Welcome to planDisney, Alissa!
I'm thrilled to hear about your upcoming visit and happy to share some guidance on planning
Lightning Lane experiences for your family. If you have a
reservation at an eligible resort, you may already be within your booking window. If you are staying off-site, your window will open 3 days before your ticket start date at 7 am EST.
As you've probably already seen, guests can purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass and schedule 1-hour return windows for 3 attractions per day. Once one of those initial selections has been redeemed, you'll be able to make additional selections, one at a time, for the remainder of the day (subject to availability). You can also purchase up to 2 Single Pass experiences per day, in addition to, or instead of, Multi Pass.
Though you can purchase Multi Pass and Single Pass in a single transaction for each day, the selections made will apply to everyone you include in your planning party. If your whole family plans to enjoy Multi Pass experiences, but only 3 of you plan to enjoy Single Pass attractions, you should complete those purchases separately for each day of your visit.
When you are ready to complete your purchase, you'll navigate to the home page of the
My Disney Experience app. Select the "Purchase" button under the Lightning Lane Multi Pass/Single Pass header at the top of the screen. Select your date of visit from the calendar, then your desired park, and select Multi Pass, Single Pass, or both, then "Continue." You'll see the option to "Select All" for your eligible party, but you can check or uncheck the box next to each guest in your group before proceeding through the purchase process.
Everyone who plans to ride the attraction via the Lightning Lane entrance will need to have a valid Lightning Lane Pass. You don't have to purchase for your non-riding child, but keep in mind they won't be able to go through the Lightning Lane entrance with the rest of your party. I recommend speaking with a Cast Member about
Rider Switch when you arrive for your return windows. The policy can vary based on the attraction, but Cast Members will offer guidance on waiting with your non-riding child and then re-entering the line with another member of your party for your turn once the first group has completed the attraction.
I'd also like to mention that attraction return windows are an hour long, so you should have ample time to enjoy the ride as separate groups, even if Rider Switch is not available. I'd plan to arrive as close to the start of your return window as possible to maximize your time, but again, you can speak to Cast Members at the attraction entrance if you run into any issues or delays. In my experience, they always go above and beyond to accommodate guests' needs.
I hope this gives you some clarity and peace of mind, Alissa. If you have additional questions or need further guidance, please come back to planDisney and let us know.
Wishing you a magical visit!
Amy