Is Disneyland’s Lighting Lane Multi Pass Worth it For Half a Day?

Although most of us wish we could spend a full day at the Disneyland Resort parks, often times we only have the time or energy for a half day. When this is the case, many ask whether it's worth purchasing the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which gives guests access to shorter lines for several popular attractions.

There can be many reasons to visit the Disneyland parks for only half a day. Some guests prefer to sleep in and get to the theme parks in the early afternoon with plenty of energy to spare, while others prefer to get an earlier start and leave early and avoid the nighttime fireworks crowds.

There's often two sides to this question: some think it's worth purchasing a Lightning Lane to get the most out of a shortened day. However, others think it might not be worth paying full price for a Lightning Lane when you won't be at the parks for a full day. I visit the Disney parks frequently, including both full days and half days where purchasing Lightning Lane is often a debate. Below I will break down the pros and cons of purchasing Lightning Lane for a shortened day at Disneyland, and answer the question if Lightning Lane Multi Pass is still worth the cost.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass Overview

We know that Lightning Lane Multi Pass is Disneyland's paid service that allows guests to book return times for specific attractions in which they will have a much shorter wait time compared to the normal standby queue. Lightning Lane Multi Pass is not to be confused with the Lightning Lane Single Pass, which is a one time purchase and one time use for more popular attractions including Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racers.

The price of Lightning Lane Multi Pass starts at $32 per person, per day. The price and availability of Lightning Lane Multi Pass will vary depending on the date, meaning it will be more expensive and may sell out during peak times. Guests can purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass in advance, however, you cannot make your reservations until you have entered the theme park. I highly recommend purchasing Lightning Lane for everyone in your party in advance so that it's one less thing you'll have to worry about on park day. You are able to book as many Lightning Lane reservations as you wish, however you can only book them one at a time, and guests can only use Lightning Lanes on on each ride once.

Guests have the opportunity to book Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservations for the following attractions:

Disneyland: 

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

Disney California Adventure Park:

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

When Is Lightning Lane Worth Purchasing for Half a Day at Disneyland?

For the most part, I would say Lightning Lane Multi Pass is always worth the purchase if it's in your budget, even for a half day at the parks. However, it really depends on your specific goals and desired experiences throughout the day. If you're visiting during a busy time, have limited hours, and want to experience the park's most popular rides, Lightning Lane Multi Pass can provide excellent value by significantly reducing wait times.

Additionally, if you want to sleep in and get to the theme parks later in the day, I would say Lightning Lane Multi Pass is also worth the cost, because the parks tend to be a lot busier in the afternoons. Therefore, the standby ride queues for more popular attractions will definitely be longer. However, keep in mind that you must be physically located inside Disneyland in order to start booking your Lightning Lanes. Therefore, if you're thinking about purchasing Lightning Lane for the day during peak season, such as Christmas or Spring Break, you may want to adjust your schedule and arrive earlier since a lot of other guests will also be booking Lightning Lane reservations. However, for most days out of the year, you'll still be able to get a lot done with Lightning Lane even if you don't arrive until later in the day and stay until the park closes.

Lastly, I would say Lightning Lane Multi Pass is absolutely worth the cost if you're rope dropping Disneyland and want to hit as many attractions as possible. You'll not only be able to rope drop some of the popular attractions, but you'll be able to start booking Lightning Lane reservations as soon as you enter the park. Since you'll be there early, you'll be able to book earlier return times for more popular attractions, and be able to head out of the park early. We've been able to experience several popular attractions such as Indiana Jones Adventure, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, and more within less than half a day at Disneyland while utilizing Lightning Lane Multi Pass along with the regular standby queues which are usually shorter in the mornings.

Overall, I would say Lightning Lane Multi Pass is absolutely worth the cost, even for half a day, especially for guests who want to experience as many attractions as possible in a short amount of time.

READ MORE – Disneyland & California Adventure 1-Day Itinerary – All the Can't Miss Experiences in One Day

When is Lightning Lane Not Worth a Half Day?

It's probably a lot easier to make the decision on when not to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass. For example, if you're visiting on a quieter day or don't have a long list of must-do attractions, you may be able to enjoy the park without the extra cost. Some travel parties prefer to enjoy the food, entertainment, and overall atmosphere of the parks instead of focusing on riding all of the attractions.

Furthermore, if you plan on getting to Disneyland early and only care about riding a couple of attractions, you may not need to purchase the Lightning Lane Multi Pass because the ride lines are shorter in the mornings. This is my personal favorite method of experiencing Disneyland for only half a day. I often make my rounds on a couple of dark rides throughout Fantasyland before heading to Space Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain for more thrills before spending the rest of the morning walking around, grabbing food, and maybe meeting a character or two.

Another thing to consider is the number of days you're visiting Disneyland. A lot of guests prefer to stay in the parks all day for a couple days, and then have one or two half days accompanied by a pool day or shopping day at Downtown Disney. You could always purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass on the days where you plan on spending more time in the theme parks. That way you can save a bit of money, and whatever you are able to accomplish on your half day will just be an added bonus.

For those who frequently visit Disneyland, you probably know that there are many ways to enjoy Disneyland without a Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Unless I am with out of town guests or others who may not visit the Disney parks are often, I usually just go with the flow and enjoy whatever attraction or experience I feel like for the day.

Tips for Maximizing Lightning Lane Multi Pass for a Half Day

If you decide to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass for your half-day visit to Disneyland, here are some tips we recommend to maximize your purchase!

• Arrive as early as possible and immediately start booking reservations. For early birds who want to spend the mornings at Disneyland, I recommend purchasing your Lightning Lane Multi Pass in advance, and booking your Lightning Lane reservations as soon as you enter the park. This way, you can get the best chance of riding your favorite attractions, and can start “stacking” reservations (more on stacking below).
• “Stack” Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservations. Lightning Lane reservations can only be made one at a time until after you've redeemed your reservation. However, even if you have a reservation, if more than two hours has passed since you booked it, you are allowed to make another selection, known as “stacking” reservations. Definitely take advantage of this perk because oftentimes you may have to wait over two hours until you can redeem your next reservation.
• Use Single Rider queues. The Single Rider queues allow groups to split up and embark on select attractions individually. A Cast Member can direct you to the designated queue, where your party will be separated to fill remaining seats that aren’t occupied by Guests utilizing the regular standby line. This strategy can be used for certain attractions you'd like to experience but may not have Lightning Lane reservation times available. Disneyland's Single Rider queues are located at Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run, Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Space Mountain. California Adventure's Single Rider queues are located at Incredicoaster, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, Soarin' Over California, Radiator Springs Racers, Grizzly River Run, and Goofy's Sky School.
• Prioritize high-demand or “must do” attractions. Depending on which attractions are at the top of your list, you should prioritize your top experiences in order to guarantee a time during your shortened schedule. Even if the first available reservation isn't until later, you can always make the reservation and “stack” others once you've reached the two hour mark.
• Consider skipping the fireworks. If your half day is in the evenings, consider skipping the fireworks or nighttime shows. There will likely be more available Lightning Lane reservations during these times, and therefore you'll be able to book more reservations and get the most out of your Lightning Lane purchase.

READ MORE- Best Disneyland Rides – All 63 Rides RANKED By Frequent Visitor

Discount Disneyland Tickets and Adding on Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass

Another way to maximize your Lightning Lane Multi Pass and find the cheapest tickets to Disneyland is by checking out our favorite Disney-approved ticket re-seller, Get Away Today. They offer Mickey Visit readers exclusive discounts on Disneyland tickets, and now you can add Lightning Lane Multi Pass to your tickets when you book through their company! By booking your Disneyland Lightning Lane Multi Pass tickets in advance you will lock in the lowest possible price. Get Away Today's customer service and support teams are incredible and also offer concierge services to help remove stress of planning your Disneyland vacation.

Read More Disney Planning Advice

For the best resource and helpful information for planning your Disney trip, make sure to subscribe to our FREE Deals newsletter​. We’ll provide you with helpful planning information, exclusive Disney deals, and access to the lowest-priced Disney tickets anywhere.