AA Family at Disney's California Adventure; eating; coaster; Farris Wheel
  • On Dec 19, 2025
    Matthew from MN Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hi, I just purchased day pass tickets for my family but it wont let me get lightning passes in advance. How do I do that?

    Hi Matthew,

    Thanks for visiting planDisney! Getting Lightning Lane access is a great way to maximize your time in the parks. You’ll be able to skip the regular queues and enjoy even more attractions.

    The Lightning Lane Multi Pass can be purchased either when you initially buy your park tickets or once you’ve entered the parks. After you scan into the park, you’ll be able to purchase Lightning Lane in the Disneyland app and start making reservations right away.

    You can’t make Lightning Lane reservations until you’ve scanned into the park, so I recommend arriving early to help you make the most of your purchase.

    If you plan to purchase Lightning Lane, be sure all tickets are linked to at least one account. Without this, you won’t be able to book Lightning Lane selections for your entire group at once. When you book your vacation, you’ll receive a Disney eTicket. Each eTicket includes a unique code that can be used to link the ticket to your MyDisney account, either online or through the Disneyland mobile app. To link your tickets in the app:

    * Tap the three stacked lines at the bottom right of the screen
    * Select My Tickets & Passes
    * Tap the + symbol in the upper-right corner
    * Choose Link Tickets & Passes and enter your ticket code manually

    I recently visited the parks with my sister and her boyfriend, and we each had everyone’s tickets linked on our phones. This made it incredibly easy to make Lightning Lane reservations for the whole group. That way, anyone can book Lightning Lane selections for everyone. Of course, if you’ve designated one planner (which can be even simpler), that person can make selections for the entire party since all tickets will still be available in their app.

    I hope this information is helpful, Matthew! The Food & Wine Festival will be taking place during your visit, so be sure to check back for tips on how to make the most of the festival. If you have more questions or need help planning a future trip, feel free to reach out to my fellow planDisney panelists. We’re always happy to share advice and sprinkle a little pixie dust on your vacation.

    Have a magical visit!
    —Melinda
thumbnail image for Melinda

Meet the Panelist: Melinda, California

Hello from sunny SoCal! I’m Melinda Grant, an educator and a lifelong Disney enthusiast. As a Southern California native, I grew up going to the parks with my family. My park days look a little different now that I am transitioning from being a “Childless Millennial” to a “Disney Mom.” You can find me with my toddler eating popcorn and singing loudly! I am looking forward to helping you plan a magical trip to my favorite place, Disneyland!   Learn More About Melinda

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