Teens Taking Selfie with Donald Duck; in front of the castle during the day; front of bridge
  • On Mar 21, 2026
    Michelle from CA Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    I’m taking 8 kids on a trip to Disneyland for their birthdays. The kids would like to explore on their own and plan their own lightning lane experiences. Is it possible for them to do that?

    Hi there, Michelle! Welcome to planDisney. What a wonderful birthday surprise for the kids. There’s nothing more exciting than celebrating at the parks, and giving them the ability to plan their special day with Lightning Lane Passes makes it even better. I’d love to walk you through how to allow them to plan their Lightning Lane selections throughout the day.

    The first thing to consider is the ages of the kids. Disneyland Resort Rules state that to board an attraction, children under age 7 must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older. Of course, this helps ensure the safety of all Guests at the Happiest Place on Earth. If the ages don’t align with this guideline, your best bet is to have one adult for every 2 to 3 children.

    Another thing to consider when making Lightning Lane selections is that you’ll need the Disneyland app on a mobile device with the tickets for your party linked. This is especially important if they plan to ride attractions together in a group. By linking tickets, they’ll be able to select members of their party when booking Lightning Lane return times. Depending on whether they each have a mobile device, having at least one or two devices available should be enough to help manage Lightning Lane selections.

    It’s also helpful to have the kids talk through their “must do” attractions ahead of time. This is something my fellow planDisney panelists and I have done on a previous trip, and it was a hit. It helped us prioritize and strategize which attractions to experience in order to maximize our time in the parks. While the kids may not go all out like we did with a survey and ranking system, even a simple list will go a long way.

    Michelle, thank you so much for visiting planDisney. I hope you have a wonderful visit filled with birthday celebrations. Be sure to pick up birthday buttons as you enter the parks so everyone can wish them a very happy birthday. If you have any more questions or need assistance with planning, planDisney is here to help!

    With a Sprinkle of Pixie Dust,
    Bev
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Meet the Panelist: Bev, Nevada

Hi there! My name is Beverly, but you can call me Bev. I’m a wife, teacher, and mother to a sweet little boy. Disney has been woven into every season of my life; from childhood trips to Disneyland to splashing in the waters of Castaway Cay with my family as an adult. No matter what season you’re in, I’m happy to help you plan a Disney vacation that feels just right for you!
Learn More About Bev

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