Welcome to planDisney, Ron!
We're so glad you brought your question our way as you prepare for your upcoming visit. Let's dive into the details.
If you have an
eligible resort reservation, you can begin booking Lightning Lane Passes for yourself and the members of your party 7 days in advance of your check-in date. Based on an arrival date of January 18, that means you would be eligible today! If you are not-staying at a participating resort but have date-based multi-day tickets, you can begin purchasing and scheduling 3 days before your ticket start date for your length of admission (so just a few more days of waiting).
Once within your booking window, you'll purchase Lightning Lane Passes using the
My Disney Experience App. The 3-year-old in your group won't need their own email address for plans to be made on their behalf. Just be sure the tickets for each guest in your party are linked to the app before you begin, and that all guests in your party are connected on your Family & Friends List.
When it's time to purchase (beginning at 7 am EST on your eligible date), head to the app home page and click the "Purchase" button on the Lightning Lane Multi Pass/Single Pass section toward the top of the screen. Next, select your desired date (each date will need to be completed one at a time), your desired park, and whether you want to purchase Multi Pass, Single Pass, or both. On the following screen, select the guests in your party and follow the prompts to choose your attractions and return windows. Keep in mind that the initial 3 Multi Pass selections must be the same for each member of your planning party, but you can go back and
modify attractions after booking if certain members of your group want another attraction as one of their initial pre-scheduled experiences.
Once your return windows are selected, follow the prompts to complete your purchase and repeat the process for the remaining days of your visit. You can
review a short "How to Purchase a Lightning Lane Pass" video just before the FAQ on this page.
Ron, if I've misunderstood your question or you need additional clarification, please come back and let us know. You can also reach out to a helpful Cast Member via the online chat feature or right within the My Disney Experience app for further assistance. To access the app-based chat, click the 3 horizontal lines at the bottom right of the screen, then scroll down to "Chat With Us" under the "Help & Feedback" section.
I'm wishing you a magical visit and the return windows of your dreams for all your preferred attractions. Don't forget that you can book additional Multi Pass experiences, subject to availability, one at a time after redeeming one of your initial 3 selections.
Happy planning!
Amy