Utilizing Disneyland’s Lightning Lane Multi-Go line-skipping service, we used a mixture of journey reservations and standby to do 32 sights in in the future. This submit walks you thru our step-by-step day in each Disneyland and Disney California Journey with screenshots, return instances, suggestions & tips, and ideas on the finish about whether or not it’s definitely worth the cash. (Up to date June 18, 2025.)
It was an extended day from rope drop till park closing, so we’ll lower to the chase and skip the fundamentals. When you’ve got questions in regards to the fundamentals of utilizing Lightning Lanes at Disneyland or how this overly sophisticated system works, see our Information to Lightning Lanes at Disneyland & DCA. There are two choices: Lightning Lane Multi Go (LLMP) and Lightning Lane Single Go (LLSP). This covers the previous, because the latter solely applies to 2 rides (Radiator Springs Racers and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance).
One factor to notice is that the title modified from Genie+ to Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Disneyland. In contrast to at Walt Disney World, there have been no substantive adjustments to the system. It’s actually only a title change–that’s it. So if you happen to used Genie+ earlier than and are confused about how Lightning Lane Multi-Go would possibly work in another way, the reply is: it doesn’t. You already know how you can use the “new” line-skipping system!
Whereas this submit covers our expertise one particular Saturday at Disneyland and DCA with Lightning Lanes on 7/10 crowd degree day. We really tried this take a look at on a number of earlier day, however crowd ranges had been just too low and we had a troublesome time stress-testing itineraries consequently. One among our targets with these Lightning Lane Multi-Go assets is replicability–it’s enjoyable for us to have the ability to accomplish loads, however ineffective for planning if you happen to can’t reproduce our outcomes.
Disneyland crowds are usually extra laid again than Walt Disney World, which implies utilizing Lightning Lane Multi-Go is likewise simpler within the California parks. It additionally helps that Disneyland has a way more sturdy journey roster than Walt Disney World, so there are extra sights to assist soak up crowds, each with and with out Lightning Lanes.
Anyway, the purpose is that this present day shouldn’t be the byproduct of rigorously selecting the very best day to go to, tweaking our technique to perfection, or racing round with out having enjoyable–issues no regular particular person would do on a enjoyable trip. On the contrary, you need to have the ability to copy this present day as long as it’s not a peak season day for crowds. In actual fact, you are able to do higher than this with minor changes and omissions that we’ll recommend all through the submit.
June 18, 2025 Replace: We first did this take a look at a few years in the past, and have used Lightning Lane Multi-Go a number of instances since with related outcomes. We even attended on New Yr’s Eve and had shockingly good outcomes with LLMP at Disneyland.
Nonetheless, all of our testing has been narrower and scope and admittedly extra restricted in nature now that we’ve a toddler. We’re typically skipping sights with top limits, or just not touring nonstop from rope drop till park closing. I’ve carried out some extra aggressive discipline testing alone that has concerned all headliners, however nothing as complete with this.
The one factor I’ve observed just lately is that Disney California Journey is rather more troublesome to strategize. This has been true in all of my testing, from Early Entry to common itineraries to Lightning Lanes. The explanations for this are mentioned in Automobiles Closure, Stealth Refurbishments, Delays & Downtime at Disney California Journey. In a nutshell, a couple of of the park’s headliner sights are present process ‘stealth’ refurbishments that scale back their capability (and enhance wait instances), and on prime of that, some are unreliable.
As a result of decreased capability and better wait instances, Lightning Lane Multi-Go availability can also be throttled. Which means that return instances are kicked hours into the long run, or typically gone completely. You may see this in motion through the screenshots right here. Distinction the Lightning Lane Multi-Go return instances at Disneyland (above) with these at DCA (beneath)–each on the identical summer season day.
As a sensible matter, this implies you just about want to start your day in Disney California Journey if making an attempt to copy what we did. You additionally have to nearly instantly begin redeeming Lightning Lane picks on the preferred rides–Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout, Soarin’ Across the World, Toy Story Halfway Mania, Net Slingers, and so forth–so that you don’t have return instances far into the long run.
Mainly, your largest enemy is the clock on a day like this, and having to take care of the 120 minute rule repeatedly goes to kill your momentum and forestall you from ending every part in each parks. There are a half-dozen sights routinely topic to the 120 minute rule in the course of the center of the day at DCA. In the event you ebook all of these (and even that’s an “if” since they is likely to be completely unavailable), that’s it–that’s your day!
Accordingly, the precise strategy now’s essentially beginning at DCA and beginning to choose and redeem Lightning Lanes nearly instantly to be able to have earlier return instances, so you’ll be able to transfer over to Disneyland the place near-instant returns are rather more frequent. The issue with that is that it type of defeats the aim of Lightning Lanes, as you’ll typically be doing rides at DCA when the traces are shorter. So actually, the optimum strategy is someplace in between, and recognizing that you simply realistically gained’t get each single Lightning Lane at DCA on most days.
In different phrases, the day beneath remains to be attainable, however not sensible. And possibly not within the order we went about it. Regardless, if you wish to see how we approached doing each single Lightning Lane Multi-Go journey in DCA and Disneyland throughout 1-day, right here’s our unique run-through…
Our Day Doing Each Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Disneyland Resort
On the day of our go to, Disneyland operated from 8 am till 11 pm, which meant that the turnstiles would open round 7 am. That is important as a result of within the California parks, you’ll be able to ebook your first Lightning Lane Multi-Go choice not at 7 am, however upon coming into the park…in order early as 7 am on this explicit day. Totally different rule, identical consequence.
We didn’t arrive till 7:45 am, because it was fairly clear from previous expertise that the clock was not advancing on Lightning Lane reservations throughout that first hour of entry. Our arrival might’ve been even later, however we’re waking up at ~5 am on daily basis anyway, and needed to rope drop Fantasyland.
After coming into Disneyland, we shortly made our manner up Foremost Avenue, bought Lightning Lane Multi-Go for each of us (sorry, no face to face comparability right here), and booked our first Lightning Lane reservation of the day: Area Mountain. Our return time was 8:05 to 9:05 am. As might be defined beneath, this return time is definitely too early for normal company wanting to make use of the savviest technique.
We had been shut sufficient to the entrance of the rope drop pack that beginning with Peter Pan’s Flight would’ve made essentially the most sense. Nonetheless, I dropped again slightly to get pictures and at all times get skittish when seeing that line kind. Despite the fact that it’s not that many individuals and strikes fairly fast, it’s nonetheless a tricky promote.
As an alternative, we referred to as an audible and had been the very first company of the day on Snow White’s Enchanted Want. Following that, we knocked out Mr. Toad’s Wild Trip and Alice in Wonderland with minimal waits for each.
It might’ve been attainable–and pragmatic, in hindsight–to proceed our rope drop run of standby sights with extra in Fantasyland.
Expertise from earlier days steered this may’ve been attainable, however the noticeably bigger crowd made us apprehensive. If we pushed our luck, we wouldn’t have the ability to accomplish every part through Lightning Lane Multi-Go, which was the entire level of the day.
With that in thoughts, bouncing over to Tomorrowland and Area Mountain was subsequent on the agenda. Instantly upon scanning into Area Mountain, I booked the Matterhorn through Lightning Lane Multi-Go with one other fast return time.
You would possibly discover that our Disneyland Lightning Lane Multi-Go Trip Rankings have Indiana Jones Journey above Matterhorn. That’s objectively the precise placement, however Matterhorn is nearer to Area Mountain. It typically finally ends up being extra environment friendly to reduce strolling reasonably than strictly sticking to these priorities.
That’s Sarah above, scanning into what can be her final thrill journey of the day at Disneyland.
Matterhorn has a manner of bustin’ backs and scramblin’ skullz. That must be its new slogan. Nonetheless a basic journey that I take pleasure in, however the “depth” positively has extra to do with its rickety journey than precise thrills.
Subsequent up was Indiana Jones Journey, which we booked instantly upon scanning into Matterhorn. One other on the spot return.
This is among the few reasonably intense sights that doesn’t give Sarah points, however I feel a part of it’s that she simply actually loves Indiana Jones Journey. Or perhaps Harrison Ford is her superstar crush. She does make numerous “jokes” every time we spot classic plane flying overhead in Southern California. Hmmm.
After actually flying by our first three Lightning Lane Multi-Go sights, we determined to knock out Jungle Cruise, which had round a 10-15 minute wait.
It acquired the same “Monkey Mania” reimagining to Florida’s, with minor tweaks right here and there. Personally, I really like the adjustments. “Prejudice in opposition to primates is distinctly unpatriotic.” ~Sam Eagle, in all probability.
Pirates of the Caribbean through standby was up subsequent after that, and likewise had minimal wait. Not fairly a walk-on, however fairly shut.
These final couple of standby sights are the place are day begins to make sense from a balanced perspective, as wait instances had been beginning to construct all through Disneyland.
After that, I used to be alone for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run through the Lightning Lane.
In the event you’re equally doing Smugglers Run or the Matterhorn by your self, there’s at all times the choice for Single Rider. With the previous, you’re far much less more likely to be pilot, however I let another person in our crew do this anyway (you may say it’s as a result of I’m a pleasant man…or as a result of it will’ve been bizarre to make two {couples} who had been first timers cut up up from their important others).
From there, I backtracked to Large Thunder Mountain Railroad and did that subsequent.
One factor I need to reiterate is that our strategy of knocking out headliners through Lightning Lane Multi-Go was not crucial the primary couple hours of the day. Strains had been nonetheless quick and had been this not a “simulation,” we’d’ve spent the primary 90 minutes solely on standby. The rationale we didn’t was over concern that some Lightning Lanes at DCA can be unavailable later if we didn’t transfer quick knocking issues out.
By the point we arrived at Haunted Mansion at round 10:15 am, that was now not the case.
We breezed by through the Lightning Lane, however there was a line already forming exterior the gates of the mansion.
At this level, we had been killing time till eating places lunch, so we opted for the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, which had a minimal wait through standby.
Maybe it’s time to present the individuals what they need and convey again Nation Bear Jamboree–or the nextgen trackless darkish journey I’ve been armchair Imagineering, Large Al’s Moonshine Maze. It’s like Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, however loads slower and with a “for mature audiences solely” warning label.
Our subsequent Lightning Lane after lunch was Roger Rabbit’s Automotive Toon Spin. As famous in our rankings, this has seen a recognition spike of late, presumably as locals do their final rides earlier than it closes for a yr.
Or perhaps it’s an inflow of trenchcoat fanatics. (Sorry, all of my higher jokes had been rejected as “too risque” or more likely to “rile up the plenty.” Similar to a model of Jessica Rabbit in a costume, I suppose!)
“It’s a small world” is close to Toontown, so we did that with one other fast return time through the Lightning Lane regardless of a 40 minute standby wait.
Now we had been beginning to see great time-savings with Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Disneyland. Had we caught to standby early, we might’ve had a wonderful afternoon and night of shortly bypassing lengthy traces.
Autopia was subsequent up.
, if there’s a model of the long-lasting car-driving attraction that’s definitely worth the stench and cognitive impairment of auto exhaust, it’s this one. The way in which the monitor weaves round beneath the monorail and a thick cover of timber is gorgeous and manner higher than Tomorrowland Speedway. Autopia might be one thing particular if Disney had been to speculate some cash into modernizing it.
Following that, we knocked out Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and Star Excursions in fast succession. Each had on the spot return instances, and on condition that the sights are instantly throughout from one another, it’s straightforward to do them as a 1-2 punch with in minimal time.
With that, we had been carried out with each (operational) Lightning Lane attraction at Disneyland. It was 1:30 pm.
Be aware that this run-through doesn’t embody Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Tiana’s Bayou Journey or Pirates of the Caribbean, as these weren’t operational (operative phrases) Lightning Lanes on the time.
It’s nearly at all times going to be the case {that a} journey or two is down for refurbishment or unavailable.
Approaching Disney California Journey offered us with a dilemma: whether or not to knock out sights with near-immediate return instances through the Lightning Lanes to ebook Soarin’ Across the World, which had returns inching nearer to the tip of the evening.
That is exactly why we rushed by Lightning Lanes at Disneyland–we knew Soarin’ would pose issues later within the day.
Hedging our bets with Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission Breakout appeared just like the savvy strategy.
Regardless of a prolonged posted wait time, it was a near-immediate return time. Which may not be the case later within the day, and having to attend 120 minutes to ebook a number of headliners if we prioritized Soarin’ might trigger us to overlook one thing else.
With Mission Breakout off the desk, this left solely two common Lightning Lane sights on the desk. At that time, we felt comfy going for Soarin’ Across the World and taking that 120 minute hit. This was the precise transfer, as rather more of a delay would’ve made Soarin’ unavailable.
If we had been touring Disneyland and DCA as “actual individuals” and never with the purpose of writing a weblog submit titled “We Did Each Lightning Lane Trip at Disneyland & DCA In A Day,” our strategy would’ve been totally different.
Whereas ready that 120 minutes, we did loads.
Radiator Springs Racers through Single Rider, Little Mermaid darkish journey, Lunar New Yr processional, ceremonial flinging of that Spider-Man dummy into the stratosphere, and a few character stuff.
As quickly as our 120 minute wait was up, I used LLMP to ebook Incredicoaster.
Despite the fact that the clock was advancing on Toy Story Halfway Mania, it felt pragmatic to knock out a couple of extra on the spot returns first. It was a chance both manner, although.
After that, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
With a journey roster that tilts in direction of adults arguably a bit an excessive amount of, this darkish journey has turn out to be more and more common with households–and it has a depressing out of doors standby queue. As such, doing it through the Lightning Lane or earlier within the day is surprisingly essential. Simply mentioning that as a result of this unassuming darkish journey’s wait instances can sneak up on you if not correctly accounted for in your itinerary.
After that, we used LLMP to do Goofy’s Sky College for the primary time in a very long time.
Clearly, the above picture shouldn’t be from the attraction. I had deliberate on getting a photograph of Paradise Pier from the elevated view, not remembering simply how wild that little wild mouse will get. The primary flip threw my digicam into my face and that’s about all I bear in mind of it. Above is a special mouse, who we met after getting off Goofy’s Sky College.
With that, we used Lightning Lane Multi-Go to ebook our final Lightning Lane of the day: Toy Story Halfway Mania. We actually pushed our luck with this, nevertheless it labored out in the long run.
The above screenshot additionally illustrates that Lightning Lane Multi-Go gained’t forestall you from making conflicting plans.
For the subsequent couple of hours, we wandered round, ate, and loved extra of Lunar New Yr at DCA. We additionally noticed the Sh-Growth lighting in Automobiles Land, a magical little second that we hadn’t seen for some time.
Objectively, this may’ve been a good time to have some Lightning Lane reservations in our pockets, as wait instances had been at their peaks. We love strolling round DCA and Disneyland at sundown and nightfall, so it was no problem for us.
Net Slingers was fairly constantly posting a 90 to 120 minute wait time, in order that was out of the query for us.
On the finish of the evening, it was all the way down to 60 minutes posed with an precise wait doubtless decrease. Rope drop or proper earlier than shut is certainly the best choice for the interactive Spider-Man darkish journey.
Lastly, our home windows opened for Soarin’ Across the World and Toy Story Halfway Mania inside 5 minutes of each other.
Regardless of it having the sooner finish time, we did Toy Story Halfway Mania first. Soarin’ is infamous for taking endlessly even with the Lightning Lane, in order that was the considering there. Essentially, both manner would’ve been fantastic.
We carried out with Soarin’ Across the World, and by extension, each operational Lightning Lane attraction in each Disney California Journey and Disneyland, by round 7:45 pm.
This left us with a number of extra hours earlier than the parks closed, which we largely spent at Disneyland wandering and doing laid again sights, just like the Grand Circle Tour of the Disneyland Railroad. All of that’s past the scope of this already-lengthy submit and we nonetheless have some floor to cowl, so we’ll skip that.
General, we’ve had glorious experiences utilizing Lightning Lanes to extra effectively tour Disneyland and Disney California Journey. We completed a complete of 32 sights, which is greater than we’ve carried out in a single day at Disneyland Resort in a really very long time.
That’s additionally with out actually “pushing” ourselves, as we spent numerous time having fun with leisure and strolling across the parks. It’s doubtless that we might’ve hit 40 sights had we been severe about maximizing our journey rely–however we needed a extra balanced and enjoyable day.
The underside line is which you could accomplish considerably extra per day at Disneyland and DCA through Lightning Lanes.
We’ll replace our full information quickly, however listed here are a couple of fast suggestions within the meantime:
- Rope dropping the parks remains to be beneficial, particularly since there’s no strategy to skip the traces in Fantasyland.
- Specializing in standby to begin the day is right. Trip the wave of crowds, so to talk, doing as a lot as attainable through standby earlier than utilizing your first Lightning Lane. (One more reason you would possibly not need to ebook a Lightning Lane as quickly as you enter the park within the morning.)
- You may’t ebook the identical attraction twice with Lightning Lane Multi-Go, however can do each standby and Lightning Lane for a similar journey.
- Until you do each single out there attraction in each parks through Lightning Lanes, it’s doubtless you’ll run out of LLMP rides earlier than operating out of time, which is the reverse of what often occurs at Walt Disney World. (This plus no re-rides is why you need to deal with standby first.)
- You may scan into Lightning Lanes 5 minutes previous to their scheduled arrival time and quarter-hour after the window closes.
- E book the subsequent Lightning Lane reservation as quickly as you’ve scanned into the attraction checkpoint.
- In the event you miss your Lightning Lane attraction window, you’ll be able to’t rebook the attraction.
- Lightning Lane Multi-Go may be very thrill-ride heavy at Disneyland Resort, and as such, might not be worthwhile for all events.
- If somebody in your get together can’t or doesn’t need to do a sure journey (e.g. Matterhorn), ebook it through LLMP anyway and another person can use their redemption for a second journey!
- Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Disneyland contains PhotoPass, so you’ll want to hyperlink and obtain these on-ride pictures on the exit of related sights.
Despite the fact that it’s burdened a couple of instances on this submit, the significance of following common rope drop technique can’t be overstated. It’s unlikely that almost all common vacationers will need to do each single Lightning Lane Multi-Go journey at Disneyland Resort in a single day. For one, totally different sights attraction to totally different demos–the identical get together could not need to do each Autopia and Matterhorn, and hopefully nobody needs to do Goofy’s Sky College.
For an additional, so many sights have on the spot return instances most days–even properly into the afternoon–that there’s merely not an enormous sense of urgency to begin reserving and doing Lightning Lane sights proper at park opening until you propose on doing each single Lightning Lane Multi-Go journey in each parks.
Specializing in standby first is smart as a result of there’s a excessive chance you’ll run out of Lightning Lane rides earlier than operating out of time. As such, you’re higher off doing standby earlier within the day when these traces are shorter than they are going to be later. That is very true if you wish to do every part in Fantasyland or a number of rides on any headliner–or each.
Finally, our impression of Lightning Lane Multi-Go at Disneyland and Disney California Journey is constructive, rather more so than at Walt Disney World. We’ve spent far much less time on our telephones utilizing it within the California parks, and have discovered the expertise usually is much less aggravating as a result of every part is decrease stakes.
Whereas it might not be evident right here, once more, this doesn’t actually replicate how a standard vacationer will use Lightning Lanes on a leisurely day of touring. Quite, we had been attempting to emphasize take a look at the system and push it to its restrict for “sport,” or no matter you need to name this. It’s just like the distinction in having fun with sizzling canine on a household cookout versus Nathan’s Sizzling Canine Consuming Contest.
Our common days at Disneyland and DCA utilizing Lightning Lane Multi-Go have been far much less eventful and extra carefully resemble the way you’d use it. They’re only a lot much less attention-grabbing for submit functions, since they largely contain circling the park, doing an attraction, then reserving an instantaneous return time for an additional in shut proximity, and repeating that course of.
Lightning Lane Multi-Go presents a big aggressive benefit at Disneyland as a result of the parks’ California-centric visitor base is shopping for it in far decrease numbers than its Florida counterpart. Whereas issues will doubtless be totally different on peak season days or if a Magic Key add-on is obtainable, we at the moment extremely advocate that each one vacationers buy Lightning Lane Multi-Go for at the very least in the future of their Disneyland holidays.
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Find out about on-site and off-site lodges in our Anaheim Lodge Critiques & Rankings. For the place to eat, take a look at our Disneyland Restaurant Critiques. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and tons of different locations!
Your Ideas
Ideas on our day in Disneyland and Disney California Journey utilizing the paid Lightning Lane Multi-Go service to do each eligible attraction? Are you planning on shopping for LLMP or skipping it at DLR? Do you agree or disagree with my evaluation? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
