Hi Al! Welcome to planDisney. As the designated
Lightning Lane planner in my family, I’m happy to help you feel confident about managing reservations for your group of four.
The good news is that it is not necessary for each person in your party to have their own
MyDisney account. One guest can absolutely manage Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservations for the entire group. As long as one person has a MyDisney account, the
Disneyland app downloaded to their mobile device, and all four theme park tickets linked in the app, that person can book Lightning Lane return times for everyone. This option tends to be the simplest, especially if you already know you’ll be the main planner for the day.
That said, some groups prefer to share the responsibility. In that case, each person can create their own MyDisney account and download the Disneyland app, then link tickets accordingly. Either setup works just fine, so it really comes down to what feels easiest for your group. For example, on my family trips, my wife and I both have MyDisney accounts and the Disneyland app on our phones, while our daughters do not. We link their tickets to our accounts and take turns booking Lightning Lane return times for all four of us throughout the day.
There are a couple of important things to keep in mind as you plan. First, Lightning Lane Multi Pass return times can only be booked for guests who have scanned into either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure. While you can link a member of your party’s ticket prior to entering, you won’t be able to reserve an attraction return time until they have entered either park. Second, coordination is key if you want to keep the same return times. Once any member of your group has booked a Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservation, no one included in that booking can make another selection until either 120 minutes have passed or that reservation has been redeemed by scanning into the attraction (whichever comes first). If one person books or redeems separately, it can throw off the timing for the rest of the group.
One final Q-Tip to keep the day running smoothly is to take advantage of the lower wait times early in the morning. The first couple of hours after opening are perfect for enjoying popular attractions with standby queues before crowds build. Later in the day, you can lean on Lightning Lane Multi Pass to keep the momentum going with shorter waits. My family loves starting in Tomorrowland with Space Mountain, then letting Lightning Lane carry us through the afternoon and evening.
I hope this helps you feel ready to tackle Lightning Lane planning with confidence, Al. If you have any other questions as you prepare for your visit, we’re always delighted to help here at planDisney.
Have an incredible day filled with magical moments!
David