Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort is a powerful tool! We are focused on helping you get the best value out of this paid line-skipping service and have developed a series of posts to help you do just that. This post contains a number of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. We hope you find the answers you need here.
Beyond these Disneyland Lightning Lane Multi Pass FAQs, we also have a detailed guide to using the service, Big Guide to Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort, and an article with advanced strategies, Ride More: 9 Strategies for Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland.
General FAQs for Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort
Does Lightning Lane Multi Pass work the same way in Disneyland Resort as it does at Walt Disney World?
No. There are some similarities, but Lightning Lane Multi Pass does not work the same way in Disneyland Resort in California as it does at Walt Disney World in Florida. If you have used Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Walt Disney World, we suggest you relearn how to use it at Disneyland Resort. Here is our Big Guide to Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort.
The most important difference is that in Florida you are able to make three advanced reservations for attraction arrival windows. In California, you must first enter a Disneyland Resort theme park before you make any reservations. Additionally, attractions at Walt Disney World are divided into tiers for these advance reservations, but there are no tiers at Disneyland Resort (except maybe when it comes to Multiple Experiences Passes, but that’s a different topic.)
Another important difference is that at Walt Disney World, Lightning Lane Multi Pass pricing varies depending on the park. At Disneyland Resort, the price is the same whether you are purchasing the pass to use at Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park or both with a Park Hopper. However, this price can change based on dates and when you buy the pass.
Finally, at Disneyland Resort, you are eligible to make a new Lightning Lane Multi Pass selection after (1) you use your most recent reservation or (2) two hours have passed since you last made a reservation. In Walt Disney World, there is no two hour rule.
For all of the rules and tricks for Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort, we suggest reading our Big Guide to Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort and then Ride More: 9 Strategies for Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland.
What is the difference between Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Genie+, FastPass or MaxPass?
Disneyland Resort has had several ride reservation services similar to Lightning Lane Multi Pass. FastPass was a previous service that was complimentary with general admission and utilized paper tickets. MaxPass was a paid service that was similar to today’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass and worked alongside the former FastPass system. Genie+ was the former name for today’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
You may hear other guests use these names interchangeably, but Genie+, MaxPass and FastPass are no longer available at Disneyland. Genie (no + ) is an existing itinerary builder. The current paid line-skipping options are Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Premier Pass. For an introduction to all three Lightning Lane services see: Disneyland Lightning Lanes: How to Super-Charge Your Visit.
Is a virtual queue at Disneyland the same as a Lightning Lane?
No. Virtual queues are only offered for a very limited number of shows and attractions at Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park. Unlike Lightning Lane reservations, the ability to join a virtual queue is offered free with admission to the parks of Disneyland Resort. Additionally, the process for joining a virtual queue is quite different than the process for making a Lightning Lane reservation. To learn the virtual queue process, see Disneyland Virtual Queue Guide.
Is mobile ordering the same as making a Lightning Lane reservation?
No. Mobile ordering is a way to pre-order food at Disneyland Resort. The mobile ordering service comes at no extra charge (beyond the price of the food), and does not provide access to attractions. This is a service we use frequently. You can learn how to use mobile ordering at Disneyland Resort here: Disneyland Mobile Ordering Guide.
What is the difference between Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Premier Pass at Disneyland Resort?
Briefly, all three passes are paid services that provide you access to Lightning Lanes at one or more attractions. Lightning Lanes are priority queues that allow you to bypass the regular standby line. The differences are in price, number of eligible attractions and when you may visit those attractions.
With Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you pay one fee for the opportunity to make reservations to access the Lightning Lane for each of a number of included attractions. With a Lightning Lane Single Pass, you purchase a reservation for just one attraction. There is no overlap between the attractions offered under Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass. With Lightning Lane Premier Pass, you can access the attractions from both of the other Lightning Lane services, and you may do so spontaneously without a reservation (once per day).
This is just a quick overview of the three services. For a more detailed comparison, see Disneyland Lightning Lanes: How to Super-Charge Your Visit
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Making Lightning Lane Multi Pass Reservations at Disneyland Resort, FAQs
Can I make Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservations before my Disneyland Resort visit?
No. You cannot make any Lightning Lane reservations before entering one of the parks at Disneyland Resort. You must first scan into the entry gates at either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park before you can begin booking Lightning Lane Multi Pass arrival windows. This is one of the differences between Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort versus Walt Disney World.
Can I make all of my reservations for Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservations at the same time?
No. You may only make one Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservation at a time. Before you can make another Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservation, you must either (1) use the reservation you most recently booked or (2) wait two hours from the time when you last booked an attraction.
Two details to note here. First, to use your reservation, you will go to your reserved attraction during your arrival window and scan into the Lightning Lane entrance. Once you have scanned in, you are eligible to make your next booking. You do not need to actually ride the attraction to be eligible, so you can make your next reservation during the brief wait between scanning into the attraction and actually riding.
Second, that two hours waiting period starts from the time you made the reservation and not the reservation time itself. For example: if it is currently 1:00pm and you make a Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservation with an arrival window of 5:00-6:00pm, you will next be able to make a reservation at 3:00pm.
Can I make Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservations for my whole group?
Yes, you can make Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservations for your family or group. Each person will need to have Lightning Lane Multi Pass and valid admission.
First, you will need to make sure that your group’s tickets are all linked together on your Disneyland app. If you have not already done so, select “My Tickets & Passes” in the app menu, and then select “Link Tickets & Passes.” From here, you can link your group’s tickets by scanning them with your mobile device’s camera or manually entering the ticket’s ID number. Just follow the prompts. We suggest doing this before your visit.
Once you have your group’s tickets linked, you will have the option of making Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservations for any and all of your group members. As you make the reservations in the usual way, the app will prompt you to select which members of your group to include in the reservation.
Can I make Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservations for just part of my group?
Yes, you may use the Disneyland app to make Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservations for all of your linked group or just part of that group. We explain linking tickets and making reservations in the previous FAQ. To make a reservation of only part of your group, select just the names of the people you want to include in the reservation.
Keep in mind that splitting up your group reservations may also result in a split in the next time each person is eligible to make a reservation. Remember, you are eligible to make a new Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservation only if two hours have passed since you last made a selection or you have scanned into your most recently booked attraction.
What if I do not want to ride an attraction included in Lightning Lanes Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort?
When you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you are allotted one reservation per (included) attraction per day. This is a “use it or lose it” kind of situation. There is no reimbursement for unused reservations, and you cannot trade one reservation for a ride on a different attraction.
However, Disneyland cast members do not care if the person using the Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservation is the same person named on the reservation. So, if Star Tours – The Adventures Continue makes you queasy, you may allow another member of your group to use your reservation and scan into that ride as you. As long as your tickets are linked, your other group members should be able to access your reservations.
Do I need to be in a park to make a Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservation?
To make a Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservation, you must first enter one of the Disneyland Resort parks with valid admission (and a Lightning Lane Multi Pass). After you have initially scanned in, you may begin making Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservations for that same day, and you do not need to remain in the parks to do so.
You can leave the park and make reservations from Downtown Disney District, your hotel and anywhere else you can access your Disneyland app as long as you have first scanned into either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park.
Can I make a Lightning Lane reservation for a ride at Disneyland Park if I am in Disney California Adventure Park? -OR– Can I make a Lightning Lane reservation for a ride at Disney California Adventure Park if I am in Disneyland Park?
The short answer to this question is yes, but you must have a Park Hopper (or Magic Key). Your Lightning Lane Multi Pass is an add-on to whatever admission you are using that day. So, if your admission allows you access to both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park (like with a Park Hopper), you may use your Lightning Lane Multi Pass to make reservations in both parks.
Keep in mind that Disneyland Resort currently has a rule that you must start the day at the park where you hold a park reservation. Only after 11am can you use your Park Hopper to move to the other park. This rule will also apply to any reservations you make.
And once again, to make a Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservation, you must first enter one of the Disneyland Resort parks with valid admission. However, once you have initially scanned in, you may make reservations from anywhere, including the other park.
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Buying Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort, FAQs
Does Lightning Lane Multi Pass cost the same price for Disney California Adventure Park as it does for Disneyland Park?
Yes, the price for a Lightning Lane Multi Pass is the same regardless of which park you are visiting at Disneyland Resort. It is also the same price if you use it in both parks or just one park.
However, the price may vary depending on the date of your visit and how far in advance you purchase the pass.
Does Lightning Lane Multi Pass cost extra if I use it in both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park on the same day?
No, the cost for Lightning Lane Multi Pass is the same whether you are using it at both Disneyland Resort theme parks or just one.
Is there a discount for buying multiple days of Lightning Lane Multi Pass at the same time?
No, the Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort is priced per day. There is currently no discount for buying multiple days of the Lightning Lane Multi Pass at the same time. If the price to add Lightning Lane Multi Pass to your one-day ticket is $32, it will be $64 for two days, $96 for three days and so on.
Are there any discounts available for Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort?
There are some ways to save money on Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort. Disney does offer a discount to Magic Key holders. You can also usually save money on your tickets overall by using an authorized third-party seller like Get Away Today or Undercover Tourist.
You should also be aware that, if you buy your Lightning Lane Multi Pass in advance, you lock-in the per-day price. The cost can and will go up, and the price for same-day purchase is usually more than the price for pre-purchase. To pre-purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can buy it with your ticket or upgrade your ticket to include Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
You can also save money by buying Lightning Lane Multi Pass for just part of your multi-day ticket. Read this FAQ to find-out how to do that.
Is Lightning Lane Multi Pass cheaper for kids?
No. The price of Lightning Lane Multi Pass is the same for kids as it is for adults. The one exception to this is for children under three, who may enter Lightning Lanes without a pass. Read the next FAQ for more on this.
Do kids need to have Lightning Lane Multi Pass to accompany their parents through the Lightning Lane entrance?
Every ticketed guest must have a Lightning Lane reservation in order to access a Lightning Lane. This means children ages three to nine as well as adults need to purchase Lightning a Lane Pass in order to use Lightning Lanes.
Fortunately, guest under age three are “Guests of Mickey.” In addition to gaining free entry to the parks, these lucky little guests may also access Lightning Lanes without purchasing a Lightning Lane Pass or making a reservation. Of course, guests this young will need to be accompanied by adults, and those adults must have their own reservations in order to access the Lightning Lane entrances.
Guest under three will not have tickets to be linked to your group, so you do not need to include them in any reservations you make. Just bring them along.
Can I buy Lightning Lane Multi Pass for just part of my multi-day ticket for Disneyland Resort?
Yes and no… if you buy your Lightning Lane Multi Pass before your visit (like at the time you buy your ticket), it must be for the entire length of your ticket.
However, you can purchase your Lightning Lane Multi Pass for just one day at a time if you buy it the same day as you plan to use it. To do this, you would scan into the entrance gates at one of the parks and then purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass using your Disneyland app. Your day-of purchase is good for just that same day. Keep in mind that the per-day price may be higher if you wait until the day of your visit.
Here is an example:
You are planning a September visit to Disneyland Resort. You plan to spend three days in the parks.
In April, you purchase a three-day ticket. As you are going through the purchase process, the Disney website asks you if you would like to add Lighting Lane Multi Pass to your ticket for $32 per day. To add it to your three-day ticket would cost you an additional $96 plus tax. To save some money, you decide that you will not purchase three days worth of Lighting Lane Multi Pass and instead plan to purchase just one. Because you only want to buy one day of Lighting Lane Multi Pass, you cannot add it to your three-day ticket at the time of your ticket purchase. Instead, you will need to wait until your visit.
You hope that Lightning Lane Multi Pass does not sell-out and that the prices do not increase by too much. For a possible savings of $64, you decide that it is worth those risks.
It is now September, and you have just scanned into the entrance gates at Disneyland Park. You open your Disneyland app and see the banner to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass. The prices is now $36 for the day. You purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass and begin using it immediately. Your purchase applies only to today and not to the remaining two days on your ticket.
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Using Lightning Lane Multi Pass Reservations
How do I use my Lightning Lane reservation?
Each Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservation is for a specific one hour window of time. This one hour is your arrival window. At anytime during the arrival window, go to the Lightning Lane entrance for your reserved attraction. This entrance should be clearly marked with a sign and is usually quite near the conventional standby entrance.
At the Lightning Lane entrance, you will see scanning stations. They might be specifically themed to the attraction, but they should look like pillars with round light-up medallions on them. Frequently, the medallions feature the iconic silhouette of Mickey’s head. Below the medallions are openings equipped with scanners. You will scan your mobile device in these openings or tap your MagicBand+ to the medallion. If you have a valid Lightning Lane reservation for that attraction at that time, the medallion should illuminate green and make a cheerful sound. If the medallion turns another color, there is some kind of problem with your pass. There are always cast members stationed nearby to help, so go ahead and ask for help if you are confused.
You will need to scan a Lightning Lane pass for each person entering the Lightning Lane. If you want to scan multiple passes on the same mobile device, you can. You should be able to swipe through multiple passes on your app screen.
Once each person has scanned-in at the Lightning Lane entrance, they can proceed through the Lightning Lane.
What if I am late for my Lightning Lane reservation arrival window?
Your Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservation is for one hour. This hour is an arrival window: you just need to scan your pass at the entrance to make the window, and you do not need to actually complete the attraction during that window.
In practice, there is usually a five minute grace period before the start of the arrival window and a fifteen minute grace period after. This means that your pass should still make the medallion turn green and you should be admitted to the Lightning Lane even if you are a bit outside your window, but this is not guaranteed.
If you are late for even the grace period, you can try explaining your situation to the cast members at the Lightning Lane entrance. They may use their discretion to admit you anyway.
If you think there is a good chance you are going to miss an arrival window, remember that you do have the option of modifying your reservation to another time.
What if an attraction is closed during my Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservation window?
If you arrive at the attraction you have reserved only to find that it has been closed, do not despair: you are actually in for a treat! If an attraction is unexpectedly closed during your reserved arrival window, you should be automatically compensated with a Multiple Experiences Pass (MEP).
Sometimes rides close unexpectedly, often due to an unforeseen maintenance issue. If this happens to you, the Disneyland app will notify you that your Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservation has been replaced with a Multiple Experiences Pass. You will still be eligible to make a future Lightning Lane reservation on the closed attraction, and you get new and even more powerful pass to use!
A Multiple Experiences Pass is so valuable that we wrote a whole article about it. We want you to know how to use one well. Go visit How to Use a Multiple Experiences Pass at Disneyland to understand the particulars of this lovely windfall. If you are a little confused on the difference between a Multiple Experiences Pass and a Lighting Lane Multi Pass, we also have an article about just that: Disneyland Multiple Experiences Pass vs. Lightning Lane Multi-Pass.
Can I use Rider Switch (aka child swap, child switch, etc) with a Lightning Lane Multi Pass?
Yes. We have used Disneyland’s Rider Switch service in conjunction with Lightning Lane reservations many times. The standard procedure around this does seem to shift, so we suggest simply approaching the cast members at the Lightning Lane entrance and explaining that you will be using Rider Switch with Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
The cast member will talk you through the process, but they will probably ask you to first scan your Lightning Lane pass. Just follow their instructions. A cast member always needs to manually assign you a Rider Switch pass anyway, so you do not lose time or inconvenience a cast member by approaching them about this.
Thank you for reading these FAQs for Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort.
This is an evolving post, and we will add more FAQS for Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort as they come up. To get our latest posts right in your inbox, please consider subscribing to our free newsletter below. Remember, for our best tips on how to optimize your Lighting Lane Multi Pass, see Ride More: 9 Strategies for Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland. And for more on Lightning Lanes, see Disneyland Lightning Lanes: How to Super-Charge Your Visit and Big Guide to Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disneyland Resort. Thanks again for reading!
