Essential Tips Before Purchasing Disney World Lightning Lane Passes

Planning to purchase Lightning Lane Passes for your Disney World trip? Follow these crucial steps to ensure a smooth and stress-free process.

If you are working with a Main Street Vacation Planner, he or she can help you or even do most of these for you!

1. Confirm Your Reservation is Linked to Your Disney Account

Ensure your Disney Resort reservation is linked to your My Disney Experience account. If it’s not linked, Disney won’t recognize you’re staying onsite, and you won’t be able to purchase Lightning Lane Passes 7 days in advance. For those staying off-site, Lightning Lane Passes can only be purchased 3 days before the ticket start date. This means that if you have family staying offsite, different return times will be available for them 3 days in advance than when you purchased Lightning Lanes 7 days in advance, so plan accordingly.

2. Link Your Park Tickets

Make sure your park tickets are also linked to your account. If your Resort reservation is linked but your tickets aren’t, you won’t be eligible to purchase Lightning Lane Passes. Disney needs to see both your park reservation and valid park tickets in your account to grant access to the Lightning Lane system.

3. Connect Everyone in Your Party via Family & Friends

All members of your party should be linked in the Family & Friends section of your My Disney Experience account. This is essential for purchasing Lightning Lane Passes for everyone in your group. Without these links, you won’t be able to secure passes for those who are not connected to your account.

4. Link a Valid Credit Card

Link a valid credit card to your account in advance. While you can enter the information on the morning of the purchase, having it pre-linked will save time and make the process quicker and smoother. This will help you secure those highly sought-after Lightning Lane Passes before they run out.

5. Have a Plan in Place

Know which Tier 1 and Tier 2 Multi Pass attractions you want to select beforehand. Research the attractions and decide on your top choices. This preparation will streamline your selection process and help ensure you get the passes for your preferred rides and shows. To make the best decisions, check out everything you need to know about Lightning Lanes here.

Additional Tips:

• Set Reminders: Set a reminder for the 7-day or 3-day mark to ensure you don’t forget to purchase your passes as soon as you are eligible. Sign up for our free email reminders here.
• Practice Using the App: Familiarize yourself with the My Disney Experience app before the day you need to make your purchase. This will help you navigate the app quickly and efficiently.
• Be Flexible: While it’s great to have a plan, sometimes you’ll need to be flexible. Popular attractions might not be available, so have backup options in mind.

All right, now that you’ve planned ahead, you’ll be well-prepared to purchase your Lightning Lane Passes!

Happy planning!