Disney World is taking a bold step in enhancing its guest experience by introducing a new line-skipping service that grants users the freedom to enjoy rides at their convenience without the need for prior reservations. Dubbed the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, this service comes with a price tag of up to $450 per day per person, depending on the park and the date of visit. But is this high-cost perk worth the splurge? Here’s everything you need to know about the Lightning Lane Premier Pass and whether it’s the right choice for your next Disney World adventure.
What Is Disney World’s Lightning Lane Premier Pass?
Set to launch on October 30th at Disney World, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass is a new tier of the resort’s Lightning Lane, a pre-existing program that lets visitors pay extra to skip the lines for certain rides. It will join the program’s Lightning Lane Multi-Pass ($20 to $39 per day) and the Lightning Lane Single Pass ($12 to $25 per ride), which allow guests to skip the regular standby lines, with the Multi-Pass providing access to multiple attractions and the Single Pass allowing for one-time access to specific rides. Both lower-tier options will still be available for guests.
The new Lightning Lane Premier Pass promises an even better experience. Unlike the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and the Lightning Lane Single Pass, which force guests to select a time to arrive for their “line skip,” the Lightning Lane Premier Pass eliminates this restriction by not requiring guests to select an arrival time before using the pass.
It’s worth noting, however, that the Lightning Lane Premier Pass only grants one-time entry to each available Lightning Lane entrance in a single park for one day. Additionally, at launch, the pass will be available only to guests staying at Disney’s Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villa Resorts, with guests allowed to purchase the pass up to seven days before their stay.
As previously mentioned, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass at Disney World will cost up to $450 a day per person, depending on the park you visit and when you go. According to Disney, the highest prices will be found on a “limited number of days over peak travel periods”. Here are the prices of the Lightning Lane Premier Pass for each park at Disney World:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom: $129 to $199
- EPCOT: $169 to $249
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: $269 to $349
- Magic Kingdom: $329 to $449
Is the Lightning Lane Premier Pass Also Available at Disneyland?
Yes, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass is not exclusive to Disney World. In fact, the new Lightning Lane tier will be available at Disneyland starting on October 23rd – seven days ahead of its Disney World launch.
At Disneyland, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be purchased up to two days in advance of a park reservation.
Until December 31st, 2024, the pass will cost $400 per person at Disneyland, with future prices ranging from $300 to $400 in 2025.
Is the Lightning Lane Premier Pass Worth the Money?
With a price of up to $450 per day, Disney Parks’ Lightning Lane Premier Pass raises questions about its value and accessibility. While it offers the convenience of skipping long ride queues, its high cost runs counter to Disney CEO Bob Iger’s earlier statements about making the parks more “accessible”.
According to Kotaku, the new Lightning Lane pass feels like another example of Disney monetizing the guest experience, continuing a trend of price hikes that have already led to declining park attendance and criticism. Given these factors, whether it’s worth the splurge depends on your budget and how much you value avoiding wait times. For many, however, it may seem more like a luxury than a necessity.
Good thing it’s just a pilot program, which means Disney could discard it after a trial period if the company decides it isn’t working.