Hi Maryanne,
Thanks for visiting planDisney!
Lightning Lane passes are the best way to maximize your time in the park. You’ll be zipping from one ride to the next faster than Lightning McQueen! I’m happy to give you some tips to make the most of your Lightning Lane purchase. With my help, you'll be a Lightning Lane pro; you’ll be saying “kachow” in no time!
Tip #1: Familiarize Yourself with the Disneyland AppExplore the
Disneyland mobile app at home so you're comfortable with how to search for Lightning Lane return times. On the app, head to the Tip Board to see all attractions that use Lightning Lane, their current return times, and how those compare to standby wait times. To access the Tip Board, tap the three bars on the bottom right of the app, then scroll down to “Today’s Plans” under the “My Visit” heading.
Tip #2: Link Your Party’s Tickets to One AccountTo help coordinate your plans, I recommend
linking all your party’s tickets to one account in the Disneyland app. This makes it much easier to book Lightning Lane reservations for everyone at the same time. You can do this ahead of your visit so you're ready to go as soon as you enter the park.
Tip #3: Get an Early StartThe early bird gets the worm, and the best Lightning Lane times! Once you've scanned into the park, you can immediately make a Lightning Lane reservation in the app. If you wait until late morning to enter, you risk running into long return windows. For example, if it’s 10 a.m., the next Lightning Lane return for the Matterhorn might not be until 5 p.m. Don’t hit a Lightning Lane speed bump; start early!
Tip #4: Pay Attention to Your Booking WindowYou can only book one Lightning Lane reservation at a time, but there are two key rules for when you can book your next one:
* Every 2 hours, or
* After you've scanned into your current Lightning Lane reservation (whichever comes first).
Set a timer if it helps keep you on track!
Tip #5: Consider a Park Hopper TicketThe Lightning Lane Multi Pass is valid for both
Disneyland and
California Adventure. If you don’t have a
Park Hopper ticket, you may want to consider upgrading so you can take full advantage of all the attractions included.
I hope this information was helpful, Maryanne! When you hit the park, you’ll be burnin’ rubber and takin’ names, just like Lightning McQueen. If you have any other questions, need more help, or just want more tips, feel free to reach out to me or any of my fellow planDisney panelists. We’d be happy to assist.
Have a wonderful trip!
– Melinda