Hi there, Katie, and welcome to planDisney! As a first-time Guest, there is so much to learn and plan for before your arrival, and it can often be overwhelming. Hakuna Matata - that's why we're here!
Katie, from one mom to another, I understand the pressure to plan the perfect vacation. Let me start by reassuring you that you've done an amazing job so far, and the fact that you're considering whether
Lightning Lanes will be a good fit for you tells me that you're taking your whole family's preferences into account. No matter what, you're going to have a blast!
Lightning Lanes can be helpful when you're hoping to move at a quicker pace, when you don't want to spend time in a standard queue, or when you're hoping to maximize the number of attractions you experience in a day. There are three options when it comes to Lightning Lanes, and you can choose one, two, or all three in a day.
Lightning Lane Single Pass: Certain attractions at each theme park are very popular. To avoid the standby queue for
these attractions, you can pre-purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass. This is a one-time use pass that gives you a window of time when you can enter the typically shorter Lightning Lane queue. We only purchase this pass when there's a must-do attraction for my family, like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. The attractions that are available with Lightning Lane Single Pass are
not available as selections with Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass: This is a way to reserve a Lightning Lane selection at up to three attractions in advance of your visit. Once you use one of these selections, you can make more selections, meaning you can continue to use this service throughout the day. There are two different groupings of attractions within this option, and I suggest reading more about the available attractions before you purchase so that you can be sure you're choosing ones your family will enjoy.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass: This allows you to use the Lightning Lane once per day for each available attraction in a theme park. It's not limited to a specific time frame, so you get to move through the park at your own pace, which is such a luxury. You'll find that this is the priciest of all of the options, and the inventory of this offering is very limited.
My family doesn't always purchase Lightning Lanes during a vacation, especially now that my kiddos aren't toddlers. If we don't think the crowds will be very heavy, we plan to arrive
early to take advantage of short morning queues. During a recent visit, we only purchased Lightning Lane Single Pass for one attraction, and we were able to experience plenty of amazing rides and shows.
There are so many resources out there that can give you best practices, advice, and insights about how to maximize your time at Walt Disney World Resort. Depending on your family's preferences, you might be fine with taking your time in the parks and using standby queues. There is so much to do and see that doesn't require a queue, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you can pass the time strolling through the parks and enjoying the scenery.
Katie, be sure to pack your patience, sense of humor, and comfy shoes. Please stop by planDisney with any other questions you have as you count down these last few days before your vacation. I'd love to help you navigate any other subjects that would allow you to have an unforgettable vacation with your husband and sweet daughter.
See ya real soon!
Jennifer