Hey there, Erin!
We're glad to see you back at planDisney, and thrilled to help ahead of your visit next week. If you'll be
staying at an eligible resort, your Lightning Lane purchase window should have opened this morning, based on your arrival date of March 4. If you're staying off-site, you'll be able to purchase and plan 3 days before your ticket start date, so let's make sure you have all the details ironed out.
Since your daughter is two years old and will not have valid theme park admission linked to your My Disney Experience account, she will not need to purchase
Lightning Lane Passes. The system will not even include her on the list of eligible guests when you're making your selections, but you'll definitely want to check the box for yourself, your husband, and your son to select your preferred attractions. Side note, you should still include her in the headcount for any
advance dining reservations you make so the restaurant can accommodate your full party at the table.
Now, back to Lightning Lanes! Your daughter can enter the Lightning Lane queues with you as long as she meets the height requirement for that particular experience. For attractions that welcome riders of any height, like
"it's a small world" and
Pirates of the Caribbean (one of my personal favorites), she'll go through the queue with you and be seated with your group. However, if she
doesn't quite measure up for other attractions on your wish list, she will not be permitted to enter the Lightning Lane queue.
But have no fear, Erin! You can speak with the Cast Member at that attraction's Lighting Lane entrance and request
Rider Switch. This way, you or your husband can ride with your son, while the other parent waits with your daughter. Once the first group is done, the waiting parent (and 1 additional guest) can experience the ride without waiting in the standby queue. Cast Members will give guidance specific to the attraction when you arrive.
I noticed your other question about booking Lighting Lanes for Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and similar toddler-friendly rides. While these typically have shorter standby waits than high-thrill headliners like Space Mountain or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, wait times do fluctuate throughout the day. You can use the My Disney Experience app to get an idea of average waits, but I'd recommend prioritizing the absolute must-dos for your group first and then filling in the gaps as the day goes on. You'll be able to book additional selections, one at a time (subject to availability), as soon as you redeem one of your initial selections.
My kids would likely prioritize Space Mountain, Peter Pan's Flight, or Tiana's Bayou Adventure as one of our initial 3 group 1 experiences, and then go for Haunted Mansion and Pirates as our choices from group 2. Remember, all attractions currently offer a standby queue, so while Lightning Lanes are a time-saver, they are not required. I've found that wait times tend to be lower first thing in the morning and after fireworks, so you might be able to tackle all your wish list items with careful planning.
I hope this puts you at ease, Erin. If you have more planning questions, please come back to planDisney and let us know.
Magic and memories!
Amy