Welcome to planDisney Christine, and thanks for sharing your question! It’s always exciting to help guests like you get ready for a
Walt Disney World Resort vacation! There’s truly nothing like the magic of being there with family. Whether it’s your first visit or one of many, there’s so much joy in planning every magical detail, especially when little ones are involved!
When visiting Walt Disney World and using the
Lightning Lane Passes, whether you're purchasing the Lightning Lane Multi Pass (which allows advance selections for multiple attractions) or Single Pass (which is for individual high-demand rides), it's important to understand how it applies to each member of your party, including children.
For any guest aged three and older, you must purchase their own Lightning Lane pass if you want them to use the Lightning Lane entrance for an attraction. This is because guests in this age group are required to have their own theme park ticket, and the Lightning Lane access is linked to each individual's ticket through the
My Disney Experience app. So, if you’re planning to ride as a family, you will need to buy a Lightning Lane pass for each adult and each child age three or older who wants to skip the standby line with you.
For children under the age of three, the rules are a bit different. Kids under three years old do not need a park ticket, and therefore they are not eligible (or required) to have a Lightning Lane reservation. However, they are still allowed to enter the Lightning Lane line with an accompanying adult or older sibling who has a valid Lightning Lane entry, as long as they meet the attraction’s height and safety requirements. For example, if a parent books Lightning Lane access for a ride like Peter Pan’s Flight and has a toddler under three with them, the toddler can ride without their own Lightning Lane pass, since they do not require one.
It’s also worth noting that for attractions with height requirements, children of any age, including those under three, must meet the minimum height to ride. If they do not, they won’t be permitted on the attraction, regardless of whether they are with an adult who has a pass. For rides without height restrictions, young children are free to join their family members in the Lightning Lane line and ride along.
In summary, Lightning Lane passes must be purchased for everyone in your party who is three or older if you want them to access those shorter queues. Children under three do not need park tickets or Lightning Lane reservations and can accompany you as long as they meet the ride’s requirements. This allows families with young children to enjoy many attractions together without needing to pay for a Lightning Lane pass for the littlest ones.
Christine, I hope this helps you get everything set up for your magical adventure at Walt Disney World Resort! Thank you for visiting planDisney, and have a pixie dusted day!
Kay