Good news! Yes, there is a grace period for Lightning Lane reservations at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. You can scan in 5 minutes before and up to 15 minutes after your Lightning Lane arrival window. But, there’s a bit of a gray area. Here is what we’ve found based on all our experiences and conversations with cast members.
| Lightning Lane Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How early can I scan in? | 5 minutes before your window starts |
| How late can I scan in? | Up to 15 minutes after your window ends |
| Does this apply at both parks? | Yes, this is true at Disneyland and Walt Disney World |
| Is the grace period guaranteed? | No, cast members can use discretion |
Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass are the premium “skip the line” systems at Walt Disney World and Disneyland theme parks. The paid line-skipping system allows guests to book a return time and avoid potentially long waits in attraction standby lines. Guests are given a one-hour window to return to the ride’s Lightning Lane, but there’s a bit of wiggle room.
Can I Arrive Early For My Lightning Lane Time?
Yes! Guests can scan in 5 minutes before their Lightning Lane window begins. The touchpoint will turn green just as it normally would. Guests attempting to scan in any earlier will likely be asked to wait by a cast member.
Can I Arrive Late For My Lightning Lane Time?
Yes! Guests can scan in up to 15 minutes after their Lightning Lane window. The touchpoint will turn green as it normally would. Cast members may allow guests to scan in beyond this 15-minute grace period, but that’s handled on a case-by-case basis. Cast members may be more strict with arrival times on busy park days. We’d recommend talking to the cast member before trying to scan in if you’re outside the 15-minute late period.
Examples Using the Lightning Lane Grace Period
We’ve used the Lightning Lane grace period repeatedly during our many visits to Walt Disney World and Disneyland. In fact, we almost always scan in 5 minutes prior to our one-hour window because we’re often at the attraction and ready to ride early. It’s hard to wait for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind or the Matterhorn!
For example, if our Lightning Lane time for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was between 2pm and 3pm, we’d be able to scan in without any issues at 1:55pm. Trying to access the Lightning Lane any earlier would be flagged by a cast member.
On the flip side, on the rare occasion when we’re running late for our Lightning Lane because a table service meal ran long, we’ve had no issues scanning in several minutes past our window. Generally, guests have no problem scanning in up to 15 minutes after their time. We have heard cases where guests have been able to scan in even later, but we’ve also heard of guests being turned away beyond the 15-minute grace period. Your experience may vary.
Summarized – Feel free to scan in 5 minutes before your Lightning Lane time starts and up to 15 minutes after your Lightning Lane time ends. That said, grace periods aren’t a concrete rule and may vary by day and by cast member.
