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Hi! Is it worth buying lightning lanes a week in advance these days or are they still available the day of or a couple days before? Is there a difference between multi pass and individual in whether or not to buy in advance?

7:32pm on 4/12/26 by kshaver228

It's best to book as far in advance as possible if you're planning to use LLs. Ride availability for headliner rides can quickly progress to only late times or even run out. Most single LLs sell out in advance.

7:33pm on 4/12/26 by utang44

Agree with @utang. You can see for yourself when things sell out and what time passes are up to here:

8:05pm on 4/12/26 by evamarie320

https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/lightning-lane Scroll down to chart.

8:06pm on 4/12/26 by evamarie320

You definitely want to prebook. BG1 has real time availability.

24 min ago by Flutegarden

Which park(s) on which days? Any help is greatly appreciated! Saturday, May 2 MK 6, EP 4, HS 5 Sunday, May 3 MK 4, EP 3, HS 4 Monday, May 4 MK 5, EP 4, HS 4 Tuesday, May 5 MK 4, EP 3, HS 3 Wednesday May 6 MK 4, EP 3, HS 3

11:14am on 4/12/26 by schappell

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May the 4th is still fun, though. Lots of SW-bounding, some run special treats. Handing out with fellow fanatics.

2:42pm on 4/12/26 by moondance07

Presume there will be a discord group lightsaber meet on 4th? We caught one on anniversay of SWGE opening- weird but fun to see.

1:30am by hodg

I ignore it when difference is a point or 2. If using LLs I'd plan parks with hr after to get LKs towards end. I'd do MK last if you want to ride BYMRR and Buzz LL hard to get. HS on 5th for SDD.

27 min ago by Flutegarden

Is there a 2 hour grace period for ILL as well as regular LL?

9:56pm on 4/12/26 by Phil H. Magic

Liners have reported yes, though I personally have never put it to the test.

11:01pm on 4/12/26 by snowdiz

Worked for me last month on SDMT

1:08am by njhyndman

Yes have used it for Tron and FOP

3:03am by Totsypooh

Does anyone combo universal studios and wdw vacations into one long vacation? How many days is too many & how would you split your nights? Wdw - we usually do 4-5 days & nights

12:51pm on 4/8/26 by RileysBirthday

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We did last year had planed on driving so built in extra days we did 5 nights Disney and 3 nights universal . 4 one park Disney tickets then 2 universal park to park the 1 day epic bought EP for epic had it at other parks

1:29pm on 4/8/26 by burfe1501

Looked a 1 day epic this year but that's ALOT of Mickey bars

1:31pm on 4/8/26 by burfe1501

We did move locations 3 times art of animation, Pacific Royal resort, cabana Bay. I would do it again

1:34pm on 4/8/26 by burfe1501

Our last universal/WDW trip was pre-epic. We did 3 days at UOR (included water park) and 5 days WDW.

2:44pm on 4/8/26 by simba77

The longer (3 days +) universal tickets allow you to hop between all the parks including Epic. Same with the longer express passes. (The hotel Express perk doesn't include Epic) All of this makes Universal a better deal the longer you stay!

2:50pm on 4/8/26 by TumbleMonkeys

I did it last year in Dec but did a 3 way split stay which was nuts, but wanted to be on property for holiday parties. I think my trip was 8 days.

3:11pm on 4/8/26 by njhyndman

Non-Epic UO takes 3 days for 2 parks if you want to do it without rushing through. Highly recommend re-watching as many of the original HP films as you can before visiting.

5:18pm on 4/8/26 by Ali Ababwa

Too many? Does not compute

5:28pm on 4/8/26 by hodg

We nearly always include UOR too, minimum time to do both parks is 2 weeks, ideally 3. Shortest trips have been 7 days & 10 days including a conference so that's just wdw This trip will be 23 days - UOR inc conference, Wdw then wish.

5:32pm on 4/8/26 by hodg

@hodg You are fully aware that most working Americans would kill for that kind of vacation time.

5:53pm on 4/8/26 by Ali Ababwa

Never to many days

6:02pm on 4/8/26 by WorldTraveler34

As coming from Europe, next trip will be 5 days Universal, 18 days WDW (14 park days, 4 rest days). Will fly in and out of Miami. Driving Miami Orlando. Staying four nights in total outside Orlando area. Total 28 nights.

6:10pm on 4/8/26 by nitsaki

@hotdog You must not be from america with that great of vacation time! That is AWESOME! It would actually make a trip relaxing to have so much time!

6:17pm on 4/8/26 by RileysBirthday

Who is hotdog?

6:26pm on 4/8/26 by Jennyhirsch

You may know her as @hodg, @Jenny :-) But I did just post about hotdogs on the dinner thread. Maybe I inspired this typo!

6:30pm on 4/8/26 by TumbleMonkeys

Before epic and before uni waterpark, we did one night and two full days at Uni which got us all of both HP areas along with a few other things we wanted. We agreed it was enuf time. Then we did four or five nights at WDW.

6:52pm on 4/8/26 by evamarie320

Love doing Disney and Universal! Usually go twice a year, especially with AP for Universal. Usually focus on Disney in December, with just 2 days at Universal and do the reverse in summer! I love Disney, DH Universal!

7:01pm on 4/8/26 by Cindi337

If you've not done Universal, two-three days at UO would be enough, I'd think. If you're only going for HP stuff, that can be done in one very full day (with hopping). The trouble with Epic is that they don't have enough attractions to eat the crowds..

7:10pm on 4/8/26 by JERancher

...and if something is wrong, it makes the park go a bit haywire. I had a very frustrating time there in February, still using all the tricks I knew to use. But three days (two at the other spots, one at Epic) should still do the trick.

7:14pm on 4/8/26 by JERancher

The past few trips we've done split stays. Usually 2 days @Uni parks (pre-Epic), then 5 days in the WDW parks. We stay @Royal Pacific, it's pricey, but has free EP @ the old parks (it's amazing). With EP we do everything we want in the 2days.

8:23pm on 4/8/26 by WendyMarie

Yep most on here know I'm from U.K. so I'm aware that we are lucky in how long we can stay- & that 3 wks is a ridiclously long trip. But a lot of you guys pop in multiple times a year. We visit every few yrs if we're lucky

1:58am on 4/9/26 by hodg

And I do seem to autocorrect to hotdog every now & then..

2:03am on 4/9/26 by hodg

Shortest we've done is a week and the longest is 31 days but since retiring trips are around the 14 nights.

2:36am on 4/9/26 by tiggertypooh

@hodg omg!! Why do i read you as hot dog in my mind lol

10:22am on 4/11/26 by RileysBirthday

Dd doesn't like big coasters so we'd skip those at universal. I wonder if we'd need express skipping big coasters over a few days?

10:29am on 4/11/26 by RileysBirthday

4 nights universal too much? Travel day + 3 full days? With a kid who goes to bed by 8 so we'd leave by dinner

10:32am on 4/11/26 by RileysBirthday

I missed the response! Honestly had no clue who or what @hotdog was! Now I can't stop laughing.

12:17pm on 4/11/26 by Jennyhirsch

I wonder if @hotdog drives a Wienermobile.

3:32pm on 4/11/26 by trishr.

How old is DD @riley? Totally get the wanting to get them back for bed-we did that a lot when smaller, a lot of the time UOR isn't open v late anyway. If old enough to be into HP then you cld lose a whole day doing spells, into shops etc.

4:09pm on 4/11/26 by hodg

Not too much! Sounds about right.

4:09pm on 4/11/26 by TumbleMonkeys

If younger & not into thrill rides, or marvel character M&Gs, then you'd maybe want less time.

4:10pm on 4/11/26 by hodg

Who is @hotdog?? I can't stop laughing...

3:51am on 4/12/26 by hol74976

Not a night owl, it's just 5pm in Japan. 16 days till WDW!

3:51am on 4/12/26 by hol74976

She's 8 and at wdw she loves the scavenger hunts at the parks, doing spells actually could be a lot of fun!

11:27am on 4/12/26 by RileysBirthday

Hot dog hot dog hot diggity dog

11:28am on 4/12/26 by RileysBirthday

8 is old enough to enjoy Harry Potter books- we listened to the books in car etc then watched each movie. Even 1st book will let her know what it's about.

12:10pm on 4/12/26 by hodg

Doing this in May (for first time). 7 nights at WDW (5 park days) and 3 nights Uni (2 parks days).

12:34pm on 4/12/26 by Crherrick

We did this a couple of years ago and loved it. We are doing it again this summer. 4 nights at Universal (2 at Helios and 2 at Royal Pacific) then 10 at Boardwalk!

2:20pm on 4/12/26 by gizmolmc

At 8 I wouldn't let DS read or watch beyond book 3 - they get dark. We've both read all 7 multiple times now.

2:40pm on 4/12/26 by moondance07

I'm just back from 7 nights at Disney FQ and 7 nights at Universal Helios. It was our first time visiting Orlando from the UK with our DD age 10. We obviously had a great time but it was a very full on 2 week trip!

5:15pm on 4/12/26 by disneyrock_et

Appreciate it was Spring Break but the queues were insane. We did early entry at IOA for Hagrid, joined the queue when it said 90 mins but waited 3 hours. My advice for this is to travel light to avoid needing a locker.

5:25pm on 4/12/26 by disneyrock_et

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Early entry at Helios (we got there about 7:15am and were quite near the front) is great for HP. Over 6 days we did all the rides and character meets we wanted to do and had 1 day at Volcano Bay. Outside of Spring Break I think 4-5 days would be good!

5:35pm on 4/12/26 by disneyrock_et

We read the whole series aloud starting when DS was in kindergarten. The final book came out when he was 8 and we were standing in line to get it. Didn't get to Uni til he was 16 but he definitely needed a wand (so did DH lol) and they did all the spells.

5:38pm on 4/12/26 by evamarie320

We only went up to HP book 3 when younger DS was 6- that was plenty to enjoy hogsmead. Think he was nearly 9 when we went back after FA opened & we'd done the whole series by then. Older DS might notve coped w it so young- he's always more scared by movie

1:27am by hodg

NDR, but I'm so excited. I just got an email that I'll have an opportunity to purchase 2028 LA Olympics tickets! Looks like a trip to DL may be on the horizon as well. Eeek!

3:31pm on 4/7/26 by MrsNesbitt05

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Good luck! All I hear is how expensive they are but I hope you get something reasonable.

4:00pm on 4/7/26 by melcort10

I'm really hoping to attend the Paralympics in 2028. My niece played wheel chair rugby and I was unable to see her play in Paris.

4:02pm on 4/7/26 by momtwofour

Fantastic! We did paris- managed to get some reasonableish price tickets for am athletics plus did rowing & hockey quarters & semis- DS29's coach was playing. We did end up w 100m finals evening tickets too after a couple of cocktails- no regrets.

4:04pm on 4/7/26 by hodg

Paris accommodation was very expensive so be prepared. We got a great Airbnb in the end but it was not cheap

4:04pm on 4/7/26 by hodg

Paris for 1st release you had to pick 3 events. And France had events all over the country. Then we could add other events individually later. London 2012 did great prices for kids-you paid their age whatever the ticket cost. That mayve been to U.K. only.

4:10pm on 4/7/26 by hodg

High five @MrsNesbitt! I just got my email this evening too! I'm hoping to get tickets for men's rowing (DS16 is a HS rower) and women's basketball (DD13's favorite sport). Hope your time slot goes well for you!

7:29pm on 4/7/26 by JoeyPotter98

Hmmm I might think about LA28! I went to Seoul, Barcelona, Albertville, and Atlanta....

8:18pm on 4/7/26 by Ali Ababwa

Congrats you two!! Sad trombone over here as I got an email saying I didn't make the first draw. Still hoping to make a future one. Keep us posted on how the ticket purchase goes and what events you get.

8:25pm on 4/7/26 by GoGreenGoWhite

@joey, gonna try for 5x5 WBB or 3x3 or both?

8:39pm on 4/7/26 by utang44

@utang I'm going to try for the 5x5 first, but my DD was also totally obsessed with this past season of Unrivaled so I can't go wrong with the 3x3 option either

9:03pm on 4/7/26 by JoeyPotter98

My mom got one also for DD16 bday trip(she'll be 17 by then but that works too!)we are going for Equestrian events & volleyball. DD BFF family all signed up and 2 of them got lottery times. I didn't think of that at all so max we'll get is 12 right now.

9:11pm on 4/7/26 by koolaid

But worried about price also, do we have any clue how much the price range might be?

9:12pm on 4/7/26 by koolaid

3x3 is so fun! Also gives me a heart attack to watch sometimes. Best of luck grabbing some WBB tickets.

9:16pm on 4/7/26 by utang44

Don't know if it will be similar but we paid 60-90 euro for the hockey, rowing etc inc semis. Athletics am early session was 130 euro & the men's 100m final was around 250- that was sonworth it tho.

9:42pm on 4/7/26 by hodg

They've not said anything about kids prices?

9:43pm on 4/7/26 by hodg

How does this work? DS just texted this morning that he was bored a few months ago and signed up for the lottery for tix. He got 12. So I have to figure out where venues are? Then price what I want? And they are stupidly expensive?

7:49am on 4/8/26 by Jennyhirsch

@flute said very expensive on other thread- tho I'd hope $1000s for ticket is mega athletics or swim events with hospitality.

10:35am on 4/8/26 by hodg

Pick a few less-popular sports preliminary rounds, especially women's, less costly, easier to get to, and still Olympic caliber competition/skills that are amazing to watch.

11:56am on 4/8/26 by Ali Ababwa

@jenny, the la28 website has a complete schedule and venue list. Along with recommendations for planning well in regards to the venue location and realistic travel time.

12:09pm on 4/8/26 by GoGreenGoWhite

Thank you, all.

12:15pm on 4/8/26 by Jennyhirsch

Following. My ticket window opens on April 12th, and I'm hoping for swimming or gymnastics, but I heard the first round of local tickets for those sold out within seconds.

12:40pm on 4/8/26 by 56arlene

Go to SwimSwam to get a general idea about the swim tickets and pricing. I've decided against getting tix. The prices for swim are rough and you don't get a seat. You get an "area" with seat notification later.

3:24pm on 4/8/26 by Jennyhirsch

Also got our email for Drop 1!! - I am nervous about cost/availability after resident presale this past week. Will be waiting to see if they release more tix at different price points come Monday

4:58pm on 4/8/26 by SplitStayfortheWin

Swimming & cycling were impossible or crazy cost for 2012 &2024. Weird not to allocate seats tho.

5:35pm on 4/8/26 by hodg

You should be able to see road cycling and triathlon cycling, each in men's and women's divisions.

5:52pm on 4/8/26 by Ali Ababwa

I think we've tapped out for the Olympics...the event pricing my mother saw was almost $300 a piece for equestrian events and the logistics makes my head hurt lol.

5:16pm on 4/9/26 by koolaid

There were poonts in the run up to Paris that i wldv happily cancelled the lot. We did have to sell back 1 set of tickets as DS GF cldnt come. But it ended up being fantastic & im so glad we did it. Tho does sound spendt for LA

5:29pm on 4/9/26 by hodg

It's also very early to be selling tickets- Paris was released just over a year ahead

5:30pm on 4/9/26 by hodg

SwimSwam just reported that tickets for all swim finals are sold out and the tickets for prelims that are left are the priciest, "Tier A," at $1600. Think we will host big screen swim parties instead! My tv will be fine!

8:20pm on 4/9/26 by Jennyhirsch

A lot less hot & sticky too. Tho standing freezing in horizontal rain watching ds19 play hockey recently, I did miss the swim days. The bike races are great to go to except they go past in a flash. Saw start of the women in paris.

3:04am on 4/10/26 by hodg

Did catch the tail end of the mens road race too-that was slow & spread out on the steep hill of Montmartre. We'd missed the leaders, just came out of the metro after a hockey event & realised race was still on.

3:05am on 4/10/26 by hodg

We had 2 chances so far and turned down both because of the prices. Still hoping for surfing at some point.

8:59am on 4/10/26 by moondance07

Is the surfing local? Not off in Hawaii?

10:57am on 4/10/26 by hodg

San Clemente

2:19pm on 4/10/26 by moondance07

San Dimas High Football Rules!!

2:59pm on 4/10/26 by Fatty McButterpants

Party On, Dudes!

4:24pm on 4/10/26 by MOJoe

And be excellent to each other.

5:05pm on 4/10/26 by trishr.

Yay!!! We purchased our LA28 tickets yesterday and I'm so excited! Over 2 years away but planning for it already!

6:28pm on 4/10/26 by tddusina

Not sure if we can afford any tix for events. Can you walk around the Olympic Village or is that only for athletes? We are Olympic junkies and I'd love to just be there. Is it worth it if I don't have any tix?

1:36am on 4/12/26 by penguinmom98

I got a slot too. But discussed with DH and between prices and logistics we might not use it. :( and thats with family in LA we coild stay with!

1:50am on 4/12/26 by Totsypooh

Im most worried about flight prices and how to get to the locations in that kind of traffic

1:54am on 4/12/26 by Totsypooh

Olympics usually is set up to be all public transport- driving impossible unless out of city. Paris & London both v easy w loads of games makers helping direct to venues. Even when we drove for gb rowing at eton there was bus from car parks

5:38am on 4/12/26 by hodg

Yes, pretty sure I saw only public transport will be available for getting into LA venues.

11:05am on 4/12/26 by Jennyhirsch

@penguin have you been to the training center in Colorado Springs? We went last summer- pretty cool. No guarantee you'll see athletes. We saw a paraolympic bocce practice.

2:26pm on 4/12/26 by moondance07

@penguin @ moon we toured the training facility in summer 26 lots of paraolympians because it was week ?2 weeks before Paris !!

3:07pm on 4/12/26 by snelvis

Please consider getting tickets to see the Paralympic Games :) My niece is a huge advocate for bringing awareness to the games. When the Olympics are over many people stop watching. She and all the other Paralympian's are amazing!Thats my humble plug lol

6:19pm on 4/12/26 by momtwofour

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And if you have never watched Wheel Chair Rugby give it a go! You just might get hooked

6:19pm on 4/12/26 by momtwofour

My friend was able to get us tickets for mixed track & field, women's volleyball & women's field hockey. I have always wanted to see the Olympics so I'm super excited!

6:36pm on 4/12/26 by djsmom

That's great @djs- nice events. And agree w going to paralympics too- for 2012 we went to para athletics as cldnt get into main stadium for Olympics- so amazing. Our kids Just as excited to support the athletes as for "main" event

1:19am by hodg

I've got the just back from Disney with no other trips on the horizon blues. Going to relive my amazing trip with a short Shenkel list... 1: First stay at Caribbean Beach and Saratoga. Loved Saratoga. Gorgeous rooms and grounds! Walking to DS was aweso...

8:49pm on 4/12/26 by Dis_stacey

2. Cake Bake with my daughter for her 14th birthday- they made it so special! Definitely the highlight of the week for her. 3. Safari in the rain- so many animals out! Usually we go in August and I don't feel like I've ever seen as many.

8:51pm on 4/12/26 by Dis_stacey

4. The rain! Coolest, rainiest trip we've had. We poncho'd up and kept going and had the best time. 5. VIP seating for Beauty and the Beast. Hadn't seen it before, so cute! 6. Lunch at 50's Prime Time- delicious!

8:58pm on 4/12/26 by Dis_stacey

@Dis, love your list! We were at SSR last month for the 1st time and agree about the grounds and access to DS!

10:48pm on 4/12/26 by MicheleandtheBeast

I love a good Shenkel list!

12:32am by AreWeThereYeti

I am looking for a reservation for 1 for cinderellas table. There are none for 1 or 2. But if you want 4 or 6 or even 8 they have some tables. So annoying.

11:26am on 4/12/26 by VikeQueen

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Take a 4 and check in for one. They will refund you for the 3.

12:43pm on 4/12/26 by JackOfAll

Did you try 3?

12:43pm on 4/12/26 by JackOfAll

Yep, so annoying for a prepay!

12:55pm on 4/12/26 by Ali Ababwa

Wondering how we can lobby for a change in availability for solo and party of 2 guests. With ADRs necessary at 60 days in advance, it sure seems like they should accommodate more, IMO.

2:23pm on 4/12/26 by Ali Ababwa

I didn't think cinderellas table would refund? Are we sure that will work? I know this is not a place for walkups but I will probably give it a try. I've never been so thought I would try on my solo trip but I don't care enough to make this too difficult

2:26pm on 4/12/26 by VikeQueen

I did not try 3 but I will cuz now I'm curious

2:26pm on 4/12/26 by VikeQueen

While I eventually got refund, I had to work for an HDDR and a dessert party refund. Dessert party was due to sickess, host told us to email, I emailed billing after vacation, no prob.

3:34pm on 4/12/26 by Jennyhirsch

HDDR: spent a month trying to remove 2 people. Called, emailed, spoke to our club level room concierge. They all said wait till you get there. When I got there, it was an awful reception. I had names, dates of people I spoke with in the month leading up.

3:37pm on 4/12/26 by Jennyhirsch

I had to be that person at the check in location, which I hated, unhappily sucking up the loss of money, and an hour into the show, a host finally came up to me with a refund receipt. It was not easy or lighthearted.

3:39pm on 4/12/26 by Jennyhirsch

Oh my Jenny that's awful. If it were a once in a lifetime trip w a kid I would take a chance. But it's just me (a boy mom) wanting to see the castle. I've got more trips ahead of me. Will make DH go with me if I have to LOL

4:36pm on 4/12/26 by VikeQueen

Someone should print out this thread and mail it to guest services!

5:42pm on 4/12/26 by evamarie320

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I keep hearing how they are having trouble filling tables. Their filtering only looking for big parties isn't helping them.

5:51pm on 4/12/26 by VikeQueen

I had my ADR day today and there were a bunch of available times throughout the day. Wasn't what I was looking for- just noticed it. I hope you can find a solution so you can go!

8:53pm on 4/12/26 by simba77

@Vike - pick whatever ADR size is available, and then choose 1 adult and x infants for your party, so you'll only be charged one adult price. I think that should work?

11:59pm on 4/12/26 by daisylover78

How is the temperature at Castaway and Lookout in December? We definitely want to be able to swim.

9:03pm on 4/12/26 by vickiwaffles

We have been at Castaway Cay in December four times. Swimming was fine each year.

11:20pm on 4/12/26 by anneofcreek

"What's cookin'?" Masters menu edition: BBQ pulled pork, chicken salad, pimento cheese and egg salad sandwiches, potato chips with a side salad too. For drinks we will make Azaleas and Arnold Palmers. Unfortunately we couldn't find peach ice cream so....

4:47pm on 4/12/26 by TacMed

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^^cake, not cale LOL.

8:51pm on 4/12/26 by snowdiz

@MO he loosely followed this recipe- https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012/11/13/disney-recipe-ooey-gooey-toffee-cake-at-liberty-tree-tavern/

8:52pm on 4/12/26 by WendyMarie

Thanks!

10:44pm on 4/12/26 by MOJoe

Here we go!!!!! LINER MEET for breakfast on April 17, Olivia's, 10AM! Had to scroll thru zillions pages of chat to find (and write on paper this time!) who thought they could come! We have ADRs already for anyone who wants to attend!

10:04am on 3/29/26 by Jennyhirsch

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Missed it by a month!

8:04pm on 4/12/26 by njhyndman

Hi! I will not be able to come /-: hopefully you'll have one in October:-)

8:08pm on 4/12/26 by DeeMac

Emma is officially coming to brunch so there will be three magic family members in attendance.

9:55pm on 4/12/26 by Phil H. Magic

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