Lightning Lane Step by Step Guide

We recently answered some frequently asked questions about the new Lightning Lane service at the Walt Disney World Resort. Now, let's take it even further and go through the step-by-step instructions on how to purchase and use the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass service on your next Walt Disney World vacation. 

Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass can only be purchased through the My Disney Experience app and, depending on where you are staying for your vacation, can be purchased 7 or 3 days in advance of your park visit. 

How to Purchase and Select the Lightning Lane Multi Pass through the My Disney Experience App

Step 1. Open the My Disney Experience app and login if it's the first time you're using the app or if the app hasn't saved your login information from previous uses. 

Step 2. There are a few places where you can purchase the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and/or Single Pass. The easiest way to purchase is through the Home screen but you can also purchase through the Tip Board, which can be accessed through the plus icon in the center of the screen and then clicking on View My Genie Day and Tip Board or through the Menu icon on the right. Click on Purchase from the Home or Tip Board screens. 

The few different places you can purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass/Single Pass through the My Disney Experience app.

Step 3. The next screen will allow you to select the day you want to purchase Lightning Lane passes. You can purchase Lightning Lane passes one day at a time. Once you select the day, you will select the theme park. The price for the Lighting Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass varies based on the date and theme park the guest is visiting. For guests with the Park Hopper option added to their ticket, you will only need to purchase the Lightning Lane Multi Pass for one park, per day, but you can make selections at multi-parks after you have used your first selections at the theme park you selected for your Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Once you pick your day and park, click Continue. 

Step 4. Once you click Continue, you'll select everyone you want to include in your Lightning Lane pass purchase. You can click on Select All to add everyone you have Plans with or select individuals from your eligible guests list. Anyone who is Not Eligible will be listed with a reason. Click Continue once you have everyone selected.

Step 5. The next screen is where you can choose up to 3 Lightning Lane experiences for your party at the selected theme park. For most of the theme parks, there are two groups of attractions to choose from. You'll choose one selection from the first group and two selections from the second group. 

Tip: Save this infographic with the Lightning Lane Multi Pass attraction group options at each theme park for easy reference. 

Lightning Lane Attractions at the Walt Disney World Resort

Step 6. Once you make your selections, you will be brought to the Review Details screen where the system will select times for you. You can then Modify Times if you aren't happy with the times provided. 

Once you are happy with your selections, click Continue. 

Step 7. The final step is to click on Purchase. By tapping Purchase, you agree to the Terms and Conditions. 

You'll see the "Processing your payment..." screen before you see the order confirmation. 

Step 8. Repeat steps 1-7 if you want to Purchase for Another Day or you can View My Day to see your current selections. 

How to Purchase and Select a Lightning Lane Single Pass

There are some attractions at each of the theme parks that are not included in the Lightning Lane Multi Pass service and are only available by use of the Standby Line, Virtual Queue or by purchasing a Lightning Lane Single Pass. You can purchase individual selections for up to 2 different attractions per day. Pricing and availability varies by attraction. The attractions that are available as Individual Lightning Lane Selections are:

Magic Kingdom Park

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• TRON Lightcycle / Run

EPCOT

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Disney's Hollywood Studios

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Disney's Animal Kingdom Park

• Avatar Flight of Passage

Step 1. The first step to purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass is the same as purchasing the Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Click on Purchase Lightning Lane Passes, select the Date and Park you want to purchase your Lightning Lane Single Pass. Click Continue. 

Step 2.  Once you click Continue, you'll select everyone you want to include in your Lightning Lane Single Pass purchase. You can click on Select All to add everyone you have Plans with or select individuals from your eligible guests list. Anyone who is Not Eligible will be listed with a reason. Click Continue once you have everyone selected.

Step 3. On the Review Details screen you can click on Modify Time to select the arrival window for your Lightning Lane Single Pass. 

Once you are happy with your selection, scroll down and click Continue. 

Step 4. The final step is to click on Purchase. By tapping Purchase, you agree to the Terms and Conditions. 

You'll see the "Processing your payment..." screen before you see the order confirmation. 

How to Redeem a Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass Selection

Step 1. Pay attention to your redemption window. You are given a one hour window to redeem your Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Individual Lightning Lane selection. Do not be too early or late! Arrive within the one hour window. 

Tip: Some Cast Members may give you some wiggle room and allow you to check-in a few minutes early or late but don't risk it! The keyword there is "may"... they may give you some wiggle room but that means they also may not. Stick to the one hour redemption window and everyone will be happy. 

Step 2. Make your way to the select attraction within the Redeem Between time displayed on your app.

Step 3. Go to the Lightning Lane entrance of the attraction and scan your MagicBand or MagicMobile Pass on your smartphone or Apple Watch (similar to how you scanned your device when you entered the theme park). If the Mickey light turns green, you are good to go. If the light turns blue, try again or ask a Cast Member for assistance determining what is wrong. It may be that you arrived too early/late or that you're at the wrong attraction.

Step 4. Some attractions have two Mickey checkpoints so you may need to scan your MagicBand or MagicMobile Pass again, further into the queue.

Step 5. Enjoy the attraction! 

When to Make Another Lightning Lane Multi Pass Selection

You can make another Lightning Lane selection after you have used your first Lightning Lane selection and subsequently after each additional Lightning Lane selection you use. 

Step 1. Just like with making your initial Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass purchase, you can see when it's time to make another Lightning Lane selection from multiple places within the My Disney Experience app. When it's time to make another selection, you'll see a message on the main screen, on the Lightning Lane Pass screen and on the Tip Board. 

Step 2. You can scroll through the Tip Board to see Multi Pass Experiences and their Earliest Time Available. Click on Select when you find the experience you want to book. 

Step 3. Once you select the attraction, you can select the eligible guests from your travel party and click Continue.

Step 4. On the Review Details screen, you can Modify Time if the time provided doesn't work for your schedule. Click on Modify Time and then you can see all of the available times before you make your selection. Click Save New Time. 

Step 5. Once you have a time that works for you, scroll down and click Continue to confirm your selection. 

Tip: If you are making another selection after you have redeemed a Lightning Lane Multi Pass selection, note that some attractions have two Mickey checkpoints in the Lightning Lane. If you try to make another selection after you've scanned your MagicBand or MagicMobile Pass and it's not working, it's most likely because there is another checkpoint coming up. Try again after you've scanned a second time and it should now work.

How to Change Your Lightning Lane Selection

Let's face it... sometimes your plans change. If you can no longer make the redemption time for one of your Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections or you decide you no longer want to keep that selection, you can make modifications to your current selection or cancel a selection.

Modifying Your Selection

Step 1. Find the Lightning Lane selection you want to modify or cancel on the My Day screen in the My Disney Experience app. 

Step 2. Click on the three dots (also known as the ellipsis icon) in the right hand corner of your selection. 

Step 3. Click on Modify Plan from the pop-up window at the bottom of the screen. 

Step 4. On the next screen, you can either Select a New Time for the same attraction or Select a New Experience. The new experience can be at the same park or at a different park, if you have the Park Hopper option added to your theme park tickets. 

Step 5. Click on Change to This Time, for either the same attraction or a new experience. Once selected, you can Modify Time before confirming your new selection. 

Step 6. After clicking Save New Time, click on Continue to confirm. You can then view your new selection in the My Day screen. 

Canceling Your Selection

Step 1. You can cancel your Lightning Lane selection from the Lightning Lane Passes section or from the Tip Board of the My Disney Experience app. From the Lightning Lane Passes section, click on the Booked selection and then click on Cancel Booking from the pop-up menu. 

From the Tip Board, you can click on the three ellipses and then click on Cancel Plan from the pop-up menu. 

Step 2. Click on the Select All or the individual guests you want to cancel. Once you are sure you want to cancel, click on Confirm Changes and the selection will no longer appear in your plans. 

I hope this step by step guide helps you better understand how to use the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lighting Lane Single Pass service. With a little practice (and patience) it can be a really helpful tool to save you time waiting in line!

Planning a Walt Disney World vacation? We are here to help! Contact your Kingdom Konsultant travel professional or submit a request form for a free quote today. Make sure to check out our Planning for Walt Disney World Vacations page for more posts. 

We Want to Hear From You

Have you used the Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Lightning Lane Single Pass service on your Walt Disney World vacations? What did you think of the Lightning Lane service? Let us know in the comments.

Ashley Lehman

Ashley has been a Disney Parks fan from an early age and loves anything vintage Disney. You can email Ashley at ashley@kingdomkonsulta nt.com.