If you are planning a trip to the "Happiest Place on Earth," one of the ways to make it even happier for you is to skip the attraction lines. Disneyland offers a few options, and one is called Lightning Lane. It's a shorter, alternate queue that bypasses the traditional line for select rides. Access to this alternative to the standby queue comes at a price, which varies based on the version(s) you choose. For newcomers, it might seem a little confusing. Also, unlike at Walt Disney World, only some of the Disneyland rides offer Lightning Lanes. This may lead you to ask, "Which rides are available on Lightning Lane at Disneyland?" You might also wonder how much extra this is going to cost you and if purchasing Lightning Lanes is the right choice for your family or party. Or maybe you have a free Lightning Land Multi Pass attraction perk for staying at a Disneyland Resort hotel and you want to know what rides you can use it on. No worries, your froggy friends are here to break it all down.
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FAQs
- Which rides can I use my free Disney Hotel Guest Lightning Lane for? All registered and checked-in hotel guests (with park ticket and park reservation) get one free Lightning Lane to use at a Lightning Lane Multi Pass attraction of their choice during their stay. (It's one of the benefits of staying on-site.) The Single Pass attractions are not included.
- How can I get Lightning Lane Multi Pass for the lowest price possible? Lock in the lowest price by buying tickets loaded with Lightning Lane. Undercover Tourist has the lowest prices on Lightning Lane tickets. The price varies for in-park purchases. If you wait to purchase in park, you might pay several dollars more for each Lightning Lane each day!
- Can Lightning Lane sell out? Yes, on peak days, it does sell out for in-park purchases. That is why we recommend purchasing it with your tickets.
- How can I purchase Lightning Lane if I have a Magic Key? Magic Key holders must enter a park and purchase through the Disneyland app. Key Holders do get a 25% discount on Lighting Lane Multi Pass. There are no discounts for Single Pass purchases.
- Can I purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass in advance? No. You can only purchase Single Pass one you have entered a theme park that day at Disneyland Resort. Prices vary per day, and there are no discounts for these. Single Pass attractions are included in Lighting Lane Premier Pass, which can be purchased up to 7 days in advance.
Which Rides Are Available on Lightning Lane at Disneyland Park?
Let's go over which rides are available on Lightning Lane at Disneyland. After that, we can delve into the types of Lightning Lane and the levels of service offered. ICYMI, there's a new premium option in town.
Note that all rides operate with a standby line unless a virtual queue is in place. Standby lines and virtual queues are free.
The following rides at Disneyland are available on Lightning Lane Multi Pass (subject to change due to refurbishments):
- Autopia
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
- Haunted Mansion and Haunted Mansion Holiday
- Indiana Jones Adventure (*make this Lightning Lane a priority)
- “it's a small world” and its holiday version
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
- Space Mountain and Hyperspace Mountain overlay (*make this Lightning Lane a priority)
- Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
- Tiana's Bayou Adventure
Holiday overlay versions of each Lightning Lane ride are also on Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Actual selection may vary due to ride closures and refurbishments.
The following ride at Disneyland is available on Lightning Lane Single Pass:
You cannot use your free Disneyland Resort Stay Lightning Lane for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Which Rides Are Available on Lightning Lane at Disney California Adventure Park?
Disney California Adventure has fewer rides with a Lightning Lane (and fewer rides in general) than Disneyland. However, the popular rides in this park often develop long lines, making Lightning Lane worth it as a time-saving strategy. The following rides at Disney California Adventure are available on Lightning Lane Multi Pass (subject to change due to refurbishments):
- Goofy's Sky School
- Grizzly River Run
- Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! (*make this Lightning Lane a priority)
- Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark (during Halloween Time you can book both versions on the same day when available)
- Incredicoaster
- The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure
- Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! (closing permanently in 2027)
- Soarin' Around the World
- Toy Story Midway Mania (*make this Lightning Lane a priority)
- WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure
During Halloween Time, you can book a Lightning Lane for Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! in the first part of the day and book another for Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark for after 3 p.m.
Actual selection may vary due to ride closures and refurbishments.
The following ride at Disney California Adventure is available on Lightning Lane Single Pass:
You cannot use your free Disneyland Resort Stay Lightning Lane for Radiator Springs Racers.
Which Attractions Do Not Have a Lightning Lane at Disneyland?
Disney World regulars may be surprised to learn that many rides do not offer Lightning Lane at Disneyland, especially rides in Fantasyland. Here's a look at all the attractions that do not have a Lightning Lane at Disneyland. If you are traveling with small children, or you really don't like thrill rides, skipping Lightning Lane might be the way to go since there are so many options without it.
Rides and Attractions Without a Lightning Lane at Disneyland Park
Attractions without a Lightning Lane at Disneyland Park include many family-friendly rides:
- Alice in Wonderland
- Astro Orbitor
- Casey Jr. Circus Train
- Chip 'n' Dale's GADGETcoaster
- Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
- Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
- Jungle Cruise
- King Arthur Carrousel
- Mad Tea Party
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
- Pan’s Flight
- Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
- Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
- Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
Attractions Without a Lightning Lane at Disney California Adventure
- Golden Zephyr
- Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind
- Jessie's Critter Carousel
- Jumpin’ Jellyfish
- Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters
- Tow Mater’s Junkyard
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Pixar Pal-A-Round
- Silly Symphony Swings
- Animation Building experiences
- Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!
Some of Disney California Adventure rides without a Lightning Lane do come up as a selection if you acquire a Multiple Experiences Pass due to a ride breakdown! So keep an eye out for those!
What Is the Difference Between Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass?
Lightning Lane Multi Pass covers Lightning Lane access for multiple rides. It does not include access to the Lightning Lane Single Pass attractions. Those highly popular rides can only be purchased on an individual basis. At this time, there are only two Lightning Lane Single Pass options at Disneyland parks, one in each park.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass can be purchased with your ticket (that's the cheapest available price at $34 per person, per day), or you can purchase it after entering the theme park on the day of your visit. The price can vary when purchasing in park (we've seen it reach $39), and Magic Key holders get a 25% discount (and sometimes a bigger discount in early 2025). You have to schedule each Lightning Lane to get a one-hour reservation to go ride. Ride availability can vary. You can only book one ride at a time.
Lightning Lane Single Pass can usually be purchased after entering a theme park (when park hopping you can purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass in the other park once distribution times are after the 11 a.m. hop time). Each ride is purchased separately, one time per ride, per day with a maximum of two Lightning Lane Single Pass purchases per day.
The Sing Pass price can vary per ride, per day:
- Radiator Springs Racers runs about $15 to $28 per person, depending on expected crowds.
- Rise of the Resistance consistently stays between $15 to $35. Magic Key holders do not get a discount. You also choose a one-hour window to ride.
You can purchase only Multi Pass, only Single Pass, both or none at all. It just depends on your priorities. Most people skip the Single Pass at Disneyland. As a locals' park, most people use other strategies to save money on that because they can always come back. They are not feeling the pressure to do it all in a day or two. So, if you are a visitor who really wants to do a lot in a short period, then you'll find these widely available to you.
Let's be honest here, Lightning Lane does not take you straight to the front of the line. During busier times, you may wait about 10-20 minutes or longer, but certainly less than the regular line.
What Is Lightning Lane Premier Pass?
The most expensive option (outside of a VIP Tour) is the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which includes every available Lightning Lane (all Multi and Single Passes). If it fits the budget and you have no interest in scheduling your rides or trying to manage selections on your phone, for a flat fee, you gain the freedom to ride when you want to ride. You don't have to worry about ride windows that could be six hours away or waiting periods before booking or rides that ran out of Lightning Lanes for the day. Just walk up to Indiana Jones Adventure or Radiator Springs Racers when you are ready to ride and enter the Lightning Lane.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass runs about $299 to $449 per person per day. You can purchase up to seven days in advance as of 7 a.m. PT, and sales are very limited.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass includes one-time access to all Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass attractions. Premier Pass is good for all the Lightning Lanes in both parks, so it makes more sense to get it when park hopping to maximize its potential. The Premier Pass only includes rides with a Lightning Lane, so it's certainly not giving you skip-the-line access to every ride in the parks. However, if thrill rides and the biggest attractions are a must-do, you cannot beat the convenience of walking up to a ride and using the Lightning Lane without planning or scheduling.
Besides skipping the line, this pass will also streamline your day and avoid unnecessary backtracking. You can do the rides in the order that you come across them, rather than crossing the park just to make it during your scheduled time.
You'll use your phone to book Lightning Lane Single Pass or Multi Pass in the Disneyland app. But with Premier Pass, you can keep your head out of your phone (except to scan in for rides and to pull it out for selfies and mobile orders). You can enjoy the rides as you come to them.
Disneyland Lightning Lane and Time-Saving Tips
We are just touching the tip of the iceberg on Lightning Lanes at Disneyland today. We have several posts for further reading on the topic. Here are a few to get you started:
- Answering Your Disneyland Lightning Lane Frequently Asked Questions
- Our Top Tips and Strategies for Using Lightning Lane at Disneyland
- Our Complete Guide to Genie and Lightning Lanes at Disneyland
The Lightning Lane is not the only wait to skip the lines at Disneyland. We are frugal frogs after all, so here are some ways to manage lines on your own:
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- How to Skip the Lines With Single Rider at Disneyland
- Strategies to Rope Drop Disney California Adventure
- Strategies to Rope Drop Disneyland Park
- Complete Guide to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Height Requirements (if you have small children)
- How to Use Rider Switch at Disneyland Like a Pro
- Insider Tips for Riding Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland
- Everything to Know About Radiator Springs Racers
Plus we have some tools to help you as well. We offer Park Plans to help you navigate your day. You can consult our Crowd Calendar to search for a less busy time to visit.
Lightning Lane Tips
- Purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass if you are arriving early in the day.
- Skip it if you are arriving in the afternoon. You likely won't get your money's worth.
- Try to have your party members enter the theme park at the same time. People who have not entered the park cannot book rides.
- Stay at a Disneyland Resort hotel to get a free Lightning Lane Multi Pass attraction. (One per person per trip).
- Save your free hotel Lighting Lane for the afternoon when lines are longest.
- Tour the Disney Vacation Club property to get free Lighting Lanes.
- If you have to change your Lightning Lane selection, do not cancel it. Modify it (for the same park). Modifying does not reset the clock.
- Set alarms to remind you when you can book your next Lightning Lane.
- Locate your Lighting Lane selections under My Plans in the Disneyland app.
If you are looking to save money on your Disneyland trip, you can purchase discount Disneyland tickets with Lightning Lane Multi Pass from Undercover Tourist. You can also save when you book Disneyland hotels and off-site hotels near Disneyland through Undercover Tourist.
Related: How to Navigate the Ins and Outs of the Disneyland App
Related: How to Use Disneyland Mobile Order Service
Keep hopping!
