How to Use Lightning Lanes at Disneyland

One of the downsides of any theme park is waiting in lines. At Disneyland, the solution to this is their Lightning Lane system! The Lightning Lane Multi Pass gives guests the option to pay an extra fee for the opportunity to skip some attractions’ standby line and use the “Lightning Lane” for a shorter wait time.

The Lightning Lane system launched as “Genie+” at Disneyland on December 8, 2021. Genie+ was rebranded to Lightning Lane Multi Pass in July 2024.

Aside from Lightning Lane Multi Pass, there are also Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Premier Pass. This article will cover all three types.

Let’s unpack everything we know about this service so far! Since my website focuses on the Disneyland Resort in California, I am going to share information for Disneyland only.

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Lightning Lanes at Disneyland – FastPass Replacement

What is Lightning Lane?

Lightning Lane Multi Pass is an optional paid add-on to your Disneyland ticket, that helps Guests skip some stand-by lines and maximize their time in the parks.

In short, Lightning Lane Multi Pass is very similar to the former MaxPass, so if you used MaxPass in the past you’re not going to have a big learning curve with Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

With Lightning Lane Multi Pass, guests have the option to pay an additional $35+ per guest, per day, for the ability to request a “reservation” for select attractions. If you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass ahead of your visit, the cost is $35. If you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass on the day of your visit, the price will vary (but it will never be less than $35). 

When your assigned time window comes up, return to the attraction and you will wait in a shorter “Lightning Lane” queue. 

As with MaxPass, guests will be able to request one Lightning Lane reservation at a time, and will be able to request another after using their current Lightning Lane reservation or having the window of time pass, or after two hours has passed since selecting your previous pass.

With Lightning Lane Multi Pass, there is no limit to how many Lightning Lane reservations you can request in one day, however, guests cannot pull two Lightning Lane reservations for the same attraction in one day. That means if you select a Lightning Lane reservation for Matterhorn, you cannot select another Lightning Lane reservation for Matterhorn that day.

Lightning Lane Single Pass

Some of the more popular attractions such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will not be included in Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Instead, a Lightning Lane Single Pass reservation for these attractions will be available, priced between $7 to $28 per guest per attraction, with the fee fluctuating depending on factors such as time of day, time of year, and how busy the parks are that day.

Guests will be able to request two of these Lightning Lane Single Pass reservations per day. 

Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass reservations are mutually exclusive of each other. You may choose to purchase and use Lightning Lane Multi Pass, or you can purchase one or two of the Lightning Lane Single passes, or you can do both. 

Lightning Lane Premier Pass

There is also a third option that was introduced in October 2024. Lightning Lane Premier Pass allows guests to access any Lightning Lane without reserving a return time. This obviously is a massive convenience since you do not need to strategize or pay attention to return times. You simply walk right up to the Lightning Lane queue and scan in. As to be expected, this convenience comes with a hefty price tag. Lightning Lane Premier Pass costs between $350-$400 per person per day. It should also be noted you cannot use your Lightning Lane Premier Pass on the same attraction multiple times. 

Free FASTPASS Has Been Retired

MaxPass was introduced in 2017 to give guests an easier way to access FASTPASS via the Disneyland app for an additional fee. However, guests could still use the FASTPASS kiosks to select a FASTPASS return time for free.

With the introduction of Lightning Lane Multi Pass, free FASTPASS will not be offered anymore. The only way to utilize the FASTPASS queues – now known as Lightning Lanes – will be to use the paid Lightning Lane Multi Pass system.

With the exception of attractions that use a virtual queue, all attractions will continue to have a stand-by line for guests who do not want to pay for Lightning Lanes.

Other Lightning Lane Multi Pass Perks

As with the old MaxPass, Disneyland guests will get unlimited PhotoPass downloads for the day with their Lightning Lane Multi Pass upgrade.

How will Lightning Lane Multi Pass Affect DAS (Disability Access Service)? 

The new Lightning Lane system should have no effect on DAS. You can read the most up-to-date information about DAS on Disneyland’s website.

What Attractions Are Included with Lightning Lane Multi Pass?

Here are the Disneyland Resort attractions included with Lightning Lane Multi Pass:

Disneyland

• Autopia
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
• Haunted Mansion
• Indiana Jones Adventure
• “it’s a small world”
• Matterhorn Bobsleds
• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Disney California Adventure

• Goofy’s Sky School
• Grizzly River Run
• Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!
• Incredicoaster
• Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
• Soarin’ Around the World
• Toy Story Midway Mania
• WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure

The following attractions will not be included with Genie+ and instead will have their own Lightning Lane Single Pass fee:

Disneyland Park

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Disney California Adventure Park

• Radiator Springs Racers

How to Use Lightning Lane Multi Pass

I tested Lightning Lane Multi Pass for myself and want to share some screenshots and best practices with you. (Note some screenshots reference the original name Genie+. Otherwise the app currently looks the same.)

How to Purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass

If you’re purchasing park tickets and you know you will also want Lightning Lane Multi Pass, the most economical decision is to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass with your tickets.

If you are purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass the day of your visit, the easiest way to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass is to scroll down on the Disneyland app home page until you see the option for Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Select it, and it will prompt you to make the purchase. You can either use your credit card on file in your app or Apple Pay.

To purchase, follow the prompts and select your party members. Make sure only the members in your party who want Lightning Lane Multi Pass that day are selected.

How to Purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass

The Premier Pass will be available to purchase through the Disneyland app two days prior to your visit. A limited amount of passes will be made available for each day. 

How to Make Lightning Lane Multi Pass Selections

Once the purchase is confirmed, the app will take you back to your Lightning Lane Multi Pass Tip Board.

From the Tip Board, you can scroll through the list of attractions and select the one for which you want a Lightning Lane pass.

Tip: If you set up priority attractions in Disney Genie, the app will list those attractions at the top.

Alternatively, you can look at the map and navigate to the attraction you want to ride. Tap on it, and then tap on the “LL” Lightning Lane logo. The app will refresh to the Disney Genie interface where you can select your Lightning Lane return pass. 

The Lightning Lane pass will give you a one hour window of time to return to the attraction. Your return time will depend on how popular that attraction is. It may be immediate or it may be a few hours later.

Redeeming Your Lightning Lane Pass

When your Lightning Lane window of time arrives, make your way to the front of the attraction and look for the “Lightning Lane” sign, which indicates the queue to enter. 

If you are confused on where to go, ask the Cast Member at the attraction entrance.

To enter the Lightning Lane queue, you will need to scan your Lightning Lane pass. In the app, go to the Disney Genie “My Day” screen, and at the top you should see your Genie+ Lightning Lane pass and a button that reads “Redeem.” Tap on that and your Lightning Lane pass will come up. It will show a barcode. The Cast Member at the entrance to the attraction will instruct you on how to scan your pass. If the pass is valid, the machine will light up green. 

Yay! That means you may proceed through the queue. If something goes wrong, a Cast Member will assist you.

Once your Lightning Lane pass is scanned, don’t forget to select your next one! 

Lightning Lane FAQ

I realize some aspects of the new Lightning Lane service are confusing, so I created this Frequently Asked Questions section to help break it down.