Welcome to planDisney, Julia! Thanks so much for swinging by with your question today. It sounds like you've got an amazing trip coming up this spring with your family, and how fun that your cousin gets to join you! I'm happy to help clear up how
Lightning Lane and
Early Park Entry work when you have a mix of Disney Resort Hotel guests and day guests.
You can absolutely link your cousin's ticket to your
My Disney Experience app to make planning easier, but only
Disney Resort Hotel guests can book Lightning Lanes 7 days in advance. Since your cousin is not staying at a Disney Resort Hotel, she will need to wait until 3 days in advance of her visit to purchase Lightning Lane and make selections. I recommend making the selections for your family 7 days in advance when your window opens up and then having her choose coordinating times when she is able to book. Remember that as long as the one-hour ride windows overlap, you will be able to ride together! For example, if you get a
Peter Pan's Flight return time between 11:00 AM and noon, your cousin can get a Lightning Lane with a window beginning any time between 10:00 AM and noon and you will be able to ride together when your windows overlap!
As for Early Park Entry, that perk is only for registered Disney Resort Hotel guests, so your cousin won't be able to join you for these extra early minutes in the parks. Here's a great tip for maximizing your time together: plan to meet up near the entrance of the park right after Early Entry ends, or pick a nearby attraction with a shorter wait time to enjoy together once she arrives!
I hope this answers your question, Julia, and please let us know if there's anything else we can do to help you plan your magical vacation.
Jessica