Hi Hannah!
Welcome to planDisney! As a fellow parent, I know firsthand that when planning a Walt Disney World Resort vacation with kids in tow, it's all about making things as smooth and magical as possible for the whole family. And I have to say, Disney does a fantastic job at that! From a variety of Disney Resorts Collection hotels designed to meet a wide range of budgets and preferences, to flexible ticket options, to time-saving tools like Lightning Lane access and Rider Switch for those attractions that might be a bit too thrilling, or too tall, for some members of your party, there’s a lot of thoughtful planning that goes into helping your vacation run like a dream.
Let’s break things down, starting with Lightning Lane access. There are currently three types of Lightning Lane passes available:
- Lightning Lane Single Pass—This allows you to select a specific return time for one attraction per day from a list of the most in-demand rides (like TRON Lightcycle / Run or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train). It’s purchased individually from your standard park ticket.
- Lightning Lane Multi Pass – This allows you to pre-select return windows for up to three attractions in advance. Once you’ve used one of those selections, you can continue making additional Lightning Lane choices one at a time throughout the day (subject to availability).
- Lightning Lane Premier Pass—This bundled version includes both a Multi Pass and a Single Pass for even more convenience—perfect for guests who want maximum flexibility with minimal standby waits.
Now let’s talk about Rider Switch. This is available at select attractions for Guests traveling with a little one who either doesn’t meet the height requirement or isn’t quite ready to ride. Here’s how it works: your group checks in with the Cast Member at the attraction entrance. One adult waits with the non-rider while the rest of the party enjoys the ride via the standby queue. Then, the waiting adult can ride without waiting in the standby queue by utilizing the Lightning Lane entrance. The perk here is that the waiting adult, in most cases, can take one or two members from the first riding group to ride again with the second group, making it a win-win for everyone!
When combining Lightning Lane access with Rider Switch, the first group will access the attraction via the Lightning Lane entrance instead of the standby queue, but there’s an important detail to keep in mind. To use Rider Switch through a Lightning Lane entrance, each rider must have a valid Lightning Lane selection for that attraction. So, in your case with TRON Lightcycle / Run, if only two members of your party purchase Individual Lightning Lane entries, only those individuals can enter via the Lightning Lane queue. If you would also like to ride using the Rider Switch service and avoid the standby line, you would also need to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane for yourself. Like standard Rider Switch, the second group (waiting adult) will be able to take one or two members from the first riding group to ride again.
I hope this helps clear things up and gives you a better sense of how to plan your day around those can't-miss thrill rides while keeping everyone's needs in mind. Please don’t hesitate to send me another question if you need help with any other part of your planning—I’m always happy to help!
See you real soon!
Brent