Hi John!
Thanks for bringing your question to planDisney. I'm happy to talk all things Lightning Lane Passes so you're fully prepared for your upcoming visit.
You can get a good sense of the
current Lightning Lane options and rules on this page, which include Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Single Pass, and Lightning Lane Premier. Guests with an
eligible resort reservation can purchase passes 7 days in advance of their check-in date. Off-site guests with multi-day date-based tickets can purchase for their length of admission 3 days before their ticket start date. Annual Passholders and other ticket types can book 3 days ahead of their visit on a day-by-day basis.
If you've visited Walt Disney World Resort in the past, Multi Pass will feel most similar to FastPass+, which allowed guests to pre-select return times for attractions ahead of their visit. These days, guests can purchase Multi Pass for one or more days and select 1-hour return windows for up to three attractions at their chosen park.
When it's time to purchase (beginning at 7 am EST on your eligible date), you'll do so in the My Disney Experience app by selecting your date of visit and desired park. I recently
walked another guest through the purchase process, if you'd like to review some step-by-step instructions. As you make your initial 3 selections, you'll be prompted to
choose from a set of attraction groups (1 selection from group 1 and 2 selections from group 2) at each park except for Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park (there aren't any grouping restrictions in place there at this time). Once you redeem one of your initial 3 selections, you can book new 1-hour return windows, one at a time (subject to availability), for the remainder of the day.
Lightning Lane Single Pass can be purchased a la carte or in addition to Multi Pass for up to 2 attractions per day. Magic Kingdom Park currently offers 2 Single Pass experiences (Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle / Run), while each of the other parks offers 1 experience each. I almost always purchase a Single Pass for
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT because it's truly an out-of-this-world experience!
Lightning Lane Premier is the most expensive option but also offers the most flexibility and convenience. Purchasing Premier Pass will give you access to every Multi and Single Pass experience in your selected park (subject to the refurbishment schedule/availability) without the need to pre-schedule any return times. Simply show up at the eligible attraction and enjoy!
Keep in mind that you will be limited to one Lightning Lane entry per included attraction per day for all Lightning Lane Pass types, but you can always ride again via the standby line if you like.
John, I've covered a lot of information here, but if you have additional questions or need more detailed information specific to your party size or trip logistics, please don't hesitate to come back and let me know. I'd be glad to go into things in more depth!
Magic and memories,
Amy