Is This the Perfect Park Hopping Day? Animal Kingdom to Epcot with Disney Genie Plus 

Hey David - that sounds like an epic day! 🙌 Glad to hear you enjoyed this park hopping combo as much as we did. 😃

HI David, I am heading to Disney in about a month and I am considering trying to plan a day like you listed above. Questions: 1) Can you purchase lightning lanes for guardians for a set time? I want to be sure I am in epcot for it? You said you got 2:30 PM 2) How do you book a virtual queue for the guardians again? 3) Can I get a lightning lane for Remy's and Test Track at epcot while at Animal Kingdom or do i need to wait until I am in epcot. 4) What is the difference between fast pass and LL you listed above Thanks, MIke

He is the total BEST!! ❤

Thanks so much, Amber! We really wanted to get this one done sooner, but life intervened. 😂 Hopefully the next one will be done much more quickly. Thanks for supporting our channel - we really appreciate it! 😃

Agreed!

Thanks for the like! We hope you enjoy it. 😃

That’s a great suggestion. Unfortunately, I had to have my vehicle with me due to plans for later that night and we were too behind schedule for me to park at DHS. Otherwise, I agree that can be a fun addition. The Skyliner is like a ride in itself. Thanks for watching! 😃

Thank you for sharing this comment. It is so helpful for me trying to plan my upcoming WDW trip.... My family and I plan to do this in June and we will also be taking advantage of extended evening hours :)

Aww - thanks so much, Giovanni. We really appreciate all your support for our channel. 😃

Us too! ❤

Hi Craig - that’s awesome and we really appreciate it! Thanks for supporting our channel - we couldn’t keep making videos without folks like you watching them and leaving comments like this! 😃🙌

Hi Lexy - YES, we are so glad we finally had a chance to make it. We planned to do it ages ago, but Disney kept changing Genie so we had to make a bunch of unplanned videos. 😂 I hope you enjoyed it and it was worth the wait. Thanks for watching! 😃

@@EarScouts love you guys so much! This helps me so much plan a relaxing but fun time in April!!

So much to learn!

His ears are my favorite! ❤

Hi Daniel - we definitely agree. It’s such a lovely, peaceful ride. Thanks for watching! 😃

Hi Claire - thank you! And thanks for watching! 😃

Genie + is so worth it! Have a great trip!

It was a super fun day - hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Thanks for watching! 😃

Wishing you a magical trip!

Hey Meeshwell - those rides up toward the front of the park don’t typically have long waits toward the end of the night (except Test Track, of course). I don’t remember specifically how things were looking that night, but I’d be surprised if any of them had a wait more than 20 minutes and most were probably closer to 5 or 10.

We hope you enjoy it!!! 😃

@@EarScouts loved it! I always learn something from you. Wonderful as always! Thank you 😊

That’s great to hear! So glad you found our videos helpful - thanks so much for making us part of your RU-vid rotation. 😃

How was your trip?

Us too! Love it!

Hi Suzanne - you got it exactly right. Book whatever - Mission Space would work just fine, then modify for what you are really after. Thanks for watching - hope you have the best of luck with those Genie Slots! 🧞‍♂️🎰

Hi Donna! We were right beside the Mexico festival food booth. If I’m being honest, I was also surprised how much I could get done. 😂 Thanks for watching!

By the way, would I be able to order your merch for delivery to the hotel while we are in the US? Would love to support your channel in some way.

Hey Tracey - that sounds like an epic day! I think the official answer is a long, long day - but so worth it. 😂 Just make sure you plan to sleep in and enjoy that fabulous Beach Club pool the next morning. Thanks for watching! 😃

Hmmm - I’m not sure. I think you could? I also think the company we use ships to the UK. Thanks so much for supporting our channel! 😃

@@EarScouts yes just found I could order tees which I have...but do have my eye on that pin 😁

We can definitely hook you up with an Ear Scouts button when you’re here. We’ll try to find a time where our park schedules overlap. 😃

Hi Liisa! Wow - thanks for bingeing our videos! I’m so glad you’ve found them fun - we always have lots of fun making them, too. 😄

Hi Rasha! Thank you and welcome to our channel. 😃 For me, I’ve always bought tickets directly through Disney. Before I lived here, I would use my Disney Visa card to book hotel and tickets together on the Disney World website. You don’t really save anything, but the card lets you pay for the package in monthly installments with no finance or interest charges. Since I’ve moved here and started the channel, I’ve always had an annual pass, so it hasn’t really been an issue. I do know that Undercover Tourist is trusted by many people and is a reputable site for getting tickets at a small discount. You can find them at: www.undercovertourist.com Hope you have an amazing vacation - thanks for making our videos part of your planning! 😃

Hi Alejandro! Just out of curiosity, why are you starting with MK and then hopping in and out of AK? The reason I ask is that AK typically opens much earlier, so you could get more park time in by starting there and cutting one of your trips between the parks. Thanks for watching! 😃

@@EarScouts The point is that I have to select one park to start and could be risky if it is out of capacity when I want to hop to MG. Do you think that's possible middle of August ? if not, I agree with you. Thanks

@@alejandromaidanaable Gotcha - while that technically can happen, it has never happened on a non-holiday or special event day to my knowledge. You should definitely be safe in August. 👍

@@EarScouts Thanks Rob, I will take your advice, I will be at Disney on August 14th., so it shouldn't be problems with the capacity, finger-cross.

Hi Megan! I’m so sorry we missed you, but I’m glad to hear you had such a great day. I haven’t been to Tusker House in ages, but it’s one of our favorites. Did you enjoy it?

@@EarScouts we did. The food was ok but the characters were awesome. We did crystal Palace that week as well and Tusker house was better character wise, CP had better food.

That’s too bad, the food at Tusker used to be great, but I haven’t been since it closed for the pandemic. Thanks for the update.

Thanks so much, Will! Welcome to the channel. We hope you have an amazing vacation! 😃

Totally magical! ❤

Hi Becky - I LOVE doing AK in the afternoon. It’s actually how I usually do it because it gets pretty thinned out as the day goes on (everybody is hopping) and Pandora looks stunning at night. Just make sure you keep an eye on closing times for the attractions that are most important to you. Safaris, animal trails, Rafikis Planet Watch and even Kali River Rapids will often close early. The entire land of Africa will often close after dark, which can be a bummer if you don’t plan for it. I don’t think you NEED Genie. I’d plan to make FOP my very last ride and get in that line just before the park closes. Let us know how it goes!

Everest is so fun!

Hello! Take a look at our original 27 Tips for Genie Plus video from last year. We did HS to MK in that one and it went quite well. Thanks for watching! 😃

Hi Megan! Great question. Unfortunately, the two hour rule is not limited to one park. While you can always book in a different park when you have a park hopper and the ride you want to book is after 2pm (when you can hop), you still have to wait two hours after every ride you book unless you ride it before the 2 hours is up. Hope that helps!

Hi Consuelo! Time to start the countdown. 😃 Maybe we’ll see you in the parks next year. Thanks for watching! 😃

Hello! You can’t go wrong with these parks. Even without Genie Plus, there’s so much to do without Lightning Lanes (World Showcase, animal trails, festival stuff at Epcot). The only case where I’d say you need the genie is if Frozen, Remy, Test Track and Navi River Journey are all must-do rides for you. It could be difficult to hit all those in one day without the Genie. Hope you have a great time! 😃

@Ear Scouts Thank you so much! We are going to Epcot during Extended Evening hours so I hope that helps with getting on Remy and Frozen. Frozen isn't a must but Remy definitely is for my son! Thank you again for all your wonderful tips and videos! They've helped so much. We hope to run into you at the parks!

@@Onniesprairiegarden We just did the same thing you're planning on doing with extended evening hours and I probably didn't need Genie+. You can definitely hop in to the Remy line as fireworks are happening (if they're not important to you) but there is a rush once fireworks ends. It was a lower crowd day for us so that can make a difference. I posted what our day was like in the comments. Hope it helps!

Have a magical trip!

Hi Joann - your only Disney transportation option at Animal Kingdom is bus. It typically takes 20-30 minutes to get from AK to Epcot (including the time to wait for the bus to depart), though it can take as long as 45 minutes. I generally budget 30 minutes and give myself some wiggle room in case it is closer to 45. Thanks for watching! 😃

Also, for mobile food ordering, do you have to pay when you order, or when you pick up your food? Your videos have been very helpful since I have only gone to Disneyland and CA land.

Hi John - no, I haven’t shown that, but it is very straightforward. It will ask you who in your party you would like to include when you book it. Hope you have a great trip!

Hi Linda! Everest is the BEST! It’s exciting, but not super scary. As far as booking times, I will always take whatever I can get first (keeping in mind that it won’t let you book anything before your park hopping time of 2pm). Once I have *something*, I will keep modifying it to try to get my ideal time. You can keep modifying right up until you ride (or the park closes - it has let me modify expires Lightning Lanes as I mentioned in this video). The 2 hours always count from the first time you booked the initial one, so modify away and it won’t affect the 2 hour rule. Thanks for watching! 😃

Hi TC - yes, you can modify a Lightning Lane and choose a different attraction as long as it is in the same park, available, and you haven’t already ridden it using the Lightning Lane. For me, I typically play for no more than 15 minutes at a time unless I am in a long line or on a Disney bus or something like that where there’s not really anything better to do anyway. Hope that helps!

Yes you absolutely can! If you are trying to very quickly book a high demand ride, go ahead and book that for everyone and then go back in later and modify it to change the ones who don’t want that ride. Otherwise, when you are initially booking the LL you can select who will be riding, it just takes a few more seconds to uncheck the boxes for the people who don’t want that LL… that’s why I said if you’re in a hurry to book fast, just book them and modify later. Hope that makes sense.

What Meeshwell said. 😅 Sorry to be so late responding, but I’m glad Meeshwell was able to help you! Hope you have a great trip. 😃

Thanks Meeshwell! I always appreciate it when you jump in and answer these questions. Would you have any interest in helping out as a moderator for our channel? Sometimes we get too backed up to answer questions in a timely manner and it really helps when knowledgeable folks like you share answers to questions. If you’re interested, shoot us a private message on Instagram or Facebook. Thanks!

Pretty sure I drove so I’d have my car with me. The only time I avoid driving is when MK is involved because I try to escape the TTC whenever possible. 😂 Thanks for watching! 😃

This is what I want to know!

Hi Sean! They are from Wakanda Forever - they are in the style of the character Namor. Thanks for watching! 😃

Namor from Wakanda Forever - thanks for watching! 😃

Hello Ina - you do not have to start the day in any particular park to buy an Individual Attraction Lightning Lane, you’ll just need a park hopper ticket and to book the ride after 2pm if it is not in your first park. Thanks for watching! 😃

Hi Debbie! It starts counting down from the moment you book the Lightning Lane. Even if you modify that reservation by tapping the three dots and choosing “modify plan”, it will still keep counting down from the first time you booked the initial one. Thanks for watching! 😃

@@EarScouts love your videos. They are so informative and easy to understand

Did you try to book either as soon as you tapped in or after 2 hours? Did you try the modify feature? Sorry it didn’t work out for you…

Hi Matt - yes, I think it is a perfect ride for a 4 year old. It’s very peaceful and so beautiful. The shaman animatronic at the end is mesmerizing. Hope you all enjoy it! 😃

@@EarScouts Thank you so much!!! Love your channel 😊

Hi Christine - that’s actually one of the best parts of Disney Genie - it hops with you wherever you go at no extra charge. I’ll often hop to MK after I finish making Genie videos in the other parks and ride my favorites until 11pm. 😃

@@EarScouts Thank you! I am really studying how you’re doing this because I want to park hop from AK to Epcot also. We will be a party of six though. I’m about to Binge all of your genie plus videos. 😆

@@christineellis3688 Good luck! 🍀

Hi Igor! I would say it is pretty much impossible to get a free virtual boarding group if you hop into Epcot, but it is definitely possible to get an Individual Attraction Lightning Lane even when you are not staying on property (though it is definitely trickier). Be sure to try to book the second Epcot opens and if it says it is not still offered, keep tapping in and out and refresh your view. They tend to pop back in as people change their mind about the time they want to reserve and also Disney will often sprinkle some in. If you have no luck after a few minutes of trying, just keep checking the app throughout the day. If the ride is running smoothly, Disney will usually add more as the day goes on. Good luck! 🍀

@@EarScouts thank you so much for detailed answer. I've been logging in the app around 2pm to check epcot situation for that ride and I've noticed some days there is still a few spots for virtual line. But I heard July is a lot more crazy and I'm assuming your take is pretty accurate saying it's almost impossible.

@@EarScouts I'm back from my trip and I'm happy to say that I used this exact strategy and it worked so well! I was able to stack my Genie Plus for Epcot Rides and did all rides I wanted in Animal Kingdom (Flight of Passage, Safari, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur, and Na'vi River in that order). The longest wait was Navi River because we did that last since we decided to be ahead of the crowd on all the other rides. At Epcot, we got the Virtual Line for Guardians at 2pm and got also an ILL on top of that so we could go twice. The strategy worked so well that I had Genie+ left over that I didn't need to use by the end of the day after going to 6 rides just in Epcot. I already recommend your videos for friends but I wanted to personally thank you once again.

@@igormil that’s awesome! So amazing that you still scored a virtual queue after 2pm! Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to let us know how your trip went - we really appreciate it! 😃

Hi Rosemary! That’s a really tough one because it really depends a lot on what your group is most interested in. Normally I would suggest additional time in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios since they have the most attractions with longer wait times, but a group of adults may find more to love in Epcot and Animal Kingdom. If you haven’t booked your trip yet, I’d suggest seeking out a certified Disney travel planner - they work for free (they get commission from Disney) and can often get you better rates than you would find on your own. They are also pros at planning out itineraries that meet your group’s specific preferences. Hope you have an amazing vacation!

Hi Kelly! I’m not sure I understand the question, but if you are asking how to fit two Lightning Lanes in at Animal Kingdom before you start booking for Epcot, I would recommend booking the first LL at 7am on the dot for as early as possible. Tap in and use that as soon as you can so that you can book the next one. Your goal with that second one is to have a return window that begins before Epcot (or whatever your second park is) opens. Tap in at that ride and then immediately book a Lightning Lane for your second park. The reason this works is because whenever you book a Lightning Lane before the park opens, the two hours that you have to wait before you can book another doesn’t start counting down until the park opens. Let’s say you booked an Epcot ride at 8:00 am. You would have to wait until 11:00 am to book another because the park opens at 9. On the other hand, if you booked it at 9 am, you would still be able to book the next one at 11. If you booked at 8, you’ve basically lost an hour that you could have used to book another ride at AK. Does that make sense?