Hiya Beth!
Thank you so much for stopping by planDisney with your Lightning Lane and DAS questions! I absolutely love that you’re planning a trip with a big family group. Those are the kinds of trips where the memories feel as magical as watching the fireworks light up the sky over Cinderella Castle. Some of my favorite Disney moments have been trips with extended family; in fact, that exact trip is what sparked my love for Disney when I was 8 years old.
Let’s jump right into your question! First, I definitely recommend purchasing your Lightning Lanes in
advance. If you’re staying at a
Disney Resort or select resorts, you can purchase them 7 days ahead of your stay. If you’re staying off property, you’ll be able to purchase them 3 days in advance. For a larger group, this can be a huge help in saving time and keeping everyone together for those must-do attractions. |
Make sure that everyone in your party who is not included in the
DAS plan has their own Lightning Lane selections. I also suggest using a mix of
Multi Pass Lightning Lanes and
Single Pass Lightning Lanes so you can plan ahead for the most popular rides and keep your day running smoothly.
Once you enter the park, the
DAS registered guest, or someone from their travel party, can request a return time for one attraction at a time. One thing I really love about DAS is the
flexibility. Unlike Lightning Lanes, the return time is not super strict. So, if your DAS return time is earlier than your Lightning Lane window, no worries, you still have that flexibility to ride together without stress.
We’ve done this many times with my mother-in-law, who has DAS, and it works beautifully. We usually plan our Lightning Lanes and then have our DAS return times follow along with that schedule. If you ever run into any hiccups, Cast Members at the attractions are always there to help and truly make the magic happen.
And since you’re traveling with a big group, I have to recommend Memory Maker! It’s the perfect way to capture everyone together without anyone missing from the photo. With Memory Maker, you can download photos for up to 25 people in your Family & Friends list through the My Disney Experience app. It makes it so easy to relive those magical moments long after the trip is over.
Beth, I hope this helps you feel ready to plan your perfect Disney days! If you have any more questions, feel free to stop by.
See you real soon,
Christina