Last Updated on April 11, 2024 by Happily Ever Park Hoppers
Stacking Lightning Lanes at
Walt Disney World
Curious how to stack Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World? Not sure what stacking Lightning Lanes means or what the rules are? This post is all about stacking Lighting Lanes at Walt Disney World so you can maximize your time and Disney Genie+.
If you are looking for a comprehensive guide or full details on Disney Genie+ and want a full explanation, check out these related posts.
What is “stacking” Lightning Lanes?
Stacking Lightning Lanes simply refers to obtaining and holding more than one Lightning Lane selection at a time.
Often people are confused about whether they can have more than one Lightning Lane selection at a time. Or if they can have a regular Lightning Lane selection AND an Individual Lightning Lane selection, at the same time. The answer to both of those questions is: YES!
Yes. You can absolutely stack multiple Lightning Lanes together and have Lightning Lanes as well as Individual Lightning Lane selections at the same time. My goal here is to help you be as productive as possible and to maximize Disney Genie+.
Subscribe and stay up to date on all things Disney
Follow Happily Ever Park Hoppers on Social Media!
Other Great Topics
“The Rules” to Disney Genie+
- You can purchase Disney Genie+ each day beginning at Midnight (but you don’t need to). I prefer to wake up a little before 7am and pay for everyone in my travel party.
- You can make your first selection at 7am.
For your next selections. Remember the Rule of 2’s!
- You can make your next selection in TWO HOURS, as long as the park has been open for TWO HOURS. OR! You’ve just tapped in and redeemed your current selection.
- EX1: Magic Kingdom Park opens at 8am. Your first Lightning Lane selection is for Space Mountain, between 8:05am to 9:05am. You will be able to make your next selection as soon as you tap in at Space Mountain.
(note: some attractions have two touchpoints. You need to tap into both to be able to make your next selection) - EX2: Magic Kingdom Park opens at 8am. Your first Lightning Lane selection is for Peter Pan’s Flight, between 10:35am to 11:35am. You will be able to make your next selection at 10am.
- EX1: Magic Kingdom Park opens at 8am. Your first Lightning Lane selection is for Space Mountain, between 8:05am to 9:05am. You will be able to make your next selection as soon as you tap in at Space Mountain.
- When in doubt, check the Tip Board. It will tell you when you can make your next selection and remember to set an alarm on your phone. That way you never miss your next opportunity!
Modify your Lightning Lane times
If you make a selection for an attraction and the return time is too far out or you change your mind and want to get a different Lightning Lane selection. DO NOT CANCEL. Modify your selection instead.
When you cancel and pick up a new Lightning Lane selection, the 2-hour clock restarts. But if you modify, the 2-hour clock WILL NOT reset and you can still make your next selection either 2 hours from the time of the initial selection (the LL you had before modifying) OR if your new selection has an earlier return time and you redeem it before the 2-hour window is up.
Hypothetical Disney Genie+ Day
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Park Opens: 9am
2-hours after park opens rule: 11am
- 1st Selection: 7am
Slinky Dog Dash – Return time 2pm-3pm - 2nd Selection: 11am
Toy Story Mania! – Return time 12pm – 1pm - 3rd Selection: 1pm -> changed to 12pm (because you tapped in at Toy Story Mania!)
Alien Swirling Saucers – Return time 12:35 – 1:35pm - 4th Selection: 2pm -> changed to 12:45pm (because you tapped in at Alien Swirling Saucers)
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – Return time 2:30pm – 3:30pm - 5th Selection: 2:45pm
Tower of Terror – Return time 5pm – 6pm - 6th Selection: 4:45pm
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – Return time 6:35pm – 7:35pm
Note: This is a made-up scenario to show HOW your selections could go. On any given day, sell out times and availability can change. This hypothetical Disney Genie+ Day is just to show you how getting and using your Lightning Lanes selections could look.
I hope this helped you get a better understanding of how to use Disney Genie+. If you are curious what rides typically “sell out” the fastest, check out the Disney Genie+ Cheat Sheet below.
Spreading magic one post at a time
Kristin