Tips to Maximize Your Disney World Lightning Lanes
Make the most out of your Lightning Lanes by knowing when the most popular attractions drop return times. Trust us, these tips will help you play more and wait less while at Walt Disney World.
Disney World Lightning Lane
Lightning Lanes can be purchased as a Multi-Pass or an Individual Lightning Lane. There is also a Premier Pass, which eliminates the need for ride reservations, but it comes at a premium price.
Onsite Guests will be able to purchase and make selections 7 days ahead of their arrival date. Offsite Guests will be able to do so 3 days ahead. Guests can still purchase the Lightning Lane Multi Pass for the day of their visit, but will not see the same availability if purchased earlier.
After you use a Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, you can then book your next attraction. Throughout the day, Guests can snag Lightning Lane selections for the most popular attractions, but you have to know when these times will pop-up.
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Expedition Everest drops Lightning Lane selections at 8:47 am,12:47 pm, 3:47 pm.
Kilimanjaro Safaris offers Lightning Lanes at 9:47 am, 12:47 pm.
Lightning Lane drops open for Kali River Rapids at 1:47 pm.
Disney's Animal Kingdom offers one Individual Lightning Lane attraction, Flight of Passage. If you are unable to book an Individual Lightning Lane for this attraction in advance, additional Individual Lightning Lane times may open at 7:47 am (for an 8:00 park opening) or at 8:47 am (for a 9:00 am park opening. The last drop will happen at 4:47 pm (for a 6:00 pm Park close) or 5:47 pm (for a 7:00 pm Park close)
EPCOT and Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom and EPCOT offer the fewest attractions that we have noticed to drop consistent Lightning Lanes throughout the day. EPCOT's Test Track offers Lightning lane selections at 8:47 am, 12:47 pm, 2:47 pm, 5:47 pm.
Magic Kingdom's Tiana's Bayou Adventure drops Lightning Lane return times every odd hour at the 47-minute mark. The first drop begins at 9:47 am with the final drop begin at 3:47 (6 pm close), 7:47 pm (9-10 pm close), 9:47 pm (11 pm close).
Return times are typically two hours after the return time is made. For example, at 9:47 am, your return time would likely be between 10:00 am and 11:55 am.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Tower of Terror drops several Lightning Lanes throughout the day at 1:17 pm, 3:47 pm.
Toy Story Mania releases new Lightning Lane times at 1:17 pm, 3:47 pm.
Millennium Falcon drops additional Lightning Lane times at 10:47 am, 3:47 pm.
Slinky Dog Dash garners high wait times throughout the day. Guests can score a Lightning Lane at 1:17 pm, 3:47 pm.
Disney's Hollywood Studios offers one Individual Lightning Lane attraction, Rise of the Resistance. If you are unable to book an Individual Lightning Lane for this attraction in advance, 10:47 am, 3:47 pm, 4:00 pm.
Lightning Lane Tips
Be prepared to make your Lightning Lane selection right on time for these drops. Please note that it is typical for these to happen 15-30 seconds after the listed drop times.
Pro tip: Set alarm notifications on you phone so you do not miss out when the next Lightning Lane selections drop.
Kenny the Pirate has tested out these drop times and found them to be very accurate. It is important to note that these pop-up times may not be offered every day based on heavy crowds and/or attraction breakdowns.
You can enjoy more Walt Disney World tips like this by following Character Locator.
What has been your experience using Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World? Share your experience with us and share this news with your Disney pals.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Donna loved Disney from an early age. As a child, her family would joke that she lived in "Donna Land." As an adult, she enjoys planning and creating magical vacations for her family. She always brings a little faith, trust, and a little bit of Pixie Dust!
