Hi, Jay, and welcome to planDisney! You are on your way to planning a fantastic visit to the Disneyland Resort. Park Hopper tickets and Lightning Lane passes, especially together, will allow you to fit more in your day. I appreciate your question about timing, and am happy to provide some helpful information.
First, let's talk about
Park Hopper tickets. You will have a reservation for your starting park, which is California Adventure in your example. You'd be able to "hop" to the second park (Disneyland) anytime after 11 a.m.
With a Park Hopper ticket, you can make a
Lightning Lane selection for your second park while you are still in your first park. That said, there are some specific conditions to keep in mind when it comes to timing.
- You can book a single pass for Rise of the Resistance while you are in California Adventure, but the time slot must be for after 11 a.m., because you won't be able to enter Disneyland before then.
- Lightning Lane Single Passes are offered at the next available time. Continue checking the Tip Board in the Disneyland mobile app and book once the time slot is for 11 a.m. or later (it may be late morning).
- The Terms and Conditions for the Lightning Lane Single Pass state that Guests may not modify experiences or arrival windows once purchased and may not reschedule an expired experience selection. Therefore, make sure when purchasing it that you'll have access to that park!
- If you encounter any issues with your Lightning Lane passes and need extra help, I recommend stopping by Guest Relations. There are multiple stations within the park where you can speak to a Cast Member.
Jay, I also wanted to share that Radiator Springs Racers in California Adventure has a
Single Rider line. If you are open to riding separately from others in your party, this is a great option for experiencing the attraction with a much shorter wait time than the standby queue. There are some other attractions included in the Single Rider Service, too.
Keep in mind that you have a little more flexibility with the
Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Unlike the single pass, your multi pass booking can be modified or cancelled without issue. You can even modify your selection to an earlier time if a slot is available.
Jay, I hope this information makes your arrival at the Disneyland Resort as smooth as a magic carpet ride! If you have any other questions ahead of your trip, please reach out. We're always happy to help here at planDisney!
As Mickey would say, “See ya real soon!”
Kriss