Welcome to planDisney, Harold!
Excellent choice using
Lightning Lane Multi Pass to maximize your park day! Managing a larger group can definitely feel like an epic quest (spoken from experience; I'm the designated planner in my family too), but I’ve got a few strategies to help make your magical day a breeze.
You can link your group’s tickets to your MyDisney account in the
Disneyland app at any time before or during your visit. As long as everyone has individually purchased Lightning Lane Multi Pass for the day, you’ll be able to schedule attraction return times for the whole group right from your mobile device. There are a couple of important caveats to keep in mind, though. First, Lightning Lane Multi Pass return times can only be booked for Guests who have already scanned into either
Disneyland or Disney California Adventure. That means you won’t be able to reserve a return time for anyone until they’ve physically entered a park. Second, if you want to make sure everyone in your party gets the same return time, be sure no one books their own Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservations independently. Once someone books a return time, they won’t be able to book their next one until they either scan into that attraction or 120 minutes have passed, whichever comes first. If one member of your group already has a reservation or has scanned in for a ride, everyone else will need to either wait two hours or until they scan in. Since Lightning Lane access can only be used once per attraction per day, I recommend saving your group’s absolute must-do rides until everyone has arrived and is ready to book together.
When it comes to using Lightning Lane, I’ve got several Q-Tips for you, Harold! First, aim to reserve the most popular attractions (like the newly opened Tiana’s Bayou Adventure) early in the day. These rides are Guest favorites, and Lightning Lane return times can fill up quickly, so booking them first helps you avoid standby lines. Bonus tip: arriving early not only gives you a jump on reservations but also means shorter wait times overall!
For a group your size, some attractions are even more fun when experienced together. There’s nothing like filling an entire boat on Pirates of the Caribbean. Your rowdy crew may just give Jack Sparrow a run for his doubloons! Over in Tomorrowland, gather your band of intergalactic travelers and take on Star Tours. With luck, one of your group might even be the Rebel Spy. And if you’re feeling extra adventurous, rally the group for Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! Not only will you join Rocket in a daring rescue mission, but you’ll also capture a priceless on-ride photo featuring your whole crew screaming in unison!
One final Lightning Lane Q-Tip: you can actually hold more than one Lightning Lane reservation at a time. Once you book a return time, you can grab a second one after either 120 minutes have passed or you’ve scanned into your first attraction, whichever comes first. For example, if you snag a Matterhorn Bobsleds reservation at 9:00 a.m. for 4:00 p.m., you can still book the Haunted Mansion at 11:00 a.m. without losing your Matterhorn spot. To stay on top of it all, I like to set alarms on my phone or watch. It's an easy way to make sure I never miss my next booking window!
Harold, I hope this helps you plan an unforgettable Disneyland day with your group. If you’d like more tips, recommendations, or even a churro suggestion or two, please stop by and see us again at planDisney!
Wishing you thrills, laughter, and lots of magical memories,
David