Hi there, Brian!
Great to have you here at planDisney! Lightning Lanes are a huge time saver in the parks, I'd love to help you get ready for your visit.
To use regular
Lightning Lanes each ticket must have
Disney Genie+ and be scanned into either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park that day. So that means that each person who you want to reserve a Lightning Lane for must have entered the park already. If tickets linked to your account haven't yet been used to enter the park yet then you won't be able to select those individuals as members of your party for Lightning Lanes.
Now that doesn't mean your whole party has to stay in the parks all day to use Lightning Lanes! If some of your group decides to visit
Downtown Disney or go take a nap in your hotel you can still continue to include them in your Lightning Lane reservations. In fact, I've made my own Lightning Lane reservations sitting poolside! Just make sure everyone is back in the park ready to ride the attraction at the time you select.
If you have Park Hopper tickets you can use Lightning Lanes in both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. You will be able to select Lightning Lanes in your starting park as soon as you enter, and then you can start choosing Lightning Lanes in the second park after the return times pass 1:00 PM when park hopping is allowed. You can do so much in a day with Genie+ and park hopping!
There is one thing you can do before you've entered the parks in the morning: join the virtual queue for
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. If your park reservation is for Disneyland Park you will have the option in the app to try to
join the virtual queue immediately at 7:00 AM. This takes fast fingers and some luck, so set your alarm!
Guests also have the option to purchase individual Lightning Lanes for select attractions like Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway (no Genie+ required). These purchases must also be made after you have entered the parks, and you may purchase up to two attractions each day.
I hope that helps answer your question, Brian, and that the Genie grants all of your wishes when you come to visit!
Keep moving forward!
Amanda