Disney’s Lightning Lane System - What You Need To Know!

Welcome to our guide on the updated Lightning Lane system at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort! Whether you're a seasoned Disney park fan or planning your first visit, navigating the parks can be a thrilling but complex experience. Disney has recently introduced significant changes to their popular Genie+ and Lightning Lane services, aimed at making it easier for guests to plan and enjoy their favorite attractions. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the new Lightning Lane system, helping you make the most of your magical vacation.

What’s New?

Starting July 24th, 2024, Disney has rebranded and refined its park planning tools to create a more streamlined experience for guests. Here’s a breakdown of the key changes:

• Disney Genie+ is now Lightning Lane Multi Pass: This new system allows you to make up to three Lightning Lane selections in advance for a specific theme park, with the ability to choose your preferred times for these experiences. It’s designed to give you more control over your day, reducing the need for last-minute decisions and helping you avoid long waits.

• Individual Lightning Lane is now Lightning Lane Single Pass: This option lets you secure a time for one of the most sought-after attractions before your visit, ensuring you don’t miss out on your must-do experiences. This service remains similar to the previous Individual Lightning Lane, but with added flexibility in planning ahead.

Why This Matters

Disney’s new Lightning Lane system is a blend of the best features from the previous Genie+ and the former FastPass+ services. This update simplifies the process, allowing guests to plan their park visits more effectively. Whether you’re a Disney Resort hotel guest with early access to planning, or a day visitor making your selections a few days in advance, this new system is designed to enhance your experience by reducing wait times and giving you more certainty about your itinerary.

Planning Flexibility

One of the most significant advantages of the new Lightning Lane system is the ability to book passes for multiple days in a single transaction. This means you can plan your entire vacation’s worth of attractions in one go, ensuring you get the experiences you want without having to check the app daily. This feature is especially beneficial for families or groups who want to coordinate their plans easily.

Guest-Friendly Features

The updates also include several user-friendly enhancements:

• Advance Planning: Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel or select partner hotels can make their Lightning Lane selections up to 7 days before their trip for their entire stay (max of 14 days). Other guests can start planning up to 3 days in advance. This flexibility helps reduce the stress of last-minute planning and increases your chances of securing passes for popular attractions.

• Ease of Use: The updated system integrates seamlessly with the My Disney Experience app, where you can view and manage all your selections. If your plans change, the app allows you to modify or cancel selections on the go, ensuring that your day remains flexible and fun.

What to Expect

As with any new system, there may be a learning curve, but Disney has designed the new Lightning Lane services to be intuitive and easy to use. This guide, along with the resources provided, will help you understand the new features and make the most of your time in the parks.

As always, Disney may continue to refine and update the system, so we recommend keeping an eye on the official Walt Disney World website for the latest information. Our team at People Mover Travel is also here to assist with any questions or concerns you may have, ensuring your trip is as magical and stress-free as possible.

Lighting Lane Essentials

Here are some essential resources to help you understand and utilize the new Lightning Lane system.

Walt Disney World Official Lightning Lane Page

Disney Parks Blog: Latest Updates on Lightning Lane System

Available Lightning Lane Attractions for Each Theme Park

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the difference between Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass?

A1: The Lightning Lane Multi Pass allows you to make up to 3 selections in advance for a theme park, choosing specific times. The Lightning Lane Single Pass is for securing a time on a single, high-demand attraction, similar to the previous Individual Lightning Lane option.

Q2: How far in advance can I plan if I'm staying off-site?

A2: Off-site guests with date-based tickets can start pre-planning up to three days before their ticket's start date.

Q3: What if my plans change? Can I modify or cancel my Lightning Lane selections?

A3: Yes, you can modify your Lightning Lane selections through the My Disney Experience app, subject to availability. Keep in mind that policies may vary, so it’s always good to check the most current information on the official Walt Disney World website.

Q4: Where can I find pricing beyond today's date?

A4: To check pricing, go through the steps to purchase a Multi Pass or Single Pass. Click the Lightning Lane 'Purchase' button on the app's home page, Tip Board, or the 'Lightning Lane Passes' section from the menu. Select a date to see pricing by theme park (please note, pricing is usually only available for the upcoming few weeks). While you can view dates, the app will prevent you from booking if you're not within your eligible window.

How to Make Lightning Lane Selections Using My Disney Experience App

To help you navigate the new system, here are step-by-step screenshots of the My Disney Experience app during the Lightning Lane selection process.

Sourced From waltdisneyworld.com

Before You Begin
Before you purchase a Lightning Lane pass, you’ll need to do 3 things:

1. First, download the latest version of the My Disney Experience app.

2. Connect everyone in your travel group on your Family & Friends list in the My Disney Experience app—so you’ll be able to purchase Lightning Lane passes and make plans for everyone that is eligible.

3. Gather your group’s wish list for attractions and experiences. You can save your group’s top picks in the My Disney Experience app using the “My Day” feature.

Just remember, everyone in your party must have valid theme park admission. Park reservations may also be required, depending on the type of admission and the date of your visit. Please see theme park reservation requirements.

Price
Pricing for Lightning Lane passes varies by date and theme park or attraction, and purchase is subject to limited availability. Prices will be displayed in the My Disney Experience app.

How to Purchase
When you’re ready to purchase Lightning Lane passes, here’s what to do:

1. Open the My Disney Experience app, then tap the Lightning Lane Passes section on the home screen.

2. Select a date and theme park.

3. Select a Lightning Lane Single Pass, a Lightning Lane Multi Pass or both.

   • If you select a Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can choose up to 3 Lightning Lane Multi Pass experiences and arrival windows in advance.

   • If you select a Lightning Lane Single Pass, you can choose an arrival window in advance.

4. Follow all prompts to complete your purchase—and receive a confirmation.

5. From the confirmation screen, you can tap “Plan Another Day” to purchase another pass—or tap “View My Day” for details about your Lightning Lane selections.

Modify Your Plans
Changed your plans… or your mind? You can modify your Lightning Lane selections via the My Disney Experience app.

To get started, tap the Lightning Lane Passes section on the app’s home screen to find your plans. Then, you can:

• Change your selected park and/or date in advance (subject to availability)—up until the moment you redeem your first Lightning Lane selection of the day.

• Change each selected experience and/or arrival window in advance (subject to availability)—up until the start of the arrival window

Unlock More Magic
On the day of your park visit, once you redeem a Lightning Lane Multi Pass selection (or once the arrival window has passed), you can use the My Disney Experience app to check availability for another Lightning Lane Multi Pass experience—and add to your plans.

You can make one at a time until regular park closing (subject to availability). If your park admission includes Park Hopper benefits, you can even choose a Lightning Lane Multi Pass experience in a different theme park.

Important Information
Limit one Lightning Lane entry per attraction, per day. View important details about Lightning Lane passes.

Lightning Lane System at Disneyland Resort

The Lightning Lane system at Disneyland Resort follows a similar structure to Walt Disney World, with options for Multi Passes and Single Passes. However, the planning windows and available attractions may differ slightly.

Key Differences

Planning Window: While Walt Disney World offers a 7-day planning window for resort guests, Disneyland Resort requires guests to physically be in the parks to make their first selections. Plus, Get unlimited downloads of Disney PhotoPass digital photos from your day—including pictures taken by professional photographers on days when you have purchased Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

Skip the lines and save time by purchasing a Lightning Lane Single Pass for one of these exclusive attractions, which are not included in the multi-pass options:

• Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure Park

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland Park

Resources

Disneyland Resort Official Lightning Lane Page

Touring Plans - How to Use Lightning Lane at Disneyland

If you have any questions or need assistance with planning your visit using the new Lightning Lane system, our agents at People Mover Travel are here to help. Reach out to us for personalized support and ensure your Disney vacation is as magical as possible!