle Trail.

Ride Expedition Everest.

Make your way across the park to Pandora, and use you LLSP to see Flight of Passage.

Explore Pandora.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

You will sleep in, and then spend the first of three days at Magic Kingdom.

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