Hi Mark,
Welcome to planDisney! If you are trying to maximize the number of rides you experience at the parks, then getting a
Lightning Lane Pass is a must! There are three different types of Lightning Lane passes available: Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Lightning Lane Single Pass, and Lightning Lane Premier Pass. I am happy to share your different purchasing options with you!
When can you buy each pass?The Multi Pass can be purchased as an add-on when you buy your theme park tickets online, or upon entry into the parks. If you purchase it as an add-on to your ticket, you are buying a Multi Pass for each ticket and each day of your visit. Premier Passes are available for purchase up to 7 days before your park reservation date (as early as 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time), and they are released in very limited quantities. The Single Pass is available for purchase the day of your visit, and you can start making reservations once you scan into the park.
How should I purchase a mixture of passes?If you want to purchase a mixture of the Multi Passes and a Premier Pass for the duration of your vacation, I recommend holding off on the Lightning Lane add-on when you buy your tickets. If you purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass and later decide to upgrade to the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, you won’t be able to upgrade your existing purchase. Instead, you would need to buy the Premier Pass separately.
I recommend purchasing your Premier Pass 7 days before you want to use it, and then purchasing Lightning Lane access daily from the
Disneyland app. To make this process smooth, make sure you have all the tickets from your group linked to one Disneyland app account. I also suggest checking with
Guest Services to see whether you are able to switch the date of your Premier Pass prior to purchasing it. This may be a difficult change to make, as the Premier Pass is a limited offering.
How can you maximize your Lightning Lane?Regardless of which type of Lightning Lane pass you use, I suggest purchasing a
Park Hopper ticket. Both the Multi Pass and the Premier Pass give you access to rides at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. To get the most Mickey for your buck, get a Park Hopper ticket so you can enjoy all the attractions Lightning Lane has to offer. With a Park Hopper ticket, after 11:00 a.m., you're free to hop between Disneyland and California Adventure. Keep this in mind when making your Lightning Lane reservations and planning out your day.
Finally, regardless of which Lightning Lane pass you purchase (Premier, Multi, or Single), they all allow guests to experience each available attraction once per day using Lightning Lane access.
I hope this information is helpful, Mark! If you have more questions or need help with any other part of your trip, feel free to reach out to me or any of my fellow planDisney panelists. We’d love to share more tips and sprinkle a little pixie dust on your vacation.
Have a magical trip!
—Melinda